Misc. Imaging Tools

AndreaMosaic enables you to create a mosaic poster by using many small image tiles, that are analyzed and arranged to match the overall pattern of the original. You can specify the size of the tiles, the number of times each one can be repeated (if needed), tune color adjustments, and choose from a variety of mosaic patters. You can specify one or more folders as the source for the image tiles and the program will scan them into a database from where they can be easily re-used for other projects. You can even extract frames from a video file and use them as the base of your mosaic. Depending on the effect you want to achieve, you can use more or less image tiles for realistic or abstract results. AndreaMosaic can optionally output an additional HTML web page that displays your artwork and allows the user to zoom into the individual image tiles. The program can output huge mosaic images with 200 megapixel and more.

PhotoME enables you to view and edit EXIF, IPTC and ICC metadata in your digital images. It provides an organized overview of all the data contained in the photo and allows you to change the values for any field that supports editing. This includes camera and exposure details, EXIF date tags, GPS data (if present) and many other details. Each value can be edited with an easy to use form that provides presets for common alternatives as well as custom values where supported. In addition to standard metadata, PhotoME includes support for many manufacturer-defined data formats and maker notes of leading camera manufacturers. The program supports all common image formats as well as most RAW formats. If your images have embedded GPS information, you can even view the geographical location via Google maps. Other features include browser and Explorer integration, AF point display (where available), import/export, integrated thumbnail and histogram display, and more.

Diagram Designer is a simple vector graphics editor for creating flowcharts, diagrams and slide shows. It offers customizable object templates (addtl. templates can be downloaded), simple graph plotting to plot mathematical expressions, support for multi-page and multi-layer diagrams, export to graphics formats and more. Diagram Designer allows you to create a wide variety of diagram styles including flowcharts, network maps, application interfaces, electronic circuits and more.

Foto-Mosaik enables you to create a mosaic picture, by using many small images tiles, that are analyzed and arranged to match the overall pattern of the original. You can specify the size of the tiles, as well as the number each one should be repeated (if needed), and even cross-fade the tiled version with the original to create a less abstract effect. The program uses an easy to use wizard that lets you select the tile files, as well as the image to create as mosaic. The tile images are scanned into a database and can be easily re-used for other projects. The more tile images you use, the better the results.

Shape Collage enables you to create picture collages from your digital images. You can choose from several different shapes and also define your own shapes by using the provided drawing tool. You can customize the size of the collage, define the dimensions of individual images and their spacing, add photo borders and more. The finished collage image can be saved as JPEG or PNG or as Photoshop file in .psd format. The free version adds a small, non-intrusive watermark to the lower right corner of the collage. A Pro version with additional features is also available.

JPEGsnoop allows for detailed examination of the EXIF and ITPC data contained in digital photos, AVI files, PDF documents and several other file formats. The program reports an extensive amount of information, including quantization table matrix, chroma subsampling, estimated JPEG Quality setting, JPEG resolution settings, Huffman tables, Makernotes, RGB histograms and much more. It can be used to review camera settings, to determine whether an images has been edited or tampered with and also to detect errors in corrupted files and several other advanced uses. Other features include the ability to extract embedded thumbnail images, full AVI file parsing, multi-channel preview, an integrated database of thousands of compression signatures and more.

Sqirlz Morph allows you to morph two, three or more images together, and save your animation as a Flash movie, AVI video clip, or bitmap/jpeg files. As with other morphing tools, you place special control points over important features on each of the images, and the program then distorts each image so that the chosen features are matched (example included). The entire process can be displayed and saved as animation in GIF, AVI or Flash (.swf) format. For best results you need to use the right pictures and some patience.

Microsoft Pro Photo Tools provides a set of tools for photographers to perform various tasks with their images, including raw conversion, geotagging, viewing/editing of metadata and more. If your images contain GPS data you can view their location in the built-in Virtual Earth viewer, and if they don`t, you can easily add it by dragging the image into the geographical location on the map. The metadata is added directly to the image file and can be read by other imaging software, including Adobe products.

Posteriza enables you to create poster or banner size prints from your digital images. The program slices the images into multiple parts and makes them fit into a number of regular size pages (A4, A3, letter, etc.), which can then be assembled after printing. It automatically includes margins to overlap and glue the pages. In addition, you can add up to 4 lines of text, as well as a frame to enhance the looks. The program is easy to use, and offers easy configuration and previews of the results. You can create regular size posters, wall posters or anything in between, although you should use a high resolution image for larger printouts in order to produce quality results. The program can also save the output as JPG files, allowing you to use 3rd party printing services instead of your own printer. Standalone, no install needed.

Splitz! allows you to split any image into rectangular parts and export the resulting images along with the HTML table that puts them back together. This allows webmaster to create for creating mouseover effects and offers an alternative to image maps. It supports many images formats and includes smart JPEG compression (side by side compare) as well as basic color balancing filters.

PictureClip enables the user to import an image into it and cut the image into individual picture files. You can set the sections to a custom width each or chose to split the image into an X amount of equal sections. The application will import image formats of BMP, GIF, and JPG; and will export in either JPG or BMP format. For those that use this application for creating images for their web pages, PictureClip will generate the HTML for them as well. HTML code can be saved to a file or copied to the clipboard.

Texture Processor is a unique program for creating various textures. The basic algorithm placed in the heart of Texture Processor allows to get practically unlimited quantity of the complex textures during a short time. The program is intended both for 3d-artists and web-designers. Besides, any other user not able to draw in various graphic editors, will receive full pleasure and breadth of actions, working with Texture Processor. The program features a simple interactive interface, smart randomizer and allows you to edit each step of your process. It comes with a variety od textures that you can modify, mix etc. to get started.

RIOT (Radical Image Optimization Tool) enables you to reduce the size of image files by compressing and optimizing them to achieve a smaller file size while maintaining adequate image quality. You can set the desired image quality, format and other format specific values and instantly preview the results before saving to PNG, JPG or GIF format.

SmillaEnlarger is an Open Source program that enables you produce quality enlargements of your digital photos. It enables you to convert a low resolution image into a high resolution copy while maintain as much of the details as possible and minimizing image noise. You can also clip a portion of your photo and create a high quality crop with the same or higher resolution than the original. SmillaEnlarger offers several adjustment options and an instant preview to inspect the results. The program produces very good results, however the interface and usability features (or lack thereof) require a bit of a learning curve - there is no `Save` button for example, the program saves a copy automatically; you have to select an entire folder before you can select an image... and several other oddities that can be confusing at first. A Help document comes included with the download, you`ll probably want to take a look at it before you get started.

Greenfish Relief Map Generator is a unique program that enables you to create fake map images that resemble real relief maps, but are completely random. You can customize the map colors, load city names from a text file and also set the map size and amount of water to use. The result can be exported to a BMP image. The program is useful if you need map displays for demonstration without infringing on any copyrights.

Opanda IExif enables you to view EXIF data of images directly from Internet Explorer, using the IE right-click menu. You can also view EXIF/GPS and IPTC data for local images. The program supports EXIF 2.21 standards, TIPP6 and extend EXIF tags, as well as EXIF thumbnail display. This version automatically integrates with Internet Explorer, however, a plugin can be added to extend the features to Firefox.

Average Color Seeker is a small and useful tool that enables you to select the average color value for an entire photograph. It also offers the inverse average and a matching color palette. Other features include display of RGB and HTML values, a built-in color picker and optional gray correction.

EXIF ShellExtension is a simple add-on for Windows Explorer that display EXIF information for JPG images in an infotip extension that appears when you over your mouse over the file name or thumbnail. The information includes shutter speed, F-value; ISO, focal length, camera model and more.

webGobbler is a unique program, that downloads random images from several online sources and assembles them into a random collage. You can apply several effects to images to customize the results, specify the image dimensions, include images from a local directory (or use only local files) and also choose to set the generated images as a screensaver. The collages can be saved in various image formats and also applied as desktop wallpaper. Other features include an option to blacklist URLs and images, command line interface and proxy support.

FirmTools ShellExtension is an add-on for Windows Explorer, that adds a right-click thumbnail preview to image files, as well as an option to convert the image to a different format. It supports conversions to GIF, JPEG, BMP, PNG, TGA, PSD, TIFF, PCX, PCD, and others.

Kalimages Basic allows you to search your photo collection, using existing IPTC/IMM meta data. You can find images by keyword or specific text in any available IPTC field and view the results as thumbnail, or export to HTML/XML. Advanced users can also use SQL queries to perform highly customized searches. The images that are found can be copied to another folder, renamed, deleted, or opened in your default image viewer. Kalimages Basic relies on existing IPTC and is only useful if your images already contain IPTC image annotations - if they do, then this program provides you with a very flexible search engine to find and manage your photos.

Bitmap Font Writer is a free program that let you draw text using a font where each character is drawn in a bitmap file. If youve drawn your own bitmapped font in for example Photoshop, you are forced to manually Copy & Paste each character in order to combine them into a word. This gets pretty tedious if youre doing buttons for a website, as an example. The purpose of Bitmap Font Writer is to make this procedure smoother. By arranging your font in ASCII order and put markers to define the width of each character you may load the image into Bitmap Font Writer which the combines the characters for you. Then you simply copy everything to the clipboard to get it back into your painting program.

If you open and edit/save JPEG files, they loose quality due to constant re-compression. JPEGcrop utilizes beta code of the Independent JPEG Group for lossless cropping of JPEG files and allows you to crop and rotate your JPEG files without quality loss.

GAXreloaded is a powerful application for web designers, graphic designers and everyone else who works with graphics. It contains a color picker, a screen ruler, and a screen capture tool. The color picker allows you to view the color value of every pixel on the screen in various formats(RGB, Hex or percents) and lets you sample that color. After youve sampled a color you can export it to Photoshop to use it in your creation or export it to the clipboard in various formats. The screen ruler is handy for measuring objects on your screen. And the additional the screen capture tool allows you to capture every part of the screen and export the image to Photoshop oer save it as a JPG or BMP file. Its also possible to automatically capture a sequence.

Digi-Annotator is an easy to use tool that allows you to add annotation notes or labels to your digital images. You can customize the label in various ways, choose a label color or transparency, specify text color, font and more. You can save the settings for up to 4 of your labels as templates so they can be easily re-applied to other images. The program can also be used to resize your images by simply resizing the viewer window, and you can sharpen, rotate and print your photos. Standalone software, no installation required.

EXIF Browser is an image browser with support for EXIF data display. It can present your images in a slideshow, and optionally display the basic EXIF details along the side, or you can use the detailed properties to view all available EXIF tags. EXIF Browser can also decode Canon RAW files (CR2, CRW) and extract the embedded JPG image.

DPIC (Digital Picture Index Creator) allows you to create a picture index (contact sheet) from a directory and save it as single JPEG image. You can customize the output in detail, specify the size, select color fonts, details to include and image quality.

Scale includes some useful tools to help in the design of forms, web pages, presentations and other visual materials. Scale is a Tool Bar that you can position in a corner of the screen for easy use of the tools. From the Tool bar you can open a ruler, to measure horizontal and vertical distances in 7 different units (pixels, twips, inches, centimeters, himetrics, characters and points) a Magnifier to enlarge, up to 30 times, any image or text in the screen (you can make precise measurement and color pick with this tool ) or an Angle Measurement Tool, to measures angles formed by lines in the screen, in degrees and radians. Furthermore it includes a Color Mixer/Picker to mix and pick colors and get the respective codes in 6 systems (RGB, VB, HTM, CMY, CMYK and HSL) as well as a small Calculator with some useful features. Scale can optionally be run in the system tray.

The Castle s SplitImage is software for dividing an image into multiple parts for use on web pages. Divide an image into any number of resizable rows and columns. You can also create Sub Documents (ie. tables within tables). The program will auto-generate the HTML code for tables and split the image file into separate images for each table cell.

Zpaint allows you to create 3D-style elements for websites and software interfaces. You can easily paint raised or lowered shapes like buttons, rings, boxes and more and add those effects to existing graphics or create new ones from scratch. Features include color/texture selection, adjustable extrusion depth, gloss and other effects. Used best in cooperation with an image editor. Great for buttons, toolbars and other things!

10. Slide Show is a simple tools to quickly create a slideshow from selected images. You can chose to use the content of a folder, or select the images one by one and then save the slideshow. You can also add an audio file (.mp3, wav, mid), set the delay, background color and optionally have the slideshow loop.