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Photo Editing Software

Discussion in 'Other PC Software' started by Kimberlee, 2004/07/07.

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  1. 2004/07/07
    Kimberlee

    Kimberlee Inactive Thread Starter

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    While at a family members I tried out Adobe Photoshop 7.0. Sures looks impressive and I'm sure you can do all kinds of things with it, but it would take me years to figure everything out - never mind start using it! I am looking for a program with various editing tools, but I am not sure what I am looking for (don't know what is important to have). I also need something that is easy to understand and work with. Any and all suggestions are appreciated as I am lost in all the information and reviews available :eek:
     
    Kimberlee,
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  2. 2004/07/07
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    As a seasoned 'Photoshopper' and co-author of a couple of eBooks on PS, now using Photoshop CS I suggest you look at Adobe Photoshop Elements 2 - inexpensive and will do all you are likely to want to do.
     
    PeteC,
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  4. 2004/07/07
    Kimberlee

    Kimberlee Inactive Thread Starter

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    Is Adobe Elements basically a "scaled down" version of Adobe Photoshop?
     
    Kimberlee,
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  5. 2004/07/07
    merlin

    merlin Inactive

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    This is free and very good ...

    here

    regards
     
    merlin,
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  6. 2004/07/07
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Yes - it lacks Adobe Image Ready which is for the production of Web page images/animations, etc and a few options of the full version, but for most folks it does the job well and is highly rated. I would say it is more user friendly than the full version and has several wizard type things.

    I exhibit my digital images in Salons worldwide - at a pinch I could manage with Elements, but PS - which I started with before Elements was released, has all the options I need.
     
    PeteC,
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  7. 2004/07/07
    samson

    samson Inactive

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    Photoshop Elements has lots of capability, but it isn't easy to learn. Even after the wizard lead me through a simple thing like change brightness, I didn't understand what I had done and couldn't repeat it. I tried several times and gave up. My copy is now shelfware.:rolleyes:

    Here's one that sounds good, but I haven't tried it.

    http://brilliantlabs.com/default.aspx

    I suggest stick with something simple and easy until you find out where you're going and what you like and need. I use Epson Film Factory along with Irfanview. Will probably try BrilliantPhoto when I outgrow Film Factory.
     
    samson,
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  8. 2004/07/08
    dobhar Lifetime Subscription

    dobhar Inactive

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    I use Paint Shop Pro but the free program PhotoPlus 5.5 is also pretty good. Can't complain as the price is great... :)
     
    dobhar,
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  9. 2004/07/16
    RexB Lifetime Subscription

    RexB groundskeeper

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    PeteC, I use the years-old Adobe Photoshop 5.0 LE and am happy with it. IOW I'm used to it :)

    Is Photoshop Elements 2 a worth-while improvement on LE, with its capabilities? The $56 cost is reasonable.
     
    RexB,
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  10. 2004/07/16
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    RexB - if PS 5.5 LE does all you want and you are happy with it - stick with it and save your $$'s :D

    It's some time since I used 5.5 -that's where I came into Photoshop, now with CS and I have only looked briefly at Elements 2. I guess it's swings and roundabouts, but I would stick with 5.5 LE.

    If you can stand a 100Mb + download you can get a tryout of Elements here
     
    PeteC,
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  11. 2004/07/16
    RexB Lifetime Subscription

    RexB groundskeeper

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    I'll stick with PS5.5 LE, though I'm not good enough at some of it's editing abilities, and it's just a hobby. I'm a 56K'r so I won't try the 100MB d/l {no high-speed here in the woodz, Sat is too $$, but that's Ok} :)

    Thanks for the info, I do like Adobe's s/w.
     
    RexB,
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  12. 2004/07/16
    chrisw

    chrisw Inactive

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    PeteC...I'm just trying to learn PE2 now, it offers an overwhelming amount of functionality (disfunctionality?). BTW, how do I draw just a simple white box (with a well-defined outline) that I can use to type a caption on a photo? I don't want all these "layer styles ", with bevels, shadows, and Wow Neon....just a simple white (or sometimes transparent) rectangle to hold the caption. Or is that too simple a task for PE2?
     
    chrisw,
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  13. 2004/07/16
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Not at all ....

    Open image in Elements

    Select the Rectangular Marquee tool from the Tool Box or hit M on the keyboard

    Drag to draw a rectangular selection (box) on the image "“ outlined by "˜marching ants’

    Click inside the selection and drag to the position you want

    Layer > New Layer via Copy

    A new layer appears in the Layers Palette "“ Layer 1, say

    Ctrl - click (hold down ctrl and left click) on the Layer 1 thumbnail in the Layers Palette and the selection is shown on the main image surrounded by "˜marching ants’.

    Edit > Fill and select white > OK

    Ctrl+D to deselect

    Select the Horizontal Text Tool from the Tool Box

    Select text colour, font, alignment, etc from the options bar at the top of the screen

    Click the Text Tool inside the white box to give a cursor and type the title and click on the tick in the options bar when done.

    Double click on the text with the Text Tool to highlight it, position the Text Tool just under the text and left click and hold to drag the text to where you want it.

    For a transparent box "“ or anything in between highlight Layer 1 in the Layers Palette and adjust the Opacity on the slider.

    BTW if you think PE is complex you should see Photoshop CS :D :D
     
    PeteC,
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  14. 2004/07/16
    chrisw

    chrisw Inactive

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    PeteC.....many thanks. I've been using a training book by S. Rebenschied, but he's so excited about sexy graphics that he doesn't explain anything easier. And the Users manual is useless for a beginner.
     
    chrisw,
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  15. 2004/07/17
    drobinson72

    drobinson72 Inactive

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    Easy Photo Editor

    The Kodak website has a fairly simple photo editor and it is free to download.

    Don
     
    drobinson72,
    #14
  16. 2004/07/18
    indutch Lifetime Subscription

    indutch Well-Known Member

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    Check out FXFoto - a freebie

    Kimberlee -
    Check this out. FXFoto is a really good quality photo editor that will do darn near anything you might want it to do with a digital photogragh. And . . . it's free. It does have an "upgrade" but for the casual user, like you and I, FXFoto has more than enough power and options to make us go GA-GA! 'Take the tour' and be amazed. :cool:

    chrisw -
    I would suggest that you, too, check out the above link and 'take the tour'. FXFoto offers the option of adding 'dialog balloons' to your photos as well as several other applied text options. If this is what you're looking for, the price is certainly right. :cool: :cool:

    drobinson72 -
    Can you supply a link to Kodak's "photo editing software "? I have a Kodak "EasyShare" CX4300 camera and I'm presently using their EasyShare software (v3.2). As far as I can tell there is very little, if any, editing capabilities included in this software. I will probably start using the "cam2pc" software (available from Snap Files by the end of the week if it will 'support' my camera. And I'm betting it will.
    I am completely amazed that a "small, independant" software writer can make software that has the potential to exceed, and really kick the ass of, an OEM for their own product.

    HTH :D


    Mike

    I hope that any of the above helps anyone on the BBS !!


    Mike
     
    indutch,
    #15
  17. 2004/08/10
    Kimberlee

    Kimberlee Inactive Thread Starter

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    My daughter took our camera to take some photos on a trip through the States. She got some breathtaking shots, but I'm looking for something to try to fix the images that are not "level" (most of them are taken on a slight angle - she is very young :) ) Do any of the programs listed above (or any others) offer to fix this problem?

    Thanks

    One more question :) .....if an image has a slight blur to it is there any way to make it more clear?
     
    Last edited: 2004/08/10
    Kimberlee,
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  18. 2004/08/10
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Kimberlee

    I can only speak with experience of Photoshop and it's sibling .....

    Photoshop Elements will rotate an image for you - actually claims to straighten automatically as well as manually 'by eye' The image can then be cropped back to rectangular and enlarged to the original size. Just be aware you may have to crop off something of interest to get back to a rectangular picture.

    It is usual to sharpen digital images before printing, but this is not to compensate for out of focus, digital images are inherently soft.

    If the image has a slight blur strong sharpening may improve it, but if we are talking of the soft effect of distant haze - you can't sharped that because it was never sharp in the first place.

    I'm sure the other posters will confirm what their recommended progs, will do.
     
    PeteC,
    #17
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