I want an image editor for christmas and at first I though i would just ask for photsop since that is all I really know about. Although i have used it before and it was pretty complicated. I just want it to play around and maybe for some projects. I enjoy photography and playing around with picures. So nothing really fancy but something that is advanced enough that it will still be good when i become more accostomed to it. Although if photoshop is fairly easy to get used to with perhaps the (i think adboe has free online courses and stuff) or just totorials then photoshop it is.
So does any one know a good peice of software that is about $400 USD or less?
thank you for your help.
Photoshop Elements is much cheaper (only $99) and is much easier to use than the Pro version. Check it out: http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopelwin/
Hope this doesn't confuse things, but when you have some idea what you want try getting a used copy through ebay or Amazon.
I have Paintshop Pro versions 9 and 5. Mostly I use version 5.
You can download a demo version and I'd strongly suggest doing that. I found Photoshop Elements to be quite different from Photoshop.
I started out with Microsoft Digital Image 2006 and it works great and is not complicated at all. It is very easy to get around in.
It comes with a very good instruction manual unlike a lot of other programs.
I also have Photoshop Elements 5.0 and use them both about the same.
I do find that the Digital Image program is a little easier to use but gives excellent results.
I think I paid $59.00 at staples in 2006 so it maybe the 2007 version by now.
It is also Vista compatable.
Save yourself a bundle and try PhotoFiltre. It is the most intuitive, user friendly, full featured editor available. The FREE version has everything but layers and .8bf filter plugin capability, but has a significant number of it's own. The recently released "PhotoFiltre Studio" incorporates the two missing options and sells for about $40.
I have various versions of PhotoShop, Corel PaintShop Pro, and numerous other excellent editors, but none with the speed, efficiency, and lack of bulk posessed by PhotoFiltre(latest version 6.2.7) It doesn't appear that you plan to use layers, but you could install the Free version and always upgrade to the commercial version later.
Try it. You'll like it. It also has loads of useful plug-ins you won't find elsewhere. Also available for FREE, so bookmark the site. Here's the link to the Downloads page .
http://photofiltre.free.fr/frames_en.htm
I agree with this recommendation. Photofiltre is terrific and it's free. Why spend US$100 for Photoshop Elements, an excellent program but far too expensive for my tastes, when there are dozens of free and much cheaper basic image editing programs out there?
Check out the possibilities at nonags.com and filehippo.com and downloads.com.
If you have a scanner, you probably got an image editor bundled with the machine. Use that until you decide what you want and need in an image editor.
try using gimpshop. it's easier to use than the normal GIMP and has lots of functionality. and best of all, it's FREE! it has various levels, selections, blur, distort, and filter options.
I also figured thus, but GIMPshop is poorly executed and very buggy. When I switched to regular GIMP it was much sleeker, smoother, stabler, and no harder to use. I recommend GIMP all the way. It's almost as powerful as Photoshop overall, and better in some ways.
I've been using PSP since the Jasc days. Although I'm not totally happy with its evolution since Corel bought Jasc, it's still my primary tool. It costs about the same as Photoshop Elements (which I also have), but just seems a better overall package.
Perhaps that's because Corel is using it to compete with both Photoshop versions, whereas Adobe is careful to differentiate Elements from full-blown Photoshop. For example, PSP is compatible with a number of Photoshop plugins. Adobe, OTOH, would tell you that if you want that, you should upgrade from Elements to Photoshop.
Of course, for me, there's also the familiarity factor. When I bought my first copy of PSP, Photoshop Elements was still a few years away. By now, my neural pathways are wired to work with PSP and so it naturally seems most comfortable to me.
Try Picasa by Google...it is free and it does a lot!!!!
I'll second this. I'm already on record as a user of both Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop Elements, but Picassa packs a lot of power if your
requirements aren't too demanding. I use it primarily for photo organization, but my wife uses it for everything. And you can't beat the price!
I personaly recommend Photofiltre because there is a lot of tutorials online to help master it.
I have used many, currently using Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Digital Image. The hardest part of the learning curve is figuring out the vocabulary used in the software.
I do have a great resource for everyone...
http://www.mehdiplugins.com
Mehdi offers an extensive array of free plugins for digital imaging software. My personal favorite is 'Eraser'. Go ahead, remove the time and date stamp from your favorite photo and while your at it, remove the odd looking animal or the inappropriate finger gesture and your photo looks fabulous......
Good Luck,
jak
I have followed all the posts and everyone offered very good advise.
I use Adobe Photoshop as a professional.
There is only one more to consider. INFRANVIEW. It's FREE!
I do not use it, yet many on the CNET Graphics Forum swear by it. May fit your needs.
To view all the discussions on Infranview, go to the left hand top of your screen, here on the Forum.
You will see a heading called CNET Forums (in Green).
Click on it and you will be led to another screen. Type in Infranview and hit your return.
You will read all about Infranview and all the discussions concerning that software that was ever posted on CNET Forums (FOR YEARS!!!)
Happy reading! Lots there.
-Kevin
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