How many pp programs to you have/use? Hi! I know that I have to learn to use my Lumix 200 and Elements 12 better, but I am reading about so many other pp programs and see such gorgeous...

ediesaul

Hi! I know that I have to learn to use my Lumix 200 and Elements 12 better, but I am reading about so many other pp programs and see such gorgeous results, so I am curious:

- How many pp programs do you have/use?
- How much money did you invest in pp?
- Besides Lightroom, what would you recommend to a beginner who wants to advance step-by-step?

Thanks, in advance, for your replies and suggestions.

Edie

redhogbill Loc: antelope, calif

ediesaul wrote:

Hi! I know that I have to learn to use my Lumix 200 and Elements 12 better, but I am reading about so many other pp programs and see such gorgeous results, so I am curious:

- How many pp programs do you have/use?
- How much money did you invest in pp?
- Besides Lightroom, what would you recommend to a beginner who wants to advance step-by-step?

Thanks, in advance, for your replies and suggestions.

Edie

5 post processing programs, amount of money?? way to much,
let's go with the " if I knew then what I know now, I would suggest the $9.99 a month for Photoshop CC/light room.
although the other programs make it easier to get a certain effect, I am finding if you learn photoshop you can just about get any affect

these is just MY opinion,
good luck

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

redhogbill wrote:

5 post processing programs, amount of money?? way to much,
let's go with the " if I knew then what I know now, I would suggest the $9.99 a month for Photoshop CC/light room.
although the other programs make it easier to get a certain effect, I am finding if you learn photoshop you can just about get any affect

these is just MY opinion,
good luck

I do the $9.99 Lightroom / Photoshop bundle... but I also have Nikon Capture NX2 (Paid version), Nikon View NX2 (free version) Portrait Pro (this connects to Lightroom and is excellent for doing portraits BUT you have to be careful as it will over exaggerate the subject's shape etc.), Nikon Capture DX (it was free) Gimp and others.. Key here is that 90% of my general photos are completed in Lightroom and don't need anything else.. The others are just for special needs.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

ediesaul wrote:

Hi! I know that I have to learn to use my Lumix 200 and Elements 12 better, but I am reading about so many other pp programs and see such gorgeous results, so I am curious:

- How many pp programs do you have/use?
- How much money did you invest in pp?
- Besides Lightroom, what would you recommend to a beginner who wants to advance step-by-step?

Thanks, in advance, for your replies and suggestions.

Edie

I use LR for most of my processing. I also use Irfanview for quick spot removal - very fast and easy. I use PS occasionally, but LR is my go-to program.

I wouldn't dare add up all the money I've sent to Adobe. I get the shivers just thinking about it. I have LR 5, PS 6, and Dreamweaver 6, and that's it - forever!

Mercer Loc: Houston, TX, USA

1. Have several, use few.

2. As little as possible.

3. I am also a beginner.

PS: Re #3: Why Lightroom?

Good luck, Mercer

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

ediesaul wrote:

Hi! I know that I have to learn to use my Lumix 200 and Elements 12 better, but I am reading about so many other pp programs and see such gorgeous results, so I am curious:

- How many pp programs do you have/use?
- How much money did you invest in pp?
- Besides Lightroom, what would you recommend to a beginner who wants to advance step-by-step?

Thanks, in advance, for your replies and suggestions.

Edie

Usual planned workflow is DPP, PSPX7, sometimes I cheat and use PSP to do RAW conversion, sometimes I use Perfect Effects 8 for a final touch, Fastone Resizer if I want to resize, I have a paint program and 2 sketch programs in case I want them, and a few others that get used occasionally, if I find one that does something better or easier than another I keep it, Bob.

Jbat Loc: Charleston, SC

I use the stand alone version of Lightroom, not the monthly subscription because I do not want Photoshop. Lightroom is my go to program for organizing and initial editing. I also have Perfect Photo Suite 9 which has layers and many other program features which I use to supplement LR. I have had DXO but primarily for noise reduction but the latest version of Perfect Photo has noise reduction which appears to be good enough that I will not use DXO in the future. I also have Photomatix which is an HDR program that is outstanding. I do not use Photoshop because it is too complicated and I don't want to spend all the time necessary to become proficient on it.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

One thing you seldom see discussed here is workflow, and workflow will dictate the software needed. Each person's workflow will be a bit different. For my workflow, I use Lightroom to import and convert to DNG. If there is detailed editing that is required, I take the image to PS or Perfect Photo Suite, then bring it back into LR as a PSD for any further editing that may be required. It stays in my catalog from that point forward.

tcmphotog Loc: Maryland

I use LR 5, Google's NIK Collection and Portrait Pro. I like LR because there is a huge base of free and paid training on how to use it. I learn something new about almost everyday. I use the Nik Collection infrequently but it is kind of fun to use to tweak your post processing. Portrait pro is good but as one other responder said be careful with because it will change the shape of subjects faces.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

I keep hanging on to Picasa; because its Free.!! But I do use LR 5 and PSE-13. As for filters, just about all Topaz Labs.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

brucewells wrote:

One thing you seldom see discussed here is workflow, and workflow will dictate the software needed. Each person's workflow will be a bit different. For my workflow, I use Lightroom to import and convert to DNG. If there is detailed editing that is required, I take the image to PS or Perfect Photo Suite, then bring it back into LR as a PSD for any further editing that may be required. It stays in my catalog from that point forward.

Yes, Workflow is a major consideration. There are many videos about that. I have a simple system that works, but it could use improvement.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Sounds like someone has a touch of S.A.S. :)

PSE 12 is awesome and if you spend a little time with it, you'll see how much it has to offer.

Having said that...
Topaz Simplify, Topaz Detail - bought both half price and have great fun with Simplify effects, and like the detail I can coax out with Detail. Also bought Topaz Clean half price, but rarely use it.

Purchased Nik Collection mainly for the b&w, but it turned out to be my best investment (just under $150 for the suite) as I use Color Efex extensively, both for regular edits and fun, along with the noise reduction module, and another part of the suite called Viveza, that makes it very easy to selectively make basic edits.

mrtobin Loc: North East Ohio

ediesaul wrote:

Hi! I know that I have to learn to use my Lumix 200 and Elements 12 better, but I am reading about so many other pp programs and see such gorgeous results, so I am curious:

- How many pp programs do you have/use?
- How much money did you invest in pp?
- Besides Lightroom, what would you recommend to a beginner who wants to advance step-by-step?

Thanks, in advance, for your replies and suggestions.

Edie

Lightroom and Elements is a good combination. I suggest that you learn how to use both programs well before looking at other programs. Someone will suggest Paint Shop Pro which is very similar to pse, but if you do not learn how to use the one program well a different program is not going to be any better.

A person can also go broke buying "plug ins" for said programs. Many, but not all, I repeat, not all, are just "filter" presets (one click) to change the look of your image. Most of what ever a plug in will do can also be done with Lightroom and pse, It will just take you longer.

So for now, I suggest that you use Lightroom and pse, in that order, and learn to use them well before spending your hard earned money on any other programs.

If you got some money to spend you may want to subscribe to Lynda.com for a month or two. Lynda.com has comprehensive "courses" for most any computer program.
Best of luck to you.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

ediesaul wrote:

Hi! I know that I have to learn to use my Lumix 200 and Elements 12 better, but I am reading about so many other pp programs and see such gorgeous results, so I am curious:

- How many pp programs do you have/use?
- How much money did you invest in pp?
- Besides Lightroom, what would you recommend to a beginner who wants to advance step-by-step?

Thanks, in advance, for your replies and suggestions.

Edie

I am a software junkie so you may not want to listen to me...

The base of my post processing is the monthly subscription to Lightroom and Photoshop, which is reasonable and more affordable to me than coughing up many hundred of dollars for new versions to purchase.

I have added a group of plugins and use most of them often: the full NIK collection is a great way to start if you want to tinker with plugins. Topaz full suite is pricier and I have bought only a few of them instead of the full suite because NIK does most of the same things.

Another great plugin alternative suite for Mac is MacPhun, but again duplicates some of what Nik does.

On One is a bit of a different beast, kind of a mix of Elements and NIK, with some extras thrown in. I got it when I thought I might forego Photoshop, but found it wasn't quite ready to replace PS, though I think it gets closer with each revision.

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

Cheap computer guy here.

1. LR5 for 95% of what I need
2. PSE 12 and Premier Elements 12
3. Photomatix Pro for HDR merges
4. Picasa for quick and dirty edits and posting to my blog on Google+ and emailing web quality images.

2015 may see me pop for the Adobe $9.99 subscription...