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Introduction
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I love digital photography. I also love when I capture one of those perfect pictures where the subject, composition, lighting, and color are just right. But let's face it, most of the time our photos need a little coaxing to get them to look like we want them. There is a proliferation of free image editing and photo correction tools floating around out there and trying to find just the right one can be a little daunting. After evaluating over 30+ programs, I narrowed it down to a handful. I broke these down into three sub-categories, basic, mid-level, and advanced. The basic category is for those little gems that help you quickly and easily make small adjustments to the overall lighting, colors, and tones of your images without the clutter of a lot of advanced tool sets. These also offer such tools as cropping, sharpening, and red eye correction. The mid-level category offers more advanced tools like layers, adding captions and shapes, the ability to select portions of the image and make ajustments to just those portions, etc. These will also offer filters for applying textures, artistic effects, edge enhancements, boarders and frames. The advanced category will include tools that are comparable to professional programs like Photoshop, or Paint Shop Pro. |
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Discussion
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Basic Editors
Mid-Level Editors
PhotoFiltre is a nice basic to mid-level editor with a good feature set. Simple adjustments can be made fairly quickly using the tool bar buttons, or you can make more advanced adjustments by delving deeper into the menus. There is a nice set of tools for selecting parts of images, doing simple painting, and smudging, drawing basic shapes, and adding text. PhotoFiltre also has a good selection of filters to add effects to your images, and can do batch processing of images.
Artweaver - If you don't want the .NET Framework, or simply would like another option other than Paint.Net you should have a look at this. Although it is more focused on being a painting program, it has a very good array of image adjustment tools. Artweaver also has a curves and levels tool that works a little better than Paint.Net, in my opinion. Other than that they are similar programs, with comparable functionality.
Advanced Editors
In A Class By Itself
This software category is maintained by volunteer editor Paul Lawrence |
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2.0 
Restricted Freeware (full commercial version available) 
Win XP, 2000, Vista
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paint.net 3.5 is out
Is there a photo-editing programme which delivers automated lossless rotation and straightening?
I use FastStone Image Viewer to organise my photos and do most editing - and it's very good. It can do lossless rotation. But it cannot automatically straighten pictures to get a level horizon or a true vertical.
If I want to do more complex editing, I use LightBox. But that offers no "straightening" option.
Picasa has a very easy "straightening" tool. But I don't like Picasa because of the way it takes over and manages all your image files and folders.
I have just tried Photo! Editor. It has a great set of features, including Straighten, and is very user-friendly. But any editing results in serious loss (an edited 1MB photo goes down to less than 500kb).
Hence the question at the start of this post!
I have tried over 2 dozen image editors & paint apps. Evidently transparent GIFs have gone the way of DOS. None of the editors I have tried can create a transparent GIF like I used to be able to do with a couople clicks in a few editors, like earlier versions of Paintshop.
Does anyone know of an applications that can convert an existing flat-image GIF to one with a transparent background? They may not exist any longer.
Thanks.
I have just downloaded Gimp 2.7, as yet untried, but I am sure you will be interested to see what the differences are as I am. But I thought I would point it out to those who like to keep up with these things
Tony
Really surprised that Arcadia's PhotoPerfect Express is not listed.
Actually it is listed under products that where reviewed. It just did not make the cut.
-Editor
Take a look at https://inmail24.com/Login.aspx :
"Each registered user gets a copy of Zoner Photo Studio 9 Classic. This application is a great way to get started in the world of digital photo-graphy. Learn more in the feature tour."
lloonn
Photo Pos Pro became a FREEWARE!
Another couple of interesting freebies to add to the list:
IMAGE TUNER
http://glorylogic.com/
MOBA PHOTO
http://mobaphoto-en.mobatek.net/
By the way, I popped for the full version of Lightbox...
...VERY nice. Can't wait for the new version to come out.
It's just my opinion, but I'm not really sure it should even be categorized as it is here. To me, it's almost more like a plug-in to a larger piece of software. I can imagine, for example, doing some basic manipulation of the photo in PaintShop Pro Photo X2 (or something else kinda' commercial and high-end), and then putting the finishing touches on it with Lightbox. It's very interesting, I'll say that. I'm glad I got it...
...though I emailed the maker about something (after purchase, which meant that I was a PAYING customer), and never heard back from him. That's disconcerting.
__________________________
Gregg L. DesElms
gregg [at] greggdeselms.com
Napa, California
About what i put with Vicman:WOT is stupid because after instal i make a scan of entire computer and i don't find malware.People who vote in wot have different interestig and not all ar good people,they can to be a busniss man and a free soft that was before comercial(good)to became now free is not good for bussines.Soo who are afraid to install a good post commercial soft,don't install it.You don't know what you lose.For what is antivirus?
Some things in life should not be decided by popular vote. That is just one of the nearly half-dozen reasons that I dislike WOT and prefer McAfee's SiteAdvisor.
But that's just me.
__________________________
Gregg L. DesElms
gregg [at] greggdeselms.com
Napa, California
Thank you for this amazing site. Very informative.
Hello everyone! I use Cylekx. http://www.cylekx.net - this is a really good free photo editor. It has many features and is a freeware application.
Picassa. Simple, effective, reliable, free.
HD2
What's wrong with Picassa?
For basic photo-retouching, including resizing and straightening, there's nothing better - waaaay better than PhotoShop!
It indexes all your photos too (I've 50,000, so I find that a great help!).
Some of the tools are useful for special occasions ('soft focus'), and, whilst the 'touch-up' tool is much less powerful than PS 'clone' tool, it works well enough for small blemishes.
It also has batch editing - vital if you have 500+ theatre shots that need colour-correction!
HD2
Yes Yes Yes! I know Picassa contains a good simple photo editor. But Picassa is not a photo editor. It is a Photo Organizer. It is already reviewed on this sight in that category, so no need to duplicate it here. See above under heading "Related links"
-Ritho
Editor
I must agree, For easy editing (and for me 99 % of my photos just need that). Red eye, crop, color adjust etc, Picasa does the job and is of course my photo album to (how convinient ;-). So here is another wote for it to go on top of the easy editing list =)
Here we can find a very powerfull free editor:
http://www.rw-designer.com/image-editor
There is a lot a free software at:
www[dot]vicman.net
Was commercial and now is free.
Edit: This site receives a warning from Web of Trust (WOT). Use at your own risk
Gizmo's
Is very good like an editor,free and simple.
About Picasa is the subject.
it's my decision to where i put my images not picasa.
I've found "Paint.NET Megalo Effects Plugin Pack - Over 385 Effects" and "Paint.NET Megalo FileType Plugin Pack - 48 FileTypes" for my favotite app - Paint.net. Just want to share it with you. Easy to install and easy to loose hours in trying all the effects and adjustements :)
This is really great, check it out:
http://paint.net.amihotornot.com.au/Download/PluginsPack/
Cheers, M.C.
Looking for a simple to use grahics editor that you can add drop shadows easily to photos? I just need to be able to resize, crop, and add drop shadows or maybe borders of some kind. What would you recommend?
Give FrameFun a try.
Which is best for working with raw images?
Thanks for the detailed reviews and comments feedback.
However, because of your interest in photography, this category is more "Best Free Photo Editor." I came looking to recommend a Digital Image Editing program to a friend of mine (I use Photoshop) but he wants to do graphics stuff like layered images (cover design) and web output. One can assume such functionality in the mid to advanced sections but you don't really cover that.
I appreciate that many people now seek such programs for photos, but they have a far broader use than that. Or at least, they might. It would greatly enhance the review if you touched on support for layers, vector (not raster) text, and web resolution output.
Thanks!
David
Hi there! What do U think about Icon studio on falcogames dot com?
Your opinion is interesting! )
What do you think here about TwistedBrush Open Studio
(http://www.pixarra.com/)? The feature set looks quite impressive - at least
at first sight.
I've just noticed it was mentioned on the
"Best Free Paint Program" Gizmo page.
Someone mentioned Cylekx so tried it and got my free key, awesome! not looking back now and will be happy to avoid ps in future, Jacky
I tried it and it does seem like a capable product but I believe it's meant for experienced users, it's a bit confusing for hobbyists imo especially with the awkward interface.
I'd like to suggest "StudioLine Photo Basic", it's the FREE version of their commercial "StudioLine Photo Classic", I'm not an expert but it looks like a decent program with interesting features if anyone would care to review it.
http://www.studioline.biz/EN/products/overview-photo-basic/default.htm
~Yaser
Ritho,
I think you should take a look at Cylekx, an image editor which supports layers and offers many other features. Though I use PS mainly, I've tried Cylekx and am impressed.
http://www.cylekx.net/
There's a commercial Pro version too, but the Standard one is very capable.
Marc
Hi Ritho, i'm glad you find Cylekx usefull. If you would like to help promote this new app in return for latest full version (3.1), just contact me though our site. Thanks, Ian
Excellent selection of software as alternatives to Photoshop. Thanks for the list.
Is there a freeware version of Adobe Bridge?
Thanks
Are you are asking if there is a version of Adobe Bridge that is free, or a freeware alternative to it. There is no free version of Bridge I am aware of. If you want a freeware alternative, well, yes and no. Bridge has several different functions, but basically it is a media viewer / manager. For a freeware alternative to do those things see http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-digital-image-viewer.htm and http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-digital-photo-organizer.htm
If you combine a couple of different freeware programs you can probably come up with the functionality you are looking for. Although one may do it depending on what your looking for.
Bridge integrates with many of Adobe's other products and borrows from and "bridges" their functionality as well. If you are looking for something that will also integrate with those products, you may be out of luck.
You may want to check out BlueMarine as it is often cited as an alternative to Adobe's Lightroom which is similar to Bridge, but is more focused on photography. Find it here http://bluemarine.tidalwave.it/
-Ritho
(editor)
Great work Paul. I currently use Irfanview and Picasa but think I'll now give some of these programs a run.
Any chance we can have a list of the ratings and categories for some more of the 30+ programs you evaluated?
Thank you. While I did not include ratings with these or put them in categories (too time consuming) I put a list of 31 other image editors I looked over. See them above in the Related products section.
-Ritho
(Editor)
You might want to try ActivePixels at http://idea-systems.net/.
It seems to be a capable program.
Can anyone recommend a free program for setting the colour hue on an LCD monitor Something like what I think Pantone Huey does ?
Please ask questions like this in the forum. There is a section called "I want a freeware program that.."
You might also try --> http://www.displaycalibration.com/
-Ritho (editor)
I use Photoscape, does everything I need and more. :-)
Paint .NET is my favorite one and I don't think that
"Requires Microsoft.Net Framework to be installed"
should be considered a con or a flaw, A LOT of applications require .NET framework these days and it comes integrated into Windows anyways.
I did not intend it to be seen as a flaw. For whatever reason some people don't like .net programs, and it was meant to warn them. (As if the name Paint.Net is not enough) In my evaluation of Paint.Net I did not count that it runs on the .net framework against it, and it still received the top pick in the mid-level editors. I will, however, change it so that it does not appear as a flaw.
Thanks for commenting
-Ritho
Editor
Have you ever tried IrfanView http://www.irfanview.com/?
Though IrfanView has adjustment tools it is more of a image viewer type program and will not be included here. You will find it already featured in the Best Free Digital Image Viewer category. http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-digital-image-viewer.htm
Newest IrfanView has limited paint functions.
But it's still really just a viewer. One can velcro a spoiler onto a family car but so doing doesn't turn it into a sports car.
__________________________
Gregg L. DesElms
gregg [at] greggdeselms.com
Napa, California
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