BEST PHOTO ORGANISER Google Picasa
There are plenty of free photo organisers around but Picasa is easily the best. It automatically catalogues all the pictures on your hard disk and then monitors and updates the folders you specify. Images are sorted into albums and organised by date. You can view any photo at full size and apply a variety of fixes and effects to it. The software also offers several options for sharing pictures. You can email them, create a CD slideshow, or upload your favourites to Picasa Web Albums and invite friends and family to view them.
Minimum Requirements: Windows
File size: 5.1MB
Download at:Get the free version of Google Picasa here
BEST IMAGE EDITOR Paint.NET
A free alternative to the likes of Photoshop Elements, Paint.NET lets you fix common problems with your photos and apply a wide range of effects. It has an intuitive interface with a tab-based system so you can quickly flick between open images.The program provides many advanced features such as layers, a colour replacement tool, auto-levels correction and unlimited 'undo' history.
Minimum Requirements: Windows
File size: 5MB
Download at:Get the free version of Paint.NET here
BEST PAINTING PROGRAM ArtRage 2
This fun application realistically simulates painting with oils on canvas and drawing using a mixture of pens, pencils or crayons. It's just like the real thing minus the mess – thick paint mixes and smears and the pencils and chalks smudge as you work with them. You can create artwork from scratch or cheat by loading an existing photograph and painting over it.
Minimum Requirements: Windows
File size: 3MB
Download at:Get the free version of ArtRage 2 here
BEST 3D MODELLING TOOL Google SketchUp
3D modelling programs don't come any easier to use than this. To create a three-dimensional object you simply lay down flat a geometric shape and push or pull on it to create depth. You can then sculpt it using various other tools, adding colour and texture to different shapes. Finished models can be added to Google Earth, while you can also adapt ready-made designs from Google's 3D Warehouse.
Minimum Requirements: Windows
File size: 19.1MB
Download at:Get the free version of Google SketchUp here
BEST IMAGE VIEWER IrfanView
IrfanView is a lightweight photo viewer that can open and convert most image formats. Despite its tiny size the program offers lots of powerful features including batch conversion, a multimedia player, support for Photoshop filters, lossless JPEG rotation and a slideshow creator.
Minimum Requirements: Windows
File size: 1MB
Download at:Get the free version of IrfanView here
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Claire Woffenden, Editor
