Last month, in response to a suggestion from Nelson @ A few images, frozen in time , I wrote about the software I use to do my post photo-editing. Corel PaintShop Pro X6 is my main editing tool but I have been messing around with Perfect Effects 8 Free edition as well. As is my preference at this time I set my camera to the standard or natural setting in the camera’s onboard color mode. Since I usually do not limit my self to one subject when I am walking about this has several advantages. One is it allows me to shot an old building, like the following two, or brighter subjects with greens, reds or yellows without fear of the color blowing out the detail. Secondly I am freed up to enjoy the journey and live within the moment without sweating the small stuff. Since PaintShop Pro X6 has nice smart-fix menu tweaking the captures takes no time at all. I do not like spending time behind the computer so I keep it real simple. With Perfect Effects 8 Free edition tweaking my shots took a while but once I developed a sense of what I like I do not use more the four or five settings or effects as it is called with Effects 8. Below are two photos, one is I used PaintShop Pro the other Perfect Effects 8. I would be interested if anyone could see tell which was done with paid-for software or by freeware. Let me know I and I will respond to your comment.
Daffodil Hill Photography 
It is difficult to say which one is better, the bottom photo look like a early morning photo (color are more saturated) and the top photo look like an afternoon photo when there is more sun light. Personnly I prefer the bottom photo. I am planning to work at learning to work more with software next fall-winter. Right now what I do is really minimal and I know this can be be a wonderful to enhance photos
The bottom was done with Perfect Effects 8 Free. The top is Corel in smart fix and it takes about five-seconds to do because I do not like changing the original too far from as-shot. The Perfects Effects shot took quite a bit longer but the overall look I think is the better of the two. Thanks for commenting.
The color and texture look better in the bottom photo but the other thing I notice is the top photo white balance is warm and the bottom the WB is cool.
When took the original photo this past March. I just left the camera on Auto. I now adjust the WB as I go but since the camera was new to me I left it be. As far as the top photo goes I just wanted to show what could be done super-quick and with affordable software.
Thanks for commenting Steve ~ John
Your welcome 🙂