Free Photo Editing Software

Did you know that you can get some pretty decent photo editing and organizing software for free? While it may not have all the bells and whistles of Photoshop Elements 4, if you want some basic editing tools and a way to organize your images on your computer, check out Shutterfly's new Shutterfly Studio.

Shutterfly Studio image You can organize up to 50,000 pictures, edit and enhance your pictures with 10 tools (including a new red-eye removal tool that works with pet's eyes as well). You can rate each photo on a 5-star scale, and easily add keywords to organize your pictures by person and occasion across folders. You can also view a full-screen slideshow of your photos with pan and zoom effects. It enables you to quickly upload pictures from your computer to your online Shutterfly album so you can share pictures or order prints. Even if you plan to order your prints elsewhere or print at home, you can still use the software to organize and edit your pictures. Joining Shutterfly and downloading the software is completely free.

The other major online photofinishers also have free software, but they are more limited to use for uploading photos to their website for ordering prints. Shutterfly gives you more options and the best photo management system..

Top Rated SuperZoom Camera at a Great Price

Panasonic is generally not the manufacturer that first comes to mind when you are thinking about buying a digital camera. Their marketing is not as prominent as other companies such as Canon. However, they do make some great digital cameras at very competitive prices. PC Magazine rates the 6MP Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 superzoom as an Editors' Choice.

According to PC Magazine's Terry Sullivan, it has 12x zoom, excellent optics, logically placed controls and buttons, and you can shoot 640-by-480 Quick Time Motion JPEGs at 30 frames per second. Boot-up time is average but the 1.6-second recycle time is excellent. It also has two image stabilization modes, one is continuous and the other one just for when you shoot. It's also small, lightweight and easy to handle.

Best of all is the price -- about $399! This is the best price you are likely to find for a superzoom of this quality. You can find the FZ7 at Panasonic Direct, Wolf Camera.com (no sales tax and free shipping) and Amazon.com (best price at $349.99).

OTHER TOP-RATED DIGITAL CAMERAS - These cameras received top ratings by PC Magazine:

Ultra Compact:
Canon Powershot SD550 Digital Elph (approx $449.95)
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC N1 (approx $500)

Compact
Fuji FinePix E900 (approx $500)
Kodak EasyShare-One (approx $449)

Superzoom
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 ($349.99 at Amazon)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-F30 (approx $599)

Digital SLR
Nikon D50 (approx $800)
Olympus Evolt E-330 (approx $1000)

Digital Camera and Equipment Sales

>> WAL-MART

- Kodak 6 MP EasyShare Z650 Digital Camera w/ 10x Optical Zoom - $255.54
- Wal-Mart Item of the Week: Kodak CW330 Camera Bundle $198.88

>> AMAZON.com - on sale now (while supplies last):

- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20K 5MP Digital Camera with 12x Image Stabilized Optical Zoom (Black) - $299
- Olympus SP-500 UZ Ultra Zoom 6MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom - $288.94
- Canon Powershot SD500 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom - $279.94
- Casio Exilim EX-S500 5MP Digital Camera with 3x Anti Shake Optical Zoom (White) - $249.94
- Kodak EasyShare C340 5MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom & Easyshare Printer Dock (Series 3) - $239.94
plus - mail-in $40 rebate.
- and more. Go to Amazon.com's Hot Camera Deals

>>WOLFCAMERA.COM

- SAVE up to $200 on Discount Digital Packages including Canon, Nikon, Pentax and others. Bundles include items such as the camera body, Lithium Battery Pack, Battery Charger, SD Memory Card ,BigPrint 1GB Secure Disk Memory Card, Extra Lithium Ion Battery, Mini-Micro Pouch, 1 Year ESP Plan, Wrist Strap, Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM, USB Interface Cable, Audio/Video Cable

Go to WOLFCAMERA.COM

Digital Photo Software - Sales, Rebates

Here are the current sales/promos on digital photo editing and organizing software as of June 6. They can change at any time. There are several rebates available too.

ACDSee 8 PHOTO MANAGER is $49.99 direct. Download a free trial

Adobe Photoshop Elements 4 is $65.99 after rebate at Amazon with free shipping.

Adobe Photoshop Album 2 is $43.95 with free shipping at Amazon. (If you are thinking about getting this, I recommend you get Photoshop Elements 4 because it includes Photoshop Album).

Corel Paintshop Pro X is $49.99 after rebate and get free shipping at Amazon.

Corel Photo Album 6 Deluxe is $18.99 at Amazon after special rebates and free shipping. Great program, too.

Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006 is only $59.99 after rebate with free shipping at Amazon

PhotoImpact 11 - photo editing software is $89.99 or $49.99 to upgrade from prior version. Download a free 30-day trial. This is an excellent photo editing program and easy to learn. With your purchase, get FREE Pixmantec RawShooter essentials 2005, an award-winning package that lets you preview, adjust and covert RAW image files from your high-end digital camera.

Digital Photo Printing Services - Promos and Discounts

SNAPFISH: 12 cent prints all the time.

- Special New Customer Offer - Get 20 FREE prints at Snapfish.com
- Get $2 off any order over $10. Use code MAYAFF5206. Valid from 5/4/06 through 07/01/06.
- Get a $.99 Snapfish Shipping Credit, Use code - MAYAFF59906 Valid from 5/4/06 through 07/01/06.
- 20 Free Digital Camera Prints + 20% off Photo Memory Books at Snapfish Use coupon code MAYAFF52006
Valid from 5/4/06 through 07/01/06.
- 20 Free Prints & 20% off MEMORY BOOKS at Snapfish, use coupon code MAYAFF52006
- Get an additional 5 4x6 digital camera prints FREE use coupon code Code: MAYAFF5506. Valid from 5/4/06
through 07/01/06.
- 20% Off Photo Gifts - For Father's Day - coupon code DAD202006. Valid from 5/31/06 through 07/01/06.
- Free Shipping on 5 Prints. Coupon Code: MAYAFF59906. Valid from 5/4/06 through 07/01/06.
- Everyday low pricing of just 12-cents for your prints. Snapfish prints are as little as 10 cents when you prepay
for prints.
- Get 10 free prints each for up to 10 friends in a calendar year who join and place an order.

GO TO SNAPFISH.COM

SHUTTERFLY: prints are 19 cents

Free shipping on order $15. Use coupon code: SH01-FREE (expires 6-19-06)
Enjoy 20% off Photo Books. Celebrate your story with Photo Books. Use coupon code: AFF7-BOOK(Expires6-20-06)
Go to SHUTTERFLY

PHOTOWORKS: prints are 19 cents and as low as 9 cents on prepaid plans. Get 25 free when you join Photoworks (membership is free).

- New members get 10 cent prints on their first order (up to 100 4x6 prints). By July 31.
- New members get Free custom-printed Photo Book. Enter C440-38-5161-81 during checkout.
Expires 7/31/06.
- Buy get 1 FREE on any Print and Photo Book order. Use coupon code: C663-38-5113-31. Thru June 30.

Go to PhotoWorks.com

KODAK EASYSHARE GALLERY: has 15 cent 4 x 6 prints every day.

Free photo collage when you order a mouse pad. Coupon code: COLLAGE4DAD. Thru June 19.

Go to Kodak EasyShare Gallery

WAL-MART : Photo Prints for just 12¢ at Walmart.com

You can also order prints online and pick them up on an hour at your local Wal-mart for 19 cents/print.

That's all for now. Have a great summer!

Best regards,

Valerie Goettsch
www.digitalphotos101.com
How to get the best from your digital camera

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