picture editor - simple cheap. recommend one?

Blintok

Senior member
Jan 30, 2007
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Hello

looking for an inexpensive easy to use picture editor. What i want to be able to do is fix shots i have taken that has bright light and dark areas. want to be able to brighten up the dark spots while leaving the light spots alone.

Yes i could learn how to take pictures but i use my camera infrequently and the times i read the manual and learned how to do things with it worked fine but next time i use the camera i forget most of what i learned.

i have tried things like Gimp and it looks like it would do the job but like the camera takes time to learn and if i dont use it alot i forget again
i have tried Firehand Ember and that works some times - i use the channel equalization edit but its hit or miss. some times works great other times the bright areas are washed out.

i have searched and i see Irfranview and ACDSee and Picasa ...i have tried Picasa but dont like it.

*camera is a Sony Alpha 200
and some times a Nikon point and shoot.
 

Munky

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2005
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Did the Sony camera come with any software? Often, the free viewing/printing programs bundled with cameras can do simple edits. I also use FastStone Image Viewer, might wanna give that a try.
 

iGas

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2009
6,240
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Irfanview is a great viewer, basic editing, and batch convert software for 32bit Windows.

My favorite editor use to be Gimp for all image formats, but I'm now converted to Darktable Photo Workflow once I found it (the bee's knees for RAW image manipulation).
 

Krioni

Golden Member
Feb 4, 2000
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Appaently the quote isn't a "deep" quote.... Paint.net and Picasa rock as free tools.
 

corkyg

Elite Member | Peripherals
Super Moderator
Mar 4, 2000
27,370
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Somewhere down the road, learn to use a fill flash to lighten up high contrast dark areas when you take the picture, and avoid a lot of post processing.
 
Sep 29, 2004
18,656
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Irfanview is a great viewer, basic editing, and batch convert software for 32bit Windows.

My favorite editor use to be Gimp for all image formats, but I'm now converted to Darktable Photo Workflow once I found it (the bee's knees for RAW image manipulation).

Had to Google it as I have never heard of it. Linux only from what I saw?
 

Rottie

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2002
4,795
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Not sure if GIMP has a plug in filter and there are some free plug in filters that allow you to quick fix and done.
 

iGas

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2009
6,240
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Not sure if GIMP has a plug in filter and there are some free plug in filters that allow you to quick fix and done.
Gimp does have plugin filters for quick fix, but they are cumbersome and so as the plugin for RAW editing.