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Hi - I have a mate who is not at all computer savvy.
He is using Picasa to do very basic manipulation of images but now wants more control - I showed him PS Elements but it scared the life out of him.
Does anyone know of a good, basic image editing program for real novices that does a bit more than Picasa but is VERY VERY simple to use?
Thanks in anticipation
I'd agree with Mike.
Elements is easy to use and not expensive. If you get your friend to log on to www.photoshopelementsuser.com there are many tutorials on there that he'll find useful.
Trudy
Quote: I would stay with Elements. Probably just needs someone to show him how the basics work: eg. Image > adjustment > variations; autolevels, levels etc. He can then build up expertise at his owm pace. MIke
I would agree with this! You really need to ask him what he wants to do. I have photoshop elements 5 and so far I have managed the cloning tool,healing tool,levels,saturation & resizing for the web. I still use Picasa for straightening and cropping as I find it easier than PS.
Did he get any software with his camera? I had a simple one with my Nikon it did a bit more than picasa but not cloning etc.
I too am following this thread for any easy software thats out there,but I don't think there is! It's just a case of taking one step at a time and following all the advice you get on EPZ!
Rosalie
Quote: A member put me on to Paint Shop Pro 7.
Had you upset him Mike, Coz I reckon PSP7 is worse than Elements, At least with Elements Adobe have included some nice touch's to help users get started.
I'll have a rumage through my collection of image software and see if I still have an odd copy of something that might fit the bill.
But to be honest, Your probably better off starting with Elements, Even though it may seem a bit daunting at first.......You can grow into it, Rather than grow out of it, And as so many members on EPZ use it or Photoshop, There is always someone who should be able to help you out if you get stuck.....
I agree with all you say about Elements - I downloaded and installed it for him for that very reason but he really is phased by Elements - he is not a reader - he likes to be shown how things work but lives some distance from me to tutor him. He just closes his mind because he finds it overwhelming.
With Picasa he can just click a button and the effect is applied - he glazes over as soon as I mention levels, layers and saturation.
Is there no click click, quick fix bit of software that is wizard driven or gives lots of handholding for the real novice, or easy pre-sets?
Quote: He just closes his mind because he finds it overwhelming.
I know it's no help but tell him...he is not alone.
...you could easily be talking about me.
They keep telling me it's not rocket science but if they did a poll on here....
" are you overwhelmed by Photoshop ?"
I bet they would be astonished.
.....Mike
i'm not usually one to suggest college courses as i teach myself everything but have you suggested he does some evening courses to learn the basics - i'm sure there are some available and shouldn't cost too much either.
otherwise just open up the program, open a photo and then click on everything and see what it does.
peter "morpyre" turner
You did show him that hovering the cursor over the tool bring up the name and clicking on the name (its a link) takes him straight to the how to use that tool. Or using the Help pallete which will virtually do it for him.
If thats not simple enough for him tell him to wait for Elements 6, I guaranteee this will have just what he needs 
As RosaB has stated above, it would be useful to get a better idea as to exactly what he finds limiting in Picasa. Most software I am aware of either has the same "ease of use" as Picasa or the sophistcation of Elements. Your friend may have to overcome his fear, and get some training, or get a friendly sole who lives much nearer to walk him through the basics. Mike
It doesn't matter what software you use, if you don't understand what everything does and how to use it then you will struggle.
For a long time I just didn't understand layers.
Then I bought Digital Photo magazine when I went on holiday which had a nice easy to understand article about layers.
Never had a problem after that.
My advice to your friend would be to get Elements (whichever version) and learn how to use it.
Taking good photos initially is the best starting point, not necessarily the software used to enhance or manipulate a photograph. If people learn what their cameras are capable of then less software would be needed. Of course some styles of photography will need a certain amount of post-processing, but too much emphasis is placed on software rather than the camera taking the photo in the first place. My recommendation would be Elements if software was needed.
Nick
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