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Free photo editing/enhancing programs?

post #1 of 41
1/27/06 at 4:04pm
Thread Starter 
Anybody know of any REALLY good downloadable programs like this that are free? With lots of features? Thanks!
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post #2 of 41
1/28/06 at 4:46am
You could take a look at Picasa: http://picasa.google.com/index.html
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post #3 of 41
1/28/06 at 10:12am
There is also a program called The Gimp. It's considered an excellent Graphic program. I've tried it, and it was beyond me, and I work with Photoshop, but most graphics people swear by it as being THE BEST thing out there.
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post #4 of 41
1/28/06 at 10:15am
Thread Starter 
Wow, thanks both of you - I'll have to take a look! The thing I use now really isn't that great, it's what I'm making my ameteur signatures with. THANKS!
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post #5 of 41
1/28/06 at 10:30am
Thread Starter 
Actually I guess what I meant was something that you can use to make backgrounds...kind of like yours hope Well I know you can't get anything THAT good for free, but I mean, something simple at least. Is there anything like that for free online? I've been doing google searches for it, but haven't found anything yet.
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post #6 of 41
1/28/06 at 12:55pm
You can create Backgrounds of your own, with The Gimp. I just think it's a little harder to understand than Photoshop, but it has a lot of capabilities to do a lot of things.
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post #7 of 41
1/28/06 at 1:09pm
Have you looked for the test versions of Photoshop Elements or Paint Shop Pro?
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post #8 of 41
1/28/06 at 2:42pm
Thread Starter 
Okay, about "The Gimp" thing - I found a site, found where to download it but I don't know how exactly to download it....Could I have a link to where ever you found it please?

And, about trial versions of Photoshop - they hardly come with any features. I've tried a few of them and you can't really do much.
Thanks anyways though.
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post #9 of 41
1/28/06 at 2:55pm
Here is where to download The Gimp for Windows.
http://www.download.com/The-GIMP/300...-10073935.html

First download the GTK+Runtime Environment
Then download The Gimp

It says you have to install the GTK+ first then install The Gimp.

You can make some pretty interesting things with The Gimp, but like I said, to me, it's WAY harder the Photoshop. The fact that I know quite a bit about Photoshop has helped me with The Gimp. I've created some interesting background with it. Don't get frustrated, and don't expect to create things right away. Just keep on plugging away at it, and if you need any help, let me know. I'm not great on The Gimp, but I might be able to help you out
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post #10 of 41
2/1/06 at 4:15pm
I bought a book last yr, Free Software for Dummies and it had a big section on using GIMP. (haven't done so yet!!)
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post #11 of 41
2/1/06 at 6:25pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks Hope for the link, I'm about to go there

And wow, a section for free sofware?? GIMP must be pretty impressive huh? If I really don't understnd the program I might get that book
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post #12 of 41
2/1/06 at 6:27pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by HopeHacker
Here is where to download The Gimp for Windows.
http://www.download.com/The-GIMP/300...-10073935.html

First download the GTK+Runtime Environment
Then download The Gimp

It says you have to install the GTK+ first then install The Gimp.

You can make some pretty interesting things with The Gimp, but like I said, to me, it's WAY harder the Photoshop. The fact that I know quite a bit about Photoshop has helped me with The Gimp. I've created some interesting background with it. Don't get frustrated, and don't expect to create things right away. Just keep on plugging away at it, and if you need any help, let me know. I'm not great on The Gimp, but I might be able to help you out
I'm usually pretty good at figuring stuff like that out, and I know I won't get it right away. I do like playing around with stuff and figuring out what does what and exploring and things....But it does sound complicated so if I need help I will come to you if you don't mind! Thanks so much.
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post #13 of 41
2/4/06 at 1:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sweetiecat3
I'm usually pretty good at figuring stuff like that out, and I know I won't get it right away. I do like playing around with stuff and figuring out what does what and exploring and things....But it does sound complicated so if I need help I will come to you if you don't mind! Thanks so much.

No problem. I'm getting to understand it more and more. I still think it's more complicated than Photoshop, but that might be because I know Photoshop a lot better.
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post #14 of 41
2/4/06 at 8:44am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by HopeHacker
No problem. I'm getting to understand it more and more. I still think it's more complicated than Photoshop, but that might be because I know Photoshop a lot better.
Aaaaaaaaaaaa!!! So many windows, so many icons,....What to do what to do what to do?! I cannot even open a picture in Gimp! I feel so stupid.
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post #15 of 41
2/4/06 at 10:42am
I downloaded the 30 day trial version of Photoshop Elements recently.
I just removed it from my computer.
I could not figure it out.
I gave up...and that's OK.

You might want to try Photoshop Elements....It's free for 30 days.
Hope know's what she is talking about.
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post #16 of 41
2/4/06 at 11:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sweetiecat3
Aaaaaaaaaaaa!!! So many windows, so many icons,....What to do what to do what to do?! I cannot even open a picture in Gimp! I feel so stupid.
Just go to "File", then "Open". Then a menu will show up with your computer files. You open a file on Gimp, the same way as you do, with any other program. Gimp does have a lot of cool filters and plug ins, that allow you to create a lot of super cool backgrounds, by the way. It really has just about everything that Photoshop has, and I'm talking about Photoshop, not Photoshop Elements. I'm thinking it probably has more than Elements has.
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post #17 of 41
2/5/06 at 1:29pm
Thread Starter 
xocats - thanks, I think I might give the 30-day trial a try.

And Hope - I know, but it only lets me access certain files and not others?! Thanks so much for trying to help me. You probably have no idea what I'm talking about sorry.
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post #18 of 41
2/5/06 at 2:27pm
I would advise you to turn your files into JPG's, BMPs, or even gif's. If your files have an odd extention, you'll probably have problems opening them with most programs. The Gimp opens a lot of different types of files, including PSD or Photoshop files.
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post #19 of 41
2/6/06 at 3:28pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by HopeHacker
I would advise you to turn your files into JPG's, BMPs, or even gif's. If your files have an odd extention, you'll probably have problems opening them with most programs. The Gimp opens a lot of different types of files, including PSD or Photoshop files.
The file type is not the problem. I made sure that when I was installing it, I checked all the boxes so that it would be able to open a lot of different file types. Anyways, they are JPG's.
And since you seem to know how to change file types, could you please tell me how in a thread I made here in this forum? I need to change the file type so I can open it in the program I use for siggys, Photofiltre since I'm making someone a signature on a different site. More details there. Help with that would really be much appreciated if you can
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post #20 of 41
2/6/06 at 8:16pm
There is also a program called Irfanview which works well as well.
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post #21 of 41
2/7/06 at 9:11am
Infanview will allow you to save your files from other formats to JPG's. I'm not familiar with Photofiltre. What format does Photofiltre allow you to save files in?

Infanview is free by the way.
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post #22 of 41
2/9/06 at 8:18pm
Thread Starter 
I'm not sure what file types exactly Photofiltre allows you to open/work with/save. I'm not sure where to find that info on it right now. I'd say probably about 10-15 different standard picture file types though.

And I'll have to check out Irfanview! Thanks everyone for the help and suggestions so far
Is it easier to work with, or does it flow better than, The Gimp?
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post #23 of 41
2/11/06 at 5:35pm
Infanview is nothing like Gimp. Gimp is more like Photoshop, meaning it's a graphics program where you can do more things, and create cool backgrounds as well as cool special effects. Infanview is a really basic photo editor, but it will allow you to save files in the jpg format, which is the primary format used in photo editing.
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post #24 of 41
2/11/06 at 6:26pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by HopeHacker
Infanview is nothing like Gimp. Gimp is more like Photoshop, meaning it's a graphics program where you can do more things, and create cool backgrounds as well as cool special effects. Infanview is a really basic photo editor, but it will allow you to save files in the jpg format, which is the primary format used in photo editing.
It's nothing like Gimp?? YES!!! I kind of gave up on the GIMP and uninstalled it. I am going to look at Infanview right now Thanks so much
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post #25 of 41
2/11/06 at 10:38pm
Quote:
I kind of gave up on the GIMP and uninstalled it. I am going to look at Infanview right now
Awww, don't be a quitter! I thought Gimp wasn't too bad to get started with, although I'm sure I was only skimming the surface of its capabilities. It's really "the" program to use for animations, but the trouble I had with it was file size...Just to test it out, I opened an 8K .jpg file with the Gimp, then saved it under a different name, same extension, same compression...and it magically became a 32K file. Does that make any sense?

Anyhow, this became a big issue for me with the Gimp program because I needed gif animations to be less than 50K and even optimized over and over again, I could still only get them down to 80K or so, and then they looked bad. Frustrating. And Gimp is a real processor-hog; it bogs down my little old 'puter.

I'm just now getting started with photofiltre, but I did notice on their site that there are additional downloads that may or may not include more backgrounds. You should take a look over there, Patty
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post #26 of 41
2/11/06 at 11:20pm
Hi, Me again! I went over to http://www.photofiltre.com/ and if you use the link on the left for "downloads," there is a whole list of additional patterns almost at the bottom of the page. I downloaded the ones containing 120 and 77 patterns and just unzipped them to a file on my desktop. Then, when you open a new image in photofiltre, the "New" box opens up. Here you set the dimensions for the image, and toward the bottom you choose either background color or pattern; choose background pattern, find the folder unzipped to desktop, and pick a pattern. They are all jpg and seem to be pretty decent. Hope this helps!
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post #27 of 41
2/12/06 at 5:22pm
I downloaded Gimp a while back and couldn't figure it out for the life of me, so I took it off my computer. I really like Photofiltre, it does everything I need it to and it didn't cost me anything. I love it!
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post #28 of 41
2/12/06 at 6:01pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Allezany
Hi, Me again! I went over to http://www.photofiltre.com/ and if you use the link on the left for "downloads," there is a whole list of additional patterns almost at the bottom of the page. I downloaded the ones containing 120 and 77 patterns and just unzipped them to a file on my desktop. Then, when you open a new image in photofiltre, the "New" box opens up. Here you set the dimensions for the image, and toward the bottom you choose either background color or pattern; choose background pattern, find the folder unzipped to desktop, and pick a pattern. They are all jpg and seem to be pretty decent. Hope this helps!
Oh, thanks, but I already know about that and have used the plug-ins and extras. I have Photofiltre. That's what I used to make the signature I have now. Sorry but I think I will leave The GIMP alone for now. I may someday try to pick it up again when I'm feeling a bit more confident about it heh!! Thanks though
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post #29 of 41
2/12/06 at 6:37pm
Patty...You did a beautiful job with your current Valentine siggy.
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post #30 of 41
2/16/06 at 8:16pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by xocats
Patty...You did a beautiful job with your current Valentine siggy.
Thanks!!

....Well Irfanview seem to be extremely simple, more so than even Photofiltre
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