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by
Kevin Savetz
In
order to add pictures to your auctions, you'll need some kind of
image manipulation software. But too often, working with
graphics is an exercise in extremes. On one end of the spectrum
is the software that came with your digital camera, scanner, or
Webcam--software that might be buggy or lack even basic image
manipulation functions. On the other side are high-end graphics
applications such as Photoshop--perhaps
too complicated and too expensive for those of us who just want
to put decent pictures of our auction items online.
There is, however, a
middle ground. Here's a roundup of several inexpensive but
usable image manipulation programs.
For
Windows
Paint Shop Pro
is a full-featured classic. It has been around since the dawn of
time (almost) but has kept pace. You can use it to import images
directly from your digital camera or scanner, optimize them, and
upload them to an image hosting service. The program is $99, and
a free 30-day trial version is available.
Also, take a look at LView
Pro, another tried-and-true graphics application. LView
began life as a utility for viewing images, but has grown into a
full-featured image editor. Its Web Gallery feature
automatically will create a gallery of images that you can
upload to entice bidders. The software costs $29.99, which
includes a CD-ROM. The downloadable evaluation version allows
you to test the software for 21 days.
You don't have to be a
heavy metal music fan to appreciate ACDSee,
a $49.99 shareware program. The best part of this app for
auction sellers is the Photo Enhancer, which serves up image
manipulation tools and filters for quickly improving the look of
digital photos and scans. The program can import pictures
directly from Kodak, HP, and Olympus digital cameras.
Then again, why pay for
a cow when you can get the milk for free? IrfanView
is a free graphics editor whose features (and price) have won
much acclaim. Its robust image editing capabilities won't clog
your hard drive with DLLs and random files, either--it's just
one executable file. Did we mention that it's free? (For
"noncommercial" use, anyway.)
For
Macintosh
There are plenty of choices for Macintosh users, too.
CorelDRAW 8 Limited
Edition is a free, stripped-down version of the popular
commercial image manipulation software. Actually, the package
includes both CorelDraw LE and Corel Photo-Paint LE. Despite its
"limited" moniker, this program is more than powerful
enough for those of us who don't spend all day working with
graphics. Download the program from Corel's
Web site.
The popular shareware
program GraphicConverter is a must-have tool. Its batch
functions can quickly tweak a folder full of images, for
instance, by applying a sharpen filter, then converting them
from TIFF to JPG format. The program is great for converting
graphics you already have, but doesn't offer tools for creating
new images. GraphicConverter is $30, with versions available for
PowerPC and older 68K Macs, and in several languages. Get it here.
You might think of
Color-It! as Photoshop's little brother. It's rather powerful,
but much easier to use. This $50 program will import images from
your scanner or digital camera, then let you quickly crop,
adjust, and finesse them to perfection. It offers filters, works
with Photoshop plug-ins, and runs with as little as 3MB of free
RAM.
If you use a digital
camera, give Cameraid
a try. This program imports images from your digital camera
to your Mac, working in place of the software that came bundled
with the camera. It claims to be up to twice as fast at
downloading images, and lets you quickly rotate, name, and
enhance your digital photos. The program, which works with
several different brands of cameras, is $15 shareware. If you
have a Sony Mavica digital camera, try Mavicadabra,
a $24.95 shareware gem just for you.
Is the software that
came with your scanner driving you crazy? Then check out ScanTastic.
Compatible with many Epson, Apple, and Hewlett-Packard scanners,
ScanTastic works as a standalone program or as a plug-in with
other graphics applications. It costs $69, and you can download
a free demonstration version.
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