Software question

[avanta7]

Since spouse and I bought each other new laptops for Christmas, and now have really nifty and powerful toys to play with, I'm considering adding Photoshop or something similar to my software arsenal. Mainly, I want a program that will allow me to add captions to or word balloons to photos; and then animate them for LJ userpic purposes. (Isn't that pathetic?)

Currently installed photo/graphics programs are: HP PhotoMovieMaker, HP Photosmart Essential, Microsoft Publisher, Windows Movie Maker, and Muvee6, all of which came with the new toy, and none of which seems to do what I want to do (i.e., make animated icons).

This may be due to operator incompetence, of course, and so I present to you, O Great and Powerful LJ Reading Public, my request for assistance: Which program(s) named above will make nifty animated icons and how does it perform such function; or, if none, which software program(s) do you recommend to do such tasks?

Comments

[explodingalice.livejournal.com]

I personally have no clue. The other day I asked Nora about loading Photoshop on my machine and she suggested that I download the free software Gimp, which is similar but, well, free. I have not done so yet so don't know.

However, the other day I was looking at some icon communities here and saw that sometimes when people post icons they made they list what software they use to make them. I would head over to one of them and post your question, see whatcha get.

[avanta7.livejournal.com]

whytraven suggested GIMP as well. I'll take a look at it.

[shadiehawke.livejournal.com]

I have PaintShop Pro (version 8, which I prefer over version 9, to be honest) and it also comes with JASC Animation Shop...that's what I use to create my icons.

[avanta7.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[shendoah.livejournal.com]

Photoshop does not, that I have ever been able to figure out in about 8-9 years of using it, animate.

Best idea, would be to go to one of the icon communities and ask what they recommend. Are you wanting just animated, like, blinkie eyes or something, or are you wanting those nifty ones with imbeded movie clips? Will one program do both? Go to the folks that are doing it and they'll probably have some good answers. :)

[avanta7.livejournal.com]

It never occurred to me to ask in an icon community. *smacks self in forehead* It's so obvious!

[whytraven.livejournal.com]

For general image manipulation, try GIMP--http://www.gimp.org. The price is right (free).

I don't know how to do animated gifs.

A good person to ask would be pussreboots.

Paint Shop Pro is cheaper than Photoshop.

[avanta7.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the ideas!