Hello from the Shetland Isles

[Harry]

I live in the Shetland Isles and have decided to come into the big wide world by purchasing a new computer (the first) and a new camera (also a first).

I decided to go for a Panasonic DMX - FX01 because of it's size, price and general good reviews for the camera.

So I have the equipment but what about post processing? on the computer. The camera came with a simple viewer programme, and the computer came with Corel Paint Shop Pro X, but I have not used it yet (it's probably on trial!).

What do people advise for image enhancing etc like the photofix competition as I would like to be able to do something like that some day.

I hope that you can give me some guidance on this and many other topics in the future in other places.

I have been looking at this site for a few weeks, ever since Stephen's name came up in Tiscali forum with a link to this site!

I shall post some photographs when I can find them! and you can tell me what is going wrong.

Thanks in advance.

[Stephen]

Re: Hello from the Shetland Isles

I have been looking at this site for a few weeks, ever since Stephen's name came up in Tiscali forum with a link to this site!

Hi Harry, I'm glad you finally made it then. You are very welcome.

As for Photo manipulation software, you won't go far wrong with Paintshop Pro though you may be right about it being a time limited trial. Maybe you will be able to buy a full licence at a discount price when it runs out. For very basic stuff like resizing, altering contrast, brightness etc there is plenty of free stuff around, do a Google for Irfanview for example.

[StuartR]

Re: Hello from the Shetland Isles

Hi m8

Welcome to the forums (and DPNow of course). Love Scotland but haven't made the Shetland Isles yet. Been as far as John O'Groats and the scary bits to the left of it on the mainland (I get frightened when I don't see another human being or car for an hour or so )

The natives on here are pretty friendly so let's see some pictures, you should be spoilt for landscapes - not quite as flat up there as it is down here in Essex

PhotoShop is my favourite editing program but the full version it is a tad expensive (I'm lucky, my employers pays for it). Photoshop Elements (the cut-down version) would be a good place to start. I haven't used Paint Shop Pro for years but I'd be surprised if that's not a match for Elements - no doubt others who have used it will air their views in due course.

[Harry]

Re: Hello from the Shetland Isles

Thank you both for the info, I'll try it out tomorrow and see what happens.

[Archangel]

Re: Hello from the Shetland Isles

Welcome to the forums, and here is my personal opinion:

Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro are both very good software. Personally, I use Paint Shop Pro 9.01 (after Corel bought Jasc they made Paint Shop a little heavy and slower).

If you want a small image editor with some very nice features (and not tons of Megabytes of software and even more of installation) try Turbo Photo.
It is my favorite small and fast image post processing software (only 5MB).

If you want to create panoramic images by stitching a series of photos together try: Panorama Studio, Panorama Factory and PhotoVista Panorama.

I'm sure there are other many software for these needs but I tried most of them and ended up with those I already mentioned to you.

But everything is also a matter of personal preference and different people may have different good experiences with different software.

[Ian]

Re: Hello from the Shetland Isles

I live in the Shetland Isles and have decided to come into the big wide world by purchasing a new computer (the first) and a new camera (also a first).

I decided to go for a Panasonic DMX - FX01 because of it's size, price and general good reviews for the camera.

So I have the equipment but what about post processing? on the computer. The camera came with a simple viewer programme, and the computer came with Corel Paint Shop Pro X, but I have not used it yet (it's probably on trial!).

What do people advise for image enhancing etc like the photofix competition as I would like to be able to do something like that some day.

I hope that you can give me some guidance on this and many other topics in the future in other places.

I have been looking at this site for a few weeks, ever since Stephen's name came up in Tiscali forum with a link to this site!

I shall post some photographs when I can find them! and you can tell me what is going wrong.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Harry, welcom to DPNow!

The FX01 is quite popular in my family - one cousin and my brother in law have one each and my other brother in law has an FX9, the FX01's predecessor. The are all very pleased with them.

The FX01 is interesting as it has a wider view than average lens, roughly 28-100 equivalent. I have tested it and the main black mark was quite pronounced vignetting (darkening of the edges) at full aperture in widest angle zoom setting. Vignetting can be compensated for if it's a problem, though.

Corel Paint Shop Pro X is pretty powerful - I used it the other day, but it was quite confusing to use after being so used to Photoshop. I do think, however, that Photoshop Elements 5.0, which is now out, has the upper hand.

I'd love to visit the Shetlands. My experience north of the border into Scotland is mainly restricted to Edinburgh and Glasgow, though I have been to Crieff a couple of times, but I think even there you'd consider that the 'Borders'

Ian

[Harry]

Re: Hello from the Shetland Isles

Thanks again for your help. I must admit that the Paint shop seems a bit 'HEAVY' on the brain cells when I looked at it lastnight. I have looked into photoshop and will download their free trial to try over the weekend, along with the others which have been suggested, if I can find them.

[Pops]

Re: Hello from the Shetland Isles

Thanks again for your help. I must admit that the Paint shop seems a bit 'HEAVY' on the brain cells when I looked at it lastnight. I have looked into photoshop and will download their free trial to try over the weekend, along with the others which have been suggested, if I can find them.

Hello Harry,
I am envious of your location even if you do get a bit of wind.

I am a Paint Shop Pro X user so if I can be of help just shout up. If you decide to go with Photoshop then others will be pleased to help out I'm sure.

[Harry]

Re: Hello from the Shetland Isles

Thanks Pops I will be posting some Landscapes soon, which may or may not get your juices flowing to come here and click to your hearts content.

[Harry]

Re: Hello from the Shetland Isles

My God I've done it! It's taken a few hours, but it's there a Shetland Landscape is in the Galleries.

Please do let me know your +ve and -ve aspects of the image.

I was hoping to do more but SO awaits.

[Ian]

Re: Hello from the Shetland Isles

My God I've done it! It's taken a few hours, but it's there a Shetland Landscape is in the Galleries.

Please do let me know your +ve and -ve aspects of the image.

I was hoping to do more but SO awaits.

Now you need to show it here on the forum - probably in the Critique board.

Here is some help on displaying gallery images in forum posts.

Good luck!

Ian

[Tinka]

Re: Hello from the Shetland Isles

I live in the Shetland Isles and have decided to come into the big wide world by purchasing a new computer (the first) and a new camera (also a first).


What do people advise for image enhancing etc like the photofix competition as I would like to be able to do something like that some day.

I hope that you can give me some guidance on this and many other topics in the future in other places.


Thanks in advance.

Hi Harry, What a lovely photogenic place to live.
Welcome to DPnow, I am very new here too, and must say I am very impressed, reading through the archives and forum so far I get the impression that POL is the matriarcal figure (spelling is atrocious) and is well known and loved around the photo network.
I use PSP8 which were given to me but there are a lot of freebies out there I'm sure someone will point you in the right direction.

[Ian]

Re: Free spell checker for the forum

Hi Harry, What a lovely photogenic place to live.
Welcome to DPnow, I am very new here too, and must say I am very impressed, reading through the archives and forum so far I get the impression that POL is the matriarcal figure (spelling is atrocious) and is well known and loved around the photo network.
I use PSP8 which were given to me but there are a lot of freebies out there I'm sure someone will point you in the right direction.

If you use Internet Explorer you can install a free spelling checker from:

http://www.iespell.com/download.php

Once installed, a small 'ABC with a tick' icon appears on the top right of the new post edit box - click on it and you can chekc yuor spleling

It works extremely well.

Ian

[Pol]

Re: Hello from the Shetland Isles

reading through the archives and forum so far I get the impression that POL is the matriarcal figure (spelling is atrocious) and is well known and loved around the photo network.
.

Naaaah - I'm just a 'Forum Tart'.


Pol

[Pol]

Re: Free spell checker for the forum

If you use Internet Explorer you can install a free spelling checker from:

http://www.iespell.com/download.php

Once installed, a small 'ABC with a tick' icon appears on the top right of the new post edit box - click on it and you can chekc yuor spleling

It works extremely well.

Ian

Y'know .... I've never noticed that 'ABC' feature! I usually just use the spell checker via the dropdown options of IE tools. The 'ABC' icon' is a lot faster and easier so thanks for that!

Pol