Free Image and Photo Editing Software for Windows

OK, so you have scanned lots of old family photographs, and now you want to digitally restore them? You want to fix the creases and extraneous marks on the photographs to make them look better? What software will you use?

Photoshop has the best reputation and is the choice of photo professionals everywhere. However, its "street price" of about $600 discourages most amateur photo restorers. A stripped-down version of the program, called Photoshop Elements, sells for about $90, a lot more reasonable price but still expensive for most of us. The GIMP (Graphics IMage Processor) is a powerful open source program that is available free of charge. However, its user interface is awkward to use. So what should you do? I'd suggest that you take a look at the FREE PhotoPlus 6 being given away by Serif Software.

PhotoPlus 6 is an excellent program for photo restoration and other purposes on a Windows computer. To be sure, PhotoPlus 6 is not quite as powerful as the $90 Photoshop Elements. Then again, with a price tag of zero, many of us will accept a program that has 90% of the capabilities of the more expensive program. I decided to try it out to see if it could entice me to abandon The GIMP, which I normally use.

PhotoPlus 6 is available as a 19.4 megabyte download. That will not be a problem for broadband users, but anyone on a 56K dial-up connection will find that the download will take several hours. Even so, I'd suggest that this program is worth the wait.

I downloaded the program and installed it. The first time I ran PhotoPlus 6, it connected to the Internet and then asked me to supply information for registering the program. I typed in my name and e-mail address. A few seconds later, a series of letters and numbers was delivered to my e-mail address. This is the "unlock code" for the program. Once unlocked, the program asked for a bit more information, then launched the full version of PhotoPlus 6. The program's producers assure users that the registration will be free forever. Even so, the company does sell more powerful versions of the same program.

PhotoPlus 6 includes capabilities to create, manipulate, and enhance photographs, bitmap graphics, and web animations. All the tools you need include handy hints to help you achieve the results you seek. The program also includes various tutorials for image and photo editing as well as special effects in the downloadable companion document. The tutorial includes hands-on examples, essential theory, and useful tips. The program also includes FAQs: frequently asked questions where you may find answers to common inquiries.

I found the program to be very easy to use, much easier than the free photo-editing program that I have been using.

All in all, Photoplus 6 is an excellent program for a free offering. It is easy to use and includes all the basics. To be sure, it is not as powerful as the programs that cost $90 or more. Then again, it doesn't cost $90 or more. I can strongly recommend Photoplus 6 for anyone who occasionally needs to edit photographs or bitmap images. Serious photography and scanning buffs will probably want a more powerful (and more expensive) program. For me, Photoplus 6 meets more than all of my needs.

You can download the free Photoplus 6 at http://freeserifsoftware.com. While at the site, you might want to look at the other free programs the company offers. I haven't looked at the others yet, but if they are as good as Photoplus 6, they could be very useful.

My thanks to Betty Clay for telling me about this great free program.

Comments

[Taneya]

I have been a PhotoPlus user for about 3 years now - it is an EXCELLENT program!

[Tom Doherty]

Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 Windows is available now from Amazon for $60 after $20 rebate. Chain stores (e.g. CompUSA, Best Buy, Staples, etc) often advertise it for less than $50 after rebate. Check during back-to-school time. It's a very versatile software for old photos. But, then again, you can't beat free.

[Gordon Banks]

You might want to look at GIMPshop, which is a Photoshop like front-end to the GIMP.

Can find it at plasticbugs.com

[Mark Roy]

"Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 Windows is available now from Amazon for $60 after $20 rebate"

A word of caution, if you look at the (not in plain view) rebate requirements:

"Owners of previous versions of this software will qualify to receive $20.00 from Adobe with this mail-in rebate"

so, it's only an Upgrade rebate. Speaking of upgrades, in perusing the customer reviews of this product... lots of complaints from owners of previous versions.

The free products are looking better and better...

[Valorie Zimmerman]

Picasa and Irfanview also are popular, and free.

[annie]

I just download it but don't know how to use it... Should I confirm from the internet when I finished install it?