Free and Easy to Use Editing Tools For Beginners: I recently presented a beginners workshop on photography, stressing only very basic fundamentals such as light, subject and some...

Cryppy Loc: Gouldsboro, ME

I recently presented a beginners workshop on photography, stressing only very basic fundamentals such as light, subject and some composition pointers. I'd like to follow-up by sending them some links to very basic editing tools that are free and easy to use for beginners who are most likely to shoot jpg only. Any suggestions? I started editing my photos with Picasa years years ago then transitioned to the more sophisticated (and difficult to learn) Lightroom. It's not for beginners.

KenY Loc: Glenside, Pa

Cryppy wrote:

I recently presented a beginners workshop on photography, stressing only very basic fundamentals such as light, subject and some composition pointers. I'd like to follow-up by sending them some links to very basic editing tools that are free and easy to use for beginners who are most likely to shoot jpg only. Any suggestions? I started editing my photos with Picasa years years ago then transitioned to the more sophisticated (and difficult to learn) Lightroom. It's not for beginners.

Microsoft Office Picture Manager was a very basic photo editor that was included in most editions of MS Office up until 2013. It's no longer included in Office, but you can get it free as part of a download of MS Sharepoint Designer 2013. Sharepoint Designer has lots of components that were commonly part of those earlier editions of Office, but you can do a custom installation and choose to install only Picture Manager. You can download it here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35491.

I use the Auto Correct button to brighten photos. Also, you can crop, control brightness, contrast, and color, rotate & flip, red eye removal, and resize and compress.

It's easy to learn & use, and contains the tools I need for most of my editing. Occasionally I will use a more robust tool, but Picture Manager is my go to tool 95% of the time.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

For those with Windows, FastStone Image Viewer:
https://www.faststone.org/
A surprising number of editing tools!

Also, befunky.com - an online app free for the basic stuff.

tramsey Loc: Texas

I've used FastStone for a long time, It' quick and easy, very straight forward, certainly not Photoshop but it does what I want it to do in about half the time
If I want to do something more sophisticated I use Gimp, twin of photoshop and it is free also

Cryppy Loc: Gouldsboro, ME

Those are all good recommendations. Many thanks to everyone.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Cryppy wrote:

I recently presented a beginners workshop on photography, stressing only very basic fundamentals such as light, subject and some composition pointers. I'd like to follow-up by sending them some links to very basic editing tools that are free and easy to use for beginners who are most likely to shoot jpg only. Any suggestions? I started editing my photos with Picasa years years ago then transitioned to the more sophisticated (and difficult to learn) Lightroom. It's not for beginners.

I use PhotoScapeX and Topaz products. They both work well for me. PhotoScapeX can be used accurately with 3 or 4 clicks or you can REALLY get into serious editing. Here are a couple of sites for you, Enjoy. Be sure to select PhotoScapeX Mac/or Windows. Get the free version first (it never expires), and you can always upgrade. Also, please do yourself a favor and watch the following YouTube videos to see if you would be interested and for training. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWC-SAuYOzw&t=325s Instruction and download info http://x.photoscape.org/ also, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o57tNe4vgIw and https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photoscape+tutorials
Best wishes and stay well
Smile,
JimmyT Sends

cyclespeed Loc: Calgary, Alberta Canada

In case some of your students use Macs Apple users have access to "Photos" and "Preview" as they both come loaded on all of their computers.
Simple straight forward and as always lots of online help if needed.

lsaguy Loc: Udall, KS, USA

Cryppy wrote:

I recently presented a beginners workshop on photography, stressing only very basic fundamentals such as light, subject and some composition pointers. I'd like to follow-up by sending them some links to very basic editing tools that are free and easy to use for beginners who are most likely to shoot jpg only. Any suggestions? I started editing my photos with Picasa years years ago then transitioned to the more sophisticated (and difficult to learn) Lightroom. It's not for beginners.

I've used Irfanview since I was taking photos with an early Coolpix and I still like it. Still free, too.

Rick

polyman

Cryppy wrote:

I recently presented a beginners workshop on photography, stressing only very basic fundamentals such as light, subject and some composition pointers. I'd like to follow-up by sending them some links to very basic editing tools that are free and easy to use for beginners who are most likely to shoot jpg only. Any suggestions? I started editing my photos with Picasa years years ago then transitioned to the more sophisticated (and difficult to learn) Lightroom. It's not for beginners.

I agree with Linda, Faststone is very good for beginners, I would recommend "Gimp" as a more advanced free software.

petrochemist Loc: UK

polyman wrote:

I agree with Linda, Faststone is very good for beginners, I would recommend "Gimp" as a more advanced free software.

Another vote from me.
I use FastStone on my PCs & would dearly like to find something similar that runs on Unix.

Arubalou

Faststone

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

Does Faststone differ much from Lightroom?

petrochemist Loc: UK

Spirit Vision Photography wrote:

Does Faststone differ much from Lightroom?

Yes!
Lightroom is many orderes of magnitude more complicated.

goldenyears Loc: Lake Osewgo

I very nice, SIMPLE, photo editor is XNView. It takes care of most of my editing needs. I have other editors, for more complex editing functions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XnView

goldenyears Loc: Lake Osewgo

I very nice, SIMPLE, photo editor is XNView. It takes care of most of my editing needs. I have other editors, for more complex editing functions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XnView