Picasa

[Charade]

:thumbsup2 :thumbsup2

About the easist I've seen.

https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=lh2&passive=true&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2F

[eeyore29]

I'm looking for a free photo editing program (not sure I'll stick to this so I don't wanna pay $$$ for software and barely use it) so I'm hoping y'all can point me in the best direction. So far I've only read a little about these 2...so if there are any others that you'd recommend, please do so.

Please let me know which you think is easier to work with, has more features, etc. I'd like to be able to crop, resize, un-blur, maybe add some extra touches, and if possible remove unwanted people/things from my pictures. Is all of this available in a free product? Are there any glitches with either of these or any annoying little quirks that I should know about?

Printing would be a factor too, whether it's thru the internet (and if so, how's the price?) or if I can save the pics to a CD and go to Target/Walgreens/etc. I have no preference either way, I'd probably just go with whatever's cheaper. I guess I'd rank myself a little more than an amateur but nowhere near a professional, if that helps you decide which would be better for me...
:thanks:

[elizke]

I use Paintshop Pro, which is very reasonable, but not free.

FastStone is a program that is very good for viewing, organizing, and basic editing. I prefer it to Picasa. I don't think you can remove objects (no cloning), but it's a great program...

http://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDetail.htm


This one is a very capable little program that could probably do anything else you'd want...

http://www.photofiltre.com/


By the way, I've never had a problem with either program.

[jann1033]

don't know about picassa as I only used it for a short time cause i got weird emails from someone on it(???) but snapfish is very basic editing, rotate, crop type of thing..what kind of a camera do you have? usually they come with some type of editing software, printers also and even my dvd burner did...unless snapfish has changed a lot the last couple yrs,any of the ones that come with something is probably more advanced

i do however use snapfish to order prints I have already edited and have never in probably 8-10 yrs had a problem with them

[eeyore29]

I have a Kodak camera and use the Easyshare software along with an older version of Print Shop. They're both VERY easy to use and great for everyday pics, but I'm looking for something a little more advanced so I can edit & enhance pics for our upcoming vacation (and our past vacations). With what I have, I can adjust the contrast/color, focus, cropping; what I'm hoping to be able to do is really tweek the pictures like I've seen around here (removing people/things, taking dark pictures & making them more realistic and colorful; there's a board here where people have their before-after pics & I really want to try doing stuff like that - I guess I probably should've just asked around on that board instead of creating a new thread - OOPS!). I'd totally understand if these types of options aren't available for free, but I thought I'd just ask around.

[Judge Fudge]

Picasa is an AWESOME image library program. Far exceeds stuff like Snapfish and the Kodak one that has destroyed my parents computer. (Ok, maybe it was a bit of them too)

For mac I get to use iPhoto, which I find great. For pictures online, I use Flickr, best picture sharing site IMO.

[elizke]

I have a Kodak camera and use the Easyshare software along with an older version of Print Shop. They're both VERY easy to use and great for everyday pics, but I'm looking for something a little more advanced so I can edit & enhance pics for our upcoming vacation (and our past vacations). With what I have, I can adjust the contrast/color, focus, cropping; what I'm hoping to be able to do is really tweek the pictures like I've seen around here (removing people/things, taking dark pictures & making them more realistic and colorful; there's a board here where people have their before-after pics & I really want to try doing stuff like that - I guess I probably should've just asked around on that board instead of creating a new thread - OOPS!). I'd totally understand if these types of options aren't available for free, but I thought I'd just ask around.

The ones I linked for you are both free (Faststone and Photfiltre). I have a Kodak too and love the camera, but I'm not a fan of the software.

By the way, for Judge Fudge, there is a clean utility that can be downloaded form Kodak that should fix any lingering problems...

[eeyore29]

I just briefly looked at photofiltre....it looks European....will I be able to use it? And can I do cloning with it?

[elizke]

I just briefly looked at photofiltre....it looks European....will I be able to use it? And can I do cloning with it?

Just select "downloads" and then select the English version. Very easy to use, just might see things like "informations" instead of "help". : )

Just play around with it for a while, and be sure you duplicate first so you don't mess with your original. Amazing what it can do for a free utility. And yes, it has cloning.

[jann1033]

if that free one doesn't work out for you check on ebay...i got a new, non pirated version, legit and all of photoshop elements 4 for $30. sometimes the bids go way high ( like what is the sense of that :confused3 )but i also saw online stores selling oem versions for around $40.

[mrtoadslastride]

Picasa has a new feature called Web Albums in the beta version that makes it really easy to post pictures to the web. You have to have a Google account to take advantage of it.

[Furgus]

The new Web Album is a nice way to share photos with family and friends and keep it private. If anyone needs a gmail account, pm me. I have plenty :)

Also the blogger function is very nice and easy to set up. Here is mine:

My Blog (http://gavette.blogspot.com/)

[boBQuincy]

Adobe's "Lightroom" beta is currently free and should stay that way through the rest of the year. It's not finished but is easy to use and works very well for most editing.

[Judge Fudge]

Also the blogger function is very nice and easy to set up. Here is mine:

My Blog (http://gavette.blogspot.com/)

I like your lightbox you made, I might have to make one of them for myself. If I have a place to put it.

[Carolc]

I haven't tried the others mentioned, but I LOVE Picasa! :thumbsup2 It manages all my photos in a GUI that makes it easy to move from one photo to another. I got back from Disney just about a week ago, and I am using Picasa to review/edit my photos (all in all, 1300 photos... I am almost done!) Thanks again, bro, for telling me about this free software!

[0bli0]

GIMP is also free and is pretty powerful. not quite as easy to use as Picasa, but it's more for editing where Picasa is for organising and displaying with minor editing.

[grover]

i would like to download picasa to create collages--the info makes it seem nice and easy.

however i am quite happy with using photoshop for everything else.

once i download picasa--it won't automatically move all my photos over from photoshop will it???

will picasa open up each time i upload my photo's? is there a to disable this it that is the case?

in other words i only want to use it selectively!

would love to hear your opinions before i go ahead and download the program!

[photo_pam22]

Hi all,
Its been a long time after my last visit, busy traveling
well here's some tip that I wanted to share with all,

One can web-host Picasa albums directly from a home / office PC using Purplenova. The option 'Export to HTML pages' in Picasa followed by web-publishing the contents of the directory from the WEBPAGES tab in Purplenova creates a URL to the album with all the navigation capability intact.

Cheers,:cool1:
Phun_Foto_pam.
"The camera is an excuse to be someplace you otherwise..."

[polkadotladybug]

I finally took the time to sign up for a web album service (granted it's free LOL) and I uploaded a number of flower photos from our recent trip to WDW and now I can't link any of those pictures? What am I doing wrong?

[Lachesis00]

Try FLICKR.COM :) It has a free and paid side. As long as you resize the free side is fine. :) I use a program called EZthumbnails.com :) And it is easy peasy to use!!

[aamob]

anyone use picasa from google?

[orchjoe]

I use it.... more for keeping track of my photos and I use the upload to web albums feature. I like it but I now might be switching to just using lightroom.

[TSBRN]

I use Picasa 2. I am computer challenged and it is pretty easy to use. I need to spend more time figuring out all the things you can do with it, but for now, I just store my pics there.

[WickedWench]

I've been using Picasa to do some minor editing to my photos, but I'm having a problem. Even if I save the photo with another name, Picasa keeps saving the changes to the original file. I want to keep the original file, and have a new edited file. How do I do this in Picasa?

[Cinderella2004]

I *believe* there is a folder called originals. I had this problem too. If you can find the original folder, it should be there.

[WickedWench]

Any idea where it might be? I'm having no luck.

[YEKCIM]

Choose the "export" button at the bottom after making your edits. Should export the edited version to another folder and keep the original intact. BTW, I don't think the actual original file is altered. Try navigating to the folder where the actual picture files are, open one that you have edited in Picasa and see if the original is edited or not. Keep in mind that there is a bug in Picasa that will not allow sharpening effects to be exported.

~Y

[WickedWench]

That seems to work, thanks YECKIM. It was editing the originals, when I went into the folder from my pictures, only the edited file was there. Luckily, I found the unsave option and was able to return them to their original state.

[TSBRN]

A question for any of you out there who are familiar with Picasa. I searched this question in Picasa's help area, but could not find an answer.

When I have my pic up on the screen (it automatically goes into the photo tray) I keep trying to zoom in on the picture but am unable to save it. The zoomed in image does not appear in my photo tray, nor will it save if I export it. Any thoughts on what I may be doing wrong?

If I go to special effects, ie---black and white, sepia...those will save in my tray. But nothing that I zoom in on.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!

[YEKCIM]

Sounds like perhaps you need to crop the image and then export it.

~Y

[tiger95]

Sounds like perhaps you need to crop the image and then export it.

~Y

Exactly. Zooming in/out is just another way of viewing the picture, not an action being performed on the photo.

JD

[TSBRN]

Ok, that makes sense....thanks!

[lonegirl]

I have been playing with Picasa and love it and have a question. Most of the changes/crops/enhancements I made saved when I put the pictures in an album for others to view our disney trip. However, if I sharpened an image under the effects tab, that did not keep in the album. Suggestion? Also, if I make changes then do a blanket save, is that enough, or do I need to save as each photo I alter? Thanks!

[YEKCIM]

Sharpening, unfortunately, does not "export" properly. This is a known "bug" and one wonders why Google had failed to remedy it. Otherwise, Picasa is a pretty good, easy to learn and use program, especially considering the cost.

~Y

[lonegirl]

love the cost and glad to hear it's a program error and not a user error! Thanks.

[Yellow_Stitch]

Picasa creates an "Originals" folder, but it makes it a hidden folder! In any windows folder, click tools, folder options, view and click "show hidden". Voila, there are the originals.

[MinnieNurse]

I have all my pictures on an account with Picasa. Can anyone tell me how I can post one picture from there to the Dis. I cannot find the link to copy and past. I am hopeless when it comes to computers and have never been able to post pictures here. Please someone help!!!:confused3

[kaffinito]

When you are viewing your photos in Picasa in the Library section, (the main photo viewing section with the thumbnails) you will see a toolbar at the BOTTOM of the window. There is an Export button there.

There is a sticky in the technical section which details how to post a photo in a thread. http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=4886029#post4886029

Good luck! :)

[annnewjerz]

I have Picasa (as well as some other photo sharing accounts) and all you have to do is open the photo you want to post (don't right click the thumbnail otherwise you'll end up with a small photo in your post). Right click the image and go down to Properties. You will see a bunch of text there, probably looks like a website address. Copy this text.

When you go to respond or post a new thread and want to put in the photo, just paste that text between . That should work. Also make sure that you are copying a link to a jpeg image...I seem to remember sometime in the past someone tried to post a link to another file type and it wouldn't work.

Hope this helps!
Ann

[Donold_Fan]

Here are the steps that I follow. Once you've "Uploaded" it from Picasa to the picasaweb.google.com site, follow these steps. There may be other ways to do it, but this is how I do it.

One thing I forgot to do was to highlight the selected size as 800px
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_cQ3Xg98rNko/SaHpvqI9-GI/AAAAAAAACWY/1frXr9EZcvo/s800/Image2.jpg

Next, click the "Insert Image" button
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_cQ3Xg98rNko/SaHpDMwiZ1I/AAAAAAAACVw/zqb47XbUU20/s800/Image3.jpg

Finally, you'll need to strip out the extra code. All you need is the text inside the src="" section.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_cQ3Xg98rNko/SaHpF2ERy1I/AAAAAAAACV4/Jtc9C0oaRpw/s800/Image4.jpg

[MinnieNurse]

I have decided I am completely hopeless. I finally have my pictures on Flickr but when I try to post them it posts a link not the picture. The link will take you to the picture but I want the picture posted in the thread. I wish I was like the young kids today and could do more on the computer-HOPELESS!:sad2:

[MinnieNurse]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3495/3315494070_91dec5ebe0.jpg?v=0

Like this. Why does my picture not show up?

[MinnieNurse]

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_WPQ-zYFh3PM/Saijb6suBGI/AAAAAAAAAGo/jkl-


:eek: :confused3 :scared: :sad2: :mad: :badpc: :badpc: :badpc: Nothing I do works-sorry I am a little irritated. I have followed everyones steps for picasa and flickr and nothing works.

[MinnieNurse]

http://i511.photobucket.com/albums/s359/sbracco/IMG_2766.jpg

Finally, Thank You Sherry E for the PM!!!!pixiedust:

[Sherry E]

http://i511.photobucket.com/albums/s359/sbracco/IMG_2766.jpg

Finally, Thank You Sherry E for the PM!!!!pixiedust:

You're very welcome!!:goodvibes And I love the colors in that picture, by the way!

[MinnieNurse]

You're very welcome!!:goodvibes And I love the colors in that picture, by the way!

:goodvibes :goodvibes So happy to be able to post some of my pictures. You are a Dis Angel!!!

[D,L and K's Mom]

Ok I have some beautiful shot of my schools Prom. I did one in black and white and did the girls corsage in color. I wanted to also do the young mand flower in color but just can't seem to find a way to do this on my Picasa program?? Anyone??? I read, I played...nothing. I think you can only do one object on each photo? Anyone know of another program that lets you color one or more objects? :confused3 Thanks!

[mouselovenfamily]

I think in Picassa you can only do a Focal B & W under the effects tab. There are several other programs that will allow you to do that effect but most are purchase programs. I know several on here use Gimp but I don't know that program very well. I use Elements 7 and it will also do that effect.

Try the Focal B & W and see if it works. Let me know~
Good Luck!!

Renee

[D,L and K's Mom]

Thank you. It does work but for only one section of the photo. I wanted to use the effect on 2 portions and It wont let me.......darn!

[wenrob]

Let me preface by saying, I don't know anything about Picassa. Can you do layers in it? If so, duplicate your picture and make the top layer black and white, the bottom layer color. Then with a "soft" eraser on the black and white pic erase(zoom in really tight) the areas you want in color then merge the pics and "save as."

[sherry7]

I'm hoping someone can answer this question for me. I haven't had much time lately, so I've started to use Picasa for simple edits like cropping, red eye, etc. The edit shows up in Picasa, but when I pull up the same file in the Windows Picture folder, the edit doesn't always show up there. (For example, a red eye fix "transfers" over, but a crop does not.)

I'm sure that I am probably making a simple mistake, but can someone point me in the right direction please? Thanks. :)

[1osfan]

I had the same problem when I first used Picasa, but I can only help you a little. I am out of town and don't have it in front of me, so I can only give you basic information. As I remember, I used Picasa's help feature to figure this out, but the basic idea is that when you edit a picture, Picasa saves it but does not change the original file until you tell it to. After you have edited all of the files in a particular folder, you must tell Picasa that you want to finalize the folder. This is where I can't be more specific since I am not home. You may be able to fingure it out by looking at some of the options or on Picasa's help page. Good luck!

[SrisonS]

It's been a long time since i've used Picasa. But if I remember correctly, you might have to 'Export' the picture for the changes to officially show up.

So, edit your picture, go to Export (or 'save and export'???), then choose the folder you want it placed in. And that should be pretty much it.

You'll then be able to open up that exported pic in any manner you want.... Cropped and all.

[sherry7]

Thanks, I will try these suggestions.

[Aimros]

Hi everyone! I have a quick question for all of you pros out there. I don't upload my photos online (rarely even to my Facebook account) but I'm thinking lately that it might be a good thing to do. I do have an external harddrive that backs up everything on my computer, but I feel like it might be a good thing to have my photos online, just in case. I'm by no means a professional or even a semi-professional photographer, rather I just want the peace of mind knowing my photos are somewhere that I can access them and not have to worry about my laptop crashing with all my photos on it or something. Anyway, I've been weary about uploading my photos to certain sites, but I know people swear by specific web based online storage. I looked into smugmug and while it sounds nice, I'm not sure I want to pay to store my photos that aren't even that great (haha!). I don't however like the idea that wherever I upload my photos, they are basically "owned" by that site (sort of freaks me out). With all of that being said, I uploaded my photos to Picasa last night because it links right from my gmail account. Was this a bad move? any suggestions? thanks!

[MICKEY88]

i don't know anything about the site youchose, but the thing I like about smugmug, and zenfolio is that they both have excellent customer service dept. very quick response time, and they both keep backups of photos at 3 different locations, to me that is worth the annual investment, I have a premium account with zenfolio, so that I can sell my event , and prtrait photos directly from the site, otherwise I would just have the base account which really is inexpensive for what you get.

I had a great experience with zenfolio customer service back in January, I was on vacation in Orlando, and needed to copy photos Of Fushu Daiko from my ren faire folder to a seperate folder so The Fushu Daiko webmaster could download photos for their website, I somehow inadvertantly deleted the folder, and all of the pictures{ close to 2000}. Although I still had the originals at home, I was going to be in Orlando for another week, so I contacted Zenfolio, and they were able to recover the photos for me in an hour or 2

[Spaceace5150]

I know there are some on the board that use Google Picasa.

What do you use it for, and what do you consider its strengths and weaknesses?

thanks!

[klmall]

Though I use Photoshop Elements 8 for most editing I still use Picasa for quick straightening of my 'crooked' photos and sometimes even for quick tuning of light problems of old photos. Somehow PSE's tool for adjusting the horizon is a big pain to use and Picasa is so straight forward, no pun intended.

I also like that Picasa allows viewing of RAW pictures without any processing.