Michael S wrote:
I Am looking for recommendations for a good editing program. I am a newbie and currently use a free primitive program. I am looking for a good fairly priced program. I also need a new computer that can adequately handle the program. Processer specs etc would really be helpful. Thanks in advance for responding.
Adobe Elements 2019 is on sale right now for $60 (regularly $100). If you shoot video too, a bundle with Premiere Elements 2019 is $90 (regularly $150).
Fairly full featured editor and organizer. Easy to learn. Lots of support.
It can run on most any modern computer. Something with at least 16MB of ram recommended (expandable to 32 or higher is nice). Any modern processor can handle it.
It can be nice to have a graphics card with it's own V-RAM.... one or two MB min. (up to 4 or 6MB avail., but those are a lot more expansive.. and aren't really all that helpful with photo editing).
Desktop computer with room to add hard drives is best. Photos tend to fill up disks fast.
Laptops are difficult to work with because they get moved around into different ambient lighting, plus opened and closed to different angles. Those things effect what you see on the screen and can cause you to mis-adjust your images.
Speaking of which... put your money into a good monitor and a calibration device to use with it. These things will do more for your images than anything else, regardless of the software you use.
I've been using an HP IPS monitor for some years and used Viewsonics in the past. Right now I'm impressed with the BenQ line of monitors and that will probably be what I get next. Get the biggest monitor you can afford. 4K isn't necessary. 1 million color, 100% sRGb and close to 100% Adobe RGB are best. Working on images I prefer a monitor that's NOT wide screen, the way so many are. Might not have a choice, though.
Calibration devices, even the basic, more entry-level type, make a big difference in your images. Without them you will very likely make your images too dark and tweak the colors the wrong way. Look for Datacolor Spyder, X-Rite ColorMunki, etc.
Depending upon where you're able to set up your computer... a monitor hood can be a useful accessory. They are available for some monitors, but are pretty easy to make if needed. I made one out of 1/2 inch matte black foam core board, attached to my monitor with Velcro.
EDIT: In my opinion Photoshop (PS) is overkill for most people. I've used it for over 20 years and still do. But I don't recommend it for most people. You simply will not need much of what it can do. It's also only available by subscription now. $10 a month gets you both PS and Lightroom.... neither of which is truly complete without the other. There is an extremely steep, long learning curve with Photoshop. Plan on a year's worth of college level classes and books to learn to fully use it. Lightroom is easier, but still takes a month or two of study, a couple classes or books to learn to use well. You'll need to send Adobe $120 a year to rent LR and PS (can't get just one or the other).
Or, for half the price you can get a perpetually licensed copy of Elements 2019, which might be all you every need. It's sort of like a "lite" version of both LR and PS, in that it's more of a stand-alone software. Some day Adobe might add a new feature to Elements that you just gotta have.... Or you'll buy a new camera that's not supported by your older copy of it... an you'll need to upgrade. That will mean another one time payment for that future version of Elements (they fully update it with a new version just about yearly... probably are getting ready to do so soon, hence the current sale price on Elements 2019).