Free (legit) photo-editing software

[puggit]

Hi all - I'm just starting out on the amateur photography route, having recently acquired a Canon PowerShot A710 IS - and I have a photo I want to enhance.

I'm not going to go and buy PhotoShop yet, I'm simply not ready for the real thing, and as I work in software I couldn't possibly get an illegal copy

So can anyone recommend a source for a free (legit) and easy to use piece of software to get me started?

[fergusd]

The Gimp is free and almost photoshop . . .

www.gimp.org/

Windoze download page : http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stabl

Fd

[F308 MAN]

not familiar with the Gimp software package, but as a beginner, you would'nt go far wrong with Picasa from Google
http://picasa.google.com/
d

Edited by F308 MAN on Saturday 13th January 18:21

[stuart b]

Or if you think you will ultimately progress to Photoshop, have a look for Elements as it can often be picked up quite cheap and will at least mean you're starting on the learning curve.

Stuart

[J111]

http://gimpshop.blogspot.com/

Gimp with a Photoshop user interface, so a great many PS tutorials on the web (and elsewhere) will work without having to figure out the differences in interface.

Alternatively:

http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/li

Currently in beta testing, very much aimed at photographers, without the illustration abilities of Photoshop, but an interesting product. Again free.

[windandwave]

Paint Shop Pro is much cheaper than Photoshop and has probably 95% of the functionality most of us would ever need.

[hugoagogo]

i bought PSP8 (latest is 10 i think) for less than a tenner on amazon (couldn't get to grips with gimp)

[zaktoo]

Another vote for Gimp here. It's not hard at all really (not aimed at you Hugo, just saying) - once you realise that everything you need is right-click on image and choose from menu. There are toolbars and keyboard shortcuts, but most of the time right clicky does it.

Ciao

Zak

[fergusd]

I've been trying to wean myself off photoshop so I can move away from windows completely . . .

Gimp appears to be faster and need less resources than photoshop . . . much like all Adobe software it's really a little bloated . . .

With the increasing support of raw converters on linux and tools like Gimp it's starting to become viable to make the move to a real operating system . . . ;-)

Fd

[alex b]

You could always try Ulead as well.

Thats what I use, its simple enough and has quite a few useful tools.

Not quite sure of the website, but if you google it. you'll find it.

[Bodo]

Another vote for The Gimp here. Started to work with it before I had a Photoshop course, and must say it is the best image manipulation software to start with and do all sorts of image works!

[hugoagogo]

hehe maybe it is quite easy, but i started out on PSP 5 on an old compooter and wanted to stick to what i knew really, so i suppose it's what you are used to

[wyvern971]

For RAW images have a look at Pixmantec Rawshooter esentials

The essentials version offers quite a lot in terms of image correction, and it's free

www.pixmantec.com/products/rawshooter_essentials.asp

[rameshuk]

Adobe has bought Pixmantec.

So you can only download it 'until shortly after Adobe lightroom 1.0 is released as a shipping product.

R