Would like a cheaper, simpler alternative to Photoshop Elements

[Ken90630]

Hi, All,

I'm building a new PC for a friend of mine. She's planning on getting a new digital camera and getting a little more into digital photography.

She's an interior designer and doesn't intend to become a professional photographer. But she'd like a little more options & control over her photos than what she gets from Windows Picture & Fax Viewer & her HP printer software's photo processing app.

I think even Photoshop Elements might be a little more than she needs, however, and at ~ $100, it's a little more than she wants to spend.

Any recommendations on a good but cheaper (~$50ish or free?) digital photo processing app? (Preferably one that's been around for a few years.) Thanks in advance.

 

[blackhawk]

picassa free

 

[Gooberlx2]

Picasa and Windows Live Photo Gallery are good for organization and simple 'darkroom' adjustments. Paint.net would offer more options such as simple layers and curves, etc... Gimp offers more advanced and in-depth tools all around. RawTherapee is a good RAW processor.

...all free.

I've seen both Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop Elements go for around $50 when they're on sale + coupon.

 

[pukemon]

Paint.NET for image editing/processing. As mentioned above, it's free and has been around for a while. Note you need to have the .NET Infrastructure (v2.0 or newer) installed if you're running WinXP. Vista and Win7 already have it.

Picasa for mass photo import/export/management, and also if you want to publish somewhere on the web for free. I haven't used the Photo Gallery that's a part of the Windows Live! Essentials, but it's also free.

 

[sswingle]

Older version of elements only $44

Amazon

 

[corkyg]

Picasa is good, but last time I checked, it did not have a SAVE AS function. I prefer Irfanview, also free.

 

[Anubis]

Gimp

 

[randomlinh]

Picasa is good, but last time I checked, it did not have a SAVE AS function. I prefer Irfanview, also free.

picasa does indeed allow you to save as.... not sure when that wasn't an option.

Gimp

it certainly is cheaper... not entirely sure on the simpler requirement, heh

 

[Gooberlx2]

Picasa is good, but last time I checked, it did not have a SAVE AS function. I prefer Irfanview, also free.

Picasa has an export function. Doubtful it gives you many (if any) format options other than jpeg.

 

[Ken90630]

You guys are awesome (as always). Looks like I have a little research to do, but I'm sure I can find a good app for my friend among all those suggestions. Thanks a mil.

 

[corkyg]

Picasa has an export function. Doubtful it gives you many (if any) format options other than jpeg.

Export, yes. I recall that. But, it is not the same as a quick SAVE AS which both GIMP and IRFANVIEW do easily. They also serve as graphic file converters and can run your scanner.

 

[slashbinslashbash]

Export, yes. I recall that. But, it is not the same as a quick SAVE AS which both GIMP and IRFANVIEW do easily. They also serve as graphic file converters and can run your scanner.

If you're looking for "Save As..." as a way to edit and save the edits, without losing the original photo -- Picasa does this automagically (as does iPhoto, which I use). Any edits are always saved to a copy -- the original is copied to another folder for safe keeping. So you can always revert to the original photo within Picasa.

 

[randomlinh]

Export, yes. I recall that. But, it is not the same as a quick SAVE AS which both GIMP and IRFANVIEW do easily. They also serve as graphic file converters and can run your scanner.

i'll give you that, picasa only saves to jpg if you do a save as. is that what you talk about when you say picasa doesn't have "save as"?

Also, you can import from your scanner to picasa as well. I can at least.

 

[corkyg]

"SAVE AS" is a standard Windows file management procedure, usually under FILE in the menu system. It allows you to rename or place whatever is on screen wherever you want it. For me, that is an essential feature for quick and easy file management - basic computing 101. It even exists here in IE.

 

[randomlinh]

"SAVE AS" is a standard Windows file management procedure, usually under FILE in the menu system. It allows you to rename or place whatever is on screen wherever you want it. For me, that is an essential feature for quick and easy file management - basic computing 101. It even exists here in IE.

if that's all you want, that exists in picasa. the shortfall of it is it picasa only saves out to jpg.

 

[corkyg]

OK - but it did not exist in Picasa 2. That's when I dumped it.

And, I just installed Picasa 3.8. SAVE AS is there - no problem. Too bad it can't convert between all of the formats it can view.

Bottom line - I would recommend it for OP's use along with Gimp and Irfanview.

 

[Muse]

Older version of elements only $44

Amazon

Not meaning to hijack this thread, but I don't think it's inappropriate to ask this here... How is this (an older version of Photoshop Elements)? I have an unused copy given me by my sister in law, who decided against installing it. I have a new DSLR now in addition to my old P&S, have never shot RAW, but intend to dig into the capabilities of my new camera (including RAW processing, etc.). Can I get some comments about Photoshop Elements 7? Also, what will I miss (and what would you miss?) between it and full Photoshop?

 

[slashbinslashbash]

I haven't used PS Elements extensively (I've got an older full version of PS) but I think it would be fine for most use. I think mostly it's missing some filters and some other advanced things that are mostly for professional use. E.g. it's missing CMYK color mode, but unless you're focused on print work (i.e. magazines) then you don't need it. It's also missing layer masks and paths. Layer masks are useful but complicated. And paths are more of an illustration tool than a photo-processing tool IMO. RAW processing and most normal corrections should be no problem with PSE.

It seems that PSE strips out some of the things that are used more for graphic design and extreme photomanipulation, but keeps most of the things needed for normal photography needs.

 

[randomlinh]

if you buy an older version of PSE, you might want to double check it's raw support for your camera. Also, that link is a referral link.

 

[ZOOYUKA]

Also, that link is a referral link.

Thats the way all amazon link show up her on AT.

 

[capeconsultant]

Tried many myself. Decided on Photoshop Elements 8.0 and never looked back. Can do all I need it to do and then some. Compatible with layers and PSD files and can recommend to clients.

 

[akugami]

if you buy an older version of PSE, you might want to double check it's raw support for your camera. Also, that link is a referral link.

I thought PSE uses the same Photoshop Camera Raw plugin. Which would mean so long as the edition of PSE supports the RAW plugin in the first place you should be able to just grab the updated version of the Raw plugin. So long as the most up to date version of the Raw plugin supports your camera, you're good to go.

 

[randomlinh]

I thought PSE uses the same Photoshop Camera Raw plugin. Which would mean so long as the edition of PSE supports the RAW plugin in the first place you should be able to just grab the updated version of the Raw plugin. So long as the most up to date version of the Raw plugin supports your camera, you're good to go.

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=4730

Older versions of PSE only go up to to a certain version of Adobe Camera Raw. PSE7 is only compatible with Camera Raw 5.6

However, what can be done is using the standalone DNG convertor. I'm not sure what limitations you'll run into, but it's an option.