I've put this in here because it's not necessarily railway related.

As a result of MS withdrawing support for Windows 7, I have just changed my desktop to one running on Windows 10.

My old one had an old version of MS Office which had a very easy crop/resize function which I always used to prep photos for posting on here - and for other online postings plus e-mailing photos.

I'm not prepared to "rent" the current version of MS Office so, thanks to Sol's advice, use Libre Office for word processing and spreadsheets etc.  Libre Office doesn't appear to have the simple photo editing facilities so thought I'd see what was available as a freebie online.

I was staggered at what is out there !!!

What do you guys use for simple editing of photos ?  I'm not after a Photoshop alternative but something that offers, in this instance, a one-click crop and/or resize function for producing "internet friendly" photos that won't take 3 days to send/receive ……………………

Peter try this  - one I & Max use
https://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDetail.htm

Crop & then reduce size to 800 pixels wide

The built in Windows 10 'Photos' app can do cropping.

Libre Office also has the 'Draw' program than can manipulate images, and you can then export it out as a JPEG, PNG or Gif etc. as required.

Thanks Sol - I'll have a look at Faststone.  Something tells me I've used it for something in the past but can't remember what for ……………….

Cropping isn't a problem with the Windows 10 photos app Andy but it doesn't allow resizing (in pixel terms) - or at least, I haven't found it. 

If you've ever seen me efforts at drawing - in any medium - you'd realise why I don't ever go there !!!  :oops: :oops:

I think also, you've hit the nail on the head with your comments about "exporting" the results.

With the old "Office Picture Editor", you opened the image, clicked on "edit" - resized and/or cropped (your alterations immediately appeared so you knew you'd got it right) then simply clicked "save" and presto, you had you manipulated image plus the original in your file.

Maybe the current version of Office allows the same thing but you either have to buy it or rent it.

I suppose, if I can't get on with Faststone,  I could try reloading the disk onto here but not sure if it would allow re-use on a different computer, plus, the old version won't open some documents generated on more recent versions - doc.x being a classic example which has caused me problems in the past.

My camera came with a pretty comprehensive editing package. I also use Corel Paint, MS Powerpoint, Windows 10 photo editor, and the scanner cropping tool as required. Most of the time it's just crop, level the image, adjust the light level, and sharpen a tad.

I'm finding the sharpen and color/light adjustment tools useful as I try to get 3D prints smooth. Part of the tool box in fact. "The camera is cruel" is actually very good at picking up things the eye or finger misses. Amazing what it finds at a distance of a couple of inches. Missing rivet head for instance.


Nigel

Hi Peter
https://www.irfanview.com/main_download_engl.htm

This is a free download. I have used it for years for re sizing, sharpening and file handling. Its simple to operate and fast.

It has a cropping tool but  I now use Affinity to crop and edit. Affinity is a brilliant programme, innumerable bells and whistles ….most of which I havent tried but the ones I do use have made a big difference to my published photos. Its not super expensive. I think I paid $65 Cdn.

Best wishes

John

Ifran view for resizing and image viewing from files - it can be expanded easily. For any cloning etc  use PhotoFiltre which is a straight forward process and for initial editing work - cropping, levelling and any colour adjustment PhotoScapeXPro, all free and apparently designed for idiots so suits me down to the ground. It might seem a faff to use three but it soon becomes second nature to whizz between the. I migrated, under duress, to W10 some years ago after my XP developed a major illness, but installed Classic Shell into it which makes 10 look and behave more like XP. No idea how it all works but I'm happy enough with it and have the editing programmes as shortcuts on the task bar- the thing at the bottom of the screen, so its easy to click and bring up when needed.

Peter, did you dispose of your old Windows 7 desktop? I was faced with the same dilemma, so I invested in a refurbished laptop with Windows 10 purely for banking and email.
I kept the desk top complete with Windows Office Suite and Photoshop, and use it for all hobby type stuff, photo manipulation, and internet surfing. Pictures are stored on back-up in case anything 'happens'.

So far everything is working as it should! (I know some people who are still happily plodding along with XP… )

ATB, Shaun.

Thanks for all the suggestions chaps. 

I have installed both Irfanview and Faststone to "play" with each and see how I get on.

I really ought to get myself into the digital age - in a '"previous life" I did spend a couple of years working in advertising photography in London but that was with film.  Everyone in the studio thought digital was only destined for the "Happy Snaps" brigade and wasn't "proper" photography !!!

I'm impressed with your ability to run 3 different programmes at the same time Richard but then the proof of the pudding … and your photos are always superb.

I note that you use 2 programmes John - or have you dropped Irfanview now ?

Maybe every cloud etc; - this thread was started because I'd lost such an easy tool for doing two simple functions which I use more than I imagined - crop and resize. Office did it so easily that I'm sure even our dog could have done it.

But then MS Dos was easy compared to Windows - keyboards were easier than mice and as for changing from Windows 7 to Windows 10 …………………………….

 Shaun, I haven't disposed of the old "tower" and plan to use it as you suggest but I need to find space for it.  I did think in the railway unit but I don't think my WiFi would reach there …………………  I already have 2 laptops - Windows 7 and Windows 10 - but, as you know, desktops take up quite a bit of space once all the "bits" are plugged in.



 
 

Bit late Peter, but you could try Gimp, which is what I use.

GIMP - GNU Image Manipulation Program

Dead easy to load a picture, crop it, resize and then save.



Ed

Thanks Ed.

 When I was trawling the net to see what was on offer, GIMP featured very highly but, on reading the reviews, I discarded it because it appears to have a "very steep learning curve".  Maybe that was if you wanted to copy Photoshop but, to be honest, I have enough "learning" to do elsewhere without filling my time with photo editing programmes.

The intro blurb says " whether you are a graphic designer, photographer, illustrator or scientist" - that didn't appear to include "wanting to post snaps on YMR" so I moved on ………………..
 
Maybe I'll have another look at it - after all, it won't cost much !!

There's a lot of online help Peter, you just Google what your trying to do.

Ed

Thanks Ed - I'll download it and have a "play" - I'm still trying to get my fingers around this "foreign" AZERTY keyboard !!   :twisted: :twisted:

I still run Win 7, I've had updates turned completely off for at least 18 months, no problems - if it ain't broke why fix it?
For photo editing resizing etc I use Micrografx Picture Publisher v10 which was released about 2002, I'd used it since v2 in 1991; you can still find free downloads. It does require to run in an XP emulator. I did look at Gimp a few years ago but decided that in my 80s I did not fancy climbing such a steep learning curve.

Hi Peter
I use Irfan for all photo file handling regardless of where they are going

The Affinity photo editing software has its own unique suffix….basically you import ….crop and edit ….then export thr finished photo and save in .jpeg format

Resizing can be done as part of exporting but its easier for me to use Irfan to resize, sharpen and save whenever I post photos on YMR

Good luck with your experiments

John

Hi Peter, sorry late to the game as usual these days lol. I have used this piece of software for years now on windows 7 up to and including windows 10 with no problems.   You download and install it, then any time you want to resize an image you just right click on it and the usual drop down menu opens, but added into it is 'resize Image' as an option. Very simple to use with several options including custom sizing if you wish, You can save as a new Image (re naming as you save if you wish)  or choose to replace the old Image. Fast, simple, no hidden bloatware, just does what it says on the tin  :thumbs

   http://www.bricelam.net/ImageResizer/

[user=606]Sol[/user] wrote:

Peter try this  - one I & Max use
https://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDetail.htm

Yup, that's what I use. It finds every jpeg etc on your 'pooter, too! Get your head around how to save and where, and it's good to use. I use the Screen Capture system, remeber to click on the little shot at the lower left and 'Save as…' or you'll wondr where it went!

Douglas

[user=312]Chubber[/user] wrote:

' or you'll wondr where it went!

Douglas

You'll wonder where the yellow went…

Remember that one Doug! (and I bet a few others on here remember it too! bit like steam engines )

I do! The Opal Fruits ad keeps runningt my head these days, too.

"Opal Fruits made to make your mouth water….." Etc. 

Can't get the blasted tune out of my head.

D