FREE WEB-BASED IMAGE EDITING

If you have been looking for a free web-based image editing software program, Sumo Paint may just be the ticket.  This free web-based program provides you with the most advanced set of tools for creating and editing your own images.   It has similar tools to Photoshop including layer support and filters as well as the shape, brush, ink, text, clone stamp, eraser, gradient, transform, symmetry, magic wand, lasso, smudge, blur, and line tools.

The program can edit images you already have including photos or you can start from scratch and create your own.  You can save them to your Sumo Account online or to your own computer.  You can open images from your Sumo Account, your computer, or from a URL.  One major drawback is that you can only save files as jpg or png.

Sumo Paint is flash-based and should work with any browser and operating system that supports Flash.

Check it out and let us know what you think.

Question: I need a tool that will allow me and 10-12 participants to engage in video conferencing all at the same time before we meet in person at a conference. Now I don’t think there is anything out there in terms of freeware but I thought I would check.

Answer: We use Adobe Connect for our online classes and really like all the options that it provides us.  However it is not free or even cost effective if you would only be using it occasionally.  They do have a 15 day free trial if you would only be using it for a short two week period.

A free option is Vyew.  It has been recently highlighted in PCWorld and would enable you to connect the number of participants you require.  Participants just need to put up with ads. Since I haven’t used it I’m not sure how annoying the ads can be.  It is web-based so there is no need to download any software.  You can give presentations, host webinars, conduct team meetings, and share and collaborate on content.

Another free option is DimDim.  It allows up to 20 attendees as part of the free version.  If you end up having any more than that you need to sign up for the paid version.  It is web-based so there is no need to download any software.  You can share your desktop, show slides, collaborate, chat, talk and broadcast via webcam.

Below are some additional programs that I haven’t tested or reviewed in detail.  I’d suggest trying to find some reviews on them and doing a test pilot prior to using them with a large group.  Also be sure to read the Terms of Service for whatever one you may choose.  It is important to know up front what you are agreeing to, especially with a free service.  Some of these options below only allow up to 5 people on the conference at a time so they may not meet your needs of having 10-12 people on at one time.

WebHuddle – https://www.webhuddle.com/
Yugma – https://www.yugma.com
Palbee – http://www.palbee.com/index.aspx
WengoMeeting – http://www.wengomeeting.com/index.php