photo editing

unit 1

Hi all,
just wondering whats the best photo editing software (free) for newcomers. Thanks.

Ballyman

I believe GIMP is a very similar package to Photoshop and it's free. However I would imagine there would be a steep learning curve with this.

A better one may be Picassa maybe? I've never used either program so I can't help anymore than this.

daycent

I started out using both. GIMP can be a bit daunting at the start, picassa is really straightforward to use though. I'd really recommend it for beginners.

Anouilh

I always go back to Irfanview.

Installing the plugins means you can use filters that change colour tones.

It took a bit of study at first, but now I find it very fast.

Ghost Train

Anouilh wrote: »

I always go back to Irfanview.

Installing the plugins means you can use filters that change colour tones.

It took a bit of study at first, but now I find it very fast.

any particular plugins you use a lot? Smartcurves is the only one get a lot of use out of, but would be interested to know what else is worth looking at

AnCatDubh

+1 to all of the above.

The Gimp for advanced work - learning curve
Picassa for a quick tune up / red eye / basic edits (although I do like what they are now doing with the suggested crops etc.)
Irfanview somewhere between picassa and the gimp - quite a bit of granular control and some nice plug ins.

All the above for free.

Anouilh

Ghost Train wrote: »

any particular plugins you use a lot? Smartcurves is the only one get a lot of use out of, but would be interested to know what else is worth looking at

I tend to save versions of .hfp files as I work. The interesting thing is that they give different effects on different photos, depending on exposure values within the shot.

The plugins can be dowloaded in a zip file here:

http://www.irfanview.com/plugins.htm

I think you'll have to work your own way into the system, depending on what you want to do. This explains Harry's Filters:

http://www.thepluginsite.com/products/harrysfilters/

http://thepluginsite.com/knowhow/pluginguide/harrysfilters/index.htm

The following screen shot might be helful and choose Adobe 8BF filters to find a wide range of choices. The "auto-adjust colour" is also very useful.

I have to admit I found learning this very slow at first, so if you need more help, please ask.

Ghost Train

Oh yeah, I do have the plugin pack installed, thought maybe you used additional adobe plugins are something, have tried harrys filters but must mess about with it some more. Cheers

xprepairs

Picasa 3 by google is the most user friendly of all and produces great results. I use that as well as Photoshop 7 in all my Beach and Wedding photography.
http://picasa.google.com/

Anouilh

Photofiltre is really worth trying as well.
It has a masque feature that allows one to superimpose textures and transparent photos onto images, or to compose surrealistic images.

http://www.le-didacticiel.com/photofiltre/photofiltre-masque-transparence.php

Often I have noticed that photographers in mainland Europe tend towards very ornate effects, quite different from those in the British Isles.

Have you developed a style that you find pleasing?

YeGods

try this free software. I found it very quick and easy when I started editing photos so it's perfect for begineers. you won't need and plug-ins. It can run on the most basic of PC's.
http://www.photoscape.org/ps/main/download.php

aidan18

I use Picasa 3 its easy to use & its free.. I am slowly learning my way around photoshop but its tough

JackKelly

if you are regularly editing photos, I wouldn't skimp on software and would recommend getting Lightroom. Otherwise you might find using image editors for managing your photos very tedious

carmelt

Picasa 3 is fine but doesn't extend to curves or reduce noise setting so maybe photoshop