TonyBrown

I am new to raw editing, but have decided to go down the Capture One Pro 20 route. Bought it with a 25% discount for a Nikon only license. I love it. I find it easy to use and the on line tutorials are great. While I bought editing software for raw use I’m amazed at how much can be done with jpeg files. Now going back and editing my catalogue of jpegs. I know Lightroom/Photoshop seems to be the go to for most people, but I wasn’t happy paying a monthly fee. I have also read some blogs that suggest that Lightroom/Photoshop is more geared towards for graphic design editing. I have to say that some of the pictures I see from Photoshop seem to be moving away from the pictures actually taken to a form of art. Try all the free downloads to see what works best for you, but bear Capture One in mind. Good luck.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I have been trying Capture One for Fuji after a pro recommended it to me, and so far, I have been impressed. You can purchase a license outright or on a monthly basis like PS, and there’s a 25% discount offer pretty regularly and a 50% once.

Marturo Loc: Western North Carolina

The voice of wisdom for sure.
I down loaded 6 free programs & learned not 1 thing other than Learn 1 at a time they are all different.
Downloaded the free trial of Photo Shop & did not recognize a thing from what I learned about Photo Shop 6. Using the D7100 I have enough to learn about taking great photos with my camera & lens.

As a film shooter who just came over to Digital, I am new to Post Processing. I used Photo Shop 6 back in 2002 to repair slides & negatives only. I bought a program called Affinity for $24.00 1/2 price. So far I like it & have no clue other than the U-tube vidieos I watch what I am doing. However for $24.00 I won't have my feelings hurt if it does not work out.

So what I learned, choose 1 program at a time & learn the right way to use it. Also what we already know, Shoot every shot as if it were the only shot you will get. PP my photos will always take a back seat to trying to get photos that need nothing else done.

Good luck with your quest.

Mike

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Wow! The license only allows one camera model. What a turn off. I shoot with Canon and Nikon, Nikon mostly, and my wife has a little Kodak P&S.

Just another good reason why $10 a month is so cheap. Unlimited models and unlimited editing. Always up-to-date.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Mike - I would recommend that you puchase the Affinity Photo Workbook. It will quickly get you up to speed.

Marturo Loc: Western North Carolina

It's on the way now. Thanks.
I have to say so far Affinity has been fun to learn so far, I need to learn Less is more sometimes.

TonyBrown

You can get a license that covers more models at a higher cost

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

The more mistakes you make before tripping the shutter, the more correction software you need afterwards.

TonyBrown

Not so easy for wildlife, particularly birds moving fast against a changing background. Post processing can save your shot

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

One of my kids sent me this:
https://photopad-free-mac-photo-editing-software.en.softonic.com/mac

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

There's only two types of people in the world: buyers and subscribers.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

I'd buy that, but I'm a subscriber.

Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA

I only want to contribute if I believe I can suggest something not already suggested before my post.

You aren't doing much with the computer for your pictures now, per your comment. So, the first thing should be to look at the different apps (or recommedations for specific software), look at the "learning curve" to become familiar if not proficient with the software, the price or subscription to use it, and what it does.

You probably could benefit from a file viewing/management package to look at your OOTC pictures and sort by "keepers", categories of pictures, etc. You may even want to keep separate pics for an occasion or by the date and location of the photos (vacation, family reunion, wedding, sports event, etc.).

Next is to make some "tweaking" of your pics - exposure, contrast, color cast, etc. Next might be something more advanced like selective lightening/darkening, sharpen an ares or blur/soft focus, retouching something that is distracting or a 'mistake', etc.

After learning to do these, you might want to advance to more sophisticated editing features.

Here is where the "learning curve" becomes critically important. PhotoShop is GREAT and the learning curve is literally a lifetime. Many other good software packages are less complicated than PS, but still require a great time investment before you can feel comfortable at using 30%-50% of what the software can do.

You definitely do not want to be lured into getting several software packages, even as N/C trials, and never actually learn what they do and how they can help you.

I'd suggest you try one of the ACDSee packages as a first step. Even the simplest and least costly packages can do the basic organizing/editing features you are likely to use a lot. The more advanced packages are truly fully featured for a future upgrade, when you are ready. They are pretty easy to learn. You have online videos as well as youtube videos to help get you started.

But, don't try to run before you have learned how to crawl. And, think of it as "fun" and "discovery", not work/labor/boring or too difficult and complicated to ever 'get the hang of it' before it makes you give up.

Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA

I only want to contribute if I believe I can suggest something not already suggested before my post.

You aren't doing much with the computer for your pictures now, per your comment. So, the first thing should be to look at the different apps (or recommedations for specific software), look at the "learning curve" to become familiar if not proficient with the software, the price or subscription to use it, and what it does.

You probably could benefit from a file viewing/management package to look at your OOTC pictures and sort by "keepers", categories of pictures, etc. You may even want to keep separate pic groups for an occasion or by the date and location of the photos (vacation, family reunion, wedding, sports event, etc.).

Next is to make some "tweaking" of your pics - exposure, contrast, color cast, etc. Next might be something more advanced like selective lightening/darkening, sharpen an area or blur/soft focus, retouching something that is distracting or a 'mistake', etc.

After learning to do these, you might want to advance to more sophisticated editing features.

Here is where the "learning curve" becomes critically important. PhotoShop is GREAT and the learning curve is literally a lifetime. Many other good software packages are less complicated than PS, but still require a great time investment before you can feel comfortable at using 30%-50% of what the software can do for you.

You definitely do not want to be lured into getting several software packages, even as N/C trials, and never actually learn what they do and how they can help you.

I'd suggest you try one of the ACDSee packages as a first step. Even the simplest and least costly packages can do the basic organizing/editing features you are likely to use a lot. The more advanced packages are truly fully featured for a future upgrade, when you are ready. They are pretty easy to learn. You have online videos as well as youtube videos to help get you started.

But, don't try to run before you have learned how to crawl. And, think of it as "fun" and "discovery", not work/labor/boring or too difficult and complicated to ever 'get the hang of it' before it makes you give up.

anotherview Loc: California

Ditto.