FastStone Users?

[Tom Hoots]

Russ,

Tom, unlike you I upload my images from the card reader directly to a specified folder on ACDSee since I prefer TNs. Under each thumb I have all the exif data I want and can view that, as well as enlarge each TN for better viewing. All of us have our ways of doing things, of course, and I love ACDSee for these reasons. I also have mine set to send images directly to CS4, LR2, IDFramer, etc. Very handy. So, there are many reasons to like this program. I do use Breezebrowser for making my albums.

Yes, one of the best things about ACDSee is how you can set most everything up in some manner how =you= want it to be. That was my biggest beef with most every other viewer program I tried -- I didn't care for their use of screen real estate, and I couldn't change it to to meet my preferences.
--
Tom Hoots
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomhoots/

 

[old jim]

I think I may be guilty of misleading folks here. This new version (FastStone Image Viewer 3.7) is far more than just a simple viewer. It's an image browser, converter and editor, and in my opinion a very, very neat one at that! I'm still exploring its features and am amazed at how good they are and how easy to apply. It will make my PP life far more enjoyable! I am also greatly helped by the free Tutorial. Check it out. You will be glad you did!
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Old Jim ;-)

 

[old jim]

nt.--
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Old Jim ;-)

 

[old jim]

Select the pictures you want (up to 4) using stander multiple selection procedures. Click on the button in the control bar. Button looks like four little squares stuck together. Bang there they are side by side/over under. Best compare-er I've seen!
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Old Jim ;-)

 

[old jim]

Your views are shared by others Tom and I have no doubt that it is terrific. However, without very much experience, I can none-the-less make similar statements about FastStone. One of the things I really like is using the entire screen. Tools and options are immediately available by moving the mouse to one of the edges. Move the mouse back and they disappear and I have full screen. It also is a far more powerful editor than I had realized. Also "Free"is hard to beat! Besides, I think I'm in love
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Old Jim ;-)

 

[rkhndjr]

Old Jim, you have a point. I used it for a long time some years ago and loved it. Being free makes it even better. Not much you can't do with it, either.
--
Russ

 

[old jim]

It appearsa there has been a lot of improvement. Recent version is 20 January 2009 and:

Version 3.7 (January 20, 2009)

Added Preview to the "Batch Convert" tool. Now it is possible to preview the conversion by clicking the "Conversion Preview" button

Added a checkbox to allow converted files to be saved in their original folders in the "Batch Convert" tool

Enhanced the "Cover" style of Set as Wallpaper. Now it is possible to zoom and drag an image to set any particular part of it as wallpaper

Now it is possible to adjust EXIF Timestamp by both hours and minutes using the "Change Timestamp" tool under "Tools" menu

Added an option to the Settings to determine which (move or copy) action to take when files are dragged to the folder tree

Enhanced the Magnifier to view large images faster

Updated the RAW format library. Panasonic RW2 files are supported

Fixed some bugs

LX3 Users Note RW2 files supported

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Old Jim ;-)

 

[bob81]

Hi Jim, What plug-ins are you using with elements?
Thanks
--
Bob(Ma.USA)

 

[Lechero]

I'm thinking of trying this viewer. Are there any negative
experiences with it like grabbing all your picture files etc. I have
Picasa and elements 5.0 and like to keep my files in my windows
picture folder. I don't care for programs that want to take over
everything. Thanks for any info you can give me!

Jim, I use FS since a couple of years and am more than satisfied. I find it simple and efficient to administer my photos. Associated with FS I use several different editing external programs of my preference such as PhotoScape, Photoshop and Noiseware. Resuming: Fast Stone is a first class picture viewer / browser and makes my life easier with the handling of other very good editors. Regards,

Eduardo

 

[doto41]

Hi Old Jim and Eduardo

I use picasa 3 and have elements 6 for additional pp that picasa doesn't do. In what is faststone better than picasa and is it a significant difference.
Thanks and continue having fun

--
Dov

fz8, minolta 0, raynox 250, oly c-180, oly b-300 (and hoping for more )

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30848682@N04/

 

[Tom Hoots]

It appears there has been a lot of improvement. Recent version is 20 January 2009 and....

Interesting -- thanks for the update. As much as I've depended upon ACDSee for years, they have had a near-perfect record of releasing problematic updates. So, 2.5 was no different, and I "haven't touched it with a virtual ten-foot pole." They've got an online forum, and it must either be "still full of screaming," or perhaps members have been reporting some stability. I'll definitely check that out before I make any decision to bump up to 2.5.
--
Tom Hoots
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomhoots/

 

[eagle_I]

old jim - Enough pro & cons between programs have been pitched around so I won't say much there, but one of your comments stuck with me and that is about working with the program to learn all you can about it. Software is like fashion where every season we are all tempted to buy into the new look ... MUCH BEFORE we are really familiar with what we already own. New software ... new books ... WHADDA RACKET!

I first found FastStone after doing a intensive search for a good screen capture program. Capture was FREE back then and was so far superior was it to anything else I tested I was PLEASED to PayPal FastStone a $25 donation. In return I got a THANKS from Andrew and lifetime serial numbers for both Capture and Viewer.

I honestly don't think I could live happily now with my computer without Capture. It's a screen grab note taker I use constantly to save everything from proof of online transactions to helpful hints I find in forum posts. I'm a picture orientated guy and capturing images just works well for me. I use it not only online, but also for other screen saving memory chores. Most recently I've been using it a lot in Yahoo Messenger online chats to exchange quick notations made on photographs and captures of photo editing screens to communicate photo edit techniques. Capture has a draw feature tightly tied to it that has become very useful for me.

Capture is well worth the small investment. Here's a quick notated sample to show as an example.



Having made the pitch for a new program I'll comment about a OLD program. ACDSee version 2.43 is probably has more years behind it than many forum posters. I've stuck with it all these years because it's lean and does everything I need from a QUICK (it's quicker than FastStone going full screen image to image forward and backward) a quick viewer and image organizer ... and most important because I've learned how to use it to suit my needs. Oh yeah I tried ACDSee's newer versions as they came out adding stuff to try to compete with the big boys of the photo editing world. For me they just added features I did NOT want to learn.

... As I've been locked into editing with Photoshop

In my mind there is a lot of value saying "heck with fashion" and sticking by something you've invested time to learn and become practiced with!
--

 

[foot]

nice points.

i'd like the "tag" feature. I just wish it supported more than 1 tag! For my workflow, i like to go thru and mark the photos keepers/junkers/maybes. This would make the first review pass easy and fast

 

[no see]

I've tried ACDSee in one of the last versions ( 9 or 10) and found,
that EXIF data was destroyed by ACDSee, when turning a photo
(lossless I think!!!!).

I mailed this to ACDSee, but they were not willing to fix it.

--

Maybe it's because they don't need to fix it ...
I've used ACDSee for many years and have had recent versions in use
with excellent results - am presently using the v11 Photo Manager ..
and if I shoot a vertical it actually shows AS a vertical thumb in
the open program.. and I've NEVER lost EXIF.
In fact I just tried it out by turning an upright (already showing
OK) and it did rotate (then to wrong showing) but EXIF stayed as I'd
set it under each thumb. Changed it back to the normal vertical show
and EXIF still stayed OK.

Did you check all EXIF data including the manufacturer specific ones?
It may be ok for Canon, Nikon,... but it wasn't for Pany when I checked it.

--
eric-UK

--
no see (resp. ][.Kerusker)
we don't see that we don't see (eye's blind spot)



my albums: http://picasaweb.google.de/Kerusker

 

[Lechero]

Hi Old Jim and Eduardo

I use picasa 3 and have elements 6 for additional pp that picasa
doesn't do. In what is faststone better than picasa and is it a
significant difference.

To edit pictures I use, most of the times, Photoshop or PhotoScape (free). Picasa is good, but for my taste, PhotoScape is better in terms of capabilities and handling simplicity.

I adopted FastStone as my image management program. In my opinion, among several good ones, it is the best Image viewer / browser. The second and most important function is, by far, FS as carrier.

I keep the FastStone program open when I am using another external program such as Photoshop or PhotoScape. Then I switch back and forth between Photoshop and FastStone (or other editor), using FastStone to select the images that I want to edit, and then telling FastStone to open those images in Photoshop (or other editor).

We can tell tell FastStone what external image editing program we would like to use. This facility makes very easy and fast the pp workflow. The FSIV Tutorial July 2008 is a good guide to follow.

Success

Eduardo

 

[old jim]

Thank you Mark for you thoughtful reply. You must be reading my mind because Capture is next on my interest list. It looks perfect and I have wanted to be able to do some of that stuff for a long time. I will delay a bit while I drown myself in the viewer (more than a viewer) It's really an image browser, viewer, editor. This morning I received a free registration code for the small donation I had sent. I don't know whether that will get me "Capture" for free, but I won't mind paying if need be. By the way Andrew Lu told me did another fix to add the RW2 file information to the help file and fix another bug. He also sent me the download button for getting it! What's not to love about these guys? Every once in a while I come across someone who knows that good business is all about customer relations. FastStone has got it right!!! IMO of course
Have a nice day my friend.
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Old Jim ;-)

 

[old jim]

Thanks Eduardo. You may be able to tell that I am sold on this outfit!

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Old Jim ;-)

 

[old jim]

I use Picasa also Dov but I think it will experience a lot of neglect in the future. With FastStone I can do all my PP from within one application. I've added elements 5.0 which has my plug-ins for focus magic, Topaz filters and Neat image. I haven't tried to add Picasa yet and probably won't. Picasa doesn't take up much space and for now I use it to upload to my web albums and get links for posting, so until I want to do something in that department I'll just keep it as is.

There is a free Tutorial for fasStone that you can read or download. I D/L it and made it into a book. I'm up and running in just a couple days. Love it
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Old Jim ;-)

 

[old jim]

Thanks Eduardo. I'm beginning to do the same thing!! It's great
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Old Jim ;-)

 

[TeriF]

thank you so much for your reply. Just tried it and it worked. You have no idea, who often I fiddled with this in frustration and could never figure it out. I can't believe I was that stupid.

Teri

--
http://www.pbase.com/terif