need good photo software (for posting pics)

[BirdMud]

What came with my digital camera stinks. I need something for editing pics (resizing, cropping) and it must work with Windows XP. I'm hoping there's something out there that's free :)
Thanks,
Bird

[MilkToast]

though not the best, this solution certainly is free...

it is MSpaint and it comes installed with pretty much any Windows installation.

Under Windows XP
Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> Paint

re-sizing an image is easy in the program:

- from the image pull down menu choose "stretch/skew"
- change the percentage for the resize to what you want (keep the horizontal and vertical the same to maintain your aspect ratio)
- now in the file menu, "Save As" and choose the location and file name (as well as file type, I usually use .jpg)


now, cropping is a little more work with this software (and why I do not usually do it this way, but again, this is a free solution)

- open the file you want
- choose the area you want with the selection tool
- go to the edit menu and select "copy to" at the bottom of the list
- now, choose a location, filename and format (I usually use the 24-bit bitmap)
- now, go to the file menu and open the file you just copied to
- go back to the file menu and do a "save as"
- select the format you really wanted instead of the bitmap one (here I usually use .jpg)

Yes, this is a lot of work and it means lots of steps... but it is free and available on most any Windows machine.

For more advanced editing I use PaintShop Pro for the quick jobs (in the $150 price tag) and then PhotoShop 7.0 for when I am working with my digital camera images.

[GermanSteve]

I am not up to date with its features, but it seems like Paintshop pro (free) might be fitting for you.

[MilkToast]

Originally posted by GermanSteve
I am not up to date with its features, but it seems like Paintshop pro (free) might be fitting for you.
I am pretty sure (as I have a copy) that PaintShop Pro (by Jasc software) is not free anymore. I know that a long time back it was shareware, but to get a current version you need to pay for it (just checked their site and this is the case).

Maybe someone has an older version floating around?

As far as photo editing, PaintShop Pro is pretty good in that it does all of the basic tasks (and some of the more complex ones as well) very well. For the price it is one of the better ones on the market (hmm, this might sound like an ad... I'm just a user of the software and have no link to the company).

[Sassy Rose]

I use Arcsoft Photo Impressions 2000.....I really like it. I didn't care for the software that came with my camera either but I do like this.

[BlondeCurlGirl]

Microsoft PhotoDraw has been a good one for cropping, etc.. just wish it could improve the quality overall from my crappy camera

[DallasLiving]

I use one called Irfanview...it is a self-contained program that can fit on a floppy. With all of the features I have seen on it, it is a pretty powerful program for its size.

Here is the link for the site for downloading, not sure what ops it works on, mainly know 98.

http://www.irfanview.com/english.htm

[El Macho]

I'll second the recommendation for irfanview. It's free, and super easy to use. And it does work in Windows XP.

[DallasLiving]

I have been using it for a while, El Macho...and I have to say it is one of the easiest I have seen. Especially for it's size.

[Lovediva]

I use paint shop pro 7.0 and I got it free :p :D

You can get most programs on the net for free--> with serial numbers <----if you really look hard enough. I got mine through winmx or Imesh.

You can also get retail programs HERE (fosi.ural.net/) for free!!!

[Lilith]

I have used Grokster to get software just like you do to get MP3s. Only down side being you have to know what you want and you have to find versions that are not trials and ones that have serial #s attached. I have not gotten photo programs that way but I did get some audio and web development software there.