ladysue Loc: Rhinebeck, NY

I know this is a topic beaten to death but in searching the UHH site I only found entries from 2011. I'm searching for an editing program for use with Canon SLR cameras on Windows computer. Used to use Picasa and although it lacked RAW editing ability it did everything else quite well. Can't seem to access tools on the Canon program that came with the camera and when uploaded GIMP it disappeared. Am looking for something a little more advanced than Picasa but not too complicated or difficult. Thank you.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I'd try to find out why DPP (the editor) from Canon will not load onto your system.
On mine it installed easily and works great.
(But I'm not using Win 10.)

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

When in comes to editing RAW, it's more complicated than Picasa or iPhoto or Photos on JPEG files.

You might revisit Canon DPP. Begin at usa.canon.com (or your local country's site) and find the support section for your EOS camera model. Download the current DPPv4 version for that camera and install. Have your camera handy in case it prompts for the serial number to enable the download. The DPP software presents the RAW image using all the camera settings. Use utube for video training on how to edit further in DPP and to convert and save the edited results to TIFF or JPEG.

A google like the following will get you started on available free training to go with the free DPP: canon dpp v4 video training

shackcf

You could try Photoscape X via the Microsoft Store. It can process my Nikon RAW images. It is a free app. Other that that I would follow the recommendations of other Canon users. I still use Nikon's apps for renaming and transfers from camera to PC. I also use DxO photolab & Affinity photo. Raw therapee is another.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

Like several others, I suggest reinstalling Canon's DPP. As an alternative, if you want a lightweight editor, FastStone Image Viewer might suffice.

timcc Loc: Virginia

I second the PhotoScape X recommendation. It's intuitive, has many features, including masking, and is free (basic version).

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

I suggest Faststone if you are just looking for basic editing and adjustments. It will do RAW files and is free. I have used it for years as a viewing software but it is also great for editing. Try it. I think you will like it for basic needs.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

PhotoScapeX can be used accurately with 3 or 4 clicks or you can REALLY get into serious editing. Here are a couple of sites for you, Enjoy. Be sure to select Mac/or Windows. Get the free version first (it never expires), and you can always upgrade. Also, please do yourself a favor and watch the following YouTube videos to see if you would be interested and for training. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWC-SAuYOzw&t=325s Instruction and download info http://x.photoscape.org/
Smile,
JimmyT Sends
Best Wishes

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Lots of choices -
Affinity
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/software-review-affinity-photo-1-5-2
http://www.shutterbug.com/content/affinity-photo-software-review-has-photoshop-met-its-match#d1c5lY5EQ03QoLjh.97
http://www.diyphotography.net/affinity-photo-can-give-adobe-run-money/
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/affinity-photo-1.5,review-4257.html

Others
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-lightroom-alternatives
http://digital-photography-school.com/a-beginners-guide-to-choosing-the-right-post-production-software/
https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/photo-editing
https://www.reviews.com/photo-editing-software/
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-photo-editing-software,review-1972.html
http://www.redmondpie.com/best-adobe-photoshop-alternatives-for-windows-and-mac-list Affinity
http://www.shutterbug.com/content/affinity-photo-software-review-has-photoshop-met-its-match#d1c5lY5EQ03QoLjh.97
http://www.diyphotography.net/affinity-photo-can-give-adobe-run-money/
https://photographypro.com/photo-editing/

Free software -
https://www.darktable.org/
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/59324818
https://www.lightstalking.com/how-to-edit-rawtherapee/
https://www.lightstalking.com/free-photography-software/
http://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-free-photo-editor
http://fieldguide.gizmodo.com/the-best-photoshop-alternatives-that-are-totally-free-5974500
http://lightzoneproject.org/

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

EOS Magazine’s Nina Bailey has a excellent ebook on DPP 4.12.xx. Not just for beginners.
https://www.eos-magazine.com/ebooks/software/dpp4.html

bart11

Undeniably FastStone is a super tool. Get it free here https://www.faststone.org/download.htm

maxlieberman Loc: 19027

Try Fastone Viewer. It is free for non-commercial use,and has a 96 page manual you can download as a pdf and print. I use Fastone Resizer to batch resize my photos for internet purposes.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Totally agree! FastStone is often the only post processing I do with either a raw or jpeg file. One of the few freebies that I actually put money in the can for. Excellent!!

parmruss

Have a look at Irfanview. Lot's of filters and effects for free.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

FastStone is frequently touted as a free program to edit raw files. FastStone is certainly free (for Windows only) but I have always doubted that FastStone actually edits raw data. Raw files have an embedded jpg in addition to the raw data, and FastStone is good at editing jpgs (as is IrfanView: both programs are Windows only freeware). There are some that claim that FastStone uses the raw data from a raw file to produce an image that it can edit but I have seen many conflicting claims on this subject and nothing I view as definitive.

The website, faststone.org, calls it an "Image Viewer". NOT an "Image Editor". Both IrfanView (which I believe preceeded FastStone) and FastStone do some rudimentary editing in the way of cropping, brightness/contrast, color channel adjustments and things like that. When I first started using raw files, IrfanView would view them, but it was only the embedded jpg that it was using. Since then, IrfanView has enabled "reading camera raw formats" through CamRaw. I am not a regular FastStone user, nor have I tried either program to edit raw files (having much better editing programs at my disposal). So I have no basis to evaluate technological advances in FastStone regarding raw files.

However, I believe there are much better raw converters/editors out there. The manufacturers publish software specific to their cameras, and there are free programs that can handle raw files.

raw conversion/editing is not as simple as using other formats. At the risk of opening a barrel of worms, I believe the raw data do not consist of a viewable image without going through demosaicing. (Many people call raw files images. I prefer the term "latent image").

I have no dispute that FastStone (and IrfanView) are valuable as image viewers, with some extra capabilities. But I would not depend on them for editing when there are so many other capable programs out there devoted to that purpose. I use IrfanView (and have for more than two decades) because it loads quickly and is easy to use. The FastStone UI is a little different (and I'm not used to it) but it is probably equal in speed and simplicity. Just not for editing beyond cropping and maybe changing to some other image format.

Use a REAL editor (free or not).