rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Check out Light Zone.
http://lightzoneproject.org/

--Bob

RoyLegrand Loc: Vancouver, Canada

Why you shouldn't try Gimp? It's an "open source" program, it's completely free and it does virtually everything the Adobe Lightroom does. Perhaps some experts would argue with me, but the one I can say, that the Gimp is a sophisticated enough program, for being a free one!

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Katbandit
I too was an Aperture 3 user, and while I agree that Photos isn't as good as Aperture, I wouldn't put it in the "awful" category. From what I've read, It's a step up from iPhoto, so I guess that puts it somewhere in-between Aperture and iPhoto. Photos does a good job with straightening and general touch up and probably offers more than iPhoto did. I don't like the Photo Library system that much, Aperture's was much better (at least to me anyway).

I bought Affinity when it first came out and was on sale for $40. What I didn't like about Affinity was how it handled photographs after they had been adjusted in post. Affinity puts them in a new Library which is difficult if not impossible to organize.

What I learned though was that Affinity's PP tools (which are very powerful) can be used as extensions in Photos. And then the adjusted photographs can be returned to the Photos library which can be organized the way you want.

If you have not done so, I recommend that you sign up for a One-To-One session on Photos at your local Apple Store. Not only can they show you in depth what Photos can do, but help you with using Affinity tools as extensions.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Photos (in OS X)
Apple Preview (in OS X)
Fotor (Free in the App Store)
GIMP (Powerful Photoshop alternative)

A couple MUST HAVEs, other than Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Bundle (subscription, $10/month):

Graphic Converter ($40 in the App Store, or shareware for 30days at www.lemkesoft.com)

Affinity Photo ($50 in the App Store) Actually, I'd probably get this one first!

Birdeye

Anyone just use ipad for editing?

mmatus

iPhoto or the newer one, Photo. It's OK for simple editing.
I also used Photoshop elements 13 which has more power.
I am sure there is other FREE software out there, FOR THE MACKBOOK

JD750 Loc: SoCal

What makes you think you can't take it off the computer? Of course you can remove it if you wish.

dandi Loc: near Seattle, WA

I used in the past GIMP a lot, but then I wanted something lighter and found FastStone and since then use FastStone 90% of the time. For something serious and when I shoot RAW I use Photoshop, but mostly I am happy with Faststone.
I agree GIMP is a very good program, very powerful. Thank you.

NoSocks Loc: quonochontaug, rhode island

I don't think you can buy a MacBook Pro for $1,300 unless it's used or maybe a refurb, but I could be wrong. My MBP was well over $3,200 two years ago. You either got the bargain of the year, or you got a MacBook without the Pro.

dandi Loc: near Seattle, WA

That's the one I bought right in the store:

http://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro

Here is the store:

http://www.apple.com/retail/bellevuesquare/

dandi Loc: near Seattle, WA

Actually Photos that came with computer is not bad. While you are in Editing and click on Adjust button a lot of features become available like: Histogram, White balance, Sharpen, Noise Reduction, Levels and more. And that’s not all: each of these has few options to play with. So, it’s not bad at all.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

It would appear you have purchased the very cheapest model with the least amount of memory available. You have the equivalent of a 400HP SUV with a 10 gallon gas tank. And you want to use it photo processing? I wonder how well that is going to work.

That little computer is designed for students to surf the web and do their homework. Forget using that little Mac for photo editing and go back to your PC for photo processing. You will be much happier.

It is my humble opinion that those who are so exteremely cost conscious should not buy Apple products because things like this happen when they do.

dandi Loc: near Seattle, WA

Photo editing is not the main reason I bought the computer, I wanted 13 inch light laptop. As far as editing, It can handle not just photo but also video editing quite well using iMovie.
You are right about your humble opinion.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

it is correct that you may do your editing on this laptop, it is more than adequate, but I would caution you to use external hard drives to store your photos when you are done processing them, as you will fill up the internal drive very quickly if you are like most on this site and take a lot of photos.

dandi Loc: near Seattle, WA

:thumbup: Yes, external drive