Free installed editors

[BillW]

I want a clean start in photo editors. I tend to do shooting in fits and starts with sometimes lengthy work-driven gaps in between. When I come back to any of the better full spec editors, it is a learning curve all over again. And I don't do enough to justify the up-front and upgrade costs.

I also receive images from many sources related to my family history research, images that I need to put into a standardised storage format, inspect the IPTC status, perhaps batch edit (not strong on that).

I am looking at (again) Irfanview and freshly at XnViewer and FastStone Image Viewer.

I'd like to receive comments and recommendations/warnings please.

Cheers, Bill

[I @ M]

What camera brand / model are you using Bill?

[ameerat42]

None! At some time you'll just have to settle down and take note of what image editors do and how they do it.

That is basically: adjust images. They all do pretty much the same, pretty much the same way. Some have more
features/abilities than others. Do it a few times - keeping it to simple things - and get the hang of it. After a while try something
else. Practice is the key, AFAIC.

I have used FastStone recently on a new computer. It can do some useful basic image editing. After that I installed the free version
of Photoshop CS2, available from the Adobe site. Although it's now an old version, it is PRETTY POWERFUL.

Now, since practice is king, try somethings using, say, Faststone, then get on here and ask for feedback, advice, and help.
In no time you will not know your (image-editing) self. Also in the meantime, download install and register that free CS2.

After a bit you will be able to transfer the ideas learnt in, say, Fastsone to there.

Am.

[ricktas]

The Gimp!

Oh and use youtube for video tutorials on how to do stuff in most of the editing software.

[ameerat42]

And here are some useful tutorials (http://www.ausphotography.net.au/forum/forumdisplay.php?142-Photoshop-Tutorials)

[BillW]

What camera brand / model are you using Bill?

Me, Canon 7D, LG G2 Android, plus images emailed to me from anyone, anywhere.
Bill

[ricktas]

Me, Canon 7D, LG G2 Android, plus images emailed to me from anyone, anywhere.
Bill

Just something to be aware of, on AP we only allow members to post photos they own copyright to. So any of these images you get via email you cannot post on this site, as under the law, copyright is owned by the person who took the photo.

[BillW]

Went to the Adobe download site, asked to create an account, asked for my birthdate, read the privacy statement, and they are upfront about gathering quite a bit of personal information. Is everyone OK with Adobe in these respects?

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Just something to be aware of, on AP we only allow members to post photos they own copyright to. So any of these images you get via email you cannot post on this site, as under the law, copyright is owned by the person who took the photo.

Understood and quite OK. Bill

[ameerat42]

You don't have to tell them everything. Make up an age. But your email is required. The point is, it asks for rego every time you
run the program. It's OK, as it does not expire. Just click "No" after the first time you register.

[Hawthy]

Personally, I am entirely comfortable with Adobe regarding privacy. Let's face it, everything about your identity is stored digitally somewhere. Birth, marriage, divorce, credit history, banking history, driving history, medical history, criminal history....right through to death - it is all there. I shudder to think what will happen if anyone hacks the Apple app store or PayPal. Half the world must have their credit card details there.

Anyhow...let's not worry too much about that. It is beyond our control.

Adobe are a very reputable firm. You read their privacy statement (I should have but didn't have the time). Is there anything in there that really raises concerns? I am over 50, so I remember the days when privacy was...well, something truly private. For good or for bad, those days are gone. Gen X & Gen Y are far less circumspect than older generations.

That said, I can heartily recommend Adobe Creative Cloud. At $9.95 per month for the most up to date Photoshop/ Lightroom / Bridge suite, I think that it is unbeatable value.

[farmmax]

I don't know about Adobe's privacy, because it is only a few years ago their username and passwords were hacked into, and we received emails making us change our passwords urgently. Give them the bare details requested, and no one is going to check they are real. Because our birthdates are used in some places for security and identity checking, I suggest you never use your correct birthdate on line unless it is a bank , ato or similar which legally requires it.

For basic image management, I always use Faststone, because it is free, and extremly light on computer resources. It is incredibly good at batch renaming and resizing images, so I use it for these tasks all the time. I manage and view all my images in Faststone. While Faststone can do basic editing, most of my editing is done in Photoshop. There is absolutely no need for the most up to date versions of photoshop for the majority of users. All image editors take time and commitment to learn unfortunately. There doesn't seem to be a way to shortcut.

Don't forget there is an online editor to use on AP. You can get to it under the AP Extras link near the top of this page. It is Pixlr and like a basic version of photoshop. Worth a try if you have a reasonably good internet connection.

[ameerat42]

But think of the 50 million Frenchman who use Adobe products...!

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OK, I wasn't gunner say it, but it's the "cloud" I'm not a fan of.