dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

here is a whole bunch of free software viewers. editors, sn some free fancy stuff
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-23173-1.html

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

I downloaded Gimp this morning and it seems to be a good program. Only problem is I got a lot of crap with it from the download link in an earlier posting. Even opting out of some offers from pop-ups it still changed my toolbar and home page. Nothing I can't fix but aggravating. I favor Elements 10 for now. Picasa does good basic funtions if anyone wants a free program to get you started with photo editing software.

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

yup sometimes get alot of junk with the free downloads i normaly try going directly to the website sometimes they have it too. but they would like to make something off thier work making it.

coco1964 Loc: Winsted Mn

I use Smart Photo Editor, Portrait Professional, Picasa, GIMP, and Picnik (which will be ending in April---sad because it has a great program for touching up people). All these I get for under $50 a year and I use different parts of each one to do work in PP. There is a point where I think you need to tell yourself that you're the photographer and not the computer IMO, less is better......

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

I've never questioned the need to make a profit. I'll pay for a good product just don't mess up my computer when I download it. I've fixed it so no big deal. I recommended Picasa in the mean time to a friend just starting with PP. :thumbup:

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

been down same road

p.ace.ugly Loc: Wood Ridge NJ

If it comes to a function/feature comparison, photoshop gets the nod. Also upgrades, fixes, macros from others, integration with PDFs, as well as portability makes it the choice for the serious. There is a reason media professionals are Photoshop heavy. Personally I don't like open source. Bugs hang on and there is little market preasure to push them forward. If you spent a few hundred bucks on a competitive DSLR why would you balk at paying the freight for your media tool? Those that I know who use GIMP are happy with their situation so foregoing opinions are just one point of view.

BigDaveMT Loc: Plentywood, MT

I haven't used GIMP for a while, but I seem to remember it stripped the EXIF data out of my files which I didn't like. Maybe I was doing something wrong or maybe that's been fixed since.

If you're on a tight budget and aren't shooting professionally, GIMP or Picasa are great alternatives to investing in Photoshop. But Photoshop Elements is very affordable and I like using it now and I'm still learning.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Seriously, I am open to being educatied.... What makes PS 5.5 superior???



My morning had started on a positive note, perhaps wallowing in the mud of my illusion that I was happy with my camera, Sony a-330, my multi PP programs and my less than ultra-fast computer and my low life comrades who I now find are not serious about photography!!! Thus with this Epiphany, I shall destroy my Sony camera, trash my old Minolta lenses, drive over my Panasonic TZ-3 (which has taken me to 3rd place in my CClub 2011 yearly awards) and delete and destroy all software not sankTfied by Adobe. The money I have been saving for a life saving operation will be diverted to buying Photoshop 5.5. My grave stone will read,,, He Was a SERIOUS Photographer!!

Huh What!! wow the coffee just kicked in,,, Question Ugly, specifically what capabilities does Photoshop 5.5 have that are not in say, for example, Paint Shop Pro Ultra X-4 ? Please exclude the Adobe Pixel Bender filter to create Escher's Droste Effect Plug-ins that are exclusive to 5.5 which are also available in GIMP compatible form.

You said "Personally I don't like open source. Bugs hang on and there is little market pressure to push them forward." Well, open Source specifically does not thrive on profit/market place, rather it is a bunch of intellectual nuts like those in this forum who do not personally profit from problem solving and sharing of information... it is fun,,, challenging,,, not $ profit,,, rather personal satisfaction!!

I so often hear the party line that PS is Emperor, but I have Serious problems seeing the new clothes!! (recall the emperor was actually nude) Too often those who have a particular product, e.g. Nikon, Canon, defend the outlay of $ by down stating the competition; not realizing that most all of the new cameras are excellent and differences are only detectable in outlaying situations. Is the same true of PP software? Must we tag those without 5.5. as non-Serious photographers!?

This is not a personal attack on you, (true you did attack all who do not use PS with the words "Not Serious Photographers").. rather an attack on the "brainwashing" by Adobe over many years... Seriously, I am open to being educatied.... What makes PS 5.5 seriously superior??? Once educated, I may well say, hay you and Adobe are right!!

PS: the photo of you seriously violates the rule of 1/3s and has a lot of extranious area. Try GIMP, i think it has a rule of thirds grid!! ;-)

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Whoooa Baby!!! NAPP, national association of Photoshop
Professionals has rebelled against Adobe!!! read:
http://scottkelby.com/2011/an-open-letter-to-adobe-systems/

Scott Kelby is President, The National Association of Photoshop Professionals

Adobe is in lock step with Rush Limburger in shooting them selves in the foot. Arrogance is a deadly disease for individuals and for companies!

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

Jusr read the letter to Adobe. This thread is going to run forever. You've really done it know! :lol:

p.ace.ugly Loc: Wood Ridge NJ

To quote the article you referenced, professional photographers, "buy Adobe products because you make amazing products and tools for creative people like us." Information Technology business areas went through a similar push when Microsoft changed its licensing model. The world does change.

I agree with the article and back the suggestion that would provide for a more reasonable transition. However, one must note that it appears there is a significant population of unhappy professional photographers. It is possible they want to remain back level on their media tools at a heightened cost to the supplier. Perhaps you could take them under your wing and transition them happily to Gimp at no charge.

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

I don't have a dog in the fight but if you've used something for years and it does what you need (otherwise you would not have stayed with it) why not just NOT upgrade. Keep using what you have. When Adobe does not get the revenue they expect they will adjust marketing on their end. I don't fault Adobe since new products require a lot of R/D expense. But if it's like Microsoft Windows auto updates which I turned it off, every update I've ever loaded has caused something to screw up. I'm happy with what I have and they can keep the updates until there is a major revision. :thumbup:

p.ace.ugly Loc: Wood Ridge NJ

I agree market forces are a better force to govern the laws of supply and demand than anything else.

screen48 Loc: Northwest IL

Adobe is a money tree. I am in the screenprint business and use Corel. Why? Less costly and fewer upgrades(that cost less then or are free compared to PS).Pluss easier to learn. Got PS6 and found it way to big of a learning curve. If you want PS, so be it but don't down me for not agreeing with you and you better figure in a class at your local JR College. The teacher who has the PS class at the college is my neighbor. She has learned GIMP and now says the college will not offer a class in GIMP because it is easier and much cheaper than PS. No profit do to the Youtube and online support of GIMP. PS requires 4 semesters to get you up and running or many hrs. of research and study. She says it is best for a beginner to GIMP first to see if they want to invest in PS. She find no problem investing time and money in PS but most get lost in the process and spend all that and never complete their PP education.
From her advice I downloaded GIMP and for $15 purchased Corel PSPx3 on Ebay and if I become a pro maybe I will look into PS on down the road.

Find what is best for you on the cheap first!