looking for simple image software

image software

[arbitrary]

I am looking to find some image software that is perferably free but I don't mind paying $50-$100. (Most of the big image software packages are close to $500 and they have way too many features for me.)

All I am looking to do is to manipulate the size of .ai files and create some animated gif's. When I say maniuplate the size of .ai file, my logo designer provides me with images in .ai file format. I want to import those files, increase or decrease the size of the image and save it in .jpg or gif. I also want the software to allow me to create animated gif's. That's it!

I am hoping to find something simple and easy to use. I have heard of gimp but installing a library to get it working made me shy away from it so I thought I would ask here first.

I am new to this so your help would be most appreciated.

Thanks.
Arbitrary

[Leosghost]

xnview ..freeware here [xnview.com] probably the best freeware in the world :)

[arbitrary]

Thanks Leosghost.

I downloaded and installed xnview. I opend up some gif's okay. When I tried opening the .ai file it gives me the message: The format of the file could not be determined. This is despite having the file type set to .ai .

Sometimes it would give the error message about ghostsrcipt so I downloaded and installed that but that did not fix it in that it still gives me the same error message above.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Arbitrary

[Leosghost]

hhmmmmm.. thought tha Xnview could open that format ..have to mail the originator and ask if he is planning to offer support for .ai ..in the freeware

( never actually tried this conversion using xnview ..as I have illustrator and corel ) Try irfanview and then use it to convert to jpeg or use ghostscript ..GS is more powerfull but can be awkward to use ..command line in GS will let you convert from .ai to jpeg ..

you could also do this I think with an old fireworks ..maybe around #3 or #4 ..

most times it's either gimp ..and you can get it without needing to do it via binaries ( presume you are on doze ) auto installer from the download link here [gimp-win.sourceforge.net...] ..and dont forget the help files / doc ..from here [gimp.org...] ..along with how to install ..shouldnt take you longer than 100 seconds to do the install and be ready to run ..gimp is nice :)..

or spend the money ..

but gimp is better ..

[edited by: Leosghost at 11:33 pm (utc) on Jan. 5, 2007]

[arbitrary]

Sorry, I put this thread in the wrong forum.

I don't mind paying the 26 pounds for the licence but will the paid version of xnview support .ai files?

[Leosghost]

you can write and ask the guy who made xnview ..his addy is on the xnview site ..he reads and writes faultless english ( and likes to get mail )..and will tell you ..
the free version says it does .ai ..so your problem with it is surprising ( I cant test it because the machine I have Illustrator( on is in another room and in use by my son at the moment )..he ( the guy who wrote xnview ) will be interested if it's buggy ..and will have a solution ..

[edited by: Leosghost at 12:13 am (utc) on Jan. 6, 2007]

[arbitrary]

Thanks Leosghost, I really appreciate your help.

I sent the webmaster an email and will update this thread when I hear back from him.

[rocknbil]

Yeah Fireworks still works with .ai files - but you know, if your designer can export .ai files, he/she can just as easily export .eps files which are not proprietary and can be read in by a wider variety of programs. There is virtually no loss of information exporting as .eps.

[arbitrary]

Thanks rocknbil.

I tried eps but it did not load properly for me ( most likely because I don't know what I am doing with images). But from your suggestion, I had the file sent to me as .psd (Photoshop) and I was able to read it with XnView.

I am still waiting to hear back on the issue of loading the .ai file.

[arbitrary]

Pierre at XnView got back to me earlier this week. He said there was a problem with my .ai file and suggest I have the designer save it in a .ps file. I was already working with .psd file which worked with the software.

Thanks to Leosghost and rocknbil for your help.