Photo Editing Software

[mnphysicist]

I am now finally leaving the dark ages, having just upgraded to XP. My photo editing software, Adobe Photo Deluxe 1.0 for WIN95 doesn't work anymore. I always hated the "are you sure you want to do this popups" approach to software, but was familiar with it, and saw no reason to change over the years.

Now, I need to get something.... and not sure what to do. Photoshop is $$$$ and looks overkill. PaintShopPro seems reasonable but may be clunky.

What I typically do is the following
1. cropping and resize
2. color balance and adjustment
3. back ground removal
4. glare removal

What would be cool, is something that would allow me to photograph an object, and convert it to a wireframe format that I could pull into autocad.

Ease of use is key, as I get impatient with huge learning curves... I have used Corel 10 since 01, and still have to dig out the manual, as I only use parts of it so infrequently.

Bearing in mind, that I am a cheap guy, what are folks recommendations?

 

[utdbear]

Try Gimp, its open-source. I hear a lot of people like it.

http://www.gimp.org/windows/

I personally use Photoshop CS2, but I hear that if you want a little cheaper version, you can get Photoshop Elements and do some basic stuff.

 

[superduperblake]

Photoshop CS2. Dog.

 

[Southern Cross]

PS CS2 can be had for as little as $300 off Ebay. You buy the upgrade along with an unregistered older full version (mine came with PS 6.0). It's completely legal and a long as you buy from a reputable seller, you should be fine.

Photoshop Elements 4.0 will do what you are asking, and you can work in layers as well. It's $100-$149 depending on where you buy.

 

[soblessed53]

I am now finally leaving the dark ages, having just upgraded to XP. My photo editing software, Adobe Photo Deluxe 1.0 for WIN95 doesn't work anymore. I always hated the "are you sure you want to do this popups" approach to software, but was familiar with it, and saw no reason to change over the years.

Now, I need to get something.... and not sure what to do. Photoshop is $$$$ and looks overkill. PaintShopPro seems reasonable but may be clunky.

What I typically do is the following
1. cropping and resize
2. color balance and adjustment
3. back ground removal
4. glare removal

What would be cool, is something that would allow me to photograph an object, and convert it to a wireframe format that I could pull into autocad.

Ease of use is key, as I get impatient with huge learning curves... I have used Corel 10 since 01, and still have to dig out the manual, as I only use parts of it so infrequently.

Bearing in mind, that I am a cheap guy, what are folks recommendations?

Thanks so much for asking this,as I too would like a photo-editing program,but I do not think $300 is any bargain!

I am looking for something much more reasonable than that.

 

[akagordon]

I agree with Southern Cross, Photoshop Elements 4.0. Oh, and I found it for $84.99. If you don't want to go with that, maybe try Corel's Paintshop Pro, which I found for $89.99. I've heard Microsoft Digital Suite is pretty good but I've never used it. I found it for $74.99 and I believe it's less taxing on your system than others.

A warning though, you said that you just upgraded to XP. Be sure to check the system requirements before getting anything. Oh, and Microsoft is releasing it's next operating system in just a few months, Windows Vista.

 

[tall73]

First of all, never underestimate BUNDLED software.

If you are going to work with photos a lot then I suggest getting a WACOM tablet. It allows you to use a great pen interface for greater control, and digital painting, editing, etc.

It also usually comes with Photoshop Elements and a basic version of Corel Painter. I have seen a wacom graphire tablet for as little as $80 that comes with Photoshop Elements 3 (one version behind) and Corel Painter Essentials 2. I can tell you that you will love the tablet once you get used to it! I edit and paint with it all the time.

If you want to go free then GIMP, as cited above is good. Its interface drives some a bit crazy though as it is not nested in the window but has floating menus over the whole desktop.
Another free option is here:
http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/
It is a pretty simple program from what I recall but probably does what you want.

As for wireframes...hm....honestly haven't found a program for that yet. The closest I have found is a program where you have to map it, and it was a bit expensive.

Corel 10, if you mean Corel Photopaint, is actually quite good by the way. It can do all you are wanting and more.

Did you get CorelDraw with it as well? I used Corel Photopaint 9 until recently and now use a newer version of it.

Finally, if for some reason you want to try digital painting but don't want to spend money try this free version of Right Hemisphere's Deep Paint.

http://www.download.com/Deep-Paint/3000-2191_4-10398243.html?tag=lst-0-1

And if you have an old Palm organizer there is actually a driver out there that allows you to use your palm as a tablet....I heard that it is somewhat decent. But that is if you are REALLY cheap or adventurous.

 

[mnphysicist]

That WACOM tablet sounds really interesting. I think I will need to investigate that.

Since I posted this, I have tried a few things.
1. GIMP.... yikes, the interface did drive me crazy
2. Serif Photoplus... I thought this was going to be it, until I tried to do cut and paste operations, and it crashes every time. However, if I never cut and paste, it is an amazing program, easy to use, and being free, a real bargain. I almost wonder if I am doing something wrong with the cut and paste though. Its such a common operation, I find it hard to believe they would release it with such a bad bug.

The program I have is Corel Draw 10, and since I never really used more than a small part of it, perhaps I never installed Corel Photopaint, I will need to check into that. .... it would be pretty cool to find out I already have something, and just didn't install it.

 

[tall73]

That WACOM tablet sounds really interesting. I think I will need to investigate that.

Since I posted this, I have tried a few things.
1. GIMP.... yikes, the interface did drive me crazy
2. Serif Photoplus... I thought this was going to be it, until I tried to do cut and paste operations, and it crashes every time. However, if I never cut and paste, it is an amazing program, easy to use, and being free, a real bargain. I almost wonder if I am doing something wrong with the cut and paste though. Its such a common operation, I find it hard to believe they would release it with such a bad bug.

The program I have is Corel Draw 10, and since I never really used more than a small part of it, perhaps I never installed Corel Photopaint, I will need to check into that. .... it would be pretty cool to find out I already have something, and just didn't install it.

Corel Draw is at times packaged seperately, but it is rare. If you have Photopaint then you will want to use it! That version is a few versions old, but still it was a pro level tool in its day and can do somethings that even Paint Shop Pro. etc. can't.

Corel Draw is the vector program. It is great too for doing illustration work, layout etc.

Some Wacom reviews
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1865593,00.asp
http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/Wacom_Graphire4_4x5/4505-3147_16-31517056-2.html

 

[Jcsogls]

Try Photofiltre. Very cool piece of software. Powerful and easy to use. I highly recommend it..Its also freeware..I'm a student photographer. Teaching myself the art.

www.photofiltre.com