PP Tools and Process: I would like to know the PP software of choice and processes most of you use. Right now, I use the Nikon editing software and it is pretty robust, but I have...

evan_moor

I would like to know the PP software of choice and processes most of you use. Right now, I use the Nikon editing software and it is pretty robust, but I have noticed it is limited in various ways.

My goal is to get good results but NOT have to sit in front of my computer for hours to get a good look. I have a process for adding contrast and color- just wanting feedback from others.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Photoshop CS6 and Adobe Camera Raw. I discontinued Photoshop CC.

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

evan_moor wrote:

I would like to know the PP software of choice and processes most of you use. Right now, I use the Nikon editing software and it is pretty robust, but I have noticed it is limited in various ways.

My goal is to get good results but NOT have to sit in front of my computer for hours to get a good look. I have a process for adding contrast and color- just wanting feedback from others.

I use Photoshop CC, Lr Classic CC, DXO Photolab, On1 Raw and Capture One. They each handle raw files slightly differently. For instance, Capture One does great stuff with Sony .arw files. DXO has Nik suite integrated into it, so it is fairly seamless to move from the raw editor to the Nik library.

Like yourself, I don't like to sit in front of a computer. I rarely spend more than a couple of minutes on an image, unless I am doing a fashion-industry style headshot retouch, in which case I might spend 90 mins or more on each image. But I charge for that and I do deliver the results the clients are looking for.

This image was a 15 shot pano - 3 rows of 5 images, merged in Lightroom, edited slightly in Lightroom, then exported to Photoshop for masking, color and contrast adjustments etc. The whole thing took me about 5 minutes.

The first image was just the results of the pano stitch, the second was the final result.

It would be hard to do this with Nikon software.

(Download)

Nicholas DeSciose

Get a subscription to Photoshop CC after you have worked with it for a while you’ll be amazed at the quality and the speed. Opening images in raw allows you to do about 80% of what you would need

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Main program I use is Paint Shop Pro, it can do it all However I have other items I use for faster processing, an old free program (Forget the name big number 4 on the ikon) that allows me to do rapid RAW conversion and ICE come to mind immediately, Canon DPP is on hand if I need it but PSP handles most, Oh Fastone Image Resizer as it does resizing faster and easier than any thing else I've tried.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

evan_moor wrote:

I would like to know the PP software of choice and processes most of you use. Right now, I use the Nikon editing software and it is pretty robust, but I have noticed it is limited in various ways.

My goal is to get good results but NOT have to sit in front of my computer for hours to get a good look. I have a process for adding contrast and color- just wanting feedback from others.

I bought Adobe stand alone Lightroom 6 and Photoshop 6. No interest in a subscription

evan_moor

Gene51 wrote:

I use Photoshop CC, Lr Classic CC, DXO Photolab, O... (show quote)

If this took you 5 minutes, you must have been working with these tools for quite some time.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

evan_moor wrote:

I would like to know the PP software of choice and processes most of you use. Right now, I use the Nikon editing software and it is pretty robust, but I have noticed it is limited in various ways.

My goal is to get good results but NOT have to sit in front of my computer for hours to get a good look. I have a process for adding contrast and color- just wanting feedback from others.

I think you'll find most folks do like Photoshop as their go to software (myself included), and for a good reason! It is easy to use and "it growes with you" - and no matter what you do, it gives you excellent results, only your fantasy is your limit!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

You didn't state the ways in which your current software is disappointing you, but I think it's important to understand that nothing except very simple one-click results (over which you have no control) are going to be fast right from the get-go. As Gene's examples demonstrates, once you learn whatever software, tasks will go much easier and faster.

I've been using PS Elements for several years. They have a free trial if you're curious. For novices there is a "quick" edit section and a "guided edit" section. When you're ready to tackle layers and layer masks, there is an "expert" section.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

I've used Photoshop since CS3 and there is very little that can't be done in Photoshop, and a ton of videos that will guide you step by step. But, it is a complex program and will take a while to get up to speed. PS Elements might be a good choice for a shorter learning curve, as well as Luminar 4. Both have trial versions that you can try.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I started with Photoshop Elements and have stuck with it. It does all that I need to do with its Quick, Guided, and Expert editing modes. Mostly now I use the Expert mode because I like to think of myself as an expert. 😉😉

markinvictoria Loc: Victoria TX

Gene51 wrote:

I use Photoshop CC, Lr Classic CC, DXO Photolab, O... (show quote)

I never tire of looking at this photo!

tomad Loc: North Carolina

If you decide not to go the Light Room/Photoshop route, Luminar is very powerful yet easy to use.

photoman43

I am in the process of learning how to use DXO Photo Lab 3 Elite version with the NIK Collection as I move away from Nikon Capture NX-D, Nikon Capture NX-2 and Nikon View. I like DXo PL as it uses control points that were part of NX-2 and NX-D. Control points are also in the NIK Collection. You can use NIK Collection plug ins as stand alone programs too. Check out the tutorials at DXO PL and download it if you think it might do the job for you. Also check out ON1.

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

evan_moor wrote:

I would like to know the PP software of choice and processes most of you use. Right now, I use the Nikon editing software and it is pretty robust, but I have noticed it is limited in various ways.

My goal is to get good results but NOT have to sit in front of my computer for hours to get a good look. I have a process for adding contrast and color- just wanting feedback from others.

Photoshop CC and Adobe Camera Raw (ACR).