Photoshop is expensive!

[NickyPick]

Can anyone recommend a good photo software program that doesn't cost as much as my camera?

[AdamW]

Yes, Photoshop is expensive, but it is extremely powerful. There are less costly alternatives, but they're generally less full-featured.

If you're using the Mac OS, try iPhoto. It's limited in functions, but it came with your computer if you've bought one recently.

Bibble is not too expensive and runs on Macs and on Windows.

Picasa runs on Windows. It's free from Google.

Photoshop Elements is a good program in its own right, and cheaper than the full version.

Or you can simply type "free photo software" into Google and get tons of results.

[JTL]

Look no further: http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Product/1184951547051?trkid=14775033

Almost as powerful as PhotoShop and a joy to use, especially at 1/5th the price. Download the demo and see for yourself! :)

[DonSchap]

If you go to school in Wisconsin, you can get student pricing at around $179 for Adobe PS-CS3 Extended (http://techstore.doit.wisc.edu/product.asp?login=P&itemnum=C46908). (<- Click here)

Better pricing I have yet to see. :eek:

Who says going to school doesn't pay? I figure that's roughly a $400 discount, just on that product alone.

Almost makes you want to be a kid, again, huh? :D

[danidabi]

If you know how to use a program like bit torrent you could probably download it for free.

I sure didn't pay for my adobe CS software:)

[Turn]

All you need is photoshop CS...
that should be like 50 bucks now

[griptape]

I'm also a fan of Paint Shop Pro. I've used it for various things since version 5 (when Jasc was still authoring it, I guess Corel took over at version 10), and I use it mostly for simple things that photoshop could do just fine, but is complete overkill for (clicking through tons of menus to get where I want, I can only remember so many short cut keys).

Also, it has a less than friendly user layout, but Gimp can do most everything photoshop can, and it's completely free.

[NickyPick]

Thanks y'all. I've just started to really play with my S3 and realized the only photo program I have on the computer is Microsoft Picture It (99). It doesn't do much. :(

[D Thompson]

If you know how to use a program like bit torrent you could probably download it for free.

I sure didn't pay for my adobe CS software:)

I wonder if you'd be so happy if someone stole some of your images and sold them?

[danidabi]

Yeah fien good point Don!

[leaftye]

Can anyone recommend a good photo software program that doesn't cost as much as my camera?

Take a look at Gimp. It's free. It seems to have a lot of fans, but I can't say if it's any good since I don't know anything about these types of programs.

[downtrodden]

DEFINITELY check out the GIMP. It's completely free and it's a clean download! It has a lot of features, More features than i've ever used. If at any point in the future you find yourself wanting more features, then you can drop the cash on a program like paintshop pro or photoshop!

Also, download Noiseware while you're at it, it's a free and clean download too, and is a MUST HAVE, no matter what camera you use!

~Cory

[GaryS]

There is a derivative of GIMP too, called GIMPShop, which has its menus rearranged to exactly match the Photoshop structure. If you have used PS in the past, then GIMPShop is a natural...

[Rhys]

I have GimpShop and PhotoShop Elements 2 (which came with my Nikon 3100). I find GimpShop is hard to use. PSE2 is MUCH easier!

[JTL]

This is why I'm so fond of PSP X2...it's all about the interface. Let's face it...GIMP may have powerful tools...but the interface is for geeks. If you want to spend less time tweaking and more time shooting, the user interface is everything. In my experience, there is no easier, better thought-out user interface (ok...maybe Lightroom) than PSP.

[FLiPMaRC]

GIMP is a good freeware :cool:

I have PS CS2, PSP X, and Lightroom 1.3. I find myself using Lightroom more than any other programs :)

Also check out NeatImage and Infranview ;) Both are free.

[Beowulff]

I've been giving ImageAnalyser (freeware) a try. I find the GIMP interface a bit clumsy and not all that intuitive either. I seem to spend too much time finding out how to do what I want to do rather than actually doing it LOL!

[t00nz]

Been using Irfanview (http://www.irfanview.com) for years. It's totally free, and has just about all you'll need for use with digital photography.

[Wesan]

And let's not forget ACDSee Photo Manager for about 50 dollars. It takes care of most of my post processing needs, as well as it is a very good picture viewer and has many other features. There are other versions of ACDSee and other products as well, from the same manufacturer, which you can see at:

http://www.acdsee.com/

[droopy1592]

All you need is photoshop CS...
that should be like 50 bucks now


Ya get that. It's got plenty of features and most people can barely use it's full power and don't know much about the additional features in CS2 and 3

[Graystar]

I’ve also found GIMP too difficult to use unless you dedicate yourself to it. And why dedicate yourself to an 8-bit application with no RAW support (that I’m aware of...there might be something out there that I don’t know about.)

Photoshop Elements 6 now has much expanded RAW support as well as 16 bit editing. At 85 bucks it seems like a no-brainer. I’ve seen an OEM download version for 27 bucks.

I tend to buy the OEM versions on disk. I got Photoshop Element 5 and Paint Shop Pro Photo XI for 35 bucks each. I have them both installed on my Vista machine. They work great and add up to a lot of processing power for 70 bucks. I’ll probably also buy PSE 6 and PSP X2 in OEM versions when they’re available.

As for GIMP...I've deleted it.

[Screenclutter]

Also, download Noiseware while you're at it, it's a free and clean download too, and is a MUST HAVE, no matter what camera you use!

~Cory

Brilliant little program this is, for its free cost. I just downloaded it and tried it out. Thanks!