Help re photo editing etc

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Michael Hewett, Feb 13, 2022.

  1. Michael Hewett

    Michael Hewett Total Gardener

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    I want to make my watercolour paintings and drawings into birthday cards, Christmas cards, coasters and fridge magnets etc,
    therefore I need to print out a page-full of same-size photos so that I can make these things … but I don’t know how to do it.

    Someone told me to get photoshop but it seems there is no way of making a one off payment. You can only get it by making monthly payments for ever and I can’t afford that.

    I have looked for other editing software but it is so confusing … mindboggling !

    Does anyone know of a way in which I can print out a page full of same size photos, or any software (if that’s the right word) that will enable me to do so ??

    Please could you use simple words, I don't know any technological ones :frown:
     
  2. Victoria

    Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

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  3. Jiffy

    Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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    Gimp photto editer is free but it can be hard to use

    google free photo editers as there is lots then go to youtube to find one that you can get on with
     
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    • Selleri

      Selleri Koala

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      Hi @Michael Hewett , do you use a PC?

      Any software that allows you to insert pictures will work, Photoshop is really for editing pictures and not needed by us mere mortals :)

      If you have Microsoft Office, or the free version, open either a text programme or a picture programme, insert your scanned picture, re-size as needed and print.

      Here is a snapshot of my free free Office pack (my software is in Italian, don't let that confuse).

      Alternatively, if you use a Microsoft PC you probably already have picture managing software installed. Take a look by clicking the start menu and check if you have programmes such as Paint 3D.

      All of these programmes are easy to use. Scan your picture, save into your computer, and within the programme find "insert" and bring in the picture.

      Looking forward to seeing your work, sounds like a great idea! :)

      upload_2022-2-13_11-39-46.png

      upload_2022-2-13_11-44-33.png
       
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      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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        I would not recommend photoshop for your needs Michael, it is all singing and dancing and can do anything but is tremendously complicated to use as well as pricey. I used to use it when I worked, now I have retired for photo editing I use a free software tool called Gimp. Again this is complicated to use and not necessary just for printing.

        As I understand what you want to do is print an A4 page with the several images. You can do that in Windows explorer by highlighting the images, right click and select print. You should be able to select the page format at that point, ie 4 images per page, 8 images etc etc.

        This may depend on what printer you have.

        I would recommend you take a step back and think how you are going to get your printed photos made into a card or coaster. I have used Moonpig to do that myself and it is a case of uploading the photo on their website, they then send the card or coaster or whatever back to you. In this case you don't need any editing software.
         
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        • pete

          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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          I've used snapfish in the past but not recently.
           
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          • Michael Hewett

            Michael Hewett Total Gardener

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            Thanks for all your help, I shall look into each of these ways and see which one is best for what I want.

            @JWK Thanks for suggesting Moonpig but I want to do it myself. I've got blank coasters keyrings and fridge magnets, and can put the photos in myself.
            Coasters are 9 cm x 9 cm.
            Fridge magnets are 5.8 cm x 5.8 cm
            Key rings are smaller but I haven't got the measurements to hand.

            Cards can be any size I want.

            Here's a fridge magnet I made with a photo of Bella in it

            DSCF6768.JPG

            These are the blank coasters ready for putting a picture inside ...

            DSCF6769.JPG

            Here's a coaster with a picture inside it ...
            (this one not painted by me)

            DSCF6770.JPG

            I'll also have to get a new printer I think. I've got an Epson stylus DX 7400 at the moment and it is very old.
             
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            • JWK

              JWK Gardener Staff Member

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              I recently printed out photos of my grandchildren to go into photo frames, I used Gimp because it lets you change the image size using inches or cms. The issue I had was the photos were not the same format as the frame, i.e. the frame was 10 X 14cm but the image was not the same ratio - 7 X 10cm, so I had to choose how to crop it. All a bit of a faff and I ended up with a white border that wasn't even all the way round. If you are working with square coasters I suppose that isn't an issue.

              I can see how you want to print several of the same image on one sheet, assuming you are using a Windows PC then try using Windows Explorer print:

              Navigate to your folder containing your photos e.g.:
              upload_2022-2-13_22-49-39.png


              Then select the images you want to print, here I have chosen 4, but you could choose just one or a different number:


              upload_2022-2-13_22-51-58.png



              Then right click and pick the 'Print' option and use the slider on the right to select the number of images per page:
              upload_2022-2-13_22-55-4.png
              In the above I have chose 4 images per page of 9 x 13cm


              Then you can modify things with the 'Options...' button to suit your printer, i.e. glossy paper type, size etc.

              I hope that makes sense,. I guess you would need to experiment a bit to get the sizes correct for your images and printer. I have a cheap Canon TS700 printer which lets me do that sort of thing.
               
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              • JWK

                JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                It might be better to actually buy the correct sized glossy paper to fit your coasters, it would look neater.
                 
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                • JWK

                  JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                  I've been thinking @Michael Hewett maybe a better option for you is to get a local print shop to duplicate your photos at the correct sizes. It would be cheaper than buying a printer and all the supplies, ink and paper. I did that for some Christmas cards I painted, they looked more professional than what I could print myself.
                   
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                  • Michael Hewett

                    Michael Hewett Total Gardener

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                    Thank you @JWK I'll try the method you first described and see how I get on with it, I'll look for a print shop if not. Thanks for helping :smile:
                     
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                    • Jocko

                      Jocko Guided by my better half.

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                      I have Long John Silver's copy Photoshop CS4 and it does everything you could wish.
                      Regarding cropping to size, you just set the ratio to 10 x 14 and crop away. Once you position the crop you can move it around to suit before finally committing.
                       
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