Which Software is best?

[Mando327]

Hi, I have been wondering if PS CS is actually what i need. I basically need a program that can be 1) SIMPLE to use, or have a good manual or tutorial 2) be able to adjust everything form over to underexposure and color correction. 3)it would also be nice to have have an option to lighten up certain parts of the image, but not all of it. 4) fix ugly stuff like acne and scars.
I don't need to make super duper webpages with the latest in graphics, just simple EX. compensation, color balance etc...Any recommendations on your personal favorite?? And ohh, cheap is also a plus (PS hurts a lot!) Let me know of other good options too that i can use to better enhance the pics.

Thanks,
Mando

[Trevor Ash]

I don't have much of any experience with anthing but photoshop. Photoshop is the best IMO. But many cameras or scanners come with a less featured version of Photoshop that would have all the tools you need. I think they still call it photoshop LE but I'm not sure. Some people are willing to give away their "included software" packages that has the reduced version of photoshop. Ask your friends and see if they have any to spare.

Also, there's a freeware program called "the gimp" which is a lot like photoshop but free. http://www.gimp.org/

There are lots of other tools but I don't know how well they handle selective corrections like you mentioned so others can comment I hope.

[Peter_AUS]

Photoshop Elements is a good start, comes with most digital cameras and also scanners I think. Paintshop from Corel is another popular program. Breezebrowser has it's followers.

But I think Photoshop Elements is probably what you need to get into and then when you are ready maybe move up to the full version of Photoshop. They have Academic versions of Photoshop that is way cheaper to purchase as well.

I don't know gimp but have heard good things about it as well.

[CTPhil]

Photoshop Elements is a good start, comes with most digital cameras and also scanners I think.

I got Adobe Elements with my Konica Minolta Scan Dual IV scanner. It really does a lot! And it does have a good tutorial in it (doesn't send you out to the web). The more I discover what it can do, the more I think I'll probably never need Photoshop.

[shadz]

Have a look at Paint Shop Pro also. Very capable software, much cheaper than PS.

I use PS tho. *shrug*

[Mando327]

I went to the gimp website and looks really complicated to download. Apparently you have to download a bunch of stuff separetely. Why can't they just make a one-download solution?

[Lionheart]

Hi, I have been wondering if PS CS is actually what i need. I basically need a program that can be 1) SIMPLE to use, or have a good manual or tutorial 2) be able to adjust everything form over to underexposure and color correction. 3)it would also be nice to have have an option to lighten up certain parts of the image, but not all of it. 4) fix ugly stuff like acne and scars.
I don't need to make super duper webpages with the latest in graphics, just simple EX. compensation, color balance etc...Any recommendations on your personal favorite?? And ohh, cheap is also a plus (PS hurts a lot!) Let me know of other good options too that i can use to better enhance the pics.

Thanks,
Mando

Hi Mando:
Try ACDSee 7 Powerpack. It's 80 bucks, about a 19 meg download from acdsystems.com. It's a pretty nice all in one suite that is easily organizes, batch renames and batch file converts, etc., reads all RAW formats too, comes with a very simple but powerful editing program, as well as a photo layout printing program. For $80 bucks it is worth it just for the management and organization of your photos. Try the free trial (30days), I think you'll rather enjoy it.

[another view]

I'd probably go with Photoshop Elements. It's about 10% of the price of CS and it will do everything you mention - plus there are tons of books written about Photoshop. Some are specifically about Elements, but there probably isn't a lot of differences in the steps to do something as compared with CS - although it just doesn't have all the tools. Learn Elements and then decide if you want to upgrade to CS later. Scott Kelby has some excellent books, and I think one of his is about Elements.

[Peter1616]

I use a tool called Studioline Photo 2 as it contains a fantastic descriptor panel with IPTC information. It's very handy for $49. www.studioline.net

[bellstudio]

It all depends on your needs.

For photo editing, I prefer to Photoshop CS, but Photoshop Element is also an excellent choice, especially for beginners.

For organizer and template based printing, I would recomend ACDSee.

If you just want to correct exposure, color, etc, Photoshop is probably too much. There are quite a few cheap and good photo organizers will let you to do the same job in a convivient and batch mode.

[absolutsf]

I think if you want to have all the tools and features of Photoshop and a program that is user friendly, the Ulead's Photo Impact is the one for you.

You can get a 30 day trial at http://www.ulead.com

I use PI and everyone always thinks I use PS. I have both. I find Photoshop to be hard to figure out and not very user friendly. Intuitive learner - stay away from PS!

Photo Impact costs less ($89), and does about the same things. There are several selection tools (standard, magic wand, lasso and Bezier), layer tools, path tools, clone tools, dodge tools, eraser tool, measure tool, and lots more.

If you want free software, well you get what you pay for, as the saying goes. However, a nice small image manipulator is from Irfan View. It works well for resizing in a hurry or to just view your photos without waiting on the above mentioned memory hogs!

Good luck! I think you should post your reviews of the products folks recommended and let us know what program you settled on and why you did. I'm curious to find out!

[iKwak]

You can't go wrong with GIMP freeware.

[Arctirus]

I went to the gimp website and looks really complicated to download. Apparently you have to download a bunch of stuff separately. Why can't they just make a one-download solution?

Because it's a linux package that's been ported to windows. For some reason most linux software is like that and it's a pain in the @ss. That being said, once you get it installed it's not that bad. I'd still opt for photoshop elements in your situation. I use photoshop CS.

[JK_Photo]

For what you want to do I'd go with Photoshop Elements. I beleive they just released version 3. It really can do a lot and the tutorials make it very easy.

[readingr]

Mando,

I have Elements 2 and Paint Shop Pro 9.

As I see it the features for editing pictures like cloning etc. are better in Paint Shop Pro 9 but the organisation of files and management and printing contact sheets etc are better in Elements. When I bought Paint Shop I got its Album software with it which is the equivalent of Elements. Not really played with the Album Software yet.

I just upgraded to Canon's ZoomBrowsern EX and I find that really good for certain things like playing with RAW files which is partly the reason for buying Paint Shop pro in the first instance, unfortunately finding out which cameras it supports without buying it is a pain. Mine isn't supported yet.

So my conclusion from using al of these

Image manipulation - I prefer Paint Shop Pro as I can get the curves tool and the cloning is easier. However saying that Layers are more complex to use than Elements and I'm still getting to grips with them.

Image Organisation - I swing between Elements and Canon's own - not yet played with the Jasc Album stuff but when I opened it, it did look good

Printing - I find elements easier to setup and use. I have problems with JASC's templates in Paint Shop Pro at the moment but its probably me not understanding how to use their print templates because I have not yet read the manual.

Conatct Sheets - Elements, Canon ZoomBrowser EX both good. I prefer the Canon as it manages RAW which I sometimes take wheras the Elements 2.0 does not.

Another tool I used is IRFAN which is a freebee and it is quite good for organisation and simple editing but this is an old version and I have not used their latest.

Hope this diatribe helps you understand the way I use these tools and that one tool does not handle everything so you may end up buying more than one over time.

Oh by the way - I am a total amateur hoping to one day sell some of my photos.

[Candice]

I really like the Jasc line.. well Corel now I think they make great products for a good price. I have PSP 8, 9 & Photo album 5 and they are all really good.. I only use the 9 & Photo album now. You can also try out these products before you buy ;)

Also you can find ad-ons like brushes, frames, and tutorials very easily on the net thought websites and MSN & Yahoo groups. And most Photoshop plugins are compatible with PSP.

I also have Photoshop 7.0 but never could get the hang of it. I would like to get CS because I heard it was better then the 7.0 and easier to understand. Maybe someday

[iKwak]

Adobe PS is an overkill software for the ordinary users. You can pick up the lower version of PS (Element) or pick an alternative such as Jasc.