I have caught myself a few times wanting to color grade an image and have tried and tried and failed in my still photo app (Paint Shop Pro 8.... yes I know it is old). So I just import the photo into Vegas and open up the secondary CC tool and in a matter of a few minutes, I have all the colors just how I want them. I do this on an HD time line of course so I get the best resolution possible. Then I switch the preview window to good quality and save a snapshot so I can import that photo to DVDA (the most frequent culprit for needed manipulated images) and use it as the background.

But.... there has to be a better way. So my question to ya'll is, is there a still photo manipulation app that thinks and works like Vegas with the CC tools?

I do this too. I don't know how to use photoshop and am too lazy to learn and to cheap to buy it.

GIMP - for Windows (http://www.gimp.org/windows/)

I use the Mac version of this program...a little bit of a learning curve but great for a free program.

Lou

I've got Photoshop but there are times when a simple CC is more easily done with a few clicks in Vegas than going through several clicks in Photoshop.
Brian, since you're too cheap to buy it (it's a good chunk of change and your money is probably better spent elsewhere), check out Gimp (http://gimp.org/).
It stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program and it's free.

I've got Photoshop but there are times when a simple CC is more easily done with a few clicks in Vegas than going through several clicks in Photoshop.
Brian, since you're too cheap to buy it (it's a good chunk of change and your money is probably better spent elsewhere), check out Gimp (http://gimp.org/).
It stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program and it's free.

But does Gimp "think" like Vegas. Does it have anything similar to the secondary CC? Primary CC? Or is it a wanna be photoshop? If there is one thing I don't want, its a photoshop clone that has all the annoying use interface & work flow "features" of photoshop.

Jason, I've never used it but it's my understanding that Gimp is a Photoshop wannabe so I guess it's not what you want.

Jason, I've never used it but it's my understanding that Gimp is a Photoshop wannabe so I guess it's not what you want.

Dang. So I'm going to have to suck it up and learn Gimp or break out the manual for Paint Shop Pro eh? Dang.

Jason, I've never used it but it's my understanding that Gimp is a Photoshop wannabe so I guess it's not what you want.

Yes, it's a Photoshop wannabe. I have the Mac version as well.

-gb-

Dang. So I'm going to have to suck it up and learn Gimp or break out the manual for Paint Shop Pro eh? Dang.

I found GIMP impossible. I'm not smart enough. If I could use Vegas to browse I would.

I found The GIMP impossible too, until my need for some photo fixups overcame my initial bewilderment. You may find these two tutorials I wrote of some help:

GIMP Photo Manipulation - Rotation, Geometric Correction, Healing, Cropping (http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-processing-software/29978-gimp-photo-manipulation-rotation-geometric-correction-healing-cropping.html)

GIMP Photo Manipulation - Corrective Rotation (http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-processing-software/29983-gimp-photo-manipulation-corrective-rotation.html)

The GIMP does not have a complimenty colour corrector though.

Dan.

Jason? You've already got PSP? You want an easy CC-ed image to go into DVDA? Do it directly via PSP and then back to DVDA?

1] Set up PSP as your preferred Graphics package

2] Select image from WITHIN DVDA

3] Choose to open image in your preferred Graphics - here it would be your PSP software - by right clicking on image (I have it too!)

4] PSP will automatically open WITH your image ready to go

5] Hit simple improve image Icons on your Toolbar. I've set mine up with : Black and White Points; Adjust Colour Balance; Adjust Curves; Adjust High/Mid/Shadow Levels. Make adjusts

6] File > Save Copy As > PSD or PNG or JPG

7] Back into DVDA and import your new background.

So, here you have a method to use your existing s/w AND to access it directly from within DVDA. And if you plop some Colour Correction Icons on your PSP toolbar it is really very fast indeed.

HTH

Grazie