Photographic/Image Software (1 Viewer)

[Generator]

I am trying to make better use of my digital camera, so I really need to get and learn how to operate a proper image manipulation programme...

I know that Photoshop is meant to be one of the standard programmes (luckily I was able to 'get' a copy of a recent version), but there are thousands of other utilties out there and all, so I was just wondering if anyone has any ideas regarding other decent programmes (be it freeware, retail, etc.).

I am running XP and currently using a camera that saves images as jpegs, if that helps.

 

[Not-That-Bright]

For photo's, Photoshop is all you need.
Learn it well

http://empyrean3.deviantart.com/gallery/ - it's fun.

Do u wanna do image manipulation for the net or print? if for print make sure in photoshop you work in around 200dpi (i work in 300) and whatever size in CM you wish your output images to be.

If it's just for on the net, 75dpi will do. Make it whatever size in pixels you want.

Make sure when taking your photo's, you take them at the largest possible size, then scale them down when you import them into photoshop. - This makes the images greater quality

 

[Fosweb]

If you want to be legal, then get the Gimp (http://www.gimp.org/)
It's great, its powerful, it does most of the things photoshop can do. Plus its *nix, Windows and Mac.

I do basically all of my photo related stuff in Photoshop, but theres a couple of things photoshop just cannot do which forces me to use other programs occasionally.

Like, it cant draw text to a path, so i use Fireworks or Paintshop Pro for that. (Preferrably fireworks, since it has ok integration with .psd files (photoshop files))

But you have photoshop:
When editing photos: you'll need to use the magic selecty thing (Magic Wand Tool), which does just that, selects things magically related to nearness/changes in surrounding colours. You may also want to just select a colour (say you take blue screen photos) in which case you could go to this option in menu: Select --> Colour range

You'll want a lot of RAM, because you'll find the easiest way to do things is to select a region, copy that region to a new document, and go editing from there.

Photoshop has the COOLEST history tool, so when you cahnge things, you can step back and undo multiple things.

Look into layers, and maybe channels (you know those cool 3D stereo images that you need the glasses to look at? I made a couple of them in photoshop before by copying red/green(blue) channels and then you shift them across a bit to give a stereo effect....)

Meh. Rambling again. If you want 'specific' help keep asking, or PM.

 

[Generator]

Thanks for the help, both of you. I'll see how I go this week.