# Free Photo Editing Software Recommendations **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 16, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-photo-editing-software-recommendations/567834 "2011-01-16T17:12:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-photo-editing-software-recommendations/567834/1 "2011-01-16T17:12:40Z")
Just looking for a good basic editing software to crop or adjust tones, etc. I used to use a free Adobe version, but that seems to no longer be available and I lost the release I had due to a hard drive crash. Needs to work on Win XP ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-photo-editing-software-recommendations/567834/2 "2011-01-16T17:55:24Z")
Bring out the [GIMP!](http://www.gimp.org/) I use this and PShop for contests on Fark, but there are a lot of people who use GIMP exclusively. Hope this helps… ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-photo-editing-software-recommendations/567834/3 "2011-01-16T19:35:03Z")
[Picasa](http://picasa.google.com/intl/en/) is a good photo organizer and basic editor. [Paint.net](http://www.getpaint.net/) is a more advanced editor. [Picnik](http://www.picnik.com/) and [Photoshop Express](http://www.photoshop.com/tools) are decent online editors. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-photo-editing-software-recommendations/567834/4 "2011-01-16T20:31:32Z")
Autodesk has an impressive free version of Sketchbook, Sketchbook Express, available on the Mac, but there doesn’t seem to be a Windows version. Failing that, there’s The GIMP, as previously mentioned, but I think it needs X11. The [download page](http://www.gimp.org/windows/) says it runs on any NT-based version of Windows, which includes XP, so maybe it installs that too. [Here’s an interesting list](http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pixelbasedwin/tp/freephotoedw.htm) that includes several I hadn’t heard of. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-photo-editing-software-recommendations/567834/5 "2011-01-17T01:41:53Z")
Thanks for the responses and recommendations. Sunspace, great comparison info in the list you linked ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-photo-editing-software-recommendations/567834/6 "2011-01-17T02:07:51Z")
For basics [XNVIEW](http://www.xnview.com/en/index.html) can’t be beat and it’s free ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-photo-editing-software-recommendations/567834/7 "2011-01-17T03:41:18Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > For basics [XNVIEW](http://www.xnview.com/en/index.html) can’t be beat and it’s free I second this. Great for cropping and has gamma correction. Excellent down and dirty program. It loads pictures very quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-photo-editing-software-recommendations/567834/8 "2011-01-17T03:49:33Z")
> [@Shark\_Sandwich](#): > > Bring out the [GIMP!](http://www.gimp.org/) > > I use this and PShop for contests on Fark, but there are a lot of people who use GIMP exclusively. > > Hope this helps… I’ve never used Gimp, but I frequent a photography message board and lots of them use it exclusively as well. From what I understand it basically boils down to a free version of photoshop, just much more difficult and convoluted until you’ve had some experience with it. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-photo-editing-software-recommendations/567834/9 "2011-01-17T03:55:48Z")
Best little program bar none IMO. Free of course. [http://www.irfanview.net/](http://www.irfanview.net/) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-photo-editing-software-recommendations/567834/10 "2011-01-17T08:53:00Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > The [download page](http://www.gimp.org/windows/) says it runs on any NT-based version of Windows, which includes XP, so maybe it installs that too. Yes it does. But, if you use it, you’d better like the multiple window interface. The next version is going to have a single window mode, but it is taking quite a long time, and not even the beta has it for Windows yet. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-photo-editing-software-recommendations/567834/11 "2011-01-17T12:43:16Z")
I’ve tried GIMP numerous times but I’ve never gotten the hang of it. I think Picnik is great – naturally it doesn’t have curves and such like Photoshop, but it’s a pretty powerful online program. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-photo-editing-software-recommendations/567834/12 "2011-01-19T12:08:24Z")
Here’s a good list of free photo editors: > **[The best image viewing and editing tools - Gizmo's Best](https://www.techsupportalert.com/the-best-image-viewing-and-editing-tools/)** > > Your image doesn't look the way you want it to, and you have problems viewing it? Read more about image viewing and editing tools here. ✅ ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-photo-editing-software-recommendations/567834/13 "2011-11-23T20:10:00Z")
I’m bumping this slightly zombified thread because I’m about ready to put my fist through a wall due to photo editing issues. I’ve tried a lot of the freeware suggested in this thread and elsewhere. I’ve tried commercial software. It’s either far too powerful and complex, or it doesn’t perform simple tasks simply enough. You know what I want? I want the goddam [Microsoft Photo Editor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Photo_Editor) or its equivalent. This old program, which of course is discontinued, can: - Open in a nanosecond - Easily define a selection within an image and move, copy, delete, or create a new image from it - Easily re-size an image - Do a number of other functions much more simply and easily than any other software I’ve used Actually I’m fibbing a little - I have it on my computer, copied it from an older machine. But it was written before photo images were very large, and doesn’t work with most new, large files. However, when it works it is better for basic tasks than any of the dozen + other programs I’ve tried. Can someone PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE just re-code it exactly as it was, but able to work with larger images? That’s all I want for Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2011, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-photo-editing-software-recommendations/567834/14 "2011-11-24T01:29:54Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > I’m bumping this slightly zombified thread because I’m about ready to put my fist through a wall due to photo editing issues. I’ve tried a lot of the freeware suggested in this thread and elsewhere. I’ve tried commercial software. It’s either far too powerful and complex, or it doesn’t perform simple tasks simply enough. > > You know what I want? I want the goddam [Microsoft Photo Editor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Photo_Editor) or its equivalent. This old program, which of course is discontinued, can: > > - Open in a nanosecond > - Easily define a selection within an image and move, copy, delete, or create a new image from it > - Easily re-size an image > - Do a number of other functions much more simply and easily than any other software I’ve used > > Actually I’m fibbing a little - I have it on my computer, copied it from an older machine. But it was written before photo images were very large, and doesn’t work with most new, large files. However, when it works it is better for basic tasks than any of the dozen + other programs I’ve tried. Can someone PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE just re-code it exactly as it was, but able to work with larger images? That’s all I want for Christmas. I’ve been happy with XnView as a replacement but I miss the ability to crop into an oval. But as you pointed out, it doesn’t like large files. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2011, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-photo-editing-software-recommendations/567834/15 "2011-11-24T01:36:05Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I’ve been happy with XnView as a replacement but I miss the ability to crop into an oval. But as you pointed out, it doesn’t like large files. XnView is dead to me. When I installed it changed settings in both Firefox and Chrome. Death to any software that does that. And it crashed every time I tried to use it. Great product. Just great. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-photo-editing-software-recommendations/567834/16 "2011-11-24T02:03:37Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > XnView is dead to me. When I installed it changed settings in both Firefox and Chrome. Death to any software that does that. > > And it crashed every time I tried to use it. Great product. Just great. Wow, I’ve used it on several platforms and I use firefox. never once had a problem.