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Tech help that's really helpful!

Ready, aim, snap - and edit

Created: 25 Apr 2007 ::: Last updated: 21 Jun 2007
Applies to: X Win95 X Win98 X WinMe X Win 2000/NT X WinXP X WinVista X MacOS

By Chris Ricci

Taking pictures is simple. You aim your digial camera at your subject or object, the camera does all the necessary calculations for you, you push the button - and that’s it. Gone are the days of calculating the appropriate shutter speed and aperture, basing it all on the film sensitivity. All of your fingers and your toes weren’t enough from time to time.

So, we took a digital picture. Or, better still, the camera took it for us. Now what?

Many of us aren’t sure which photo editing software to buy. There are some great products available. The best part is that most of them are free.

For most of us, our photo editing requirements are nothing more than cropping and re-sizing our vacation pictures. In the worst-case scenarios, we might need a red-eye remover, or basic color and saturation touch ups. Advanced photo editing is left for the professional software suites like Adobe and Corel. They do, however, offer more consumer oriented versions such as Adobe Photoshop Elements and Corel Photo Album. If you are keeping an eye out for the latest technologies and Internet offerings, don’t overlook photo editing.

Progress has reached this field of human endeavour, too. No more installation of massive photo editing suites just to perform the basics. Now, you can do it all online, and even share those memories online, too. There are online photo books, and photo sharing sites such as Flickr - Photo Sharing, and Photobucket, to name just a couple of them. You can upload your photos and share them with friends and family, or the world, even, if you choose. Many people also have learned of ways to generate income from their photos: they sell them to clipart and photo retailers.

The following list is compiled from information on new Internet start-ups, offering the latest and greatest in online photo editing software. By no means is this list comprehensive. It’s here to show you where to start.

From photo sharing, slide shows, to desktop publishing and editing:

Wiredness - Upload photos from your computer, or from any URL. Re-size, change exposure, fix red-eye, rotate, colorize, change brightness and contrast, and much more

Phixr - Upload your pictures and make all the changes you want. After editing your images, Phixr lets you upload them to Flickr, Fotopic, Livejournal, Photobucket, etc.

pic2color - Image re-coloring; create color schemes for your images

Picasa - Google’s free image utilities suite. Complete image touch-up tools, including a web album, slide shows and compatibility with blogs, e-mail, too

Picnik - Quickly edit all your online photos from one place. Fix underexposed photos, remove red-eye, or apply effects to your photos

Pikipimp - Not only an online image editor, but also a host of fun effects for your photos. Drag and drop items like hats, wigs, objects, and clothes

Pixer - If you need a quick touch-up, fix and edit your photos online using your browser, this is the site to try

formatpixel - Create online magazines, fanzines, brochures, catalogues, portfolios, etc.

Slide - Delivers your favorite digital content to your desktop, or web site in the form of a simple, sleek slide show.

Fotowoosh - Convert 2D photos into 3D worlds. This one is still in beta, you will have to apply for a free invitation. There are some sample photos available.

Citizenimage - turn your pictures into money-makers

Imagekind - another revenue-generating site for your artwork

Fotolia - Purchase photos, or use royalty-free photos

Preloadr - Professional tools to optimize your photos. Use Graduation Curve, Histogram, Layers and more, just like the pros do

YouREP - Upload, store (2 Gb free storage) and organize your photos. A collection of many tools makes this web service most useful