Software Help, which to buy?

[Dragon Master]

Hello, I'm a bit sad. My trial version of Microsoft Digital Image 10 is over tommorow. Now I will not be able to put pics online, without them being HUGE, and uncropped. It costs 95 dollars to order the full version. Is this worth it? Is there a cheaper alternative (the GIMP thing doesn't work for me I've tried, and I'd like to stay within the law) or is there a better, more expensive program I should go for?

Thanks in advance,

DM

[Robin Hood]

Well if cropping and resizing are all you need, Microsoft Paint works. Cropping anyway. It can resize and not tooooo bad, but certainally not the best. Hope this helps.

Dan

[Drucifer]

For about the same price you can get Photoshop Elements, which is a trimmed down version of Photoshop. A full version of Photoshop can be "better", it just depends on what you want to do. I would recommend Elements over the MS Digital Image, simply for the fact that there's a lot of literature out about Photoshop, so those tips and tricks would be very relevant to Elements. There is a free trial version of Elements if you want to give it a spin.

If you want cheap I'll help you get the GIMP working, just send me e-mail or a PM with the problem(s) you're having. (This offer applies to anybody trying to get the GIMP working, if you're having problems PM or e-mail me and I'll try to help you out).

[lemon_squeezer2]

Now, your PC might be different, but if you just need to size images, can't you use the default program that comes with your PC? I believe it's called - simply enough "Microsoft Photo Editor"

[Lord_Of_The_LEGO]

Now, your PC might be different, but if you just need to size images, can't you use the default program that comes with your PC? I believe it's called - simply enough "Microsoft Photo Editor"

Well, my PC came with no image editing software, so I have to use the family iMac's! This might be the case with DM too. Also, defaut or free software usually doesn't pack the punch a serious photo editor like myself wants...

*Saves up for LEGO Vikins and Photoshop Elements*

[Drucifer]

Now, your PC might be different, but if you just need to size images, can't you use the default program that comes with your PC? I believe it's called - simply enough "Microsoft Photo Editor"

MS Photo Editor is a part of the MS Office suite, it should be in the MS Office Tools group on your start menu if you have MS Office installed. I don't think you can get it as a seperate program (or more accurately the separate version appears to be MS Digital Image 10 that Dragon Master has used).

Also, defaut or free software usually doesn't pack the punch a serious photo editor like myself wants...

Do not under estimate the power of the GIMP.

[Dragon Master]

Turn out that I got a program called microsoft office picture manager. It doesn't have all the nice feautres that photoshop have, but It will let me crop and resize my images. I think I'll be using this from now on, unless there is a major price drop in the pay programs.

Thank you all for your advice and help, I really apprciate it,

DM

[porschecm2]

I tried downloading and installing the GIMP, and I got an error message when I tried to install it. Is there a way to download it that's not mirrored, perhaps?

*EDIT* Ok, I've actually got the program installed, I think... But for the life of me I can't figure out how to run it. It didn't place an icon on the desktop, and when I access it through WindowsExplorer all I find is a bunch of files, no actual programs.

*EDIT 2* Got it working. Now I just have to figure out how to use this....*goes to read tutorial*

Cm2

[Drucifer]

I tried downloading and installing the GIMP, and I got an error message when I tried to install it. Is there a way to download it that's not mirrored, perhaps?

The GIMP is hosted on SourceForge which only provides downloads through mirroring. Glad to hear you got it working.

Here's my quick start guide to downloading/installing the GIMP:
1). Download the following three files (xx.xx.xx means latest version number) from SourceForge
gtk+-xx.xx.xx-setup.zip
gimp-xx.xx.xx-i586-setup.zip
gimp-help-xx.xx.xx-setup.zip
2). Unzip gtk+-xx.xx.xx-setup.zip and run gtk+-xx.xx.xx-setup.exe
3). Unzip gimp-xx.xx.xx-i586-setup.zip and run gimp-xx.xx.xx-i586-setup.exe
4). Unzip gimp-help-xx.xx.xx-setup.zip and run gimp-help-xx.xx.xx-setup.exe
5). Start GIMP from the start menu and enjoy
6). Check the manual for more info