Best way or program to crop photo?

[ny152]

Looking for a bit of advice if possible please!
I'm trying to prepare the image below for use in an online Book of Rememberance. Ideally I just want the two figures with a nice background to replace what is there at the moment.

Can anyone suggest a freeware program or utility to do the job (don't have access to Photoshop).

Thanks
NY.


http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/3567/croppedvd8.th.jpg (http://img105.imageshack.us/my.php?image=croppedvd8.jpg)

[Art Vanderlay]

Gimp is probably your best bet as a freeware Photoshop alternative

http://www.gimp.org/screenshots/

[FishBoy]

Yeah the Gimp is pretty good - the interface isn't especially user friendly, but it will do exactly what you need and it's free.

[ny152]

Thanks guys, I'll give it a try.
Is there any particular tool, apart from a freehand crop, that I should be trying to use?

[threadkiller]

Did you have a particular background in mind?

[ArthurDent]

Here's a tutorial that may help: http://www.gimpguru.org/Tutorials/ReplaceBackground/

[ny152]

Did you have a particular background in mind?

Something like a sky scene with cloud.

[threadkiller]

whilst I'm no expert

http://msburge.co.uk/webcrap/copy1.jpg
http://msburge.co.uk/webcrap/copy2.jpg

If it helps?

[ny152]

Threadkiller,
that is exactly the kind of thing I am trying to do...
only difference is you done it in under ten minutes!

Think I prefer it with the waterfall in the background actually.

Thanks very much for the help everyone - especially threadkiller :)

[threadkiller]

you're welcome

[Taq]

Faststone Image viewer is free and can save your crop to a different file automatically which might be useful.
It also can display RAW files

Taq

[emeyedeejay]

you're welcome
Not exactly living up to your forum "custom user title" are you :nuts: :D