Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#1
One or two of you might have noted me mentioning I was upgrading, changing computers, and so on..my only real concern in doing all that, was that I would be able to keep up with the website without any gaps in production. Well its all gone through fairly okay but with the usual headaches of moving pictures and files of all sorts.
But here comes the problem. Now that Ive got a new all singing all dancing Dell and Vista it wont run all my old programs. The programs I used for all the background work for this website, like for doing adverts, processing pictures and so on...so calamity and woe!! I am threadbare!
Most of the cameras are older now. The previous Dell with Windows XP ran my Nikon Software, My Olympus Software, My HP Software, my ancient Microsoft Picture it which I used for doing the ads...but now none of them will run. The Olympus one will run, but with it Windows will only operate in basic mode. Ive tried upgrading from the Olympus website but despite finding the right spot and downloading from there, Vista wouldnt accept it. Its too old I reckon. The Olympus camera E330 is one a few years old and is probably my flagship camera.
Im running with the Olympus one but the whole computer has gone into basic mode so I guess it can only be a short term solution. Pity because the Olympus software is good for fixing pictures cutting them cropping them resizing them and so on. So the only real thing Ive got operating properly is MS Paint which is way too basic, and the bog standard Windows thing.
I wonder if anyone can recommend a software solution that would allow me to do the basic adverts you see round the site as right now I cant do any should we get a new one. Is there a similar type to Picture It out there? Not that Picture It was probably all that great but I knew how to use it. The divil you know kind of thing...
It could do both photographs and adverts.
So there you have it my current predicament. Its amazing how cameras and their software become out of date so quick!
#2
Paul
I had more problems than you with Vista as I run lots of bits of sw that go back 20 years . For thousands of photos I have been using Camedia as it is the only sw I have found that can print a sheet with automatically putting the date and file name at the foot. Yesterday for example i did a survey with 40 pictures that i printed on 5 sheets with a few clicks. You can edit also but my interest is getting a contact sheet out as simply as possible. It is old software but runs on vista.
for making images smaller for e-mailing ( croc please note!) I use vallen jpegger its free and again fast - it also works in vista. Some people seem to think they can take a picture and mail it without reducing and it totally gums up servers and costs more if you pay by the byte.
For years my accounts have been on Quicken - result - wont run on Vista and no upgrades available. The software works fine so why should I change it because MS wants to sell new sw to everyone - result I junked Vista. Two of my sons are professional it persons and consider it a non sellable product. Install XP and your old stuff will work.
D
Chris- Forum Admin
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Oct 2009
- Posts: 359
#3
If you right-click on the program you want to run - select Properties, and go to the Compatability tab, you can choose to run the program in compatability mode for Windows XP (or other previous versions) - it might not work for all programs, but worth trying if you haven't done so already.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#4
Chris thats an interesting one..I will certainly have alook at that and see if it will improve things. Didnt spot that Compatability thing so will certainly be worth a fiddle in the hope of advancement. Hate to see my newly acquired expensive gadgetry reduced to basic operation..ermm not at these prices!!lol
Yes it could be an idea Big Dave to go back to Windows XP but I think in my case I have to try and embrace the new stuff like Vista because future cameras and so forth will probably need the latest software to operate successfully...also its new and exciting like a new gismo, a new toy!!
That Camedia program is Olympus too isnt it but its even older than mine so amazed its compatible with Vista. There's nowt as queer as folk ...or ermm operational software programs!
Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
#5
What I use:-
Corel Paintshop Pro Photo X2 - £77.00 download from corel.com - lots of photo-editing toys but can be used as a design tool as well. Can interface directly with various digital cameras.
Xara Xtreme - £69.00 download from xara.com - on the face of it a simple vector graphics package but it does an awful lot more and very easy to use.
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#6
Thanks for those Phil, heard of the first one but the second is a new name to me. The Corel Paintshop sounds like something i'd need because of the design tool element.
Something I must ask you though. Barry WS gave me a present of the JASC Paintshop Pro 7 several years ago. I had just committed myself to the Picture It thing so never used it, I still have it here, still boxed and untouched by human hand, is that one any good, and more importantly do you know if it will work with Vista??
Its a very impressive looking box I'll say that much for it
Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
#7
It's a previous version before JASC sold out to Corel but should work even though it's pre-Vista. I have it but decided it was time to upgrade when I bought my new box-of-chips. Try it and see. If Vista doesn't seem to like it then try Chris' suggestion and select a compatability mode such as WinXP or Win2000.
Have a look at the Xara website for Xara Xtreme, there's a few demo videos there I think - or download the trial version. If I remember correctly the trial version isn't functionally limited. It's also capable of producing simple animations in eitehr .gif format or as a flash animation. Animate your adverts!!!
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
#8
Or just go with Google Picasa which is free and does most stuff people want - resize, crop, balance, contrast etc...
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
#9
...which is alright for playing around with photographs I suppose. Can PaulB design his advertising graphics with it though?
S'pose I'd better go and have a look for myself.
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
#10
For what it's worth I'd highly recomend 'Gimp'. Pretty much everything you can do in Photoshop but free!
Great for graphics, HDR, touch up and manipulation of photos, layering and masking (similar to Photoshop)
#11
Paul, your Paint Shop Pro should (I stress "should") work on Vista. JASC Paint Shop Pro isn't a bad little program. You will be able to do most of the work you need on it.
However, if you want the real daddy of all software then Photoshop Elements is the one. It's fresh, breezy, packed full of easy to use features, and you can do just about ANYTHING that involves pixels! It's not quite the daddy (that's Photoshop) but PS Elements is a fantastic cut-down version of the main Photoshop program with a friendly interface, and bags of great tools. And it's only £62 on Amazon...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Adobe-Photoshop-Elements-7-PC/dp/B001ELK946/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1244757889&sr=8-1
My experience with Corel products has always been bad. Bear in mind I use this software daily for a living, my view is that Corel are the Microsoft of the design world. I'd say that 80% of the production problems I have in my studio come from files originated in Corel Draw or Corel Photo Paint.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#12
Thanks a million guys, absolute great advice there and I shall now stutter forth and put all these suggestions into action. I may just have fallen on my head..ermm no I mean my feet, having this JASC one here at my disposal(never knew they sold out to Corel). Will get it onboard over the weekend and all I will need then are the advertising floodgates to open ! cough!! and a commission to photograph Nigel Collor!!
Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
#13
I'd not played with Gimp before. Last time I tried it through a wobbler. Has similarities to Xara Xtreme it would seem and current version (2.6.6) seems to run a treat on Vista although first run seems to take for ages as it downloads all sorts of brushes and things.
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
#14
can we add to this one my problem with video editing - i have cyberlink which is crashing at the burn stage so am ready to upgrade - should I go to power producer or pinnacle - which Mike McF uses? help please.
D
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
#15
JASC Paintshop Pro, I'd forgotten all about that software package, Best of luck
Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
#16
David H - have a look at
http://www.avsmedia.com/ for a cheap alternative. I've used their video editor for a while and it does all the simple things that I need to do. It's part of a package deal which includes various audio and video utilities and seems to be good value.
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
#17
Thanks Phil,
tried it but its 100 dollars (with the pda software)
so is the same price as cyberlink that I am using and possibly no better.
Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
#18
I have tried playing with Windows Movie Maker (included with Vista and XP) but couldn't get on with it myself. As far as I know there is no other freebie software out there that's any good and the really good stuff costs a lot - £800+. That's alright if you intend producing semi-professional video and can actually make money from doing so but it's way out my price range.
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!