meck68 Loc: Galesburg Il.

Hello all I am a beginner in the photo world and I am looking to buy my first editing software. I found elements 11 and was wondering if this would be a good place to get my feet wet. I am wanting to do some layering. any advice would be welcome
Thanks

Tea8 Loc: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.

Elements 11 could be a good place to start. There will be a pretty steep learning curve since this is your first software. I would suggest a book to go along with it that can help you get the ball rolling. You could always start with something free like Gimp(I think that's it) that does a lot of the same things and I think it does layers. If you try the search feature here and type in editing software you will find a ton of threads that have covered this stuff already. Although I am sure other will chime in here too and help you out.

Jusoljoe Loc: Texas

If you are just starting out, have you tried Picasa? It is a free Google software download and allows many enhancements...not sure if the latest version has layers. By the way, layering does require a bit of a learning curve. Otherwise, Picasa is a good place to start. Good luck and let us see some of your efforts. :thumbup:

meck68 Loc: Galesburg Il.

Thanks I will check it out

meck68 Loc: Galesburg Il.

Thanks I will check it out. I did download picasa and I wasn't to excited about it I think I have talked myself into elements and we'll see if I have any hair left after the first attempt at it
Thanks again for the feedback

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

One of the best is FREE

GIMP

http://www.gimp.org/

cindy11 Loc: Honeoye Falls, NY

Yes, start out with just knowing the basic adjustments. Even that takes time and a special eye. Elements does have a steep learning curve. I've used it a year and still get confused, frustrated and forgetful of all the steps. Go slow unless you want the challenge. Good luck.

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

In my humble opinion the best at a decent price is Serif PhotoPlus X5 and it is easy to use

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

I still use Paintshop Pro version 7, have used that for 15 years, psp started as a free download, I use it daily, even thogh I have Photoshop.

OOOlah Loc: Ohio

I also use Paintshop Pro version 8, love it, has most of the same features that Photoshop Elements has. I use both in my photography. Either one of them has a steep learning curve for layers.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

At last, the right person to ask! I too am looking to do more than just basic editing, and I already have X2 which I got cheaply as part of a bundle from Serif. Will X2 do, or would it be worth upgrading to X5. Or should I try PE 11 or GIMP, bearing in mind that steep learning curves give me vertigo.
I have found with X2 that if I try to brighten a dark picture, the image very quickly starts to take on an over-processed look (the dreaded watercolour effect). Is this common to all editing packages, or is it just a symptom of the cheapness of X2?

PhotoGator Loc: Florida

I do strongly recommend GIMP 2.8
It has thousands of presets.
It is as powerful as Photoshop and it's absolutely FREE!

GIMP 2.8 Official website - After downloading, check out the right column for Documentation (Manual, Tutorials, Books), Plug-in Registry
http://www.gimp.org/

Before and After by Katherine Landreth
This eBook costs $12 including a 1 year subscription to her loaded website with articles, tutorials, tips, goodies and library.
http://pareandfocus.com/index.htm/gimp-book/

Free eBook:
Grokking the GIMP
http://gimp-savvy.com/BOOK/

coastlawyer Loc: Coastal Mississippi

What amount of cash are you investing?

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

I think anyone starting out should (a) join a local camera club and see what others use and (b) get GIMP free, it is as powerful as most if not more so, and for £0

THEN move to buying something when you know what you want.

Steinmetz Loc: Oregon based

An excellent question which will receive many answers.
What is your long term goal ?
I asked that question 8 years ago. I asked a gentleman that was a professional photographer and had edited for Hollywood for 30 years...

This is what he told me ( I use to write my own programs to do what I wanted them to do on ms-dos and XP operating systems on pc ) :

He said , " you can keep doing what you are doing or you can get the software that is industry standard ... which is Adobe photo shop -- this way you are able to talk to professionals on the "same wavelength and be on the same page ". Stick with it and learn it... as you go... what you need...

He also suggested to get an imac, a wacom tablet & extra monitor.

Well I have no regrets I followed his advice on purchasing Adobe photoshop. Only wish I had followed his other advice on purchasing hardware ( instead of what he suggested I decided to spend more money and purchased the mac pro desk top with 32 GB ram, 3.2 Ghz X 2 Quad core Intel Xeon, etc... although a great powerhouse machine ...)

Things to consider when purchasing software is your operating system and hardware being used.

There is a learning curve on anything new; and, I would choose something long term-- Adobe photoshop CS5 (extended ) or CS6 for photo manipulation, particularly since you are interested in layering... it is very easy once you learn or some one helps you through it; and, that is my next point -- I would join NAPP for $99/ year; and, you have many discounts, including on this software and hardware etc... and professional videos and tutoring etc... ) Adobes lightroom is great, and although I have that program and many others, most of my work is done in Photoshop CS5 extended ( you do not have to purchase the whole suite of software ) .. To learn you can also google and find u-tube videos.. that are really great to also learn from.

Caveate -- layering is very easy as is compositing....

Layers is very "EASY" -- first think of it as a scaffolding up the side of a building... From the top of the scaffolding looking down through the sections (layers) scaffolding you may be able to see or not see the layers below depending on what you want
or have done to the layer above or below....

No man is an island.... unless he chooses to be...