Need Suggestions On Photo Editing Programs
Sep 21, 2011 13:36:19 #
photocat wrote:
What a can of worms :)
Picasa and Lightroom are basically catalog programs which have features for some basic changes,but they aren't meant to be a stand alone program for creative manipulation.
Picasa and Lightroom are basically catalog programs which have features for some basic changes,but they aren't meant to be a stand alone program for creative manipulation.
Wow. I use Lightroom for 90% of my PP and find it a very powerful, tool much more than "basic" changes. Then again, I don't do extensive PP but you may want to take a closer look at this program. It rocks!
Agreed...Picasa is a catalog program at best and good for beginners due to ease of use.
Cheers,
jb
Sep 21, 2011 13:46:40 #
photocat
Loc: Atlanta, Ga
If it is working fine for you, then great.
In parts of the photo world it is consider a catalog program with some tools for general processing.
If your shooting a lot of images it certainly can be helpful with organization, if not, it may be over kill.
As an aside it has the same ACR program as Photoshop
In parts of the photo world it is consider a catalog program with some tools for general processing.
If your shooting a lot of images it certainly can be helpful with organization, if not, it may be over kill.
As an aside it has the same ACR program as Photoshop
Sep 21, 2011 13:59:23 #
As I have an Apple, I have been using their Aperture program which can now be downloaded for $90 or $99.
I have been a Photoshop user for years and still use CS4. However, for adjusting photos (I always shoot in Raw) I really like Aperture: for some reason it's adjustments seem to be not only easier to use but also a lot more precise. I continue to use PS but only for moving 'heads, bodies' or inserting type.
FYI I use a Canon 7D.
I have been a Photoshop user for years and still use CS4. However, for adjusting photos (I always shoot in Raw) I really like Aperture: for some reason it's adjustments seem to be not only easier to use but also a lot more precise. I continue to use PS but only for moving 'heads, bodies' or inserting type.
FYI I use a Canon 7D.
Sep 21, 2011 14:00:03 #
I don't know what kind of camera you have, but most come with software and a lot of it is very good for batch processing and organizing. Certainly my Canon and my Olympus both provided excellent free software that does an excellent job in both categories. For fine tuning a photo, I need something else, but for a lot of stuff, it's worth finding out what your camera's manufacturer gave you.
Sep 21, 2011 14:43:20 #
Something that helps me. Sign up it FREE great info. I got this 2 mins. ago.
http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/photoshop-video-tutorials/photoshop-video-tutorial-5-easy-photoshop-photo-effects.html
I play a lot on the internet for info.
http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/photoshop-video-tutorials/photoshop-video-tutorial-5-easy-photoshop-photo-effects.html
I play a lot on the internet for info.
Sep 21, 2011 14:49:09 #
Not knowing your budget, here is a list from the cheapest to the most expensive:
FIRST is Picasa, it helps organize your photos, edit them and share them on the Web and with friends. And it's easy to use. Best of all it's Free from Google. I know of quit a few people who use it eclusivly and the love it.
SECOND is Adobe Elements v10 is their latest. It's very powerful and loaded with features. V10 is just coming out for sale and I think it sells for about $140.00 v9 is also a great great choice and it's cheaper than v10. Check the features of both of them, as v10 many not offer much more than v9.
THIRD is Adobe Lightroom-3' it's loaded with features and as you would expect
it has a slightly higher learning curve. A lot of Pros use this program 80-85%
of the time and for extra special photo treatment they use the top of the line, which is Adobe Photoshop CS5.
FOURTH and last is Adobe Photoshop CS5. it's the Cadalac of all thesprograms and it should be at around $500.00. I would NOT recommend it for beginners, because it is quite complex and if you're new to this stuff the learning curve is huge.
My recommendation is to start out with Picas or Elements 9 or 10 and work your way up. As your photography skills get better you'll want move up as you'll need more features to do more things with your improved photos
One more thing to think about, if you start out with a program that is way over your head you will spend a lot of frustrating hours trying to figure it all out, which is time away from getting out there shooting and improving your skills and techniques as a photographer.
Hope this helps you on your quest,
Mwendell
FIRST is Picasa, it helps organize your photos, edit them and share them on the Web and with friends. And it's easy to use. Best of all it's Free from Google. I know of quit a few people who use it eclusivly and the love it.
SECOND is Adobe Elements v10 is their latest. It's very powerful and loaded with features. V10 is just coming out for sale and I think it sells for about $140.00 v9 is also a great great choice and it's cheaper than v10. Check the features of both of them, as v10 many not offer much more than v9.
THIRD is Adobe Lightroom-3' it's loaded with features and as you would expect
it has a slightly higher learning curve. A lot of Pros use this program 80-85%
of the time and for extra special photo treatment they use the top of the line, which is Adobe Photoshop CS5.
FOURTH and last is Adobe Photoshop CS5. it's the Cadalac of all thesprograms and it should be at around $500.00. I would NOT recommend it for beginners, because it is quite complex and if you're new to this stuff the learning curve is huge.
My recommendation is to start out with Picas or Elements 9 or 10 and work your way up. As your photography skills get better you'll want move up as you'll need more features to do more things with your improved photos
One more thing to think about, if you start out with a program that is way over your head you will spend a lot of frustrating hours trying to figure it all out, which is time away from getting out there shooting and improving your skills and techniques as a photographer.
Hope this helps you on your quest,
Mwendell
Sep 21, 2011 18:22:44 #
gizzy.whicker wrote:
personal opinion...? Mine is Adobe PhotoShop Elements, latest version is probably v9, anywhere from $70 to $100. I'm using v8. I've been using Adobe products since they first began, way back in the last century, and doubt you'll find anything easier to use. There's a bunch of us who'd be happy to assist you with your PhotoShop editing questions. You just need to ask.
When I said, expensive, I was NOT referring to element but to CS5. I suppose I should have quoted what I was responding to. Sorry!!
Sep 21, 2011 18:59:44 #
Ah yes... CS5, you're correct, it's too expensive for most purposes. I have CS3 but never use it. The Elements version of PhotoShop does everything I need, and then some. Thanks for the clarification.
Sep 21, 2011 20:29:50 #
Jschneir
Loc: Santa Monica, CA
The adviceI give my students who are old folks, is to go SLOW. Enjoy taking the picture. When you find a few that need help, figure out what you did wrong. When that doesn't help try some of the free programs, my two favorites are FASTSTONE &PICASA. photoshop Elements has a very long, steep learning curve, is time consuming but very rewarding. Don't try to master PE by your self, take classes, you'll live longer and get better results.
Sep 22, 2011 06:12:16 #
gizzy.whicker wrote:
personal opinion...? Mine is Adobe PhotoShop Elements, latest version is probably v9, anywhere from $70 to $100. I'm using v8. I've been using Adobe products since they first began, way back in the last century, and doubt you'll find anything easier to use. There's a bunch of us who'd be happy to assist you with your PhotoShop editing questions. You just need to ask.
Photoshop is the industry leader due in part to their online help and to the third party support.
Sep 22, 2011 06:55:32 #
photocat
Loc: Atlanta, Ga
Also Photoshop was developed basically as a graphic design program. Photographers started using it as there wasn't as much available when all this started.
Frankly, only about 20% is really usable for our needs, which lead Adobe to begin to take the basic tools from that program and put them in a standalone program.
Of course there are some functions that weren't included that make it desirable for professional to contiune to opt for the full blown program than elemtns.
Frankly, only about 20% is really usable for our needs, which lead Adobe to begin to take the basic tools from that program and put them in a standalone program.
Of course there are some functions that weren't included that make it desirable for professional to contiune to opt for the full blown program than elemtns.
Sep 22, 2011 07:02:58 #
jb wrote:
I use Lightroom, Photo Perfect and Paintshop Pro.
All can be tried for free through cnet.com jb
All can be tried for free through cnet.com jb
As well the software's homepages should have the free trial offers. This can help you get acquainted with the company's product line, too. For instance, if you were to go to Adobe.com, you could d/l the trial of Elements and research other Photoshop products while you're there. As well, Corel has a Program called Painter Essentials (more of a creative, make art with your photos program) and a big brother (Painter™ 12) that has far more bells and whistles. While we all start somewhere, seeing where you could go can be helpful in determining your first editing software.
Sep 22, 2011 11:02:10 #
arphot wrote:
quote=jb I use Lightroom, Photo Perfect and Paint... (show quote)
If I were buying from "scratch," I'd get elements rather than CS5, but I already own a license for CS5 (and Acrobat and Framemaker) and could thus get the much lower upgrade price, so it seems pointless not to do that.
Sep 27, 2011 10:14:35 #
Sep 28, 2011 08:22:24 #
I also use Adobe Elements. I have a MAC. When I travel I want to take my lap top PC. My MAc lap top just died. If I buy Elements for my PC and edit my pictures. Can I save them and transfer them to a MAC when I come home?
THanks for your response
THanks for your response
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