Best Simple Software
Dec 11, 2013 10:10:30 #
My 11 y/o grandson is getting an entry level Canon DSLR for Christmas. He loves learning to shoot and is a quick study. But he hasn't yet learned about the digital darkroom and I'm not sure what software might be easiest for him. I use Lightroom, but I think it's just a little much for an 11 y/o. I'm not that impressed with Elements, but I haven't used it in about 5 years. What software would be relatively simple for a kid to begin learning about contrast, saturation, histograms, etc.?
I want him to enjoy getting the photos out of the camera, rather than being overwhelmed and discouraged with a whole other phase of digital photography.
Thanks for any help....
I want him to enjoy getting the photos out of the camera, rather than being overwhelmed and discouraged with a whole other phase of digital photography.
Thanks for any help....
Dec 11, 2013 10:14:30 #
The free Picasa by Google has a ton of options re editing and would be a great first step.
http://picasa.google.com
http://picasa.google.com
Dec 11, 2013 10:21:17 #
The camera will come with free software from Canon, this would be the best place to start the learning process.
Dec 11, 2013 10:22:06 #
Roadog527 wrote:
My 11 y/o grandson is getting an entry level Canon... (show quote)
You would likely be amazed at how quickly he'd learn LR, then teach you a thing or two about it. :-) Kids soak up technology just like a sponge with water.
Dec 11, 2013 10:43:15 #
Roadog527 wrote:
My 11 y/o grandson is getting an entry level Canon... (show quote)
I would go with Picasa first. Very simple and intuitive...and FREE. Then once he becomes accomplished at that and wants to do more, LR or Elements would be good next step.
Dec 11, 2013 10:45:42 #
brucewells wrote:
You would likely be amazed at how quickly he'd learn LR, then teach you a thing or two about it. :-) Kids soak up technology just like a sponge with water.
I agree if we don't know how to use the new programs give a kid the keyboard and with in an hour he will have it singing.
Dec 11, 2013 11:07:12 #
527, welcome to the Hog.
The Digital Photo Professional(DPP) that comes with the camera will serve your son very well.
His school may have some photo classes, where he can start to learn PS, if he has additional interest, after which he can get his own at student pricing.
Good luck to you both, and again, welcome. ;-)
SS
The Digital Photo Professional(DPP) that comes with the camera will serve your son very well.
His school may have some photo classes, where he can start to learn PS, if he has additional interest, after which he can get his own at student pricing.
Good luck to you both, and again, welcome. ;-)
SS
Dec 11, 2013 11:12:33 #
Thanks for such good and timely info. I agree with the point that a kid will be teaching me in no time. He's very cyber-comfortable and I could definitely teach him LR.
I appreciate the food for thought.
Best to all....
I appreciate the food for thought.
Best to all....
Dec 11, 2013 11:58:52 #
Roadog527 wrote:
My 11 y/o grandson is getting an entry level Canon... (show quote)
You are not impressed with Elements? You are probably not impressed because someone told you it was a cheap version of PS. That is totally wrong. Too may buy PS just to impress others that they spent a lot of money and now they're experts, but never learn to use it for everything it can do. Elements will do everything the average photographer needs, plus Elements has some features PS does not have. So quit running down Elements unless you have used it and can specifically cite what is wrong with it.
Dec 11, 2013 12:08:23 #
cthahn wrote:
You are not impressed with Elements? You are proba... (show quote)
And you should quit running down other people until you have some qualifications to do so!
Amazing how much UHH feedbacks will tell everyone about a particular poster!
Dec 11, 2013 12:12:45 #
Sounds like I offended you...so, I will gladly concede that I had not looked in on Elements since I started using LR about 5 years ago. I am willing to eat my words. I went to the Adobe site this morning after posting here and was pleasantly surprised by Elements. Elements has some very impressive features. Perhaps you can tell me, in LR, I can make virtually unlimited variations of a photo and do not have to save separate copies, thus not eating up hard drive space for multiple editions of a photos. When I had Elements before, I had to save a separate file of any edit (ie, various crops, B/W, etc.) that I did on any given photo. Is that still the case. But, otherwise, I think I will start my grandson on some free software, perhaps Picasa. When it comes time to come off the hip, it will be either LR or Elements. So, I stand corredted. Mea Culpa.
Dec 11, 2013 12:23:59 #
Roadog527 wrote:
Sounds like I offended you...so, I will gladly con... (show quote)
Don't worry yourself in the least. cthahn is our resident troll and goes out of his way to insult anyone, and most especially new users on the forum. You will find lots of good information but will also have to deal with the 3 or 4 jerks like him that just won't go away.
Welcome to the forum.
Dec 11, 2013 12:42:32 #
Dec 11, 2013 12:58:14 #
Straightshooter
Loc: Edmonton AB
MT Shooter wrote:
Don't worry yourself in the least. cthahn is our resident troll and goes out of his way to insult anyone, and most especially new users on the forum. You will find lots of good information but will also have to deal with the 3 or 4 jerks like him that just won't go away.
Welcome to the forum.
Welcome to the forum.
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Dec 11, 2013 21:32:46 #
MT Shooter wrote:
The camera will come with free software from Canon, this would be the best place to start the learning process.
I second this motion.
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