Freeware Photo Enhancing Package

[+Gralorn]

I'm currently using Kodak for downloading my photos from digital camera, but its such a large program and more orientated towards online albums and sharing. I like its editing tools, but certainly looking for something freeware, a little better and straight forward that enables me to maintain the original photo, reduce it for web use, brightness, contrast, red eye, different looks ie; black & white, sepia, forest, faded edge, etc. Rutson told me of one he uses most satisfactorily, but I have forgotten what it was, he was impressed with its resources and cost - Free! can anyone assist. I do like to add pictures of caches and visits to them on my logs, no not spoilers. Also I would be interested in how to upload a photo to this forum from such an enhance program.

[Deego]

Try http://picasa.google.com/ . I use it to catalogue all my photos but use photoshop 7 for my manipulation (still saving for CS2 )

 

The tools did look good though and it can auto build web pages for upload to your own site etc (example)

Edited November 8, 2006 by Deego

[+Team XL5]

Have a look at Paint .net from http://www.getpaint.net/

Edited November 8, 2006 by Team XL5

[+Alibags]

I too use Photoshop, but at work they have got 'The Gimp' which is free and supposed to be quite good.

[Edgemaster]

The gimp contains all the tools for people who know how to use them. It isn't very friendly to anyone who wants a one click enhance.

But, it is free, open source software (not that that means anything to most people)

[+Old B]

microsoft office picture manager is free !!!

Edited November 8, 2006 by Old B

[+rutson]

I suggested the Gimp in the first place, but Edgy is right, the learning curve is steep. The best all-in-one photo manager I know of in indeed Google Picassa. For a free, lightweight viewer with easy to use basic editing and colour correction, you can't go wrong with IrfanView 3.98.

[+Mr Hedgehog]

Also have a look at Irfanview

Richard

[+John Stead]

Also have a look at Irfanview

Richard

 

Exactly what I was about to write - I've been using Irfan for years and rarely move to anything more elaborate.

[+tteggod trackers]

i have irfanview and find its very easy to use and does exactly as it says on the packet!!.. just reduce /brighten /darken/bit of this /bit of that in simple terms............thats what most of us want

[+Gralorn]

Have discarded Kodak and now downloaded Picassa and Irfranview to play around with. First look quite impressed especially in Irfranview, never knew my photos looked so good when zoomed, if only they could stay that way some of the detail is brilliant. So will play around with these and see if I can get the hang of them. many thanks for your advice, Gimp did look a little technical for the likes of me, but I had a look!

thanks again. Off now to take some photo's of the Thames Path caches near Cricklade, six new ones been put out by Lydford Locators!

[+Gralorn]

More than happy for this particular thread to be closed. Question was asked, advice was given. Thank you!

[+walkergeoff and wife]

Have a look at Paint .net from http://www.getpaint.net/

I downloaded this, but, in the process, ZoneAlarm informed me that I had been stopped from accessing a known Spyware website. Is there some hidden link on the download page?

[+Team XL5]

Have a look at Paint .net from http://www.getpaint.net/

I downloaded this, but, in the process, ZoneAlarm informed me that I had been stopped from accessing a known Spyware website. Is there some hidden link on the download page?

 

That's odd - I've re-checked and that is the official paint .net site. I'm not aware of any issues with it.

[+walkergeoff and wife]

Have a look at Paint .net from http://www.getpaint.net/

I downloaded this, but, in the process, ZoneAlarm informed me that I had been stopped from accessing a known Spyware website. Is there some hidden link on the download page?

 

That's odd - I've re-checked and that is the official paint .net site. I'm not aware of any issues with it.

Maybe there is a hidden link?

[Browser]

Surprised not to see a mention of this package :

 

Microsoft Photo Story 3 for Windows XP

 

It's a free download available to customers running genuine Microsoft Windows.

 

Browser

Edited November 10, 2006 by Browser

[+wigglesworth]

I have just looked at the microsoft photostory - the s/w is free but for a 60 day trial!

Peter

[Browser]

Sorry about that - The link now seems to be directing you to 'Microsoft Digital Image Starter Edition 2006' which is indeed time limited.

 

I don't know why that happend but I guess it's because one application is replacing the other.

 

Please try here :

 

Microsoft Photo Story 3 for Windows XP

 

and if it fails to find Microsoft Photo Story 3 for Windows XP, try typing 'photo story' into the search box.

 

Browser

Edited November 10, 2006 by Browser

[Browser]

Not free but quite reasonable :

 

 

PhotoRestyle from Tesco

 

Not a recommendation because I haven't tried it but at only £9.97 it might be worth a punt.

 

Browser