Please recommend photo editing software...

Message

robert213 · #1 Post by **robert213** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 12:58 pm

I am searching for photo editing software (crop, resize, etc) to place photos of items that I plan to sell on eBay.

I would guess that most folks are using...
Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 selling at $99.

Is anyone familiar with Serif PhotoPlus?
http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/softwa ... fault2.asp

Is anyone familiar with Paint.NET 3.31?
http://www.paintnet.org/
http://www.getpaint.net/

Would anyone recommend any other comparable shareware, freeware, or open source versions?

#2 Post by **pkiff** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 1:14 pm

You could try Picasa:
http://picasa.google.com/
It's a free, easy-to-use program that includes basic cropping and simple effects.

The Photoshop equivalent in the open source world is called GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program):
http://www.gimp.org/
It is very powerful and robust, but I'm not sure how easy it is to learn to use if you haven't used a powerful photo editor before.

Phil.

#3 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 1:33 pm

A much simpler (and free) program would be Irfanview.
Does everything you want and more...
http://www.irfanview.com/

robert213 · #4 Post by **robert213** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 1:40 pm

pkiff wrote: The Photoshop equivalent in the open source world is called GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program):
http://www.gimp.org/
It is very powerful and robust, but I'm not sure how easy it is to learn to use if you haven't used a powerful photo editor before.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_the_gimp/

Note that, if this is the first time you're installing The GIMP, you will also need GTK+ 2 Runtime Environment from here. Note that the Gimp help files are also available from the same place.

Is the GTK+ 2 Runtime software required to do simple basic tasks?

http://www.download.com/GIMP/3000-2192_ ... d=10850541
http://www.download.com/GTK-2-Runtime-E ... d=10762527

davidspalding · #5 Post by **davidspalding** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 1:56 pm

I can recommend Photoshop Elements. You might find it cheaper (i.e. at Costco, Newegg.com, elsewhere; try Froogle). Essentially, it's 75% of Photoshop, for $75 (or was $75).

Picasa is nice, free, and does basics. But for doing more than simple corrections (you mention wanting to do product photos for eBay), an Adobe product (or Corel's equivalent) will be a fine choice. If you spend a bit of cash on a product photo box, lights, etc., why not invest in a program to match?

(disclosure: I use Photoshop CS2 -- have used PS since v.4 -- with a Wacom tablet.)

Marin85 · #6 Post by **Marin85** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 2:04 pm

I prefer Corel Paint Shop Pro X2

It has nice and very user friendly GUI that has increased my sotosay picture-editing productivity (I´m not very good at this kind of work but sometimes I need to do it, so I appreciate good software that can do that job

). AFAIK, you can find it nowadays for less than 99 bucks

Cheers

Marin

k2jsv · #7 Post by **k2jsv** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 6:09 pm

Another vote for Photoshop Elements. Or if you can spare the coin, Photoshop CS3. I still use CS2 regularly... but on the go I have GIMP Portable set up on my flash drive with the Portable Apps suite.

mattbiernat · #8 Post by **mattbiernat** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 7:37 pm

adobe photoshop. it is a one time investment and will last you a life time. i used photoshop 8 years ago in high school and since then nothing came close to being better. i think you can find older versions of photoshop at a discounted rate. so give it a try.

syedj · #9 Post by **syedj** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 9:46 pm

I have been using and recommending GIMP for simple edits and find it to be adequate for everything I have tried to do with it. It used to have serious stability issues but I haven't experienced any issues past 2.0 version.

#10 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:54 am

The GIMP is unnecessary hard to install, and it has a very steep learning curve. I never got it to work properly (or I don't know how to).
As said before, Irfanview for the 'simpler' things.
I use Ulead PhotoImpact for more complicated actions. Very easy program too.

syedj · #11 Post by **syedj** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:40 pm

RealBlackStuff wrote:The GIMP is unnecessary hard to install, and it has a very steep learning curve. I never got it to work properly (or I don't know how to).

I am not sure if I understand you correctly. Just now I did a clean install of GIMP 2.4.6 on a fresh install of Windows XP Pro. It took me three clicks on simple and clear choices and a wait of a minute or so to get a working installation of GIMP. Perhaps you tried an older version a while ago.

I do however agree that the interface of GIMP are not very intuitive.

Purcy · #12 Post by **Purcy** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:21 am

Another rec for PhotoShop Elements. I have the full blown PhotoShop from several years ago, but it is huge and slow on my laptop. I won a copy of PhotoShop Elements on ebay for $24 and it does all I need as far a crop, color correct, retouching.....

Purcy · #13 Post by **Purcy** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:23 am

Another rec for PhotoShop Elements. I have the full blown PhotoShop from several years ago, but it is huge and slow on my laptop. I won a copy of PhotoShop Elements on ebay for $24 and it does all I need as far a crop, color correct, retouching.....

#14 Post by **dorronto** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:43 am

not to step on this post, but in reading all the comments and recommendations,
I was wondering what is the best program to eliminate "red eye" from digital camera flash..........

Thanks,
Ron

Purcy · #15 Post by **Purcy** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:49 pm

Believe it or not, the MSN browser that comes with our Verizon DSL package, installs a program called MSN Picture It, a very beginner's program, but it has one of the best Red Eye corrections I have ever used. But truly, every program will have a red eye correction. Here is the link for the free Picasa, which has a red eye remover: http://picasa.google.com/

The best thing is to start in the camera, when photgraphing people, always use the Red Eye reduction on the flash.

teetee · #16 Post by **teetee** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:01 pm

dorronto wrote:not to step on this post, but in reading all the comments and recommendations,
I was wondering what is the best program to eliminate "red eye" from digital camera flash..........

Thanks,
Ron

Remove red eye from photos(in GIMP):
http://www.gimpguru.org/Tutorials/RedEye2/

Purcy · #17 Post by **Purcy** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:22 pm

I am sorry, but I didn't mean to hit Reply. If you can, delete this reply, thank you.

Marin85 · #18 Post by **Marin85** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:51 pm

@Purcy: just use "go back" button in your browser

Purcy · #19 Post by **Purcy** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:27 pm

thanks, I sort of know that. Through strange happenings I accidentally clicked on Reply and somehow clicked Submit before I realized what I had done. Maybe I can blame it on old age.

Trekk69 · #20 Post by **Trekk69** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 5:50 am

I have just been using Microsoft's Picture Manager, I find it is basic enough for all my minor photo editing needs. And it came with my Office 2007 package.

#21 Post by **gator** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 11:32 am

Trekk69 wrote:I have just been using Microsoft's Picture Manager, I find it is basic enough for all my minor photo editing needs. And it came with my Office 2007 package.

This program has red eye correction features too.

Please recommend photo editing software...

Please recommend photo editing software...

Re: Please recommend photo editing software...

Who is online