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TimPrevett
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from Cheshire / Manchester
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|  Posted 13-05-2006 at 22:59
Can anyone recommend particular photo editing software? I'm now using Windows XP home edition which does not have Microsoft Photo editor, which worked well for me for 2+ years. Nikon Photo editor is still being used, but leaves my images at a huge no of KB, even though the same amount of pixels as the Microsoft Photo editor eventual image.
I have a backlog of images, and would appreciate feedback!
Cheers
Tim
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PeteG
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from Avebury
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|  Posted 13-05-2006 at 23:23
Tim,
Paint Shop Pro is a great program, easier to use than Photoshop and a lot cheaper.
Psp products
PeteG
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howar
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from Orkney
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| Posted 13-05-2006 at 23:29
Might work out cheaper to buy a digital camera that comes with a free LE version of professional software
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TimPrevett
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from Cheshire / Manchester
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| Posted 15-05-2006 at 16:18
Thanks Pete, Wideford.
new camera isn't an option yet; my Nikon Coolpix cost me a good amount, and I love it. Won't change until it croaks, and then I'll likely upgrade to another in the coolpix range.
Amazon has Paint Shop Pro version 9 for about £25 (near 100 off the original price) - so will look into that.
Cheers  )
Tim
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blingo
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from chester
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| Posted 15-05-2006 at 19:41
i like photoshop. it works wonders but i am still discovering on it 5 years into using it. great software. u could pick up a copy off ebay but go for photoshop 7 rather than 'cs' cos its a maze.
a easier one to use that i run along side ps7 is 'Micrografx Picture Publisher'
no longer made but i got a copy fom ebay (aswel as ps7). you could have my disc as i don't need it. its easy and has clone tools and a cool 'cool text' program/filter. there is a layers style function but doesn't have a pallette like ps7.
download.com has many demo's to try b4 u buy with user ratings.
have fun finding a bit of software that suits you, and your pocket.
ive had hours of fun
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Thorgrim
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| Posted 15-05-2006 at 20:07
It depends what you want to do Tim. If you want to do clever manipulation and fantasy pictures then Photoshop is the best. If you want to simply enhance your pictures by improving colour, contrast and composition, then you will find much cheaper options are perfectly adequte. Quite often there are photoshop elements and similar given away as freebies with digital photography magazines.
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blingo
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from chester
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| Posted 16-05-2006 at 05:22
you can do the clever (aswel as the obvious) photoshop stuff, but it has some cool functions like auto contrast/tone, colour correction for washed out pics and ive restored many old pics through 'ps'.
there are many others out there and as Thorgrim says theres plenty of freebies about on the mags. thats how i started and how i keep goin. 3bies forever! thats how i got most of my software!!
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TimPrevett
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from Cheshire / Manchester
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| Posted 16-05-2006 at 07:26
All I need is software that enables me to edit, resize etc; anything fun is optional!
Thanks for all the information; whatever I do, it will be soon.
Cheers
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KenWilliams
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from Dublin
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| Posted 16-05-2006 at 20:23
This one is cheap as chips and has gotten good feedback, sounds easy to resize and make photos presentable. There's a free trial version too so you can check out if your comfortable with it.
http://www.download.com/PhotoElf/3640-2192_4-10530847.html?v=1
If you can find an old copy of Adobe Photodeluxe its by far the best budget photo software I've used as far as ease of use and good results is concerned. I used this for longer than I thought I would and found Photoshop very intimidating the first time I ran it because PhotoDeluxe is so user friendly. It came with my first digital camera about four years ago.
The best advice I can give is to either get a fuji digital camera or get photoshop elements and learn how to use it. Fuji digicams give excellent photos straight from the camera that can be printed as-is or resized for web use. Most digital cameras really only give their best when you disable all in-camera processing and do it yourself (even if you want photos with an "ultra-natural" appearance) and this is even more the case when you get into more expensive cameras, but fuji seem to have in-camera processing wrapped up. With most other digital cameras you might be dissapointed with the pics straight from the camera if your used to film and may find you end up having to spend time on correcting them whether you want to or not. The ultimate point-shoot and print camera is the Fuji S3 Pro.
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Andy B
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from Surrey, UK
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| Posted 16-05-2006 at 21:30
The Gimp. Free, very powerful open source.
http://www.gimp.org
I know you didn't ask but for a drawing package I would recommend Open Office Draw.
http://www.openoffice.org
Audio: Audacity
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
Actually I'm having trouble thinking of any commercial programs I actually use day to day at home these days
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JimChampion
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from Southampton
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| Posted 16-05-2006 at 23:07
I second the "Gimp", always used it when I worked with UNIX/linux. There is a windows version you can download, its all free (see Andy's link). In fact, I don't know why I don't have it installed on my current computer. Will get on that right away.
As for your original question - I've used the standard Nikon program that came with my CoolPix camera, never had a problem with filesize. If you contact me offlist with details maybe I can help out.
Jim.
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TimPrevett
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| Posted 17-05-2006 at 17:53
Gimp downloaded and running... let the photos flow... 
Cheers - that was quick and cheap!
Tim
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JimChampion
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from Southampton
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| Posted 17-05-2006 at 20:32
Glad you like it - I've also downloaded it and am using it. Its a bit "nerdy" but if you get the hang of it, its great (interface is improved on what it used to be). Has all the usual tools, plus a whole load more. I hope its stable.
All you have to do now is resist the temptation to render a "supernova starburst" onto all your pictures
Jim
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Andy B
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from Surrey, UK
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| Posted 17-05-2006 at 22:12
Jim - you've just gone up even more in my estimations - what were you doing? I hope you get a chance to counter some of the huge dollops of Microsoft propganda that schools seem to be awash with today.
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JimChampion
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from Southampton
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| Posted 18-05-2006 at 18:10
Quote:
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On 2006-05-17 22:12, Andy B wrote:
Jim - you've just gone up even more in my estimations - what were you doing?
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If I've understood your question correctly - I was doing a PhD in theoretical physics at Birmingham University. For some reason my chops are still on the group's webpage: link even though I left in 2003. As is often the case in university research, we had a Sun network and a load of networked Linux machines.
I wrote my thesis using LaTex, plotted graphs with gnuplot and created figures using FORTRAN and xfig. Esoteric days! Had to learn the microsoft way during teacher training so that I could cope in schools.
Now I've gone well off-topic.
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TimPrevett
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from Cheshire / Manchester
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| Posted 20-05-2006 at 20:49
Still find Gimp leaves me with a 500 longest side pixel over 200kb... any hints?
Thanks. Tim.
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TimPrevett
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from Cheshire / Manchester
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| Posted 20-05-2006 at 20:57
Also, each additional resize reduces clarity. A lovely sharp image becomes progressively blurred.
Tim
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TimPrevett
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| Posted 20-05-2006 at 21:04
Sorted it... just played around. Images coming soon...
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Andy B
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| Posted 20-05-2006 at 23:54
I sometimes find that a final slight sharpen after the resize down to web size can help.
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blingo
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from chester
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| Posted 21-05-2006 at 08:20
to keep image sharp increase 'dpi' when you size down.this increases memory so play about( and always keep an original saved image in 'tiff' format as no detail is lost)
using the sharpen filter can (not always) pixelate the image giving straight edges a uneven step kinda edge.
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