[Ham-Computers] Re Photo Editing/Enhancement Software

[Duane Fischer, W8DBF]

Hello All,

First, a 'very' healthy, happy, prosperous and safe 2008 to all of you! Make 
it so #1.

As most of you already know, I am totally blind. You also know that I am the 
only totally blind professional Magician/Illusionist in this world. Even so, 
being totally blind, magic wand or not, photo editing is still not possible! 
Nevertheless, some of the software is so efficient that it automatically 
enhances the photo one loads into the program. Such as restoring details 
that have become vague over time, restoration of colors to their original 
depth and shade, removing minor imperfections such as a minor scratch or 
fingerprint etc. Most, if not all, of this without said user needing to do 
much more then click 'OK'. Hence, the old blind dude can take a pretty good 
photo courtesy of the digital camera that does everything but press the 
"take photo" button for itself and edit the photo via this type of software.

Now I am 'NOT' even considering doing any serious photo taking or editing, 
so relax! But it would be nice if I could restore, or at least enhance, some 
old color Polaroid and 35 MM pictures taken forty years ago by friends.

Is there any software available that a totally blind person could use to do 
any automated restoration of scanned images with? I have IrFanview, Corel 
Draw 5 and Adobe Photo Shop. For whatever the reason, all the Adobe products 
conflict with my HMA, so I do not use them!

This entire desire of mine may be impractical, maybe even foolish. I may 
have to get photogenic inclined friends or family to do this for me. 
However, since so much of the computer learning curve nowadays seems to be 
avoiding user learning and instruction, and using the pick and click 
approach, I am just wondering if there might be some program out there that 
I could use and get decent results with.

Thanks for your thoughts.


Duane Fischer, W8DBF/WPE8CXO
dfischer at usol.com
HHI: Halligan's Hallicrafters International
http://www.w9wze.net
HHRP: Historic Halligan Radio Project
hhrp.w9wze.net