User friendly photo software for occasional use with new digital camera???

[Dizzy]

Thought that I would post as we have purchased 2 panasonic lz7S, 7.2 mega pixel cameras with 6x optical zoom and use double A rechargeable 2700 mah batteries and are very pleased with the units.
After being Nikon SLR amateur black and white photo takers over the years. These cameras are for convenience use only along side our Canon pixma ip 6700, ip 4500 and our ES2 printers, the latter portable model for use when we travel to our remote Nunavut on work assignments and the digital labs are not available.

What I would like to find is an Easy, user friendly software...not Adobe for the occasional use with these printers. Canon has already told us to run a test page ever 2 weeks to prevent nozzle plugging as our main printer is the Pixma 5000 which has dual Black tanks, one for Doc printing and the other used with the other colors for color prints. The unit is great for these jobs.

We don't want to have to take a course for occasional use of these photo printers as we will be using the stores to do our printing, But we want to be able to print a pic in a pinch with the printers and be able to trim, contrast/ brighten as needed and not have to read a manual to recall how to do it.

Any experienced suggestions. Our pics will be 4 x 6 inches.
Thankyou

[fotogmarc]

Well, you've put yourself in a tight position. You want to do some post processing without having to learn the software.
You're right about Photoshop. Big and ugly for simple uses
You should have gotten Arcsoft with your camera bundle. That should be about one of the easiest to learn and use. Canon may have included some image editing (ZoomBrowser) software with their printer, Try this one as well.

If you want to just adjust brightness and contrast these will be more than enough.
If you are looking for something else I wouldn't purchase any software. For what you want to do there are a lot of free programs out there.
Try: http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pixelbasedwin/tp/freephotoedw.htm

or: http://www.download.com/3150-2192_4-0-1-0.html?qt=&rows=10&start=0&operatingSystemId=&licenseTypeId=49&fileSize=&ca=

Question: Didn't you do any PP before sending your pics to a lab for printing?

[Dizzy]

Hi, thx for the reply, I just got the digital panasonic lz7s digital for christmas, 7.2 mp and have only used my scanners for pics from my Nikon and Pentax SLR's 35 mm.
I have always been a hobbyist with my cameras, mostly scenery and always asked to do family occasions.
So I have only used my scanner for the odd pic that I could not set my hand to find the negative and especially when the better half wanted it for the family right away and that is when I noticed issues and did not know if it was the scanner or the printer.
Arcsoft comes with the Lide 80 and 4400 f..both Canons.
And my Canon Printers ip pixma 5000, ip 4300, ip 6700 and the one the better half uses for her panasonic lz7s when we go up to Nunavut and that is the ES2.

So that pretty well summarizes everything.
Thankyou for your interest.

[K1W1]

Why not Adobe?
Elements 6 will do exactly what you want and it's a bargain price wise.
If you want free try a combination of Picassa and Irfanview or for something more sophisticated try Gimp.
As far as the test page every two weeks is concerned I believe that that has more to do with marketing hype and a desire to sell ink than any real potential problem.
The current Pixma IP400R on the desk beside me is over two years old and sometimes goes a month with printing. It's never missed a beat. Many people I know also use Canons, none do the test prints and the last person I met who had had to replace a Canon print head admitted it was because they were doing dodgy home ink refills.

[Dizzy]

The reason that I am not considering Adobe is b/c not only of its exorbitant price but also the learning curve; bearing in mind that I won't be using this app everyday. Not ike M$ Office etc.and don't want to drag out my notes everytime I use the program.
I just want a user friendly program, however perhaps one does not exist.

As far as my Canon printers go, the ip 5000, 4300,ES2 and ip 6700 on which I only use Canon Ink I do test pages out when I haven't used any of them for somethime and have had no issues.
I respect your comments and will cut back on the test pages. I become concerned about lack of use in the summer when it is very hot here and wonder about the ink etc.

[K1W1]

The reason that I am not considering Adobe is b/c not only of its exorbitant price but also the learning curve; bearing in mind that I won't be using this app everyday.

Have you actually looked at the price of Adobe Photoshop Elements 6?
Full retail is US$100.00 and you can buy it much cheaper than that from any software supplier.
If you don't want the latest then Elements 4 and Elements 5 are often bundled free with hardware like scanners or printers.
When you say exorbitant price I thing you are confusing Elements with Photoshop CS3.
Down the free 30 trial version of Elements, try it and if it works for you buy it, if not just keep looking.

[Dizzy]

You are probably very correct about the versions. I have been looking off and on at Staples, Future Shop and London Drugs...the 3 Big Box local stores here in the Pacific Northwest that have the most in software and if my memory serves me correctly, the version is "CS" and the store reps that I spoke with gave me the impression that the Learning Curve with the program was pretty difficult and that a course would be recommended.
And that is something that I don' really have the time for nor will I be using the software frequently enough to insure that I will always be able to recall the options of the program that will accomplish what I want.
Thus I was looking for a app with a user friendly interface that I could read up on and use without too much concern over messing up the pic. I will always be getting my dig camera pics done at a store and so I am I think I mentioned just looking for something to use when I find a pic that I want to send quickly off in the mail in a birthday card, however the pic may need some brightening, contrast trimming etc.

I will have to google on Elements 4 and 5 and see what sort of genius I have to be to use the program.
I appreciate your comments and anything else that you may suggest.
Kind Regards.
(as I will be an ocasional user with a Canon Pixma 4500, ip 6700 and also the Canon ES2).

[K1W1]

and if my memory serves me correctly, the version is "CS" and the store reps that I spoke with gave me the impression that the Learning Curve with the program was pretty difficult and that a course would be recommended.

CS is full Photoshop not Elements.
This is the program I am talking about (http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopelwin/?promoid=BPDEM) (you can download the trial here as well if you want.
This is what the shop assistants are talking about. (http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/family/?promoid=BPDEK)