Help with photo software

JLC · 02 Feb 2011

Hi

I'm a Mac user (I know - boo hiss!) and know nothing about Windows. However, I'm trying to help someone with Windows 7 as they are new to computing and have even less understanding than me!

I'm trying to help with importing, organizing and editing photos and video footage. Is there software pre-installed to do this - ie the Windows equivalent of iPhoto and iDVD?

If not, is there some free software available that can do this? Someone told me of a Google programme called Picasa - I've seen mixed reviews so wondered if anyone had any feedback on this?

(I realise there is plenty of professional level software for this but we're not looking for anything that serious - just something to to do basic bits of editing like red-eye removal etc)

Thanks!

John

PooMan UK · 02 Feb 2011

Hiya pal and welcome to the forums :)

This program is pretty good and it's free Fastone Image Viewer
and there's this one aswell Infranview which is also free

Ambimom · 02 Feb 2011

Picasa (which is now part of Google) is an excellent program for novices and it is free. http://picasa.google.com/

ezeht · 03 Feb 2011

You can use paint for photos, its built into w7, and windows live movie maker 11 comes with w7 but is a separate download, it comes in a package, but you can get only movie maker if you want- just check only it for download etc.. I use both for somethings, but use them lil..>

Windows Live Movie Maker 2011

I like and use [irafan view] for screens and photos, It is easy to use and is free, it can play videos but not edit them. It can batch resize convert and rename all at the same time. It has a screen shot key and can take screens every so many seconds if you want it too..>

IrfanView - Official Homepage - one of the most popular viewers worldwide

I use free [any video converter] for most all my video edits conversions or splits etc. I will use [virtualdub] for some video things or to get screen shots from videos to make animated gif's etc. Virtual dub can make animated gif's on its on from parts of videos, but will be what ever size you photos are. I use free [unfreez] to make the actual animated gif's.

Free Video Converter - Any Video Converter Free Version - convert video to any formats, avi to MPEG, avi to MP4, flv to MPG

Welcome to virtualdub.org! - virtualdub.org

UnFREEz 2.1 - WhitSoft Development

I used this as a basic guide to make my animated gif's..>

A Guide to Creating an Animated GIF from a Video

All the programs I use are free..

See ya..

WDAexodus · 03 Feb 2011

Windows 7 has basic editing and display for both video and photos. You may have to download movie maker but it's free as part of Windows Live essentials.

Paint - Windows 7 features - Microsoft Windows

Windows Live Movie Maker - Windows 7 features - Microsoft Windows

View pictures and videos in Windows Media Center

allend66 · 05 Feb 2011

Zoner for photos.Windows Live Essentials will do photos and video.

Borg 386 · 05 Feb 2011

WDAexodus said:

Windows 7 has basic editing and display for both video and photos. You may have to download movie maker but it's free as part of Windows Live essentials.

I do like Windows 7 Movie maker and it turns out some lovely menus. Just to warn you, there is one problem with it, which they apparently haven't fixed yet (at least I haven't heard), the aspect ratio will come out wrong for some movies.

Fortunately, there's a way to correct that. You have to use Live Movie Maker. Here's a link to the workaround

Windows DVD Maker Aspect Ratio

It basically involves making the project in Live Movie Maker, selecting the aspect ratio there, and then exporting it to a DVD. This apparently preserves whatever aspect ratio you selected. This takes a while, but as I said, it does make some nice menus