I've been taking pictures of my layout with a new camera but my ancient photo editing software can't handle the 16 megapixle images. I also don't want to pay a monthly subscription for a program I'll only use occaisionally. Can anyone recommend a cheap (or even free) photo editing software that would work well for layout photos?
Hornblower
GIMP https://www.gimpshop.com/ Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Have you looked at Gimp? It is free, I believe, but I hear it takes some work to get used to it. I'm not sure it has a stitching function, but it's otherwise worth a look.
I currently use a rigged free version of 2018 photoshop, but beore then I used GIMP very sucessfully before I found this.
Here's a sample image I took of what can be done in GIMP:
Charles
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440
Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440
I usually just make crude adjustments to train photos for posting, using the Windows default Photos, Flickr, etc. I use $99 Photoshop Elements for vacation scrapbooks where I tweak each photo, including auto adjustment, etc. I should probably start putting more effort into improving my train photos, so the issue will be whether to use my existing Photoshop Elements (version 14 but good enough) or switch to Gimp.
That being the case, can folks please describe a bit the Gimp learning curve, typically used features, ease of use, etc.
One reason I steered away from the $700 Photoshop was an impression that Elements, with less features, might be easier to use.
Another point, I really like the auto adjust feature, for instance, in Photoshop Elements. Cropping plus that usually get me close to satisfied with the product.
Some additional comments will help me decide whether to download and experiment. Does it have tutorials, YouTube videos, etc.?
BTW, Charles, that photo is just awesome!
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
You might want to take a look at Affinity Photo. It's nearly as powerful as Photoshop, but you buy it outright - for $50(!). No usurious subscription fee - it's yours forever. And what's even better is that it's often on sale for $25.
In fact, it's on sale right now for $24.99 (so I rounded it up above - sorry). The URL is Affinity Photo – Professional Image Editing Software (serif.com)
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
PruittYou might want to take a look at Affinity Photo.
I've been using several versions of Photoshop elements over the years but when I heard about Affinity Photo a while back I jumped at the chance to get it at the $25 promo rate. I bought Affinity Designer, too, which is a vector-based graphics program to replace my now-vintage CorelDRAW X-5.
Excellent value, excellent program and free upgrades!
Cheers, Ed
Gimp is extremely powerful. The documentation sucks so there is a learning curve, but you can master it. It is free.
Picasa is a very good photo organizer which can do light weight edits. It used to be free. Then the maker decided to stop support and stop offering it. It ought to be available somewhere on the web. Duck Duck Go ought to find it.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
I use an old version of PhotoFiltre (6). Its very similar to early versions of Photo Shop and meets all of my needs. Version six (6) is a free download here:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwis3bKol__uAhWXZM0KHSR0D_YQFjACegQIExAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.afterdawn.com%2Fsoftware%2Fdesktop%2Fimage_editing%2Fphotofiltre.cfm%2Fv6_5_1&usg=AOvVaw01lZnceyRKDOiBheTf_z7e
Good luck with whatever you choose.
Remember its your railroad
Allan
Track to the BRVRR Website: http://www.brvrr.com/
I've had decent success with Paint.Net - It's another free editing software that's a couple of steps above MS Paint, but not as fully featured as GIMP or Photoshop.
Another very simple and low-power product is Irfanview. It's free.
If all you want to do is minor adjustments -- colors, brightness, cropping, sizings, etc., it is good.
York1 John
I would put in a third recommendation for Affinity Photo. I too took advantage of the $25 promo. There are tutorials on the web that really help with the basics that help to flatten the learning curve.
Scott Sonntag
I use Pixelmator on my macs. It's the equivelent of Photoshop and works very well cleaning up old photos and slides. There are a multitude of photo enhancement and customizing tools that I have barely gotten into but work amazingly well.
I'm on a Mac. I'll assume you're on Windows, right?
Although it's been discontinued, I still use the google "Picasa" app for most of my photo storage, viewing, and simple editing. It's freeware.
There's a version for Windows, as well. I think the final release was version 3.9.138.150.
Easy way to find it is to open a search engine and enter "picasa for windows download".
For additional editing, I have an older copy of Lightroom. But Picasa is often "all I need"...