Photo Editing Software? I have always shot in JPG only because it has been easiest and most convenient - yes I am probably ignorant. I am now going to step off into RAW format. On of...

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Photo Editing Software?

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Aug 18, 2013 17:45:25 #

E. Crichton Loc: Coastal Alabama

I have always shot in JPG only because it has been easiest and most convenient - yes I am probably ignorant. I am now going to step off into RAW format. On of many question becomes what photo editing software would you recommend? Not trying to break the bank but want to use a software that is going to be around.

I have used Snapseed on JPG and found it easy to work with.

Any help provided would be greatly appreciated. I use a D7100, if that matters. Thank you in advance.

:mrgreen:

Aug 18, 2013 17:55:29 #

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Bradford wrote:

I have always shot in JPG only because it has been... (show quote)

The software that came with your camera, Nikon ViewNX2, will read and edit the raw files. If you don't have the disc, you can download the program from Nikon for free.

http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/software/viewnx2/

Many programs will let you edit these raw (NEF - Nikon's term for their raw files) files, as others will point out. To make life easier, especially in the beginning, you might want to save images as JPEG + NEF. Then you will have a copy of the image ready to go, and you'll have the raw file to process.

Aug 18, 2013 17:59:13 #

Gingivitis Khan Loc: Waveland, MS

Corel PaintShop Pro will do just about everything that PhotoShop will do. I used Corel PhotoPaint (it's the PSP version that comes with Corel Draw) for 15 years and it did the job just fine. I moved up to PhotoShop CS5 because I wanted to do more elaborate edits (special effects and stuff) and all the tutorials I found were for PS. It really wasn't worth the money. PaintShop Pro can be had for $50 ($60 for the Deluxe version) often... they're always running sales on it.

Aug 18, 2013 18:11:51 #

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

My advice would be Elements and/or Lightroom.

Bradford wrote:

I have always shot in JPG only because it has been... (show quote)

Aug 18, 2013 19:34:25 #

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

If you are a compete beginner may I suggest Google's Picasa http://picasa.google.com as it is one of the easiest and most intuitive I've come across. Otherwise all of the software mentioned above will get you where you want to go and are good in their own right.

Aug 18, 2013 21:12:28 #

steenowitz

I use Lightroom and Snapseed, I am in love with Snapseed but it is for jpeg only and makes the file size smaller. If you decide to shoot in both you'll need something like Lightroom to process the raw files. I don't have the patience for learning Photoshop and there isn't that much work that I want to do to my files. I'm not a fan of removing what makes a person a person. But Lightroom is easy to use, catalogs beautifully, and it is within my budget. There are a lot of free presets that can be gotten for it too. They dumb it down a bit but when you work, clean, do laundry and have a wee person to chase it doesn't leave endless hours in the day for photo editing :)

Aug 19, 2013 06:12:57 #

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

LR5

Aug 19, 2013 06:32:48 #

E. Crichton Loc: Coastal Alabama

Yes I too have wee persons in the house, hence my inability to respond to each of you when you were kind enough to respond to my inquiry.

I am going to first try my Nikon software and then (if not satisfied) I will look at your suggestions. Sounds like Lightroom is well recommended and doesn't require a "rocket scientist" to learn it.

Thanks for all of your input.

Aug 19, 2013 07:54:50 #

dusty3d Loc: South Florida

Start off with Photoshop Elements as it is inexpensive and good. I started with elements but now use CS5 and Lightroom.

Bradford wrote:

I have always shot in JPG only because it has been... (show quote)

Aug 19, 2013 08:22:10 #

jjestar Loc: Savannah GA

Cdouthitt wrote:

LR5

YUP!!

Aug 19, 2013 08:29:04 #

jjestar Loc: Savannah GA

Bradford wrote:

We didn't say you "don't have to be a rocket scientist" to learn it. The basics are easy, but all the functionality will take a little learning, it is an extremely robust application and well worth the money as most Adobe products.

Aug 19, 2013 09:46:14 #

wcuster Loc: The Sea Ranch, CA

I am a fan of Nikon's Capture NX2 (partially because I use it a lot and am comfortable with it). It handles Nikon NEF RAW files seamlessly. It's color & selection control point tools were developed by NIK but some are unique.

See:
http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Product/Imaging-Software/25385/Capture-NX-2.html

There is a set of online, relatively inexpensive tutorials available for NX2 produced by Nikon School:

http://trainibles.com/courses/

Walt Custer

Aug 19, 2013 09:50:29 #

rusty nails Loc: Palm Coast FL.

Lightroom 5 and and shoot in RAW and will be amazed with what you can do and there is a ton of tutorials for anything you want to try and just a little over 100 dollars.

Aug 19, 2013 10:01:48 #

Nic42 Loc: Cardiff, Wales

dusty3d wrote:

Start off with Photoshop Elements as it is inexpensive and good. I started with elements but now use CS5 and Lightroom.

Actually, if you want to shoot in RAW then start with LR as Elements has a very basic RAW converter.

Aug 19, 2013 10:32:57 #

rusty nails Loc: Palm Coast FL.

Here is a example of what lightroom 4 can do for your pictures

(link removed for spamming)forum/editing-and-presentation/252826-mastering-lightroom-tip-using-brushes-to-add-colors-and-contrast-to-your-photos#278865

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