Simple software

[Matthew Rolfe]

Hello,

I own an Epson 4990 scanner and I am looking for a cheaper and simpler software alternative to Photoshop.

Bear with me, I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to computers and software...

All I require from the software is the ability to scan (obviously) and simple editing (levels/curves/histogram) and then crop and resize. Basically I do not need all the bag of tricks that Photoshop provides. I only need to scan and make minor adjustments, so is there an alternative to splashing out on an extremely powerful programme that I will only ever use 10% of?

Many Thanks
Matthew

[sultanofcognac]

You can't use Epson Scan. . . the pgm that came with the scanner? If you don't have it then download if from Epson. . .

[Matthew Rolfe]

I don't have that, just the basic drivers. I will download it.

Perhaps having to pay out for Photoshop is unavoidable...

[bobwysiwyg]

Matt, my needs are about as limited as your own and I even use an old Epson 2450. You might consider Adobe Photoshop Elements, much cheaper and can do what you are looking for.

[Sascha Welter]

For scanning use the software that came with the scanner or VueScan.

Instead of Photoshop you can get PhotoLine http://www.pl32.com/ which costs 59 Euros and does handle 16bit/channel images, and does Adjustment Layers for Curves. It has a lot more unnecessary features (like Photoshop has), but you don't pay for them.

[Jim Jones]

Like bobysiwyg, I use an Epson 2450. It is adequate for my 4x5 negatives. PSE5 handles most editing. Picture Window Professional provides 16 bit editing where necessary. Irfanview should be on every photographer's computer for its convenience and speed of operation.

[Ben Syverson]

I'm working on this exact thing... It'll be a few months until it hits the Mac App Store though.

[Peter York]

Picture Window Pro is a nice alternative to Photoshop. http://www.dl-c.com/

[IanG]

Paintshop Pro is also excellent, I've used it since the first release as Paintshop (early 90's). I still use a pre Corel version.

Gimp or Gimpshop are great as well and free.

Ian

[jp]

I scan with epson scan in the pro/advanced mode to avoid the clipping, then use gimp to adjust the curve, resize, etc..

[Dave Brown]

The freeware program IrfanView can do everything you want.

[CantikFotos]

You might want to take a look at Paint.NET.......it does curves and layers. And is Free.

http://www.getpaint.net/features.html

[Matthew Rolfe]

Thanks for all the responses. Really helpful!

Lots for me to try out.

You can imagine what I was confronted with when I initially typed cheap/free/simple photo editing software into google....

[Ben Syverson]

Here's a screencast from a simple editing session in my app... Editing a 2400 PPI 4x5 scan like it was a web image. :)

Watch the video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLJHp7fSLj0)

[sergiob]

Lightroom. Very powerful and very easy to use. And non uses destructive editing. Not so good at local editing, very strong at global editing.

[domaz]

Dark table (http://darktable.sourceforge.net/) is free software and is supposedly very good- I haven't tried it personally yet though. Some people are even switching from Lightroom to it.