Beginner Free Image Editing Software - Opinions?

Eltheza

Eltheza

Suspended / Banned
Messages
343
Name
Elizabeth
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi All:)!

I'm not at the stage where I wish to pay for Lightroom of Photoshop Elements. I've read the relevant 'sticky' above.

I don't do a very great deal of PP, but I'd like to learn.

I use the following:

- Irfanview (there's more to it than initially meets the eye - I'm a big fan!)
- Paint.net (many helpful tutorials online)
- Photofiltre 7 (it came pre-installed with my HP Win 7 laptop - not much online help that I can find)
- Pixlr (online)

I'd like to learn about Contrast, Curves, Exposure correction and Layers to start with.

Any opinions would be most welcome;)!
 
Oh Hi, Jon - thanks:)!
Yes, I've heard of it and I use FastStone Photo Resizer which is brill! Thank you for jogging my memory:plus1:!
 
@Dunc and Tony - Thanks:)!

I know about Gimp - looks like a steep learning curve, as they say:eek:! But I might get there eventually - Thank you!

I was given Corel PaintShop Pro 3, but it kept crashing on my older Vista laptop, so I uninstalled it.
 
Eltheza said:
@Dunc and Tony - Thanks:)!

I know about Gimp - looks like a steep learning curve, as they say:eek:! But I might get there eventually - Thank you!

I was given Corel PaintShop Pro 3, but it kept crashing on my older Vista laptop, so I uninstalled it.
Click to expand...

TBH, there's not really any way round it if you want to get the best out of your images. Just need to take the plunge and start learning. My suggestion would be to buy an old version of Photoshop off eBay. You can pick up something like PS7 for a tenner. Use that to learn. It will do everything you "need" to do and a whole lot more. The stuff that the later editions of PS contain are not things you'll use at this stage, anyways and you may never need to. PS and LR are the goto softwares for image editing so IMO you're better off just starting to learn one now. There are multitudes of free tutorials online to help.
 
I've spent the last couple of years using a combination of free editors along with Nikons own RAW editing software but I've now took the plunge and brought Lightroom and Photoshop CC... so far I've only used Lightroom, I should have done it sooner!
 
I would say get elements 9 or above it does most things and it easy to learn
 
People keep saying that Gimp is hard to use, but why? I find it much easier to use than Photoshop.
 
john.margetts said:
People keep saying that Gimp is hard to use, but why? I find it much easier to use than Photoshop.
Click to expand...

Because everyone is different, but in general, both Photoshop and GIMP have a very broad range of functions and hence, both of them are complex products. Additionally, GIMP (originally) tended towards a particular interface style which was not commonplace among the users of things like Paint Shop Pro, and as such, for many people, GIMP's interface got in the way of the product and made the complex features harder to use.

It's gotten better.
 
wave01 said:
I would say get elements 9 or above it does most things and it easy to learn
Click to expand...

I would respectfully disagree. If you plan to do photography as a permanent hobby then you might as well start getting to grips with PS or at least LR. Delaying it will be just that.
 
Thanks very much, everyone:)!

All comments much appreciated. I'll go away and have a think:thinking:;)!
 
Thanks, Pete:ty:!
 
WingTsun said:
Agreed but a tenner spent on PS7 would qualify as "virtually" free considering what you'd get for the money! :D
Click to expand...

I have no problem with spending a tenner but for starters, what would PS7/Gimp give me that e.g. Paint.net can't? I prefer to jump in at the shallow end;)!

Also, at the mo', I try to 'get it right' with the camera; this might change!

Thanks for all your replies and thoughts!
 
Thanks very much, Divergent - useful to know:)!

Welcome, by the way:welcome:!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top