Here are two handy Image Programs that are Free

With more people using CMS Content Management Systems to self update there website and with the need to utilize the photos off their digital cameras. We regularly get asked how to crop and enhance images, make banner adds and re-size photos & how can you do it effectively with out buying more software.

Well here are two free programs. The first was sent to me by Eric Hamm the creator of Frugal Themes for WoprdPress, it is a free alternative to Photoshop. The second is a free program to re-size eg thumbnail multiple images, great if you have a shopping cart or image gallery, I was introduced to this by one of our switched on web developers Jay Tucker.

Gimp, is a Free alternative to Photoshop

Once you get past the odd name, you’ll find Gimp to be an excellent free tool for editing images for you web design projects or any creative online work.

It’s basically a free alternative to Photoshop and includes many of the advanced tools that Photoshop provide. The biggest gripe I find is that those who are used to Photoshop, find the interface to be different enough that they have to basically re-learn another not-so-simple image editing program. But once you play with it a bit and learn the basics, you’ll find it to be a great addition to your web design tool box.

You can find Gimp HERE and learn how to use it with their excellent Gimp tutorials HERE

FastStone Photo Resizer is an easy to use Image Resizer

FastStone Photo Resizer is an image converter and renaming tool that intends to enable users to convert, rename, resize, crop, rotate, change color depth, add text and watermarks to images in a quick and easy batch mode. Drag and Drop mouse operation is well supported.

FastStone Photo Resizer Features include

* Convert and Rename images in batch mode

* Support JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG, TIFF and JPEG2000

* Resize, crop, change color depth, apply color effects, add text, watermark and border effects

* Rename images with sequential number

* Search and replace texts in the file names

* Preview conversion and renaming

* Support folder/non-folder structure

* Load and save settings

* And much more…