Google has officially announced that its very popular online image editing service Picnik is being shut down with effect from 19th April, 2012. Along with Piknik, it will also be closing several other services and products like GMC, Social Graph API, Needlebase, Urchin and Google Sky Map.
Google had acquired the online photo editor, Piknik in 2010. Premium members will receive a full refund in the coming weeks, and as of now, this premium service is free to everyone. You can now use Picnik Premium free along with all its premium features like Touch-up, Textures, Advanced, and more, till the closure date.
Users will be able to download a zip file of their creations through Picnik, using Google Takeout or copy them to Google+. Once Picnik is officially closed, your list of files on Picnik Takeout will no longer be available. So make sure you download your zip files before April 19, 2012.
Post the shutdown, Google will be moving its photo editing tools to Google+. This will give another reason for users to start using Google+, its social networking website.
Google has been quick to shut down many of its services and products in the recent past. After deciding to shut down Google Wave, Google Labs and 10 other services, it is now the time for the axe to fall on Piknik and others.
