Flickr has just rolled out the ability to allow users to edit their photos within the browser using the online editing software Picnik. Getting started is as simple as clicking a button to allow Picnik to use Flickr’s API to access your photos and off you go.

The basic rotate, crop, resize all work very nice. One of the most surprising features though is just how well Red-Eye removal works (though I had a hell of a time trying to move over in a zoomed in picture).

Under the ‘Create’ tab you’ll find the ability to change a photo to black & white, sepia, vignette, matte, and the like, but many of best ones are only available to premium members – not premium Flickr members, premium Picnik members. That’s another $24.95 on top of the $25 you’re already paying to be a Pro Flickr member – come on Yahoo!, step up an make premium Picnik free for Pro Flickr accounts.

Effects are fine, but then we get into the cutesy ‘touch-up’ category which allows you to add in things like Christmas Icons, Christmas Hats, etc. I don’t know who on Earth would ruin a perfectly good Flickr photo with this, but I’m certain there’s a market for it. They do actually have Photo License icons as well (including all the Creative Commons ones) – which could actually be useful.

Under Picnik Premium they also have a Teeth-Whiten (and Blemish Fix) feature, I’d love to see how well that works – but I’m not going to pay $24.95 to find out.

Pro Flickr users have the option to either save over the existing photo on Flickr or create a new copy when saving, while free users can only create a new copy. Though saving takes a while, the quality of the save looks as good as the original.

One interesting question that Mashable brings up is how Flickr’s user-base – which is significantly professional or semi-professional – will react to have a rather unprofessional set of editing tools attached to Flickr. The answer, of course, is that they just won’t use it – they’re likely using those insanely expensive photo editing programs anyway and would have no use for this stuff aside from maybe sending a fun Holiday card or something.

Looks to be another solid feature on Flickr.