Hey guys.
I just bought a new laptop that runs windows 8.1 I did not want that OS, but that is what is available. I am not able to find ANY program it has, or is downloadable (like Windows Photo Gallery), that will let me do what I used to do with my VISTA on my PC and Laptop. Here is what I need to do but cannot seem to get it "one place" with ease.
1. Open the window for my camera card and copy paste the pics in my external drive in folders.
2. Open the folder and click click click through the pics. I need to be able to zoom in easily to each pic, to find the bug or whatever that was the subject of my macro and crop down to that part.
3. Then, I can click through them again to see which one is the best (they are all cropped at this point so I can see the subject)
4. I also need to be able to rename the files as I do this, and save them in my original file.
If you take bug and spider macro shots, you will know that you take a bazillion (yes, a bazillion) shots of the same thing, and have to go through them in this way. You cannot just see a "panned back" wide angle view of all of them and tell anything about them.
The PHOTOS software that comes with this laptop was seeming okay for a while...and I had mastered using it with my touch screen. But after an hour or more of labor on editing pics, I realized it was saving them only in the laptop's "library" and not back to the external. Also, I have to use the "old uploader" to post from the laptop's picture file to 365. I total pain.
I downloaded Windows Photo Gallery which is what my old laptop had, but it has changed a lot...but no matter, as it crashes every single time I open it.
I have downloaded free trials of light room and Elements (PS) but they seem confusing and now that the holiday is ending, I will have little time to even figure them out.
But my questions is...do they do the above steps I just listed? IF not, what does? Anyone running Windows 8.1 that takes macros and knows how to accomplish this viewing at zoom level/cropping/renaming/saving thing? Most things I find have some of these capabilities, but not all. I never had to do an "open to edit" step in my old system...that is so slow and cumbersome.
I would appreciate your help. I miss my old set up now.
But you cannot keep running VISTA in this day and age!
Why not download iPhoto for Windows 8? That gives you an easy way to organize and flip through your individual pictures. Then you can export to a more sophisticated photo-editing program for any further edits.
Oh noooooo! So frustrating for you... I can't really help - when I had to replace my puter last year I switched to Mac as I can't stand windows 8... I think Lightroom would do what you need done - but probably not the way you're used to and there is a learning curve... Plus I think it's more steps than what you're talking about :(. I really hope someone comes along with some helpful advise for you... Good luck!
Ok, first, if you go with LR5, you should be able to IMPORT to Mypicutures and they will remain there. You will edit from LR, then export the edits back to your files if you want. Windows 8 should not interfere as far as I know. I have not gone to Windows 8, but I'm NOT on Vista (good Lord girl, that is ancient!) :)
You can get LR at a discount because you are an educator, fyi. PSE is great if you know how to use (that's still on my bucket list--I have it, but don't use it).
If you want to call me one day to go through, please do! I think you are way overdoing steps to do what you need to do. In LR, I have no problems, especially with macro and bugs (got a cool spider underneath my grill tonight!).
Not a fan of Macs or Apple products, but was that what you used before?
agree with @northy . lightroom will be able to do what you want, zoom in and out easily, from one pic to the other, rename or save with different name etc. you can also use colour flag or stars to organize your photos, which can be very helpful.
@darylo thanks Daryl! Iay be calling. Does LR really cost
$139!? Also, my pictures location on this new laptop... It does not post up to 365.... Unless inside the old uploader, which opens in a small window that has to be enlarged each time and then in have to change the view from list, where I cannot see the actual
Pics, to large icon. So many steps and so slow. I want to be able to keep my pics in my external...
@espyetta Yes, it does, and worth every penny for its develop module. if you just want the librarian, then others have suggested free options above. Try the 30 day free trial at adobe.com.
If you are after straight forward viewing and don't want the complexity of Lightroom then XnView is provided as FREEWARE and is available from http://www.xnview.com . You might also consider Irfanview from http://www.irfanview.com/
@frankhymus Frank.... Are you referring to LR or PSE? And to clarify... Does it do this without having to open each photo in the editor? Can I just click through the pics seamlessly and edit as I click through? Thanks
I think you would love Lightroom once you got the hang of it MaryBeth, it does take a little while to get used to though. I am also using Vista and need to upgrade because Lightroom 5 won't load on Vista. LR is so easy to use to process your photos especially if you've taken lots on the same settings as you can just process one and then copy that same process to the rest of your photos or whichever you choose even down to copying the same crop.
When I was using windows, I used picasa. I really liked the windows version....not so much the mac version. It was easy to copy and paste in folders, view, crop, basic editing and so on. I have not used windows 8 yet. From what I hear about windows 8, I think that may be a good thing.
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You can get LR at a discount because you are an educator, fyi. PSE is great if you know how to use (that's still on my bucket list--I have it, but don't use it).
If you want to call me one day to go through, please do! I think you are way overdoing steps to do what you need to do. In LR, I have no problems, especially with macro and bugs (got a cool spider underneath my grill tonight!).
Not a fan of Macs or Apple products, but was that what you used before?
$139!? Also, my pictures location on this new laptop... It does not post up to 365.... Unless inside the old uploader, which opens in a small window that has to be enlarged each time and then in have to change the view from list, where I cannot see the actual
Pics, to large icon. So many steps and so slow. I want to be able to keep my pics in my external...