I have been testing different effects in Corel Painter Essentials trying to get a softer feel to images. I tried the effects on some of my self portraits, this is one you haven’t seen before, it was taken a couple of years ago in the grounds of Stanton Manor.
Isn’t that just amazing that you should mention Coral Painter on the very day that I have been trying out various ‘Photo S/W packages’ (for free of course).
and from here 
I am not an expert, like you, on any of this, and all I want to do is re-size pictures.
I was going to ask your advice.
I have downloaded a thing called “PhotoScape” which seems to work OK….
……but there are soooooooo many.
Now Cherie, you don’t need a ’softer feel’.
You look all soft and cuddly to me!
I use photoshop elements but that would be a bit of overkill if all you want to do is resize photos.
I know a lot of people use Picasa which I think is a free download.
http://picasa.google.com/download_picasa.html
Aww that’s very sweet of you
It’s perfect, Cherie. You look fantastic! With your permission, it’s the photo I’ll print to put on the wall next to my friends. If only we could enjoy a cup of coffee somewhere with a Belgian Waffle, or even just bread and butter like Andrew did in Oban. Wouldn’t that be great? In any case, rest assured that I’ll often lift a glass of French wine to your good health.
Thank You
I would be honoured to be placed on the wall among your friends 
Ah yes a Belgian Waffle sounds delicious but perhaps I would be better with just the bread and butter whilst I am on my diet
I shall raise my glass too you too xx
Lovely softness. I think you did very well in achieving your goal!
Thanks Marcie, I do have another one in the pipline as well.
This looks soft to be too. It’s always good fun to experiment.
I have fun doing them. I really must get round to getting some new self portraits because I enjoy doing those too.
Verry nice. I like the softness too
Thanks
Bread and butter as a part of a diet, Cherie?
Well it would have been bread and spread
But yes it is allowed as long as you don’t have to much, I have stuck to my points level, no more and no less.
Awwww. Nice to meet you like this, Cherie, up close and personal, soft and all.
Thanks Ginnie, I have another ready to post and I am thinking of doing some new ones soon.