Newbie....what editing software??

S

smartplumber

Messages
71
Name
Marcus
Edit My Images
No
Ok I have been using Picasa up until new computer build and laptop rebuild and now it does not recognise NEF files. Picasa Problem!

So what editing software do I buy??

Are there any usable free downloads??

Want to be able to import my RAW files and play with the images (great use of technical terms).

Don't want to break the bank but on the other hand don't want to waste money and have to upgrade in 6 months?

Any help appreciated.

Thanks
 
I'd suggest you try GIMP as a start, its got a bit of a learning curve to it, but is quite powerful, has a very nice (IMHO) front end for tweeking your RAW files...

and is free
 
We use and highly recommend Adobe Photoshop Elements which incorporates a superb organiser along with the raw converter (if you shoot raw) and the editor.

Download version 9 for a free trial at Adobe.
 
Hi Photoshop Elements is very good. Version 9 is now out, you could poss pick up version 8 at a good discounted price if monies are an issue. Not sure of the difference between 8 & 9 - think 9 is around £65-70 at the moment as it's new out.
 
Thanks for all the advice downloaded Adobe Elements 9.

Can't believe how good it is and easy to use.:thumbs:
 
Marcus,

The issue of not being able to view NEF files may be nothing more than a missing codec. You can download the Nikon NEF codec from their web site.

HTH :)
 
Photoshop. You'll end up getting it eventually, might as well pony-up now and be done with it...
 
Arkady said:
Photoshop. You'll end up getting it eventually, might as well pony-up now and be done with it...
Click to expand...

Can't agree more. I started off with Photoshop Elements can't remember the number and it is good for starters, kept it for about a year then I upgraded to Photoshop CS4 a totally different monster.

At the end of the day it depends on how involved you want to get with your editing. Elements has all the basics but is ten times cheaper, the manual for Photoshop CS4 is huge and a steep learning curve.
 
david1701 said:
lightroom is king, 30 day trial too
Click to expand...

'King' price to . . . As are the Photoshop CS's . . . :bonk:

I'm a bit of a technophobe, so my view on Lightroom and PS'CS might be biased. However, 'PS Elements' is a good slide in, working in a similar way (so I understand?) to big brothers 'CS....'. 'Element v.7' can be had for about £30 from Amazon . . . versions 8 and 9 are around £70? Lightroom and CS4 . . . silly, silly ££££'s:gag:

CJS
 
Arkady said:
Photoshop. You'll end up getting it eventually, might as well pony-up now and be done with it...
Click to expand...

Agreed, I started with LR2, got a copy of CS4 and then upgraded it to CS5. I've never looked back considering how much it offers.
 
I disagree about the ultimate necessity of Photoshop, Elements now has all that is needed by the keen photographer, acr, layers, layer masks and a lot more. The pricing of CS5 is based on it providing an income for the user and unless you're heavily into PP it's a hell of an expenditure.

Capturing the light, the moment, and the emotion have never been more under threat than they are now, kilos of gear, taken out only on specified "photography days" and unlimited pp possibilities seem to be the new route to great images. Obviously there are areas where this is all needed but what about the rest of the time?

How I love my GF-1 with a 20mm 1.7 in the coat pocket.

Rob, as a military photographer you may recognise an image, published a few years back in b/w, a group of exhausted soldiers reclining with their gear, grieving, they'd just lost a comarade. It's a superb deeply moving recent (past 10 yrs) image but I'm B********d if I can remember the photographer.

Apologies for getting a little off piste with this post. John
 
phototuition said:
I disagree about the ultimate necessity of Photoshop, Elements now has all that is needed by the keen photographer, acr, layers, layer masks and a lot more. The pricing of CS5 is based on it providing an income for the user and unless you're heavily into PP it's a hell of an expenditure.

Capturing the light, the moment, and the emotion have never been more under threat than they are now, kilos of gear, taken out only on specified "photography days" and unlimited pp possibilities seem to be the new route to great images. Obviously there are areas where this is all needed but what about the rest of the time?

How I love my GF-1 with a 20mm 1.7 in the coat pocket.

John
Click to expand...

I have watched a program on TV this evening about 'twitchers' totally mad:cuckoo: Spending £100's . . . even £1000's of pounds a year on bird spotting . . . so much money, some dare not tell their wife's . . . and for what . . . ?

One reads 'tog's' on line, spending vast sums . . . the distinct impression comes over 'dont tell the Mrs' . . . for what . . . ?

I'll admit to struggling a little with a desire for the new D7000 :naughty: . . . why, its only me I take pictures for . . . ?

. . . and then there is 'PS' CS4 . . . CS5 at silly prices . . . why? . . . even read a review recently on Elements v.8 . . . "it does everything that the average enthusiastic amateur tog will ever want", said the reviewer.

Why do we do there things . . . buy 4x4's and never go near a field, have a 150mph sports car and drive it round London, average speed in the capital; 17mph:shrug:

Are we so gullible . . . :thinking: CJS
 
phototuition said:
I disagree about the ultimate necessity of Photoshop, Elements now has all that is needed by the keen photographer, acr, layers, layer masks and a lot more. The pricing of CS5 is based on it providing an income for the user and unless you're heavily into PP it's a hell of an expenditure.

Capturing the light, the moment, and the emotion have never been more under threat than they are now, kilos of gear, taken out only on specified "photography days" and unlimited pp possibilities seem to be the new route to great images. Obviously there are areas where this is all needed but what about the rest of the time?

How I love my GF-1 with a 20mm 1.7 in the coat pocket.

Rob, as a military photographer you may recognise an image, published a few years back in b/w, a group of exhausted soldiers reclining with their gear, grieving, they'd just lost a comarade. It's a superb deeply moving recent (past 10 yrs) image but I'm B********d if I can remember the photographer.

Apologies for getting a little off piste with this post. John
Click to expand...

Google 'Giles Penfound' - it might be one of his...
 
...and if not him, then Paul 'Jabba' Jarvis (who also took the iconic 'speech' photo with all the tank barrels pointing at the sky)
 
Photoshop or/and Lightroom.

I prefer the interface of ACR in Photoshop to the Lightroom interface, but once I got use to how Lightroom works it is very useful and very good. If you can get both, get both IMO.

I use CS3 for Photoshop and that serves me well for what I need. Spose you can do most of editing in Lightroom. I think the controls are easier in Photoshop if you want to start cloning stuff out and making serious manipulaitons to the image. However, for filing of photos and general RAW editing then Lightroom would be fine by itself.
 
Elements 7 for £22 HERE

I got Elements 8 for £29 from the same place, but it's not listed now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top