Picasa (by Google)...

[RicknTX]

Anybody here (besides me) ever download and install Google's 'Picasa' photo management and editing software? Maybe its just me, but its the best photo-related piece of software I never paid a penny for. Chronological photo management, color enhancement, cropping, straightening, sharpening, etc...and all reversible to the original image (I export all altered images into a save folder and those are not reversible).

Anybody else use it, or is it just my secret, or am I just too dang easy to please?

Rick

[kenw]

use it daily. but just for a quick review of the shots whilst still on the card, cull/keep/keep/cull/ etc.

and to quickly find images on an external drive. and it works fine with Canon RAW files.

and to make a quickie, impromptu onsite slideshow.

but I do not use it for actual editing.

and yes, you are way too easy to please.... ;)

[BeccaJ]

i use it to upload family pics and send my family links when im in a hurry...

but i hadnt downloaded the actual software yet. had been wanting to tho

[babybluetx23]

I used it for simpleviewer. http://www.airtightinteractive.com/simpleviewer/ it requires picaso. That was the ONLY thing I used it for. I still love adobe bridge.

[Truckman]

I use it as my default image viewer...I like the editing tools as they are simple enough that even I can be successful with them and they can be undone one at a time...The web album is a no brainer; it's free and it's a decently large size...I'm happy...Ben

[CaptainTom]

I used to use it a lot and haven't lately. Thanks for reminding me how versatile it is. I'll crank it back up and sort some photos.

[hotshot38]

And the latest version they added some simple TEXT, some simple spot retouching, variable sharpness control, and a few other little enhancements.

I use it to simplify sharing slideshows online or burn to CD, emailing (auto resizes the image), and creating photoblog entries on blogger.com

Because it is owned by Google it interfaces with most of their other products easily.

-Sean

[RicknTX]

The reason I posed the question is that absolutely nobody I know had an inkling about what Picasa was or that it even existed...even though it is free software for download. I guess I am not the only one who uses it after all. For those who don't use it all that much, what do you feel its functional weaknesses are? What do you recommend to use in its place? I don't particularly care to purchase software if I can obtain a suitable product free, especially since I am not in the photo business.

...Rick

[Truckman]

Another thing I like is that it will resize bulk uploads to a size you specify and add your copyright label...That's good for those who worry about high quality images on the internet...You can also use that smaller, imprinted image to post on forums...Ben

[hotshot38]

You're right Rick...most people I talk to have no idea what Picasa is...and even those that do don't seem to know it's full potential. Many think they are relegated to use whatever software came with their camera in order to transfer their photos to the computer.

Any software that saves me keystrokes and is free I'm all for! If I simply want to email a 10mb snapshot to my brother I can't imagine opening PS, doing all the editing, resizing for the web, etc, when I can simply choose the photo(s) in Picasa and press the EMAIL button. The same for making a blog entry that I wish to use a photo....or an album/slideshow on the web.....all automatically resized.

If Picasa keeps up the enhancements I expect to see layers pretty soon....keeping my fingers crossed. And can't wait for Google OS :)

[kenw]

Originally Posted by Truckman

Another thing I like is that it will resize bulk uploads to a size you specify and add your copyright label...That's good for those who worry about high quality images on the internet...You can also use that smaller, imprinted image to post on forums...Ben

dang, i learned something new today......thanx!

[AndrewCCM]

As someone that's primary job is in Information Security, I am leary of most anything Google. Although I do use their products, I do keep in mind that their core business is data gathering and mining. Picassa is useful and I loaded it on my parent's and in-law's PC.

[mmuhlenkamp]

I like using lightroom for actual editing, but I downloaded picasa at work (because they wouldn't get me lightroom) and it's the best thing I've ever done. I love that it quickly shows thumbnails of all types of images (RAW and PSD!) and allows for adding tags. I take a lot of simple product photos at work and until now had no good way of finding older photos. The best thing, it's free.

[Sonny]

Wow, I haven't used Picasa in about 4 years. Loved it back then, but since switched to Bridge and now left that and moved to Lightroom 2.

[AndrewCCM]

Anyone else here think that Picassa renders some raw files a bit fugly? Not all cameras...But some for sure.