Photo Browsing and File Management
Photo browsing and file management software helps you view and catalog your pictures, which includes copying, moving, renaming, and deleting. In addition to these basic functions, many programs come with a number of photo darkroom features for quick enhancements plus file conversion, simple printing, and other capabilities. If you are starting out, a good free program may be all you need. Read more about this software in Chapter 14.
IrfanView
This totally free Windows program has been around for years and may be all you need to get started. Besides normal file management, it supports an impressive number of file formats, generates thumbnails, allows digital darkroom photo editing, and can create self-starting slideshows. It is even compatible with Photoshop plug-ins.
Picasa
Picasa is free software from Google that lets you organize and edit your photographs. You can add effects and share your images via e-mail or the Web or with prints.
PicaJet Free
This free program works best as a solid organizer and cataloguer. If you like this program you can upgrade to the paid version, which has more powerful features for editing, sharing, and sophisticated management.
XnView
Described by the author as “multimedia viewer, browser, and converter,” this well-regarded program will allow you to organize, browse, and edit your pictures. It has especially powerful batch editing features that let you change a number of photos at the same time.
Snapfire
The commercial software company offers a free version for simple organizing, sharing, and quick fixes. If you like it, upgrade to Snapfire Plus.
ACDSee Photo Manager
Cost = less than $50 If you are going to buy a program, this is the one to get and may be all you ever need to pay for. This well-designed software has been around for many years. Besides being a sophisticated organizer, it is very fast, reads virtually any file format, does sophisticated digital darkroom corrections, archives, creates thumbnails and slideshows, and facilitates printing. It even makes sending pictures via e-mail a breeze. However, it should be noted that some people have reported some bugs. The company offers a downloadable free trial.
ThumbsPlus
Cost = about $50 A sophisticated database-type software for digital imagery, ThumbsPlus can create and manage large numbers of digital images. It is one of the few programs with ongoing RAW file support. It also supports image modifying features, album and slideshow creations, printing, and versatile batch processing.
With new software being developed all the time, it pays to check the Open Directory listing of software every so often. While the listing of the software will change, these Web addresses should remain the same for years.
The Open Directory Project, or DMOZ, is billed as “the most comprehensive human-reviewed directory of the Web.” Used by Google as its own directory, real live human beings examine and include each site that ends up in its listings. This assures that the Web sites are of good quality.
For the latest listing of freeware and other graphics and cataloguing software, check out these listings: Open Directory Project (DMOZ) directory of free image cataloguing software:
Open Directory Project (DMOZ) directory of image cataloguing software:
