cameras & computers (again?)

[dingaling]

sorry if I am thick, but if fo3nix or Buenochico see this, can I have some more help please? I got my reader card, great, and quick as you said. The thing is, do I uninstall my nikon view and finepix before I install one of the others you mentioned, also how do I do that? I just want my pics all together to 'mess' about with, instead of them flying all over the place. Thank you.

[Buenchico]

Hi Dingaling

There's no need to uninstall the existing software. (However, if you're sure that you're not going to use it, you might as well do so).

When you install something like Irfanview, it will probably ask if you want it to be the default program for viewing images. I suggest that you agree to this. (You can easily change it to something else later if you want to do so). Then, when you double-click on an image file, it will automatically open in IrfanView.

IrfanView is great for simply viewing images and is quite good for editing them as well. However, you might want to consider adding a dedicated image manipulation program. I use Irfanview for viewing images (and some editing processes, such as removing 'red-eye') but I use Photoshop for most image editing. I'm not suggesting that you should get Photoshop (because it's expensive) but you might want to consider a free product, such as PhotoPlus 6.0, to work alongside Irfanview:
http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/

Whichever software you use, your card reader should make it much easier to keep track of where your images are. You can now simply drag your pictures into one common folder or, if you so choose, separate folders for 'Family', Holidays' 'Pets', etc.

Chris

[dingaling]

Thank you Buenochico, you're a star! I do actually have photoshop 2, which came with my computer, I'm afraid I do not find it very easy, (so much to learn, so little time!) I didn't call myself dingaling for nothing!! Thanks again for your advice.

[mattfox]

I used to use Adobe PhotoShop Elements to organise and edit my photos but always found the organiser to go a little slow.

Recently, I switched to Picasa (http://picasa.google.com/) and it is a fantastic little program! Not only does it organise and categorise photos, it also reads RAW format from my digital SLR and you can perform basic fixes (crop, rotate, brighten and darken etc) without destroying the original image. And it's FREE!

Definately recommended....

[dingaling]

Thank you also, mattfox for your advice.