Good image manipulation software

[Gidman]

I know that photoshop is the best image manipulation software around, but I really don't want to spend that much money. What are some lighter weight image manipulation software packages that allow you to screw with gifs, pic, tiffs, bmps, et c.

Does photoshop elements work well?

Any advice would be appreciated.
Gid

[Vector]

If you cannot afford or rationalize the price of Photoshop, I suggest you buy Photoshop Elements. It is a very good piece of software, as is to be expected from adobe, that can do most anything that the average user would need. I use Photoshop because I need certain features for some of my more complex work, but unless you are trying to do professional image editing or compliing Elements should work for you. If you go to http://www.adobe.com you should find demo versions of both Photoshop and Elements to download, assuming you have broadband or want to wait a while. The demos should tell you whether the programs can do what you need them to do, and they are almost fully featured if a remember correctly.

[hugemullens]

I think of a good rule of thumb is....if you have to ask...photoshop elements. Photoshop is a bit intense and high end.....i have both elements (nice and legal) and photoshop (no comment) and i actually use elements more cause its just easier to use. hope that helps.

[Doctor Q]

Why spend money at all? Check out the good free painting program (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23080) thread and Gimp (http://www.gimp.org/).

If you have a few dollars to spend and are under Mac OS 9 and earlier, Color It! (http://www.microfrontier.com/) is quite nice for a mere $50. (They've promised an OS X version for over a year, but it has never appeared.)

[bousozoku]

Photo Deluxe was very good and everything I've read about Photoshop Elements says that it succeeds it brilliantly.

Photoshop is generally something that only professionals want to handle. "Histogram? I'm working on a photo, not history class."

There tend to be few alternatives although with GIMP, you may be able to do most of what you want, once XWindows is loaded.

[janey]

GIMP!!!
the gnu image manipulation program
use finkcommander (http://finkcommander.sourceforge.net) to install it.

[macktheknife]

Originally posted by übergeek
GIMP!!!
the gnu image manipulation program
use finkcommander (http://finkcommander.sourceforge.net) to install it.

I concur. For an open source program, it's amazingly easy to use and very functional.

[janey]

Originally posted by macktheknife
I concur. For an open source program, it's amazingly easy to use and very functional.
yeah...took me about a minute to install, another minute to load and zero seconds to learn how to use.

[wsteineker]

I have both GIMP and Photoshop Elements 2 on my machine, and they're both great. That said, the entry level user should probably go with PSE2. It's a fantastic program that's well documented and is capable of doing just about everything PS7 is at a fraction of the cost. You can invest some of the saved money in a good book on the program and really get some nice effects. Best of luck! :)

[gopher]

Also good is http://www.lemkesoft.com/ GraphicConverter

[Kwyjibo]

I use PSE 2 and its great, I like it better than gimp just because i don't have to use x11 or anything. Its worth the fifty bucks or whatever it costs after rebates. Also if you get really good and decide you want to upgrade to the full version of photoshop, you will be very familiar with thei nterface the tools and their names/functions.

[Doctor Q]

Originally posted by gopher
Also good is http://www.lemkesoft.com/ GraphicConverter I've used Thorsten Lemke's software since the Mac OS 7 days. But isn't GraphicConverter delivered with Mac OS X and already pre-licensed (i.e., already paid for)?

[tjwett]

GIMP is awesome. and even though i hate Macromedia, Fireworks can do some good stuff that even Photoshop can't.

[job]

Originally posted by Doctor Q
I've used Thorsten Lemke's software since the Mac OS 7 days. But isn't GraphicConverter delivered with Mac OS X and already pre-licensed (i.e., already paid for)?

Only on newer Macs. It's preinstalled or included on the software install disks (hardware specific.)

It's not on any of my retail Jaguar disks.

[ryme4reson]

Hi, since we are on the topic of Photoshop, if anyone has any PH skillz I need an image manipulation. I am willing to pay a few bucks if someone can help me out. If anyone is interested, please email me at jamesk777@mac.com



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