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General discussion

What's your favorite photo editor and why?

Aug 29, 2006 7:19AM PDT

What's your favorite photo editor and why?

ACDSee Photo Editor
Adobe PhotoShop
Adobe Photoshop Elements
Corel Paint Shop Pro
FastStone Image Viewer
The GIMP
IrfanView
Picasa
Ulead PhotoImpact
Other (what is it?)

Discussion is locked

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ACDSee...
Aug 29, 2006 2:43PM PDT

It's reasonably priced and very user friendly. I use it all the time for photo's I've taken with my camera or for images I scan in from old family photo's.

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Photoshop is the Best!
Aug 29, 2006 3:10PM PDT

Maybe the favourite program is related with which program you started with, I started with photoshop 5.0 when I was in 8th grade, and now I happily use the CS2 version . The photoshop is powerfull in my opinion because it enables you to fully control the image without slow response and also it is usefriendly. Photoshop needs experience and Knowledge, when you got them you will feel very comfotable with him and free!!!

Cheers!
K.Eid

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Upshot by Bellamax gets my vote
Aug 29, 2006 3:48PM PDT

Easy yet extremely versatile. Never alters your original photo, and only saves changes to disk until you export a copy of the finished work. It's FastFix is one of the best autofix functions I've seen, even gets red eye in one pass. The tutorials are helpful and the online manual (pdf) is more comprehensive.

You can keep experimenting as long as you want and never ruin the original. I had some nice shots of Maui that are now frameable after tweaking with UpShot. While not 100% intuitive in its controls, it does a great job once you've learned it nuances.

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ACDSee
Aug 29, 2006 4:19PM PDT

Simple and effective file management and good editting capabilities. I have compared with Microsoft and Adobe products and always settle back to ACDSee for my personal photo management.
If you are seeking to "enhance" pictures with frames or do extensive editting, you must have the current version of ACDSee Editor which is sold seperately. Otherwise, the Microsoft Photo Album Manager and Editor will do nicely.

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ACDSEE Photo Editor and Corel Photopaint for more complex ed
Aug 29, 2006 4:56PM PDT

ACDSee provides almost one click photo editing filters while Corel Photopaint masking tools are greate.

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Favorite Photo Editor
Aug 29, 2006 4:56PM PDT

Irfanview is the total genius of speed and simplicity and if you need more powerful functions Shift-E starts your choice of photo editors with the current Irfanview image already loaded.

Most of the functions are one key! Not Ctrl+ or Atl+.
L and R for left and right rotate, T for thumbnails, and on and on.

When you make a crop selction the edges and corners of the selection are still moveable (Ulead pay attention).

It is where I always start and usually need nothing else.

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favourite photo editor
Aug 29, 2006 5:28PM PDT

My favourite is Microsoft Digital Image Suite. It is extremly easy to use, has a large range of effects most of which work very well indeed.

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My Favourite Photo Editor
Aug 29, 2006 5:30PM PDT

Without doubt Paintshop Pro X is the best in my view.
I have not tried the latest Photoshop but the "Combination of a script using the Paint Shop "One click photo fix" and a mild "Clarify give me consistent results. I should say this applies to photos and slides from 35mm film.
I have found very little use for much processing with my Digital images unless the Flash does not work
K.Hume

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Irfan View
Aug 29, 2006 6:12PM PDT

There's no doubt that PhotoShop and PaintShopPro would rule the roost as far as advanced technical manipulations of digital images are required. Unfortunately, both are just a li'l too techie for normal users ... requiring quite a steep learning curve. As some others have posted here, any normal creative user would spend more time trying to understand the various controls than actually being able to apply the various effects. For high-quality editing and image manipulation for the print and other media requirements, they would be the programs to go with.

But for normal run-of-the-mill image editing, printing, resizing, cropping, creating thumbnails, aggregating images (with or without captions and filenames) on single/multiple contact sheets, creating slideshows, batch-file operations, image cropping, file-size and image-density changes, titling or inserting text in images, applying various effects, etc. the FREE program IrfanView really takes the cake in my opinion.

I have been using it over 10 years, initially as a image editor and also as my primary audio/video player (yes, it does that too ... very well). The main program was initially quite small, and didn't hog memory (like PhotoShop, CorelDraw, or PaintShopPro would do). You also need to install it's various other plug-ins (available separately as well as in entirety) for other specific usages you may have (like QuickTime, PostScript, JPM, MrSID, etc). Most of its functions are activated through intuitive single key-presses, like T for thumbnails, B for batch programming, S to save, L & R to rotate left or right, V and H for vertical and horizontal flips, etc.

There are many other programs out there, but none really offer the massively easy and intuitive image manipulations that IrfanView offers. Try it out to believe it. Further, it can play most audio and video streams as good as (if not better sounding) than the top leaders (WinAmp, WinMediaPlayer, RealPlayer, etc) too.

The only aspect of image-manipulation IrfanView currently lacks is the concept of applying and manipulating layers (like in PhotoShop). This is really required in advanced image manipulations. For this alone, one may free download Paint.net, which resembles the Windows built-in Paint program and combines the same Paint look-and-feel with the layers functionality of PhotoShop et al.

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Irfenview FTW (for the win)
Aug 29, 2006 10:31PM PDT

I use both Photo Shop and Irfenview. I like both. But when it comes to quick changed that are not too complex, or just a simple resave as a different format, I agree with Wings. I mean, guys listen, where else can you find such a powerfull photo editor, and still be able to fit it on a floppy? And it's free also!

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Irfanview too -- plus comments
Aug 30, 2006 1:05AM PDT

Totally agree with Wings excellent post about Irfanview (and the few other later posts).

Couple other comments:

True, IFVW is totally free but the author does accept donations -- whatever you'd like to offer. I like to help support fine software developers like Irfan, so have given him a few bucks (Euros?). Whatever, he accepts Paypal, which is easy to use and even does the conversion for you.<G>. And, he thanks you personally (email).

In addition to photo editing, as Wings said, IFVW offers other neat features. It will even detect things like Shock Wave flash files (like if you pull them from your browser cache -- where they have those totally incomprehensible names). IFVW even offers to add the correct extension to the filename!

Have to say, I love these discussions. I read most every post (well, on subjects that interest me), as you can pick up some very helpful information.

Thank you, CNET and the contributors.

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Microsoft Digital Image Suite
Aug 29, 2006 6:13PM PDT

This is my favourite photo editor. It is very easy to use compared to programs like Photoshop but it also has a full range of features, in fact, everything that most people will ever need.
For example, correction of barrel or pincushion is very easy to do using the fisheye distortion tool and does not require any additional plug-ins. The straighten tool is very good for correcting a picture that is not quite level.
One other very useful feature is that you can define the number of pictures printed on a page and the size and position of each one by writing a simple script file, ideal if you want to produce passport-style photos, for example.

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iPhoto and Photoshop
Aug 29, 2006 6:25PM PDT

Normally use iPhoto for all the day to day digital photos of pets, trips, etc. Why? - well its ridiculously easy to use and even for a photoshop user like me, it comes across as quite a sensible and fast tool.

For all professional assignments or photo retouching, Photoshop is used. Like restoring a photo from 1943 and getting it eastman colored etc. Photoshop simply is too good a tool to be wasted on something momentary.

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Ditto - iPhoto, Picasa, Photoshop
Aug 29, 2006 11:12PM PDT

I have all three, but rely on iPhoto and Picasa to do most of the work - and not because I don't know how to use Photoshop.

I got hooked on Picasa in college because I was taking tons and tons of digital photos (especially when I studied in France) and wanted to quickly fix things for sharing with friends and family and ordering prints. It's so easy to use, and although it's results aren't perfect, neither are photos taken by college kids after a few drinks.

I'm just starting to use iPhoto, as I got my first Mac this winter. I haven't really tinkered with photos using iPhoto - I've been working for months on simply copying and sorting them from my Windows laptop to my iMac. However, I've heard Picasa drew some 'inspiration' from iPhoto, so I could probably learn iPhoto quickly.

The one thing I don't like about iPhoto is that it doesn't support the Kodak Easy Share Gallery (formerly Ofoto), which I use to share my photos and order prints. I don't really want to change from the Kodak ESG because at this point, all my photos are up there and most of my extended family uses the same service (you can easily order prints of their photos). iPhoto doesn't appear to support this or any other similar service, except that you can order photos and various other items from Kodak.

I use Photoshop to edit if I have one or a few particularly good photos that I want to get a large print of, or give as a gift. I also use it for cropping people into or out of photos, or other complex manipulations.

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PICASA
Aug 29, 2006 6:35PM PDT

1. As a public computer user I have on line access to my photo albums via GOOGLe on any computer.

When I want to edit / upload new photos, The Picasa program will down load easily and quickly on most public computers.

2. Easy to use and learn, fast simple learning curve.

3. It is free

4. Beta with on-going improvements

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Picasa file handling
Aug 30, 2006 1:12PM PDT

I have been considering using Picasa, but in reading your post, it appears that you have to store your photos on Google's servers. Please confirm or let me know if there is an option to save the photos on my pc. Also, what is the type of file Picasa saves as. Is it proprietary, jpeg, tiff or another file type.

Thank you.

Sheila

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Picasa files location
Aug 30, 2006 10:19PM PDT

Sheila, see where no one has answered you yet, so....

I can partially answer your question. If you download the Picasa program (free) and run it on your system, it will handle all photos on your system. You do not have to store them on Google.

You do have to set it up according to your desires tho, by telling it where to look for your photos so that it knows what to include in the catalog.

Picasa it very 'aggressive' in its search for photos. If you don't tell it where to look, it will find *all* photos and include them. A nice feature, but sometimes it will find far too many (like where you are putting duplicates). BUT, Picasa is also very good about handling duplicate photos -- it adds an additional character (like -1 -2, etc) to the filename, so you know they are dups.

Not sure of all the photo types Picasa will handle. I know on my system it handles all the 'normal' type, like JPG, GIF etc.

Good luck. Picasa is a great tool. Give it a try.

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Favourite Photo Editor
Aug 29, 2006 8:01PM PDT

I use the NIKON CaptureNX
There is a free 30 day download from Nikon.
It deals excellently with Raw/NEF, Tif, jpg.
and can automatically correct petty problems,
but has very sophisticated means of getting really
professional results.
I use this more than Adobe Photoshop now.

L.D. Chandler

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I use two
Aug 29, 2006 8:48PM PDT

The first is Irfanview for screenshot capture and resolution enhancement, along with selection of some areas.

The other is Serif (Europe)'s Photoplus 10 for the rest of the image adjustments.

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Mine is Microsoft Picture it platinum
Aug 29, 2006 9:40PM PDT

WhY?? Because I'm stupid, I guess????????

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MS Digital Image Pro is best
Aug 29, 2006 10:43PM PDT

Microsoft Digital Image Pro is better than the others, to me, because it's easier to use, but just as powerful than other editing programs like Photoshop.

D.J.
Norfolk, VA

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Favorite Photo Program
Aug 29, 2006 10:46PM PDT

Picasa if free and does a good job. I have used so many programs and have not been completely satisfied with any.

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Why was Corel Photo-Paint not included?
Aug 29, 2006 10:51PM PDT

Corel Photo-Paint is one of my favorites. It is as powerful as Photoshop, but comes with many more filters and special effects included, ... so you can actually do more with it than with Photoshop. I can't believe it wasn't included in the poll.

Yes, I also use Photoshop. With Photoshop, for additional power, you have to seek out and purchase all kinds of additional plug-ins. With Corel Photo-Paint yoou already have a whole lot of plug-ins built in. No need to search for more (although more IS available, if you really want more).

But I also really love IrfanView, and use it almost daily, for a number of reasons:

a) It is quick-loading, so I use it as my deafult graphics program. Thus, if I click on any JPG file, it opens almost instantly in IrfanView.

b) It is great for reviewing a whole folder full of photos, when searching for a particular one. Once I open the first photo, I can easily page through all my photos by simply clicking on the PageDown key. Or reverse the viewing with the PageUp key.

c) It is perfect for batch re-naming of photos. When I come home from a trip, or from an event, the first thing I do is rename all the photos to something descriptive. IrfanView does a better job of renaming photos than Windows Explorer does (if you have more than 10 photos to rename), because it handles multiple digits better.

d) It is very easy to set up a slide-show in IrfanView. Just try that with Photoshop!

e) It is shareware, so it is essentially free, ... at least until the pangs of guilt and gratitude force you to send in your contribution!!!

But, for sheer power, use Corel Photo-Paint. It comes bundled with Corel Draw, so you get the best of both worlds: Vector graphics and Bitmap graphics. The world is yours. There is nothing you can't achieve with Corel Draw and Corel Photo-Paint, ... from editing photos to putting together flyers, brochures, multi-use documents (by making certain layers visible or invisible, as the need arises), and much, much more.

Corel rules! (And, no, I don't work for Corel.) It's just simply the most complete package there is.

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Photo-Paint offers lots of powerful editing tools
Aug 30, 2006 2:42AM PDT

I agree with Emilio2000. Photo-Paint offers many powerful editing tools and is bundled with CorelDraw, a full-featured, professional vector graphics program. These programs offer a complete graphics toolbox and they can open and edit and/or convert virtually any graphics format. One really nice feature is their ability to write to a PDF format without needing any costly programs from Adobe.

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As a pro who uses Corel Photo-Paint, I was also stunned...
Aug 30, 2006 11:39AM PDT

I have used dozens of graphic packages and none, repeat NONE, surpass Photo-Paint for power and "out of the box" usability. Many professional graphics people use different app's because each has strong and weak points, as I do, but over the years I keep coming back to Photo-Paint for the speed, ease, and interface. Corel has had issues over the years with memory stability, but from version 11 on up (I'm on X3 now) these problems have really all but disappeared.

Photo-Paint is a fantastic graphics editor. I'll keep using all those other packages for their few strong points, but Corel will always be the workhorse in my shop.

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Serif PhotoPlus
Aug 29, 2006 11:29PM PDT

Serif PhotoPlus has done a very nice job for me through several releases. Their PaintPlus is great also. The bummer is with the anounced coming of new bloatware from m$ I am switching to Linux and Serif doesn't code for that. I suppose I'm going to have to learn how a vitual machine works.

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Re; What's Your favorite Photo Editor?
Aug 29, 2006 11:34PM PDT

My Favorite Photo Editor is Cannon's "Snapshot" I like it, because it's easy to use, I didn't even have to read the directions to use it, the first time...

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Photoshop editor
Aug 29, 2006 11:37PM PDT

Photoshop has been around for quite a while and is the photo editor we started with in preparing pictures for our magazine. We're a non-profit organization and the price for quality software was within our range too.
I feel the reason we've stuck with the software is that our publisher uses the same software and renews it each year. Since we wanted to remain compatable when transferring our files, we thought it best to update on a regular basisi.
The switch to newer Photoshop software and updates has always been smooth - another good reason to stay with it.

Keith P.

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CompuPic Pro
Aug 29, 2006 11:41PM PDT

My favorite photo viewer is CompuPic Pro by Photodex. I have used this for over 5 years. I like the fact that it gives you a folder view on the left small screen. On the right are all the thumbnails in that folder. Double click on a thumbnail and you get a full sized picture on your screen. There are many options that you can do to the picture including thought bubbles and inserting words. However, I like the controll arrows that let you scroll back and forth throught your pictures. Double click to go back to the folder menu. I have all the phote viewers everyone else has mentioned. I have tried all of them, but I always go back to CompuPic Pro.

Does anyelse use this?

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complete agreement
Aug 30, 2006 7:19AM PDT

I completely agree to your statements on CompuPic Pro by Photodex. And I wonder why not more people have discovered this wonderful tool yet.