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

[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/sof...us/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

[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.



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

[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/graphic.../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]

Originally Posted by 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'.

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/