Recommendations: Hello, My wife and I are new to digital photography and are looking for a photo editing program for home use on our Windows pc. I would like to see some...

mrcleen

Hello,
My wife and I are new to digital photography and are looking for a photo editing program for home use on our Windows pc. I would like to see some recommendations...preferably not too expensive and easy to use. Thanks for your help.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I use Photo Impact Pro v8.5 and Elements 13. They meet my needs.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

I just recently broke down and subscribed to Adobe LightRoom and PS. At ten bucks a month, it's affordable, easy to learn, and the Gold Standard in the industry. There are many other freeware or low cost programs out there - I also have a few of those. But "renting" a darkroom with full color, b/w, and adjustment capabilities at that price is just irresistible to me.

I'm sure others will recommend the freeware/shareware/cheapware stuff, but of those, I have found "Gimp" the most capable.

Andy

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I just think using something Adobe is a good idea - especially in the long run ....keep it simple and cheap - an older version of Elements IMO.

..

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Gimps is free. Not too complex after the initial learning curve. ON1 seems to be popular - I didn't like it. Faststone is the easiest to learn and is also free. It will also open RAW files. There are many other paid programs. Only research will tell you what fits.

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

Luminar 2018.

LarryFitz Loc: Beacon NY

Leicaflex wrote:

Luminar 2018.

Easy to learn, watch some you tube video. Several have discount codes.

Almost all pp software have free trials. That is best method to find what does you and your wife.

CaptainPhoto

Smart Photo Editor - it does a great job. Cost around $29.00. http://www.smartphotoeditor.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIs9XxhPLz1gIVilmGCh3bKw2DEAAYASAAEgK9AfD_BwE
Has tons of free presets, too.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Free -
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/

Not free -
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.htmlOthers

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/

Nikon1201

I’ve used LR for years but I bought On1 photo Raw . A great program that does a lot and is not hard to learn if you watch the tutorials.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I use PS Elements, about $80, works well for me.

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

mrcleen wrote:

Hello,
My wife and I are new to digital photography and are looking for a photo editing program for home use on our Windows pc. I would like to see some recommendations...preferably not too expensive and easy to use. Thanks for your help.

Free: PHOTOSCAPE. Purchase: Photoshop ELEMENTS (my best two suggestions)

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

mrcleen wrote:

Hello,
My wife and I are new to digital photography and are looking for a photo editing program for home use on our Windows pc. I would like to see some recommendations...preferably not too expensive and easy to use. Thanks for your help.

One way to go for a beginner is to buy Adobe Photoshop Elements 2018. It's about $70 and you own it. The upgrade it about once every year and make improvements annually. It will get you started and if you find that you are wanting more, you can subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud for Photographers. This is $9.99/month and includes Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, Bridge, Lightroom (mobile), and some other stuff. You are paying monthly to use the software that is downloaded to your computer. Your pictures are kept on your computer but Adobe does offer a meager amount of free cloud space for storing some of your images "if" you choose to try it.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

mrcleen wrote:

Hello,
My wife and I are new to digital photography and are looking for a photo editing program for home use on our Windows pc. I would like to see some recommendations...preferably not too expensive and easy to use. Thanks for your help.

Adobe Elements 2018.... About $70 to $80 on sale most places now.

Yes, they do annual updates... But you don't have to buy them unless you really want some new feature they've added or if you buy a new camera that's not supported by an older version you were using. It's a perpetually licensed, stand-alone software.

Nice thing about the recent versions of Elements is that it gives you choice of three user interfaces: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. You can start with one, then change to another, or change back and forth between them any time you wish.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

Zoner Photo Studio is $49 and a great progam.