What's the best free easy to use photo editing suite

Sicard

I don't need one with all the bells and whistles, just a fairly simple one which you can insert text, edit the pictures, in easy to understand instructions.

TIA

were

Paint.net is free, easy. And there are youtube tutorials available

It did/does support Photoshop plugins, but there is also a plug-in library online too

https://www.getpaint.net/

Gimp is good but is a monster to tame

SouthUKMan

Totally agree with 'were'. Paint.NET is a great free programme - simple enough for beginners to learn and not feel too intimidated by it - but with very good results and enough professional level features to keep all but the real pros happy. When I was teaching digital photo and IT skills to beginners - this is the programme we used. It also has the benefit of having been around for a number of years and is regularly updated. Consequently it has built up a loyal user-base and there are loads of free tutorials online to help you.

Another option is to use a web based photo editor. I'm a little old school and like the idea of software on my PC, but I have to say that I am very impressed with pixlr.com . If you have a reasonably modern computer and decent broadband connection, then the site works like a dream. Plus you have the added bonus of - once you've mastered the basics - of being able to log on to any PC anywhere in the world and be in front of a familiar photo editor.

PS. Whilst Gimp is a very powerful free photo editor and does a job that's nearly on a par with Photoshop, it also has a very steep learning curve. If you're only after the basics, save yourself a lot of time and headaches and don't bother with Gimp. It's a brilliant piece of software - but vast in its complexity.

patman99

Google's Nik software is now free. I know of a few pros who use it.

Gimp is gradually getting a make-over to bring the whole interface up to date and to get the entire codebase compiled in one language rather than the 2 or 3 currently used. A few ex-Adobe PS coders are giving their time for free to help, so it should be more friendlier in future versions.

Paint.net is worth a look for doing simple stuff. I use it myself.

fenlander_uk

"edit the pictures" can include a multitude of things. Assuming "free" is on your priority list, you might look at Zoner and Faststone. These started life as photo viewers/organisers but have acquired some useful editing capabilities. Less well known, but also very capable, is Photofiltre, which exists in paid and free versions. XNView MP is also good and cross-platform.

Personally, I've found all the on-line options to be frustrating and although I tried Paint.net, I never really warmed to it. I've made a serious effort with Gimp, but would not recommend it to anyone who values their sanity or has a busy life. Faststone is my choice for quick fixes, after that I go to Photoshop Elements.

were

patman99, I downloaded Nik software, and confirm that the two modules i tried work in paint.net, though the usage is a bit clunkier compared to its own effects. HDR one is a keeper. They work as standalone too.

Thanks

fenlander_uk

You can get some fantastic b/w results with Silver Efex. Have you tried it?

knightstyle

http://www.redmondpie.com/download-adobe-photoshop-cs2-for-free-legally-while-you-still-can/

Sicard

Thanks all.

Kernel_Sanders

fenlander_uk wrote: »

You can get some fantastic b/w results with Silver Efex. Have you tried it?

Monochrome?

grant_uk

I know there's been a few mentioned already, but as a Linux user I've been using GIMP for a few years now and whilst it's not quite as slick an experience as Photoshop, it's in my experience, the best alternative out there. It does everything I used to do when I did use Photoshop.

It's a completely free-to-use and open source, cross-platform application, which includes Windows.

https://www.gimp.org/