Model Boat Mayhem
Mess Deck: General Section => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: davidm1945 on January 26, 2014, 01:07:59 pm
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Hi All,
I was the lucky recipient of a Pentax digital SLR camera for my birthday and would like to be able to manipulate some of the images. So, I know that Photoshop is probably the best software on the market, but it aint cheap and is probably far more sophisticated than a beginner like myself is likely to need.
What software do you guys use? Obviously the best value for money (or free!!) is what I am looking for.
I have been using "point and shoot" for years, but this SLR is a new toy for me.
Hope you can share your extensive knowledge with a newbe to the "serious" photography scene.
Dave.
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I use a free software called GIMP (no joke!). It's pretty much the same as photoshop, well it does the trick for me at least...
Steven
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Hi
You won't need the full version of Photoshop instead try Photoshop elements it will do all you want at a much lower cost. You can download a free trial from the adobe website.
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=photoshop_elements&loc=us (http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=photoshop_elements&loc=us)
Richie
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There is - or was - Photoshop Elements, which is a cut down version and therefore cheaper. If you are interested I have a copy going cheap - PM me.
OK RMH beat me to it - the offer still stands.
Barrie
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Another vote here for 'The Gimp' does everything photoshop does and is free, when you find the website look for links to the windows compiled version, or google Gimp for windows, as this software can be run on most operating systems.
Grendel
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GIMP! :-))
Not always obvious but if all you want are the basics then it's excellent.....and free O0
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All photos I post on Mayhem are 'manipulated' using a 14 year old program call PaintShop Pro 7 and a 12 year old program called CompuPic Pro.
Because the programs are so old, they have a very small Windows "footprint" thus loading in just a few seconds and run extremely fast on modern equipment. OK I don't do flash stuff, masking, histograms, etc, but they are fast and cheap, ebay.
I recently tried Photoshop elements, wow, what an over blown pile of equine excreta! Huge 1Gig download, slow and most interesting features turned off. Adobe Lightroom is very good at sorting and quick correcting photos.
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I have had various versions of Paint Shop Pro, currently on 9. Does just about all I need to do and very easy to use. Most of what I do is Crop to Selection. Resize, and Sharpen a bit.
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First, ensure you have a decent anti-virus programme on your 'puter (Avast, malwarebytes anti virus and C Cleaner are all FREE ) then have a daily look at http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/ (http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/) They regularly have FREE photo manipulation programmes.
Regards Ian.
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I have been using a free and legal PSP5 since I got it as a freebie on a magazine disc - works OK on all windows since 3.1. Cumbersome for "clever" stuff because of its age. I've had a go at later versions, which improved right up to the time that JASC got bought by Corel, when it degenerated into feature rich bloatware.
These days I mostly use Irfan. It free, basic and fast. From being almost only a viewer way back when it started, it is now a useful image manipulator.
I look for most of my programs on http://www.majorgeeks.com/ They tell you whether its freeware or otherwise and there are comment pages where users pass judgement on the worth of the program.
The caveat with most free downloads is that you must read the options as they appear to avoid becoming overloaded with undesirable "recommended" so-called "extras" like search engines and toolbars.
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Photoshop elements is the way to go. I've been using Photoshop since its birth updating to the latest all the way through to 5. To be honest I've wasted money because no way can the average user even begin to touch what it can do. You really need to be a full time image manipulator to use it to its fullest.
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Hi All,
Many, many thanks for all your replies. I posted my query at 01.07 and then went out to my Grandson's birthday party. When I came back I had had 10 replies - what a helpful gang you all are.
However I was chatting to a relative at the party and told him about my post and he has got a copy of Paintshop Pro (dont know what number) that I can have!
Result.....
Dave.
PS Thanks especially to barriew for the pm, but hopefully I am now sorted.
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As said Gimp is good almost a copy of photoshop but regardless of what you get. 2 Points Never work on the original and Less is best.
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I down loaded Gimp and picked up some malware so in the bin it went. Be careful :police:
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AND that's not all . . . if you're on Windows XP (or earlier) your OK for most imaging apps ,The later Win 7 / Win 8 are a different OS platform and even the old favorites mightn't work properly <:(
tho' I think the latest ADOBE ELEMENTS will work . . .
Digital cams are a pain some of the time , seem to be at their best in sunny bright weather , on cloudy/dull days >:-o the colours crap & needs enhancing . . . the latest SLR's are good they can 'shoot' a selection of shots on auto fire just by holding the button down , so you can chuck away the ones you dont like . . . weren't the old 'Box Brownies' so much more fun ? you'd shoot off the 12 exposures wait a week & marvel at the superb snaps %%
Bill
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Have you considered FASTSTONE IMAGE VIEWER?
Does the job for me .........and it is free to use.
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Hi,
Have you had a look at Pentax's own software, not sure if it is free though.
Mat
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I down loaded Gimp and picked up some malware so in the bin it went. Be careful :police:
Did you download it from GIMP's website?
http://www.gimp.org/
If you did, you didn't get any malware, unless something has tampered with your browser, or you have an antivirus which is prone to reporting false positives.
I do a lot of photo editing and GIMP is absolutely the best unless you're willing to pay in full for the likes of Photoshop.
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yes, there are several fake GIMP sites and downloads out there... as well as some site you don't want showing up in your browser history!
GIMP = GNU Image Manipulation Program)
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If your'e just looking to resize. crop and basic colour and contrast tweaking you can't beat Irfanview. Completely free and very versatile.
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AND that's not all . . . if you're on Windows XP (or earlier) your OK for most imaging apps ,The later Win 7 / Win 8 are a different OS platform and even the old favorites mightn't work properly <:(
Bill
Ah, now that may make a difference as I am running Windows 8 (aaaaaarghh %% >>:-( ) so the copy of Paintshop that has been offered to me may not work and from what you are saying that may apply to a lot of the older software.
Matphoto has pointed out that Pentax do some software bundled with the camera and I have to admit that I have been so busy playing with the camera that I haven't checked it out. I will do so ASAP.
At the moment it seems to be that Gimp is the favourite, so may give it a go.
Thanks again, Folks, for all your advice - much appreciated.
Dave.
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One other advantage with Gimp is they have endless tutorials
https://www.google.com/search?q=gimp+tutorials (https://www.google.com/search?q=gimp+tutorials)
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tho' I think the latest ADOBE ELEMENTS will work . . .
Been using Photoshop 7 (Old version) with XP and now Win 7 for some time now. Ideal for cleaning and resizing plans, much underused to buy though.
Regards Ian.
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Ah, now that may make a difference as I am running Windows 8 (aaaaaarghh %% >>:-( ) so the copy of Paintshop that has been offered to me may not work and from what you are saying that may apply to a lot of the older software.
Right click and install as administrator.
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Hello Dave ,
welcome to photography , if you use the camera right , get to no settings , exposers , f stops, histograms , use raw,
photo shop wont correct poor pictures , so get right to start with , light room , or elements is the way to go with software, it is not cheap,
if you are not sure join the local camera club , see how its done, remember if its not sharp bin it , cheers Larry..
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Ooh chance to show two of mine- taken last November in my garden, no photoshopping straight from the camera, if you get it right to begin with then not much editing needs doing....
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I dont know about not being able to correct Poor pictures? out of focus pretty difficult if at all. that really only leaves exposure, colour and compositon all which in most cases can benefit/ My biggest pleasure is restoring old and or damaged photos usually someone elses treasured memory thats when photoshop really comes into its own. Though as I said in an earlier post Less is best
As the OP was about photo editing software surely any pics should be relevant to that not just My Pics
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Yes, I have to agree with jaymac. I am sure that pretty much everybody on this site could post some perfect photos they have taken, but that is not the point. What about the otherwise perfect photo with a small flaw like a leaf blowing across, or some graffiti just showing at the edge or all sorts of other minor imperfections. I'm not talking about major surgery but just sorting the irritating faults when required.
It's a bit smug to say "just get it right first time, every time" 'cos life aint like that. We can't pose all our pics, you take 'em when the opportunity presents itself, warts and all.
Dave
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BTW Dave, if you are looking for ideas, I'm still doing my photo project with my work college Monty,
you're welcome to join in in, any one is!
See:
http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,45269.msg457883.html#msg457883
https://www.facebook.com/ModelBoatMayhem/media_set?set=a.10200189308895997.1586644924&type=3
Current theme: Fleeting moment.
Post photos here.
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Thanks Martin, some good pics on there. Like some of the others, I wont touch Facebook with a long handled shovel, but its nice to view the photos on MBM.
Dave.
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Ooh chance to show two of mine- taken last November in my garden, no photoshopping straight from the camera, if you get it right to begin with then not much editing needs doing....
Hello Brian56
Took the liberty of lightly 'Photoshopping' one of your photos.
Brian
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No one has mentioned the fun that can be had using pretty basic photo editing software.
I once did a lovely picture of our Martin when he was on holiday in Afganistan %) (cant find it now unfortunately).
I've been messing up with photos since I started waving my hands under a Gnome enlarger, eventually gaining employment in various areas of the photo industry - but still only use Paintshop Pro 6 !
My advice is get a cheapy program and try it out. You'll be surprised (and amused) at what you can achieve.
Cheers
Danny
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You've done a good job on retouching the praying mantis Brian, really brought out its colour.
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Just to add my 2 pence worth. I have been using Photoshop elements 6 for some time now but recently changed computers so have had to change. I find that I can do everything that I could do with Photoshop either on Google picasa which is good for simple editing or if I need a more powerfully tool I now use Pixlr.
http://pixlr.com/ (http://pixlr.com/)
It is completely on-line (which is handy as can be used at work without admin access ok2 ), I have found it is as good as elements and slightly easier than GIMP. This is the sort of thing it allows.
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There are some images which despite being perfectly composed and exposed still require a degree of manipulation to obtain the required image.
Here are three photos which prove my point:
Photo 1 - A ship taken at a focal length of 450mm, hand held. The ship was on my visible horizon.
Photo 2 - The image cropped in camera.
Photo 3 - The image with a small amount of noise reduction and a 50% application of a smart fix (Elements 12)
This ship was so far away on the horizon that even with my excellent lens and correct exposure etc, photo manipulation was required.
The third photo is even better at it's correct non forum file size.