Full Version: Simple free photo editor for beginners
Can you recommend a very simple photo editing program for complete computer novices? All that's really needed is cropping/resizing/compressing JPG files from a digital camera. Brightness/contrast and unsharp mask might be fine too, but not too many other confusing features.
I've been happy with iPhoto.
Forgot to mention it's for Windows, thanks for the hint. 
My digital camera came with a CD with basic photo editing software (both MS Windows and Macintosh versions). It was okay, but I prefer iPhoto.
The Gimp works, but has a lot of other tools visible besides the ones you want.
I've heard a lot of recommendations for IrfanView, but I've never used it myself.
The Gimp works, but has a lot of other tools visible besides the ones you want.
I've heard a lot of recommendations for IrfanView, but I've never used it myself.
Picasa from Google maybe? It's free.
The Gimp feels complicated even for me. 
Irfanview might work, even though it's a bit crude in my experience.
Haven't tried Picasa, will investigate!
There's also Windows Photo Gallery, which apparently can be used on XP too. Haven't tried it much myself, as usual I fear potential bloatware.
Irfanview might work, even though it's a bit crude in my experience.
Haven't tried Picasa, will investigate!
There's also Windows Photo Gallery, which apparently can be used on XP too. Haven't tried it much myself, as usual I fear potential bloatware.
Found this very simple Windows program (only for resizing JPEG images): http://www.rw-designer.com/picture-resize
Why hasn't anyone mentioned IrfanView? It's especially good at downsampling. Has better algorithms than many a big and costly editor, e.g. Mitchell filter.
It's so small, fast and easy to use as an image viewer that everyone should have it for that reason even if it also has many other useful features.
It's so small, fast and easy to use as an image viewer that everyone should have it for that reason even if it also has many other useful features.
QUOTE(pandy @ Jul 17 2009, 02:04 PM) 
Why hasn't anyone mentioned IrfanView?
Darin has.
Alas there's no way my target audience would have the patience to learn how to use it. 
Oh. So you look for en editor that has one single feature? Because I don't think it gets simpler than with Irfan.
Paint.NET
QUOTE(pandy @ Jul 17 2009, 08:47 PM)
Oh. So you look for en editor that has one single feature? Because I don't think it gets simpler than with Irfan.
Not a single, but not too many either. Alas Irfanview has lots of them, but not things like Contrast (IIRC).
Hmmm glad I came across this post, I will be resizing about 40 images in the next week, to both half size and thumbnails.
Was going to do it with the batch processing options in Fireworks but it can be pretty dodgy, so will give this Batch Picture Resize a go and if that fails then it’s down to IrfanView.
Iain
Was going to do it with the batch processing options in Fireworks but it can be pretty dodgy, so will give this Batch Picture Resize a go and if that fails then it’s down to IrfanView.
Iain
Seems there are online photo editors as well, aimed at the kind of photo editing I have in mind. Possibly they put a limit on how large files you might upload, though.
This site is pretty awesome: http://www.pixlr.com/editor/
As a die hard PhotoShop user, this is pretty close to the real thing. And you don't have to download anything. It's all in the browser.
As a die hard PhotoShop user, this is pretty close to the real thing. And you don't have to download anything. It's all in the browser.
That thing was pretty nifty! 
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