My First Digital Camera: Now I need Software

[TimmyBoston]

I recently joined the 21st Century, my girlfriend bought me a digital camera for my birthday. So hopefully soon, I'll be able to snap some of those nifty S.O.T.D. photos!

I have a question: I received a Canon Powershot SD600, which I think is pretty swell, but I don't have any good photo software to crop the photo's, remove red-eye, etc. Any suggestions? I have no aspirations of being a pro, but I would like to make my photo's look their best.

As far as I can tell the only modification I can make within the camera is color, turning a color photo to b+w, sepia, etc. I would like more freedom than this. I'd like to do more.

I would prefer a freeware program, but if I have to buy one, I'll live.



My apologies for putting this in the wrong forum. I had no idea the Darkroom even existed. I'm very sorry for the trouble.

[TimmyBoston]

Also since I am totally new to the general digital photography thing, any general suggestions would be appreciated.

Any advice on settings to make my photos look their best?


Thanks all for the help!

[TimmyBoston]

Okay, here's another basic question: How much does the 6mp setting (the L) compare with the smaller size settings? How much difference is there in the pictures?

Any suggestions on what size I should set the camera to?

[lt_gustavsen]

Just have to give my advise, before you get all those ”you have to buy photoshop”.. advises.

Software
Gimp (http://www.gimp.org/) is open source and can do almost anything. I have used it for more than 10 Years on my linux box . I know use it mostly for layout work like making postcard, calendars and so. My main post-processing tool now (not exactly true, since I mostly use bibble pro for raw converting) is picture window pro (http://www.dl-c.com/). It is very lightweight, easy to use and understand. It has excellent documentations and a good forum with support. There is a fully working 30 days demo at their webpage for download.

You will be happy with any of those programs.

Lars

[Jim]

Tim
I use photo shop. If you use windows there is a basic photo editor built in Start>programs>accessories> Photo editor/
Or Start>programs>Microsoft office tools>photo editor.
Just start shooting and see what works, for the Close up work use the flower (macro)setting on your camera.

[Tanksfurnutin]

Tim,

I actually make ink for a living and am familiar with Photoshop. For someone just starting out I suggest that you get Photoshop Elements. It is a stripped down version of Photoshop and it will cost you about $500 to $600 less. I am familiar with the programs that Lars suggested but I might have to check them out for myself.

[GeeQue]

I've been using Photoshop for many years now. It is an excellent program. If you want to get your feet wet, with no investment, to start off try VCW VicMan's Photo Editor 7.8. This is a freeware photo editor:
http://www.tucows.com/preview/194908

[kozulich]

I've been using Photoshop for many years now. It is an excellent program. If you want to get your feet wet, with no investment, to start off try VCW VicMan's Photo Editor 7.8. This is a freeware photo editor:
http://www.tucows.com/preview/194908

In spite of the fact that everyone raves about Photoshop, I prefer Paint Shop Pro. Its much lower priced and does everything I want it to. But before you go and buy even PSP, didn't your canon come with software like "canon zoombrowser" or some such? Mine did, and basic though it might be, it does cropping, and red-eye reduction and color correction, and best of all, you've already paid for it!

[Dennis]

Take a look at Google's Picasa 2 - it is free and may fit the bill.

Dennis

[RichGem]

Just have to give my advise, before you get all those ”you have to buy photoshop”.. advises.

Software
Gimp (http://www.gimp.org/) is open source and can do almost anything. I have used it for more than 10 Years on my linux box . I know use it mostly for layout work like making postcard, calendars and so. My main post-processing tool now (not exactly true, since I mostly use bibble pro for raw converting) is picture window pro (http://www.dl-c.com/). It is very lightweight, easy to use and understand. It has excellent documentations and a good forum with support. There is a fully working 30 days demo at their webpage for download.

You will be happy with any of those programs.

Lars


+1 on "The Gimp" there are also window & MAC versions and it's free.

[Dennis]

I forgot to mention that software should have come with your camera. I just checked my program list and there is a boatload of Canon stuff in there. I think the Zoombrowser does all the photo editing. To be honest though, I am completely hooked on Picasa as it does all my organizing, tagging, quick pics through email, scanning, editing, everything. It is just a phenomenal program, for free.

Dennis

[Austin]

Canon comes with a really nice software. Look for your CD in the packaging.

[Amyn]

Take a look at Google's Picasa 2 - it is free and may fit the bill.

Dennis

+1

I have Picasa and it works great for your basic functions...

[wa_bacchus]

Buy a Mac...

[joel]

Buy a Mac...

What with them being intel's now.... it's kinda just like buying a slower, much more expensive PC :biggrin:

[letterk]

The Gimp
Picassa
Paint Shop Pro
Photoshop

They will all work. The difference is in features and price. Personally, I use Photoshop.

[wa_bacchus]

What with them being intel's now.... it's kinda just like buying a slower, much more expensive PC :biggrin:

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
:cursing:
Dem's is figthn words....

[letterk]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
:cursing:
Dem's is figthn words....

They sure do look nice, though!

[joel]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
:cursing:
Dem's is figthn words....

Not to poke an angry bull.... but dare I point out your signature line quote?


Women thrive on novelty and are easy meat for the commerce of fashion. Men prefer old pipes and torn jackets.” -Anthony Burgess

Woman.

:lol: :lol:

Seriously... i'm kidding... please put the gun down :tongue:

That's gotta sting a little though :wink:

[wa_bacchus]

Not to poke an angry bull.... but dare I point out your signature line quote?



Woman.

:lol: :lol:

Seriously... i'm kidding... please put the gun down :tongue:

That's gotta sting a little though :wink:


I'll have you know I have been smoking a pipe and using a mac since I was six years old! Both at the same time!

4461


-S
(Actually, I switched to a MAC for the BSD foundation, as I am a Unix System Engineer.)

[berzerkeleyan]

Take a look at Google's Picasa 2 - it is free and may fit the bill.

Dennis

+2. Incredibly user friendly and feature-rich.

[ratcheer]

+ another one for the GIMP. It is both free and highly capable.

Tim

[vasco]

Another overlooked (but very good) program is PhotoFiltre (http://photofiltre.free.fr/utilitaires/photofiltre_en.htm). This is a full-featured photo editor that's also free. Here's the download page (http://photofiltre.free.fr/download_en.htm). It's a lot like what Paint Shop Pro was years ago.

- Rob

[letterk]

I'd cast a vote for Elements as well. You get it free with a lot of equipment, like scanners and printers. Maybe someone has a copy laying around they could give you. I've had a number of copies myself, but have given them away.

[Joedy]

Seriously, if you're not willing to commit a sizable amount of effort in learning Photoshop, you're NEVER going to be able to perform anything proficiently enough to warrant using it to alter the occasional photo.

You need to be honest with yourself and ask, do I really want to spent hours learning about curves, exposure settings, RAW processing, layers, adjustments, workflow processes and so on, or do I just want to fix the occasional red-eye photo?

GIMP is recommended since it is free, but it is still not as user friendly as some of the commercial products. There's no harm in trying it.

Paint Shop Pro is recommended, but since they keep improving the program capabilities to make it more like Photoshop, PSP is not as user friendly as it used to be.

Photoshop Elements is easy to use and will handle most of your needs.

iPhoto is probably the easiest program for most folks to use, in my opinion. It's only available with a Mac, so I'd recommend purchasing an iMac first. (:wink2: )


Almost all of the photo manipulation software is available as a limited trial. I recommend downloading them and giving them a try first.

-joedy


p.s. My Mac can run OSX and Windoze natively and can boot WinXP within a window inside of OSX while it is running, accessing both PC-Only software at the same time as the Mac-Only software.

Why say that one is better than the other when you can have both on the same machine!

[kozulich]

Paint Shop Pro is recommended, but since they keep improving the program capabilities to make it more like Photoshop, PSP is not as user friendly as it used to be.

Agreed. For the limited things I do, I actually like the earlier releases better.

[ratcheer]

Tim, what did you decide to use?

Tim