gloryg Loc: New York

Hello,

I am trying to teach photo editing to a group of seniors. Trying to find a photo editor that everyone can use has been a problem. I am dealing with having to use different computers and then trying to find a photo editor that is simple to use for some people and has advanced features for others. Another issue is that several of the seniors can not afford to purchase anything.

I have tried Pixler, Pic-Monkey, I-Piccy, GIMP and Photo Shop Elements. I don't know what to to at this point. At this point what I think is I need to find an online photo editor. Does anyone have any othe ideas?

Thank you

fmester Loc: Shelby Township, MI

I like PaintShop Pro from Corel. They are up to X6 and I have X1 but I still use 7, I like its simplicity.

hb3 Loc: Texas

Suggest you look at Photoscape; it is free and has a nice user interface for ease in learning and a significant set of both basic and more advanced PP tools...

riada22 Loc: Edinburgh - Scotland

I am a senior and use amongst other programs, Picasa which is free and easy to use or Faststone Image Viewer, which is much more than just a viewer it is a very good package for nothing.
http://download.cnet.com/FastStone-Image-Viewer/3000-2192_4-10324485.html
Both are worth a try.

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

There is a list of free PP applications in the Post Processing section. Although the list is by no means comprehensive, the ones shown seem to be the most popular.


Use this link to come in and have a look round: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-116-1.html
Use this link to go straight to the Tutorials and Tips index page: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-156310-1.html
Use this link to go straight to the Free Software Index: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-168252-1.html
To subscribe to the Post-Processing Digital Images section, click this link http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/
Click on "All Sections" and scroll to the second-to-last item: Post-Processing Digital Images and click to subscribe in the appropriate box.

riada22 Loc: Edinburgh - Scotland

Since my post Searcher has posted a very comprehensive list and the two that I suggested are on it so go with Searchers links.

GaryI Loc: NY & Fla

My wife had had great success using Ribbit http://www.ribbet.com/
Sounds like what you need.

busted_shutter

Picassa. Easy to use, yet has some more advanced features.

Tom Kelley Loc: Roanoke, Virginia

I too, am looking for a relatively simple program. I'd like to do some editing such as layers, erasing, cloning etc. Will Photoscape do these? Someone suggested Perfect Photo Suite 8. Does anyone have any feedback on this one, or is it more advanced?

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

Another good one is "tuxpi.com"
LunaPic http://www131.lunapic.com/editor/
EditPhotosForFree http://editphotosforfree.com/photoapps/online-photo-editor-and-collage-maker
This one comes up to a download screen, just click the x in upper right corner of the download box.
Ribbet (based on the former PicNic that was bought out by Google and then closed http://www.ribbet.com/

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

Not sure about the ones you mention, but many people use them.
I would also suggest Corel PaintShopPro that is often available for $40 (regular) or $60 (Ultimate) with the Ultimate version listing at approx $100. Will do most everything PhotoShop will do, including layers and will accept many plug-ins that are designed for PS

Picdude Loc: Ohio

If I understand what you're asking for is a program that does not reside as resident on your computer but that you have to log into on-line to use from any computer terminal. The programs I have seen that fit that mold appear to be very basic and designed more for basic brightness/contrast and "fun" edits for facebook, tumbler, etc.

There are a lot of free license software packages that have pretty sophisticated features that you can use, the two I personally like the best is GIMP and PhotoScape.

You may need to give us more information regarding your equipment and class structure. For example, are you using school computers in a classroom, are your Seniors bringing in their own computers, or a combination of both? When you refer to advanced features are you referring to something like cloning, B&W conversion, color replacement or masking, background replacement or other features that require the use of layers? Keep in mind that the more advanced the features are you want to introduce, the more intensive the software will be and the learning curve will climb in relation to the features.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

If you continue to having trouble with this, another consideration might be, for your "students" to all download a 30-day trial version of an editing program you suggest!

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

Look at Zoner Photo Studio. 16 is the latest, but 14 is free. Their presets are good. You can use layers also.

Kuzano

Doing classes online where activity has to take place over the internet is quite dependent on the download speed of the internet connection in the environment you are using.

If you have a number of people trying to run any application, particularly an image editing program, the activity of writes back and forth on the internet constitute upload and down loads both ways on the write to the computer.

If you are using a number of computers in the classroom end, the computers will bog down the speed because of the sharing the speed of the internet connection to a point that may be unusable.

Now I'm not sure what you are actually saying about teaching, but I perceive a classroom type setting.

If in fact, you are just teaching people one at a time, you may find a workable program and setting.

I teach classes of from 10 to 15 people at a time, and even in a quite high speed broadband, once the activity load goes over about three people on the "on line" activities, the speed for all the machines drops to the unusable level.

I have only been able to teach class situations where the applications are loaded on each computer in the labs, or if the students use their own computers, they must have the apps on their computers.

I know that the community college where I teach does do online instruction for many classes, but in those scenarios the students are each in their own homes using their own internet connection.

I'm not sure if I explained this well, but it may be a big consideration.

If you are talking about a number of people, doing on line photo editing on line over the internet, all at the same time, be aware of whether the connection you are using is going to handle the traffic.

I know we all hear about the day when we will be renting our software, or using the software over the internet. I consider that talk all smoke and mirrors.

Even adobe is not running the software over the internet in their new subscription service. They are downloading the programs to run on your system at home, relying on you to have a computer capable enough to run the software. They are just charging you rent each month to absorb the bite of $250 to $500 price tag on each new version or upgrade of Photoshop that you purchase.

At some point, the people you are instructing are going to have to purchase an editing program of some sort for their own computers. Granted, it may be by subscription such as what Adobe is doing with Photoshop.

You might check with Adobe, or other software publishers of editing programs about enough courtesy copies to set up the machines in a classroom. They may be willing to do so, considering you will be training people on their software and they will (may) end up with some business as a result.

Another option... our public library has a room, and a cart with a dozen laptops. All the laptops are loaded with programs, and they do some instruction in class settings.

The laptops do not rely on online processing, as they have the programs already on the machines. You may want to check with your own library, community college, or senior centers about setting up a program of instruction renting their rooms and/or equipment, or gratis if they will.

You may also consider offering your services to teach a class through a local community college or regular college through their Community Education program. Such programs do not generally require any formal teaching certification. Just a knowledge of the subject matter and the ability to present the material in a learnable manner. I have been getting paid hourly for the presentation hours on a number of classes now for 20+years. No teaching certificates in my past.

Let me conclude (it's about time) by saying this. The college does not allow me to let students bring their own computers to the labs. I appreciate that. The productivity of teaching is seriously hampered or degraded by the need to deal with individual students on the dilemmas caused by the difference in their personal machines. Teaching the class is enough. Dealing with individual student computer problems is too much.

Have been teaching community ed classes...from 9 to 15 computer classes per quarter since 1993.