Whats the best free paint proggy ?

[Paul K]

I've now got my new system, but find that I can't run Photoshop Elements 2 on it. And I'm not the only one, looking at the web.

Regardless of that, I am looking at two freeware programs, Paint.Net and Gimp.

Who uses what, and can you give me any advice on which one to choose ? It'll be used for basic photo manipulation ( with things like magic wand, magic eraser, image sharpening etc ) and for painting in FSX

Thanks for any help, as ever.

[Garry Russell]

HI Paul

Not tried either but both are popular with, I would think, Gimp out in front.

As long as you have layers and hopefully the ability to read photosop layered doc then I doubt there is much in it apart form personally preference for the way it works.

Being free ..why not give both a try


Garry

[DaveB]

Eeek.. no Elements 2 and I'd have to retire from doing the odd paint (hurrah I hear you all say) No experience of either I'm afraid but I have heard of GIMP. It seems to be a fave of many who make fonts.

ATB

DaveB

[Paul K]

Cheers chaps. I'm downloading Windows XP mode virtual machine thingy for Windows 7 as I speak, and will see if I can get Elements to run on that. Might as well utilize Windows 7 Professional's features now that I've paid for it. ( Hmmm...if I'd bought a cheaper version on Windows 7, I might have saved enough money to buy a newer version of Photoshop Elements...)

Anyway,of the two free ones compatibility with Photoshop .psd would be important. Thanks for reminding me, Garry. Cheers Dave, too.

[Garry Russell]

Hi Paul

I think Gimp is compatable...possibly the other one as well.

Hope you get you elements back

Garry

[Effoh]

Hi Paul,

From the Paint.Net web site -

'Support for many popular file formats

The following file formats are supported: PNG, JPEG, BMP, GIF, TGA, DDS, and TIFF. The native Paint.NET image type is PDN which preserves layering.'

GIMP will work with PSD files according to their website http://www.gimp.org/features/

HTH

Rgds,

Colin

[Paul K]

Cheers Colin; thats a fall back position for me if this virtual XP machine idea goes pear-shaped. But I'm not going to attempt that till Monday, as I'm off down to Devon for the weekend. Having got the Photoshop Elements 2 Bible, I'd like to stick with it if I can.

Thanks again, gents.

[Paul K]

Just thought I'd let you all know that I got Photoshop Elements 2 running in Windows 7 XP mode, so problem solved. MIght be worth reminding anyone thinking of upgrading to Windows 7 that this XP virtual machine capability only comes with Win 7 Professional and above, and your CPU needs to have hardware virtualization technology.

All the info, specs, videos and a system detection tool to check your BIOS and CPU are here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtua ... fault.aspx

Thanks again all.

[DaveB]

Glad you're sorted Paul It took me ages to move from Elements 1 to v2 and when I finally did, I didn't like it much I plodded on though and wouldn't consider changing it now. It's not as clever as the full prog but then again, neither am I so we're well matched

ATB

DaveB

[Garry Russell]

You're clever enough mate

Elements is just Photoshop without the 99.999999 percent that you'll never need to use.

Garry