azlee Loc: Northern Arizona

CS 2 won't support RAW if you have a more recent Canon camera. You'll have to use the Canon software that came with the camera... and hopefully you have it. My 2 Cents.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

What's with the monthly stuff is the good price point paired with industry-standard, always-up-to-date software. On a retirement pension I would struggle to keep up with the outright purchase of every new version of Photoshop & LR, but can contend with that $10 fee on my Amex without really noticing the pain.

If they jack up the monthly price a lot I will rethink, but I seriously doubt that is going to happen real soon, more likely to see small increments of price increase over time.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

In the dark? :D

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Uh, that'd be DarkRoom, sir! :):):)

twillsol Loc: St. Louis, MO

Lightroom and Photoshop.

Lightroom is a great cataloging and imaging editing software. Photoshop for the edits that cannot be done in Lightroom.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Chet Loc: Louisville, KY

Corel PaintShop Pro Ultimate does a very good job.

texaseve Loc: TX, NC and NH

Well I will give my 2 cents. Photoshop is not a generic term. All of those programs you mention a different programs made by Adobe and used for different things. The Suite includes several of the programs. The Cloud is "cloud storage" basically, not an editor. Photoshop has several versions (2,3,4,5 etc.), the more advanced ones, one of which is CC (the subscription) and Elements, their beginner version which is good and much cheaper for those who are just starting out. Lightroom is another Adobe product which is a great cataloging and editing program. If I were just starting out I would buy a legit box of the newest PS Elements and Lightroom to work along with it. You would have all you need for a long time to come, it would work with whatever system you have (unless you have something real obsolete) and you would be legal and able to get help from Adobe if you needed it. For all else, there are very smart members in this Forum.

Again just my 2 cents. :-)

blackest Loc: Ireland

<quote> Aslee wrote
CS 2 won't support RAW if you have a more recent Canon camera. You'll have to use the Canon software that came with the camera... and hopefully you have it. My 2 Cents.
</quote>

RAW isn't a file format but a collective name for the file formats which contain the RAW data from a shot.
Each camera can do it slightly differently usually does and is why even photoshop can have a delay before supporting the newest camera's.

Adobe Raw Converter can convert to a DNG format CS2 can understand. There are a number of variations in DNG versions.

A free option might be
Lightzone (A Commercial Program which has now been taken open source similarly to how Netscape Communicator became the open source firefox)
This is now available free once you register on their website.

It uses DCRAW to open raw files and is kept up to date.
The manual, for lightzone, which you can have open while you work with it is pretty good and explains things well.
It's not lightroom or photoshop but it is very powerful.

Sure you may out grow it and wish to find something better but you can get over christmas and sign up for something else next month or even later. Even the pro's use more than just lightroom and photoshop.

Though to be fair most programs usually have a fairly good trial options for 30 days. It may be an advantage to have some experience with other programs to better see the advantages and disadvantages of different commercial programs.

The post processing forum has a list of other programs you can use.

jecanes Loc: Taumarunui, New Zealand

I am at a loss to understand why some people buck at paying for post processing software. In the "good??" old days of film you either paid big to a film processing company or bought your own very expensive equipment and noxious chemicals.
The Lightroom / Photoshop bundle is recognised as being the best PP software available, it ONLY costs $10 a month and is always up-to-date! Against the hundreds and thousands spent on cameras and lenses etc. $120 a year is insignificant!

Steve2014 Loc: Washington state

Thanks all for your advice. I have gained a better understanding and learned about software I need to add to my search.

Collie lover Loc: St. Louis, MO

I'm still using Paintshop Pro X5. Have always used Corel products. I also don't want to spend several hundreds of dollars (or a monthly fee). Paintshop Pro is an excellent product that will do what the average photographer wants.

Collie lover Loc: St. Louis, MO

Go with the latest version of Paintshop Pro. Excellent price, easy to use and has plug-ins available that are also available in PhotoShop.

Just because many people are using a particular product that costs a lot of money doesn't mean it's the best there is.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

I have Paintshop Pro X7 but it can't install on my iMac, it is only for windows.

Collie lover Loc: St. Louis, MO

Didn't know that.