photo editing software advice needed

[solid317 2]

hi,basically i have downloaded 3 opensource (free & legal) programs that have been suggested by members on another forum. the programs areGIMPPaint.net& Picasa 3so far i have found gimp to be fairly advanced and to do the things i feel like it should.now this is where i get stuck! basically so far all my wife wants to do with photo's is to do the black and white, sepia, red eye reduction, crop, etc so the pics can be used in albums/frames for the family. i'd like to go a bit further and alter the sky (eg go from grey/overcast to clear blue or make it a sunset/sunrise) i can to the black and white with some colour already (managed to find a tutorial that was easy to follow) i'd also like to be able to highlight eye colour like take it from a blue/grey and make it a brighter bluedoes anyoney here use these programs and if so do you know where i can find easy to follow tutorials or could you supply them?thanks heaps for your helpdamo

[RogerG 1]

Try Ulead Photo Impact it has excellent online tutorials and forum. The free version is very powerful and has good help files. My wife has the full version and is a forum member and spends several hours per night on the PI site. She also submits several edited photos per week to Norther SA newspapers, most of which get published.CheersRogerG

[wedgetail 0]

I would let your wife have fun with picasa it will do every thing you have mentioned here. Its simple but quite powerful tool to use , for yourself try gimp . Did you get any software supplied with your camera.Mark

[spog777 1]

gimp is a top freebie programme. I use the photshop cs4, and also fing ulead is a very handy and useful programme as well

[Hayles 0]

I would recommend using what options you have on flickr, its free for the basics, also another good way of sharing your images with other photographers and much more.No download required just sign up. And upload your pics you wish to share edit or even add to competitions.