For a company that is synonymous with ultra-effective web searches, it may come as a surprise to some of you that they develop excellent, and free software such as Google Earth and Google Talk. A personal Google favorite of mine is Picasa 2, a free photo management software.Sure, you have the array of tried-and-tested applications such as Adobe PhotoShop, ACDSee and Apple's iPhoto. But, if there's such thing as a value-to-satisfaction ratio, nothing beats Picasa 2 as it's outright free.
User Interface
Picasa 2 greets you with nice pastel colors. The rounded buttons softens the entire look and the shadows gives the photos a 3-dimensional effect. I don't have a degree in graphic design, but I do know a nice interface when I see one. Picasa's interface, in my opinion, is simply gorgeous. On top of the interface, I love the subtle effects and animations in Picasa 2. If you drag a photo around, the rest of the photos seem to "give way". Try it and you'll see what I mean. Also, try zooming into a photo and notice how the "zoom perspective tool" (not sure if there's a proper name for it) fades into view.Import
Picasa allows you to monitor folders on your computer, in the sense that if new pictures are added to the folder, it'll be automatically added into your photo library.
It is also compatible with all camera models (according to their support page), with the proper drivers installed. I've set Picasa as the default application to extract the photos from my Canon Ixus IIs camera. So, whenever I plug in my camera, Picasa pops up and asks my if I want to add the newly taken photos into my photo library. That's convenience!Organization
All the virtual folders are on the left of the interface. Obviously, when you select any of them, the main display pane will show all photos in the folder. Any editing done of the photos will not be saved on the actual photos, so don't worry if you cropped your head off accidentally. But, if you do want a copy of an edited photo, you can do so by selecting the "Save a copy" option from the menu bar. And if you edit the folder description, Picasa2 automatically renames the actual PC folder as well, which is a pretty thoughtful feature.
Effects
If you are a regular joe like me, who don't crave for advanced photography effects, Picasa2 is simply ideal. It has quite a number of easy-to-apply, and stylo-mylo effects that can really make your photos look better than they actually are.
If you are a cheapskate like me, you can save a bit of money by taking your own wedding photos, apply the soft focus effect and make it look like a million dollars!Conclusion
This software receives 2 thumbs up from me. It's easy to use, it has a stylish Apple-esque user interface, it has lots of nice effects and most importantly, it's free! Try it!
Picasa2 can be downloaded here
