Here at MXTabs.net we’re all about free and legal. Get it? Free…legal… Okay, okay. Enough with the groans. Last week I had talked about your band’s image: timely or timeless? and gave some examples from bands across the decades. Then I opened up the door to you brave, brave souls out there, asking if you’d like a photo critique to see how it fits your band’s image. Yesterday, we featured a band called Plowing Mud Forever in our first-ever band photo commentary. Here’s a brief snapshot of what I had to say:

Remember these words, grasshopper — to get experimental to come across well, it’s gotta look intentional, not accidental. “Intentional” as in “you planned it that way” will distinguish your image in a more artistic light.

Well, I suppose now you’re wondering how to go about creating these fabulous band photos, right? I mean, come on — you’re supposed to be about making music not taking pictures for crying out loud. Here’s a few FREE and LEGAL photo editing tools, clipart sites and photo storage sites to help you get the job done. You can thank me later by spreading lots and lots of MXTabs.net luv. You know you want to!

Free and Legal Photo Editing Software

GIMP.ORG — This complex photo-editing software may be called “gimp,” but I’ve found you have to be pretty smart to use it. Fortunately, there are several GIMP tutorials you can take to learn everything from retouches to fancy special effects. While this software is maintained and updated, I’ve found that there’s a high learning curve to using it.

Paint.net — Oh, the things I can say about this photo editing software! I picked it up fairly quickly; it works similar to the Adobe Photoshop behemoth where you can add layers and manipulate them. Paint.net also offers forum tutorials and similar to GIMP, you can ask questions about different effects that you’d like to use. I still haven’t figured out blending yet (oh, the pain and horror!) but I’m working on it.

Photo Plus, DrawPlus, 3D Worlds — Had to include this offer from FreeSerifSoftware because they have a boatload of other goodies on their site. From 3D modeling to photo editing, these are very “robust” software downloads good for graphic designers, illustrators and the “weekend” artists like yours truly.

Free and Legal Photo Storage Sites

Flickr — I can not possibly say enough good things about this photo storage site. There is a “free” version, which allows you to have two or three sets. I have the professional subscription so I can create multiple sets. Why do I heart Flickr so much? Well, it’s very “Web 2.0″ compatible. You can add tagging (like you would on a blog), write stories about your photos, friend other people, set rights, allow people to order product based on your photos and more! Free version is just as good as the professional one, so don’t feel obligated to go pro.

Photobucket — Before I used Flickr, I used Photobucket. Their site is night and day different from when I had first used it. Photobucket now offers several social media enhancements to allow you to easily share photos through places like MySpace. If you want a photo storage site that allows you to easily post on Facebook, LiveJournal, etc. — then this is the storage site for you.

Shutterfly — Store unlimited photos, then print them out and pick them up at your local Target store. In addition to Shutterfly, several conveniences and department stores have partnered with different photo storage sites (or have created their own) to allow you do to the same thing. If you are looking to print photos for cheap, find a department or drug store in your area and see if they allow you to upload and print pics from their website.

Need an Image, Logo or Photo for your Band?

Last but not least I had to mention Openclipart.org. What’s not to love about a community-based project that offers legal and free clipart? This site uses an integrated tagging system to store the clipart, using Creative Commons. Artwork styles are all over the map, but if you’re looking for something to fill that void on your MySpace page or blog this is a good place to go.

Pictured at left is an example of an image released under the “public domain.” I found it through OpenClipArt’s Music tag page.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of Off-Stage. I did. So I’m going to do something a little crazy. Do you have a photo you need manipulated? How about an image or logo you need made to promote your new album or concert?

Send your band’s photo or image request to tablovers AT mxtabs DOT net. (Please, no essays. Paragraph is cool.) Your request can be something as simple as “Help! I need a logo for my heavy metal band!” or something like “Can you touch up this photo and make me look good?”

I’ll even throw a few of your requests up here on the blog, and then YOU — MXTabbers — get to vote on which band’s request is worthy of an image attempt by yours truly. I can’t promise you my skills are mad skillz, but what the heck…I’ll give it a shot. ‘Course, if I only get one request then I guess you’re stuck with me. I can think of worse things. :D

Rock hard, play hard.