Editing program and computer to use (Page 2): I believe Paintshop only works on PC, no Mac version.

Bike guy Loc: Atlanta

Stardust wrote:

You will get tons of suggestions for Photoshop her... (show quote)

I believe Paintshop only works on PC, no Mac version.

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

Bike guy wrote:

I believe Paintshop only works on PC, no Mac version.

That is correct, why I mentioned taking a stab in the dark without knowing what he was buying. (OP now starting looking at PC)

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

Michael S wrote:

Today I found an HP desktop with an Intel 5 processor, 12 GB of memory and storage of 1T. I also found a Intel 7 with the same configuration.

Definitely go with the "7" processor over the 5 if can afford the price, which may also have a better graphics card with it, plus will help compensate for the 12 Gb of RAM (which is fine as long as you do not have too many windows open at once or compile complicated videos).

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Here are lots of links.

Processing for Free -
https://www.darktable.org/
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/59324818
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.html

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/
https://photographypro.com/photo-editing/

Computer memory -
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-much-ram-does-your-pc-need-probably-less-than-you-think/
http://www.zdnet.com/article/how-much-ram-does-your-pc-need/

Processor -
http://gizmodo.com/dont-waste-money-on-intels-top-processor-1791426602
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2404674,00.asp
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/intel-core-i5-vs-i7/
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/intel-core-i9-vs-i7-vs-i5-cpu/
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/intel-core-i5-vs-i7/
http://www.laptopmag.com/articles/core-i5-vs-i7
https://www.extremetech.com/computing/210703-intel-core-i5-vs-core-i7-which-processor-should-you-buy

TucsonDave Loc: Tucson, Arizona

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.

I would suggest Affinity Photo by Serif. One time price of about $50 and they provide free updates. I have owned it for three years and because there are literally a couple of hundred videos on how to use evey tool, it has been easy to learn

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

Michael S wrote:

Thanks to everyone who has replied. Today I found an HP desktop with an Intel 5 processor, 12 GB of memory and storage of 1T. I also found a Intel 7 with the same configuration. I haven't looked at any gaming models yet but their cost is very high. The monitor is a Dell 27 inch. I have until Saturday to buy before the sale price come off. Because of y tariff situation I expect prices to rise.

Nowadays when buying a new PC, always have your system drive be a Solid State Drive. Much faster than a hard drive. You won’t regret the little extra cost.

photoman43

To learn more about an ideal hardware setup for photo processing, go to Puget Systems and read all of their articles about what is needed for a good photo editor computer.

https://www.pugetsystems.com/recommended/Recommended-Systems-for-Adobe-Lightroom-Classic-CC-141/Hardware-Recommendations

You will need RAM on a good video card and well as RAM on your pc.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

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.

I would buy Adobes boxed software that you can buy and own right off the shelf for about $70-$90. It's called Adobe Photoshop Elements https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1433830-REG/adobe_65292215_photoshop_elements_2019_mac.html

The computer you'd need is just a basic PC or Mac. But do not get one of those laptop computers like the Google Chromebook. Those are internet surfing computers only. This is how you can get started. I've always been into computers so having a more powerful computer is always on my agenda but for beginners you don't really need to spend a fortune on hardware.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

Consider Zoner Photo Studio

ecurb1105

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.

For image processing I use Paint Shop and Faststone. Stay away from Crapple, Mac is overhyped and overpriced. Look at Dell or HP desktops, at least 16 Gig of RAM and one T internal memory. Add two seperate external drives of one T or more for backup image storage.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

You'll get a lot of advice on what software to use. I use Photoshop Elements (14). Would I recommend it? Yes, but like all photo editing programs it has a learning curve.

The real advice I'll give you is to go to a local computer store (not a big box store) and tell the tech/salespeople what you need. They'll ask you some questions (like, are you a gamer?) and they should be able to recommend a good computer that will meet your needs.

Bill P

Elements is a good way to get started in Photoshop. But for all the I want to own it folks, i must ask, are you driving a Ford Pinto as your daily driver? A '56 Caddy? A model T? Still use Windows XP? I've been using PS for a lot of years now, and the so called PS tax is really a relatively inexpensive way for always having the latest version. Before I did that , I "owned" my own copy of PS but when it was necessary to upgrade, the cost was two to three hundred dollars. And don't kid yourself,you will, at some point need to upgrade.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

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).

jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

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.

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If you aren't interested in paying monthly for the use of the software, I would suggest "Affinity Photo", which is a good replacement for Photoshop, or "ON1 Photo RAW 2019" which is a good replacement for Lightroom and Photoshop.

bobbyjohn Loc: Dallas, TX

I use both Corel Paint Shop Pro and Perfectly Clear Complete v3. The latter can be used either as a plugin to PaintShop, or as a Standalone program. Both make your photos look a ton better that off the camera, but Perfectly Clear does it in an instant by analyzing every pixel in the picture, with many different presets to choose from. I'm not sure why Perfectly Clear is quite a rarity on UHH, but it is my "go to" program for image enhancement.