PHRubin wrote:
What brand camera are you using?
I have several but my most used is a bridge camera, Panasonic DMC FZ 1000. I also have a Nikon.
Pattilu wrote:
I’m a newbie and am asking for guidance regarding photo editing software. I haven’t been able to understand PS & LR and am looking for “photo editing software for dummies.” Any recommendations about how to get my feet wet and learn slow and easy?
Photoshop can do what you want without using the more complicated features. Most of what you need is cropping and is on the image > adjustments tab, brightness, contrast, saturation, exposure, light temperature, shadows, highlights, vibrance, etc. You can experiment and learn all of them in about an hour. They are just sliders so you can apply more or less of the affect and see how it looks. Just save with a different name so you can go back the original if you need to.
I have been using those sliders for 99% of my post processing for years. And for the more advance features like straightening, spot removal, filters, just search for how to use those specific Photoshop affects on Youtube or Google and there's all the free instructions you could ask for.
boberic
Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander
Pattilu wrote:
I have a Dell. I think I’m running windows 10 on it.
So do I. And I use Affinity. Also check out Faststone. A free, very easy to use basic system. I use it for quick and easy situations.Not every photo neeeds sophisticated post processing
Forgive me for being caustic, but does anybody read? Pattilu, in the first post wrote, "I’m a newbie ..........and looking for “photo editing software for dummies.” Later Pattilu wrote that the computer uses windows.
UHH recommendations have been to try Affinity, Gimp 2, Luminar, Luminar AI, try harder with Lightroom, Smart Photo Editor, PT Photo Edit, Paint Shop Pro, Photoshop Elements, Faststone Image Viewer, Irfanview, Photoscape X and Photoshop.
Pattilu's computer in use has Windows. It has "Photos". It opens the image file and has all the usual adjustments. Why do we all list what we've spent years learning and loving?
For the record, I use three versions of Lightroom, Photoshop, some Topaz stuff, Photoshop Elements, Premiere Elements, Premiere Pro, a little DaVinci Resolve and a little After Effects. I love them all. Pattilu has asked for a place for "dummies" to start.
The most basic and begging point on a Windows computer is Microsoft's included version of "Photos". Look at the easy to use sliders! Perfect place to start!
Excellent suggestion. Windows Photos has all the sliders I use on Photoshop and it's free. A great place to start.
bsprague wrote:
Forgive me for being caustic, but does anybody read? Pattilu, in the first post wrote, "I’m a newbie ..........and looking for “photo editing software for dummies.” Later Pattilu wrote that the computer uses windows.
UHH recommendations have been to try Affinity, Gimp 2, Luminar, Luminar AI, try harder with Lightroom, Smart Photo Editor, PT Photo Edit, Paint Shop Pro, Photoshop Elements, Faststone Image Viewer, Irfanview, Photoscape X and Photoshop.
Pattilu's computer in use has Windows. It has "Photos". It opens the image file and has all the usual adjustments. Why do we all list what we've spent years learning and loving?
For the record, I use three versions of Lightroom, Photoshop, some Topaz stuff, Photoshop Elements, Premiere Elements, Premiere Pro, a little DaVinci Resolve and a little After Effects. I love them all. Pattilu has asked for a place for "dummies" to start.
The most basic and begging point on a Windows computer is Microsoft's included version of "Photos". Look at the easy to use sliders! Perfect place to start!
Forgive me for being caustic, but does anybody rea... (
show quote)
Bobspez wrote:
Excellent suggestion. Windows Photos has all the sliders I use on Photoshop and it's free. A great place to start.
Thanks for the vote of support!
Gene51
Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
Pattilu wrote:
I’m a newbie and am asking for guidance regarding photo editing software. I haven’t been able to understand PS & LR and am looking for “photo editing software for dummies.” Any recommendations about how to get my feet wet and learn slow and easy?
I suggest you join a local photo club. You've got a good start with PS and LR - but it is daunting to try and learn both at the same time. LR's challenge is to wrap your head around the concept of a catalog and how it is definitely NOT a file browser. But the editing is way easier than PS. LR has a short command set, and some considerable limitations on editing that only affects part of an image - but that has gotten better.
The challenge with Photoshop is it's extended command set, and the fact that at your level you don't have a clue where to begin, and likely haven't yet developed the self-critique skills required to identify what needs to be done to an image to improve it. And how a program like PS might be able to help.
A photo club usually has a few post processing geeks, I mean experts, who can help get you started.
If you want to watch videos on you tube first - then check these out - you can subscribe to their channels.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC47XN5bhLTBH5TRFyKaUpKghttps://www.youtube.com/c/PiXimperfectAnd a bunch more here:
https://blog.feedspot.com/photoshop_youtube_channels/
Pattilu wrote:
I’m a newbie and am asking for guidance regarding photo editing software. I haven’t been able to understand PS & LR and am looking for “photo editing software for dummies.” Any recommendations about how to get my feet wet and learn slow and easy?
Try ‘Exposure’ software- easy download, powerful
John N
Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK
One problem with this forum is a lot of advice is given in good faith but might might not be to your advantage.
I bought AFFINITY and I continually get better using it. But I do find it difficult to use. I'm in a small minority, but not insignificant number who seem to find this. It's main advantage is that next to Photoshop it's probably the most Youtubed editor there is. I do have a form of Dyslexia and I do find 'learning' anything Digital difficult.
I also use Paintshop Pro - which I find a lot easier. Reasonable results can be got quite quickly with this. There is also the Manufacturers own programme. For CANON it's DPP, but others have thier own.
My advice, download a few trials and see what suits you best, but download AFFINITY later when you've got an idea what you are doing.
My latest attempts with AFFINITY can be found here -
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-732251-1.html
Stick with LR and PS. Anthony Morganti has a lot of very basic and easy to understand tutorials on YouTube and can get you up and running quickly
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
Pattilu wrote:
I’m a newbie and am asking for guidance regarding photo editing software. I haven’t been able to understand PS & LR and am looking for “photo editing software for dummies.” Any recommendations about how to get my feet wet and learn slow and easy?
I use photoshop and lightroom combo at $9.99 per month, lots and lots of tutorials come with it and anything you need you can get on utubes. Learning curve of course but worth every penny.
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