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Photo Software
Photo software has made it possible for home computer users to display, manipulate, catalogue and share photographs more easily than ever before. Professional photographers also use photo software to create effects and modify images for their clients.
Capture Photos
Whether you use a digital camera or a scanner to capture photographic images into your computer, you will need software to help you capture them. Most capture software you need comes with the hardware you use for this function, but updated software to control the hardware called “drivers” can usually be downloaded from the hardware manufacturers' websites. Windows and Macintosh systems also have built-in software to allow you to copy or download images you find online.
Organize and Catalogue Photos
Digital photos no longer have to be stored in random directories on your hard disk. Use photo album or cataloging software to organize your images and create custom images. Build photo collections around themes, featuring each family member, or grouped sequentially. Many photo album software programs allow you to create automatic slide shows, or albums that can be scrolled or paged through manually. Some album software allows you to publish your albums to a web page.
Modify Photographs
One of the most popular functions of photo software is the capability to modify photographs on the computer. The simplest editing functions people do to their photos are things like re-sizing, cropping and trimming. But, there are few limits to how you can modify photos once they are on the computer. You can use photo software to brighten or darken over- or under-exposed images. Photo software can help remove red-eye or blemishes from photos of people. Change a color image to a black and white for a classic feel. Reorient a photo by flipping it horizontally, vertically or skewing it. Add a text caption or heading to your photo with the font function of most photo software.
Professionals take photo modification a little bit further. It is possible to composite different images, remove or add elements to photos and modify the colors of different elements. Combine graphic elements, frames or thought bubbles to photos. Apply artistic effects to a photo to make it look like a painting, a charcoal drawing, an embossing or apply myriad other styles and filters.
Multimedia photo software allows you to attach sound effects or music to your individual files or slide shows.
Save in Different Formats
Have a photo in one file format that you need in a different format? Most photo software can read a variety of file formats and can output several formats, as well.
Online Photo Software
Several photo web sites allow users to create and store online albums. These sites can be shared with the public or with private groups. Often, these online albums offer simple modification functions such as red eye removal or cropping. Some sites allow you to add custom text or borders to photos, too. Choose photos from your album to be printed and physically sent to you. It is even possible to preview your images inside various frames that are offered for sale.
By Ann Mcdonald
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