Recommend a program for retouching

[dsan0696]

Well, I have been wanting to do more photo retouching and wondering if I can get some recommendations for something NOT too expensive. I have just messed around with Picasa and some of the Windows programs or software that came with my HP printer or Canon camera.

One thing I am in need of right NOW is a program that can help me with changed closed eyes to open eyes in a photo. (cloning?) Not sure if there is any free software that can do this, or am I needing to look more at Photoshop?

Appreciate any advice here!!
Thanks,
Denise

[0lBaldy]

Originally Posted by dsan0696

Denise

Welcome to RetouchPRO Hope you enjoy your stay here and make lots of friends.

A program called GIMP (Free) is a comprehensive piece of software with many of the same tools as Photoshop..

Many other free photo editors and free software for painting can be found HERE

[Mike Needham]

I would say download a trial of Photoshop and see how you get on, if you can't justify purchasing it at the end of the trial, then go with 0lBaldy's suggestion of GIMP.

[Condrs01]

I'd also recommend you download and trial Lightroom 3. It has a lot of the power of PS with a much smaller price tag.

[kav]

Originally Posted by dsan0696

One thing I am in need of right NOW is a program that can help me with changed closed eyes to open eyes in a photo. (cloning?) Not sure if there is any free software that can do this, or am I needing to look more at Photoshop?

Appreciate any advice here!!
Thanks,
Denise

This isn't difficult but if you've never used photoshop before you won't get it right away. It takes practice and hopefully you did realize you need a good photo with similar eyes which are open to move them over in the first place.

[dsan0696]

THANKS for all the replies. Right after joining this site my hard drive started to crash so I didn't want to be on it much. I now got a new one installed and ended up resetting to like new. SO, that came with the 30 day trial of Photoshop, I'll have to 'mess' with it.

Thank you KAV for the input on needing a close pic, etc. I read many, many posts before posting here and found all that out. I also have a program by Creative Memories called Memory Manager. It does cloning and many other things (I am not aware of how to do...yet.....I am taking a training on that one)

I greatly enjoy this site!
THANKS AGAIN
Denise