Manage updates with the Download AppCNET Editors' review
HP Photosmart Essential provides a simple set of tools for editing and sharing photos. While not offering a ton of options and functions, the program does a fine job of sticking to the basics.
We were surprised by how simple and professional-looking the program's interface was and it was clear the designers put a lot of effort into it. That was even before we watched the brief tutorial videos that showed us everything we needed to know. The program reminded us of many other photo editors, though with only a handful of tools, like color, lighting, resizing, and cropping. The changes provided slight alterations, but not a complete overhaul of a shot. Frankly, we appreciated how this program avoided throwing a number of complicated masks, filters, and alteration tools, because it kept us focused. The program also provided ways to e-mail pictures or even place them on a sharable folder that your friends can access online. On top of all this, the program offers a feature to download tools to make cards and calendars with our photos. The program offered no frills, but its interface and simple results were enough to convince us that this is good for photo fans.
HP Photosmart Essential is a freeware program. It comes as a compressed folder, installs desktop icons without permission, and left folders behind after uninstall. While this program doesn't offer a galaxy of editing options, its basic setup is good enough for us to recommend it.
Publisher's Description
From Snapfish:
HP Photosmart Essential software provides consumers a fast and easy way to organize, edit, print, share, and creatively use photos all in one place. This software features an entirely new and engaging user interface and personalized home page that brings photos to life and ensures success with simple web-like navigation and integrated screen help. Users can quickly find photos by date, tag, or folders--even mark as favorites or search by name, make quick edits including automatic red-eye and manual pet-eye fix, use one click Photo Fix to correct color and lighting, and enjoy lab quality prints, projects and seamless sharing with Snapfish.
Version 3.5 has new Photo Book artwork styles, full control of your Photo Book fonts including type, size, and color, option to print a draft version of your Photo Book, CD/DVD printing support on 64 bit operating systems, and improved performance and reliability.
What's new in this version: Version 3.5 has new Photo Book artwork styles, full control of your Photo Book fonts including type, size, and color, option to print a draft version of your Photo Book, CD/DVD printing support on 64 bit operating systems, and improved performance and reliability.
More Products to Consider
-
View and edit most graphics formats simply and quickly.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Process your digital photos and create slide shows for sharing.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Manage, view, convert, and edit your images.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
View, edit, print, or add frames to your photos.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Optimize your images and change their size.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Create and edit photos using layers, effects, and other tools.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Capture and edit your images with various tools.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Manage, edit, and share your photos.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Edit, enhance, and manipulate your digital photos or graphics.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Organize, edit, and share pictures with this free photo manager...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Optimize your photos and turn them into paintings or funny cari...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Create and alter photos and graphics manually or via scripting.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Edit photos, add photo frame, photo effects, collages, and funn...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Create Flash slide shows with photos and music.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Take a snapshot of anything on your computer screen.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Create powerful images and discover new dimensions in digital i...Visit SiteThis download is served from an external site
closeNOTICE: This link will open a connection to a third-party site. CNET cannot ensure the security of software that is hosted on external sites.
Sponsored Products
-
Blend pictures and create single composition of two images.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Create slide shows with transition effects, caption effects, an...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Turn your picture into beautiful video.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Add your photo into different beautiful templates.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Make unique collages for memorable occasions with your own phot...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install - Edit any image format for which a WIC-compliant CODEC is instal...Download
Installed
Smart Install -
View photos, images, RAW files.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Turn your photos and other still images to vivid slideshow with...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install
-
All versions:
3.2 starsout of 69 votes
-
Current version:
2.9 starsout of 27 votes
-
My rating:
Write review
-
"HP CANT BE BEAT WHEN IT COMES TO PRINTERS AND PHOTO S"
Version: HP Photosmart Essential 3.5
Pros
HP OWNS THE PHOTO MARKET EASY TO USE GREAT COLOR THERE PRINTERS CANT BE BEAT CONSUMERS REPORTS DON'T ALWAYS GET IT RIGHT I'VE OWNED 5 DIFFERENT BRANDS ALL NUMBER 1 RATED IN CONSUMERS REPORTS THE ONLY ONE THAT LIVED UP TO NUMBER 1 WAS HP (NOTE MOST OF THE TIME HP IS THERE BEST BUY ANYWAY IF THERE NOT ITS BECAUSE OF PRICE NOT QUILTY AND IN MY OPION ITS WORTH PAYING A LITTLE MORE TO OWN THE BEST),PHOTOS WILL LAST 100 YEARS WITH OUT FADE AND WITH THIS FREE PHOTO SOFT WARE YOU CAN EASILY IMPROVE ANY PICTURE TO PROFESSORIAL QUALITY WITH A FEW CLICKS ..BETTER THAN GOING TO OLEN MILLS AT A FRACTION OF THE COST AND REMEMBER WITH ALL HP ITS BETTER USE THERE INK PHOTO PAPER AND PRINTER AND SOFTWARE AND YOUR A PROFESSIONALISM PEOPLE WILL BEG YOU TO PRINT THERE PICTURES..HP=HAPPY PRINTING,,,,PHILLIP ALLEN BRYANT...PS MAKE SURE YOUR PRINTER IS HOOKED TO AN HP COMPUTER
Cons
NONE,WELL MAYBE THE COLOR YOU CANT GET GREEN OR BLUE OR PINK ..BUT WITH SOME TAPE $2.00 FOR SOME SPRAY PAINT ..MADE FOR PLASTIC YOU CAN HAVE ANY COLOR YOU WANT ONE OF MINE IS GREEN.....ANOTHER CON WOULD BE YOU CAN NOT CREATE A BAD PICTURE SO YOU DON'T GET THE CHANCE TO GET TO REDO A PHOTO MEANING YOU SPEND LESS TIME ON THE COMPUTER AND THEREFORE MORE TIME GETTING TO VISIT WITH THE INLAWS...FUN FUN FUN..
Summary
HP EQUALS HAPPY PRINTING ..AND HAPPY PRINTING EQUALS HAPPY PEOPLE AND HAPPY PEOPLE EQUALS HP
...TRUST ME YOU WANT BE SORRY IN FACT IF I HAD THE MONEY I WOULD OFFER TO BUY IT BACK FROM YOU IF YOU AREN'T COMPLETELY SATISFIED..BELIVE ME I SWITCHED FROM SONY 14 YEARS AGO WENT TO MAC USED ONE YEAR AND BOUGHT AN HP LAPTOP AND DESKTOP IN AN OFFICE MAX DEAL ...AND IVE NEVER LOOKED BACK IVE BEEN USING HP EVER SINCE..LAST YEAR I DID BUY A TOSHIBA BECAUSE IT WAS AN I7 AND THE HP AN I5 EVERY OTHER DETAIL RAM PROCESSOR ETC WERE THE SAME ..I KELP IT ONE WEEK TOOK IT BACK BOUGHT THE HP I5 AND IT WAS FASTER THAN THE TOSHIBA I7 HAPPY PEOPLE USE HP'S......SORRY SPELL CHECKER WASNT ON... -
"Too dumbed-down,"
Version: HP Photosmart Essential 3.5
Pros
It was free
Cons
The folder locations as shown by this program bears little resemblance to the actual file locations on my PC. Why does there have to be "Albums"? Where are the editing tools? It's like we are not capable of understanding File / Edit / View / Picture / Tools.
Summary
Microsoft Office Picture Manager is much better and far more intuitive.
-
"Smart interface"
Version: HP Photosmart Essential 3.5
Pros
easy to get around
Cons
haven't found any yet
Summary
the simplicity of the progam is good for almost everyone to use
-
"is corrupted"
Version: HP Photosmart Essential 3.5
Pros
badly corrupted
Cons
not worth the time
Summary
this program is corrupted why don't you fix photo smart essential
-
"finally I am able to use my scanner again"
Version: HP Photosmart Essential 3.5
Pros
several options for how you can save the file once you scan it..
Cons
might not work well with windows 7
Summary
I have downloaded this program several times since I installed Windows 7 in October 2010 but could never get the scan function to work. Mind you it was working fine for 2 years with Vista. I was just about to toss the printer when I decided to install it one last time...Now the scan function is working.
-
"Zero customizing options"
Version: HP Photosmart Essential 3.5
Pros
It's free!
Cons
It's free!
Can't delete photo's in Library
Can't organized Photo's in Library
Can't transfer photos to other programs
Deleting Photo from "Library" takes it off computerSummary
Typical corporate software. Once a, "Library," is created, you can't move, delete, transfer, or make another graphics viewer edit the pics. God forbid you have the library in the, "Apps Data" folder. The only way to get the pictures out of this folder, which you'll never find, is to delete them off of your computer. I have Droid apps more customizable, and with more options than this....thing.
Garbage is an understatement.
Un installed. -
"Fresh look"
Version: HP Photosmart Essential 3.5
Pros
Came free with my computer.
Cons
I usually do use it, I can manage my pics with plain old Windows Explorer. So I don't think it's that much help.
Summary
It's basically worth what I paid for it - nothing.
-
"I've always used it and it works fine"
Version: HP Photosmart Essential 3.5
Pros
Ease of use and easy to play with
Cons
Message keeps appearing asking to download Essentials, most annoying
Summary
All in all, I'm happy with it.
-
"Bought high end HP All-in-one that included PSE 3.5"
Version: HP Photosmart Essential 3.5
Pros
Seems to have a nice GUI.
Cons
Program continues to load interminantly on my HP laptop running W7 Ultimate. Can't use.
Summary
No obvious repair available for endless loading problem. Checked Google, HP, etc. Appears user above has same challenge.
-
"Works Great had it on all my computers"
Version: HP Photosmart Essential 3.5
Pros
Easy to use, store and work with your pictures
Cons
No bad comments on this item
Summary
Greate!!!!!
Add Your Review
Submit your reply
E-mail this review
Report offensive content
Previous Versions:
