BuckeyeBilly Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

Getting ready to buy a new DSLR and want to also get editing software that is kind to not-technically-minded-64-year-olds that provides EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND instructions. Is there such a thing? What do you recommend?

Al Beatty Loc: Boise, Idaho

Hi Billy,

Photoshop Elements is a good program and has the ability to "guide" you through the process when you start editing then progress to the "advanced" setting when your skills improve. Take care & ...

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

I would recommend Lightroom/Photoshop. Yes, I know they have complex capabilities BUT, they also have basic, easy to use capabilities that you can start with and as you get more comfortable and need more complex abilities you have it.
In the USA it's $10 bucks a month and if you don't like it just stop using and paying.
I'm 74 by the way and find it hard at times to use and remember how to do things with this set of programs but there is always a video on YouTube to tell me how to do something if I forget how.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

I tend to agree with this, might as well start with top of the line software to begin with, that way you will not be as limited to do what you want to do. If the $10.00 a month scares you, you're old enough to remember what film and processing costs use to be so the reality is that $10.00 is dirt cheap for the processing of unlimited photographs. I personally have been using both for quite a while and I'm 70 years old and really enjoy the use of both Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC as it gives me plenty of latitude to do what I want as well as probably the best records keeper of your photos on the market. It will take you a while to learn how to use this software and a good place to start is here:

http://en.elephorm.com/tuto-lightroom-4-complete-training/lightroom-4-introduction.html

Hal Schmitt uses Lightroom 4 here but the vast majority of what he does relates directly to Lightroom CC. I personally do 95% of my post production of my photos in Lightroom CC, it is a very powerful program and if you go through the course with Hal Schmitt you will have a good grasp on that power. Good luck.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

For ease of use get Faststone. It is free and will do the simple adjustments you are looking for. Upgrade when you become comfortable with post processing.

louparker Loc: Scottsdale, AZ

Again? Really! There have already been a ton of posts on this topic with discussions of all the popular programs available -- did you do a search?

Jim Bob

Corel Paintshop Pro.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

If you have a MAC the program that comes with it---Photos for OS---is good. Also Affinity Photo and Macphun.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Thanks for your help. Go back to sleep.

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

Check out photoscrape it is free and very powerful

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

Windows has it's own photo editing app, it's very basic but it will give you an insight and will help you to decide.
One piece of advice I will offer is: do not try too many as you have start a new learning curve for each one.
Photoshop Elements is a good place to start.

philmurfin Loc: Bakewell, Derbyshire UK

May I add Serif, ADC and CameraBag, I enjoy them all.
Phil

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

There are so many to choose from that it's a tough choice. I use primarily Lightroom, the free-standing version, which will probably not be available for very much longer. It's the standard for processing, and there are millions of help articles available online. On the other hand, there are lots of other programs that will do a good job of processing, and some cost nothing. Even the ones you have to buy often offer a free trial period.

http://digital-photography-school.com/a-beginners-guide-to-choosing-the-right-post-production-software/
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/03/23/best-photo-editing-software-photoshop-cc-and-7-photoshop-alternatives-tested/1/
http://www.redmondpie.com/best-adobe-photoshop-alternatives-for-windows-and-mac-list/

For free -

http://fieldguide.gizmodo.com/the-best-photoshop-alternatives-that-are-totally-free-5974500
http://lightzoneproject.org/

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

I am 78 and this is what I use

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

First, when I bought my camera (Nikon), it came with a simple editing program. Don't know if they still do that, but it is a good place to start. I used it for a while, but it could not do as much as Lightroom, so I bought LR (this was before the subscription was offered).

The nice thing about editing programs, is you don't have to understand how they work, just what they can do! Also, when you are just starting out, none of the instructions are "easy to understand". I agree with the person who said you might as well start with the best - PS CC, which includes both Lightroom and Photoshop. Start with the 30-day free trial of each, first LR. I find LR very intuitive to use, and if you are diligent you can learn the finer points later. If you want a good instructional video, go to Creative Live website and watch some of their free programs. The one I purchased was the Lightroom Bootcamp with Ben Willmore. He also has a Photoshop Bootcamp you can buy. Great instructor, and the video is broken up into sections. You can view one section in about an hour, or you can watch part of it and go back later for the rest. He also includes some other helpful information.

My philosophy of purchasing cameras, lenses, and editing programs, is to get the best you can afford. I purchased my first DSLR at age 67, and since the full-frame cameras were beyond my budget, I bought the best crop-sensor camera. Knew before I started it would be a sharp learning curve, but my digital point-and-shoot had become inadequate for what I wanted to do. Still have the same camera, love it, and always improving my photography skills. Will probably buy a full-frame camera sometime in the next 6 months to a year, then will have two camera bodies and won't have to change lenses so often when in the field.

Susan