Photo editing

[Malkovsky]

Hey guys, I recently started taking pictures and would like to know if there is a program that I can use to edit my photos with...Free if possible :laugh:

[Pants off]

Microsoft Live Photo Gallery works well for me and can be downloaded free.

[FishyDave]

I'm a big fan of Serif Photoplus. They're currently giving the old version (v6) away for free at http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/software/PhotoPlus/default.asp

I'm using version 8 (you can upgrade for a small fee) and paid a lot more for it when it first came out.

I'm not that familiar with Photoshop, but Photoplus will do most of the important things that Photoshop will do, including layering. If you want to have some real fun with your pictures (putting someone's head on someone else's body, taking the subject out of one photograph and sticking them in another and such) then you really need an editor that can handle layers.

The only thing I'd say about Serif's stuff is that while it tends to be loaded with features, it also tends to be less than completely stable. Save your edits often, in case the thing bombs out for no reason. Other than that, I'd highly recommend it.

[jedinudist]

I'm a photographer, so I'm using PSCS2. But,m back when I started, Microsoft and Ulead both had basic free versions of their photo editing software available online. They were pretty good to start with.

Good luck :)

[Naturist Mark]

The ultimate free image editing program is probably GIMP. Some describe it as an open source alternative or replacement for Adobe PhotoShop, but there are substantial differences, it is by no means a 'clone'.

GIMP is a multi-platform project that runs on most major operating systems - most notably Linux where it is standard. The latest stable version for Windows can be downloaded HERE (http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/40/GIMPLogo.png

[Malkovsky]

Thanks for the links...Downloaded gimp and looks like a fine program but I am a computer illiterate so it will take me few days to figure it out.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Fisher473/IMG_0814.jpg

And yes those are .38 special shell casings...all I had :rolleyes:

[SilentJ]

I'll second GIMP. Not only is it cross-platform, it's also portable if you download it from the following link.

http://portableapps.com/apps/graphics_pictures/gimp_portable

The portable version is only 36 MB, so it easily fits on any thumb drive you can buy. I use a copy of this at work because I'm not supposed to install programs on my work computer, and the programs that are already installed can't do anything beyond basic contrast and brightness adjustments.

[NakedGary]

Malkovsky,

If you want to just do simple adjustments to compensate for exposure, most picture viewing pograms have simple editing features which are easy to use and work quite well.

http://www.irfanview.com/ is a free download, fast, a good viewer, and has basic editing features. Download the program and the plug-in's.

I used it to adjust your underexposed picture posted. See below.

Most don't realize but picture information is digitized for each shot and integrated into the file if you have that feature enabled. re:

IMG_0814.jpg

Make - Canon
Model - Canon PowerShot A560
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
DateTime - 2008:01:29 17:37:39
YCbCrPositioning - Centered
ExifOffset - 186
ExposureTime - 1/8 seconds
FNumber - 2.60
ISOSpeedRatings - 200
ExifVersion - 0220
DateTimeOriginal - 2008:01:28 00:08:55
DateTimeDigitized - 2008:01:28 00:08:55
ComponentsConfiguration - YCbCr
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 3 (bits/pixel)
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/8 seconds
ApertureValue - F 2.59
ExposureBiasValue - 0.00
MaxApertureValue - F 2.59
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
Flash - Not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 5.80 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 0100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 3072
ExifImageHeight - 2304
InteroperabilityOffset - 3336
FocalPlaneXResolution - 13653.33
FocalPlaneYResolution - 13633.14
FocalPlaneResolutionUnit - Inch
SensingMethod - One-chip color area sensor
FileSource - DSC - Digital still camera
CustomRendered - Normal process
ExposureMode - Auto
White Balance - Auto
DigitalZoomRatio - 1.00 x
SceneCaptureType - Standard
Maker Note (Vendor): -
Macro mode - Normal
Self timer - Off
Quality - Fine
Flash mode - Not fired
Sequence mode - Single or Timer
Focus mode - Single
Image size - Large
Easy shooting mode - Full Auto
Digital zoom - None
Contrast - Normal
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Normal
ISO Value - Auto
Metering mode - Evaluative
Focus type - Auto
AF point selected -
Exposure mode - Easy shooting
Focal length - 5800 - 23200 mm (1000 mm)
Flash activity -
Flash details -
Focus mode 2 - Single
White Balance - Auto
Sequence number - 0
Flash bias - 0.00 EV
Subject Distance - 40
Image Type - IMG:PowerShot A560 JPEG
Firmware Version - Firmware Version 1.00
Image Number - 1000814
Owner Name -
Thumbnail: -
Compression - 6 (JPG)
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
JpegIFOffset - 3484
JpegIFByteCount - 4676

Click on thumbnails to expand image to full size:

[NoCollarWorker]

Try Picnic -- http://www.picnik.com -- free, online photo editor that works right inside your Web browser. Nothing to download, nothing to install, works on Mac or Windows.

Picnic does about 99% of the things most people need a photo editor to do. The price is right, and it's always available anytime and anywhere you have an Internet connection.

Later,

Mike

[PascoDoug]

The ultimate free image editing program is probably GIMP. Some describe it as an open source alternative or replacement for Adobe PhotoShop, but there are substantial differences, it is by no means a 'clone'.

True, but there is a custom mod for GIMP called GIMPShop that modifies the interface and terminology to closely replicate that of Adobe Photoshop:

http://www.gimpshop.com/

[almclatchie]

I use "picasa2" for quick fixes, it's pretty easy to use but I can't remember where I got it sorry.

[NakedGary]

Picasa 2 can be found at any one of many download sites listed on the link below.

http://www.google.com/search?q=picasa2

[NakedGary]

Best 5 Free Online Photo Editors (http://cameras.about.com/od/cameratips/tp/Free-Online-Photo-Editors.htm)

[RalphVa]

My first digital came with Photosuite4 included. I use it all the time to enhance or to resize photos. I'm an editor of a couple of newsletters and use photos in them. Most of the photos are only 450 pixels wide. This covers the width of one column in a 2 column newsletter. I usually take the pictures one resolution better than the "standard" and resize them down to 450 pixels wide. Most are only about 20-30 kB size files but still nice pictures.

You need to get acquainted with your cameras resolution settings. If you leave it at the setting it came from the factory, each picture can be a HUGE file. You'll quickly fill a Gigabyte flash card.

[usuallylurk]

Hey guys, I recently started taking pictures and would like to know if there is a program that I can use to edit my photos with...Free if possible :laugh:

There are lots of things ... when I bought a digital camera around eight years ago (Mavica) it came with a special edition version of MGI PhotoSuite. I have seen it in computer stores (like the late, great CompUSA) for $5-7.

You can now buy the PhotoSuite v7 "Platinum" version for $30.

When I bought my current camera, it came with a current version of Photoshop Elements. While it's not free -- I didn't have to pay for it. Most cameras will come with some photo editing software.

These aren't "free" -- but they don't cost a lot, either.

[NakedGary]

Another freeware Photo editing program from Cnet.com

http://www.download.com/PhotoScape/3000-2192_4-10703122.html?tag=dl-blog

[unitednudist]

Apple Has Just released a new version to there populer version of photoshop. they call it Aperture 2. The Following information is from Apple;
List Of Features.

All-in-one Inspector and HUD
Aperture 2 consolidates the Projects, Metadata, and Adjustments panes into a single, all-in-one Inspector and HUD. Switch among projects, assign keywords and update metadata, and apply image adjustments in one convenient place.

One-key Inspector pane switching
Press W to cycle through the Projects, Metadata, and Adjustments panes in the new all-in-one Inspector.

Metadata entry shortcut
When adding or modifying metadata entries, press Command-Right Arrow (or Command-Left Arrow) to advance to the next (or previous) image. The cursor remains in the same metadata field, expediting the process of making metadata edits as you move from image to image.

Viewer Only mode
Hide the thumbnail Browser so you can work with images in an enlarged Viewer that provides more screen real estate for your photos. To display images in the new Viewer Only mode, choose Viewer Only from the View menu.

One-key view cycling
Switch among Browser Only, Browser and Viewer, and Viewer Only modes by pressing the V key.

Filmstrip mode for Browser
Click the Filmstrip View button in the Browser (or press Control-F), and Aperture 2 displays a Filmstrip that works just like the filmstrip in Full Screen mode. The new Filmstrip option offers an alternative to viewing Browser images in a list or grid.

Hide or show Sort and Filter controls
Press Shift-F to toggle between hiding and showing the strip of Sort, View, and Filter controls that appear at the top of the Browser. (Or choose Browser from the View menu and select Hide Sort & Filter Controls.) Filtering and Searching in Aperture
Switch Inspector position to left or right side
Switch the position of the Inspector from the left to the right side of the Aperture window by pressing Shift-I.

Customizable double-click behavior
Switch to Full Screen or Viewer Only mode automatically when you double-click an image. Set the double-click behavior in the Appearances pane of the Preferences window.

Fast source switching
In the Import window, switch between import sources without having to wait for the window to close and reopen while displaying the genie effect.

Import Finished warning option in Preferences
In the General pane of Preferences, you can choose whether to “Show alert when import is finished.” For interruption-free imports, set the option once and forget it.

Customize the default Adjustment set
Specify exactly which adjustments you want to appear in the Adjustments Inspector/HUD by default. Use the two new commands — Add to Default Set and Remove from Default Set — in the Action pop-up menu for each adjustment to configure these settings.

Multi-Touch Gesture support
Use Multi-Touch trackpad gestures when using Aperture on any Mac that has a Multi-Touch trackpad. For example, when working with images in the Browser, use the swipe gesture to select a different image or the pinch and expand gesture to change the size of the Loupe or the size of images on a light table

All Projects view
Get a quick visual overview of your projects by skimming their contents in the All Projects view — just as you can skim Events in iPhoto ’08. To switch to All Projects view, click the disclosure triangle in the Projects pane of the Inspector and choose All Projects from the options. Aperture 2 displays all the projects in your library, representing each project with a poster image, or Key Photo (a thumbnail of one of the images in the project). Hover the pointer over the Key Photo, and Aperture quickly skims through all the images in the project. Skimming All Projects

Setting the Key Photo
To set the Key Photo for a project in All Projects view, skim through the project until Aperture displays the image you want to use as your Key Photo. Then Control-click (or right-click using Mighty Mouse) or press the Space bar and choose “Make Key Photo” from the contextual menu.

Redesigned Preferences window with tabbed sections
Maximize your productivity by using the new tabbed Preferences window. Click the General, Appearance, Export, Previews, Metadata, and Web Gallery buttons to display preference settings for each of these categories. Choose Preferences in the Aperture menu (or press Command-Comma) to display the Preferences window.

Set Viewer/Browser brightness to any level
Use the sliders in the Appearances pane of Preferences to set a custom background brightness level for both the Browser and the Viewer.

Thumbnails retain custom sizes when switching between views
Set different custom sizes for thumbnails depending on your view. Make them small in Browser Only mode; bigger when viewing the grid in combination with the Viewer; and even bigger in the Filmstrip. As you switch between views, Aperture remembers — and switches to — the custom size you applied to the thumbnails in that view.

Redesigned thumbnail grid
Enjoy faster, smoother scrolling while using the thumbnail Browser. Optimized to provide faster scrolling and browsing performance, the thumbnail Browser is noticeably quicker even in projects with thousands of images.

Library selector
If you have more than one Aperture library, you can now choose the library you’d like to open by holding down the Option key when you launch Aperture. This action also lets you create a new library on the fly.

Onscreen Proofing indicator
Turn on Onscreen Proofing, and Aperture displays the name of the proofing profile in the tool strip at the bottom of the Viewer. Convenient in two ways, this new feature offers a visual indicator that proofing is on and identifies the selected profile.

Full Screen Filmstrip Position menu
Anchor the Filmstrip to the left, right, or bottom of the Full Screen window using the new Action pop-up menu in the Filmstrip.


Full Screen Filmstrip snaps to side and bottom screen edges
When you manually reposition the Filmstrip in Full Screen mode, the Filmstrip snaps to the edges of the side and bottom of the window, making it easy to configure Full Screen mode to meet your needs.

Redesigned Primary Only button
Now it’s easier to determine when operations are being performed on single images or groups of images. Click 1 to apply your metadata to the one primary selection instead of multiple images.

Keyboard support in Adjustment panels
Make precise image adjustments using the arrow keys on your keyboard to drive the various sliders in the Adjustments Inspector/HUD. To activate keyboard control, click once in the numeric field of an adjustment control (such as Exposure). Then use the arrow keys to increase or decrease values. Hold down the Option key when using the arrow keys for even more precise adjustment. You can also use Tab to move to the next adjustment control (and Shift-Tab to move to a previous control).

Simplified hiding behavior for Filmstrip in Full Screen mode
Set the Full Screen Filmstrip to work like the Mac OS X Dock. Use the Filmstrip Action pop-up menu to turn Filmstrip Hiding on or off. With Filmstrip Hiding on, the Filmstrip disappears, leaving the entire screen available for your image(s). To see the Filmstrip, hover the pointer over the area where you docked the Filmstrip, and it will appear above the image. Move the pointer again to force the Filmstrip to hide.

Image count displayed on Filmstrip in Full Screen mode
Aperture displays a count of the number of images to the right of the Filmstrip Action pop-up menu when you review images in full screen. The count reflects the selected filtering options.

50+ tutorials
Watch more than 50 tutorials covering all aspects of Aperture 2 — from an overview of the new user interface to publishing photos in a .Mac Web Gallery. The tutorials make use of the four sample projects included with Aperture 2, so it’s easy to try the techniques using the sample images provided.

Show camera info
Below the histogram in the Adjustments pane, Aperture 2 displays values for shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and lens focal length.

Redesigned, simplified toolbar
The clean new toolbar offers easier-to-use tools and pop-up menus. Choose Customize Toolbar from the View menu to add or reposition buttons to suit your needs.

Adjustment tools accessible from Viewer
Hide the main toolbar if you want to maximize space in the Viewer. Thanks to the new Adjustments strip at the bottom of the Viewer, you still have access to editing tools for making essential adjustments.

Reset All Warnings preference
If you disabled warning messages in various parts of Aperture, a new Reset All Warnings button in the General pane of Preferences lets you reset Aperture to display them all again. You can, for example, make the main Welcome screen reappear at startup if you disabled it previously.

Rollover-style sliders in Adjustments pane
Navigate the Adjustments pane more easily using the roomier slider bars that highlight when you roll over them.

Simplified Viewer mode options
Direct Aperture to Show One or Show Multiple images in the Viewer when you select more than one image in the Browser.

Progress through image adjustments in a logical manner
Several adjustment bricks have been repositioned to reflect a logical top-to-bottom process. Start with White Balance adjustments, move on to Exposure, and then apply image enhancements.

Double-click to hide/show Inspector
Simply double-click the divider bar to hide or show the Inspector. Or just grab the center handle and pull the Inspector out to reveal it when hidden.

Simplified button behaviors
Select an image and click the Lift and Stamp or Rotate buttons to perform the requested action.

Sorting in All Projects View
To sort the All Projects view in either ascending or descending date order, Control-clik (or right-click) on one of the project thumbnails to reveal a contextual menu that includes your sort options.

Choose your Key Photo from within project
Choose the “poster image” for a project in All Projects view by selecting the image and choosing Make Key Photo from the Image menu.

Access to Toolbar on a second display
When using multiple displays in Full Screen mode, you can now access the Full Screen toolbar on a second display.


This wonderful program can also be used for web hosting, working with RAW photo formati, photo management and MUCH more
User Interface

RAW Image Quality

Compare and Select Tools

Workflow

Image Processing Tools

Photo Management

Print and Web Publishing

AppleScript
Not yet available for PC (Mac Only)
For more invo click here (http://www.apple.com/aperture/)