Photo editing program

[HappyGramma]

I am looking for a good photo editing program. I want something that will give me professional looking pictures, yet a program that is easy to use. I checked on Adobe Photshop CS5 and though it got good reviews overall, the cost is pretty high plus I heard that it tends to crash. I also checked on Photo Editor X. Not a lot of reviews on it but what I could find were good. Anyone have any experience with either of these programs? Is there a program that you could recomend. I really could use some help with this.

Thanks, Mary

[photo_chick]

I've not had problems with Photoshop (any version and I've been using it a while) crashing on a system that can adequately support it. Photoshop CS5 is a professional program and not easy to just pick up, it takes some learning. Photoshop Elements, the home user version is a bit easier but still has a learning curve.

No program will give you a professional looking image without them coming out of the camera looking fairly good. Unless you are going for artistic style, and then you're moving past photography into digital art (which I personally love) but it's not something that's really easy to do if you're unfamiliar with the software.

What is it that you're wanting to do? Basic color and contrast adjustments, noise reduction, cropping, textures, lighting... etc. Knowing more specifically what you want to do with an image will help better determine what you need.

[ssanders79]

Mary, if you are looking to post process more than manipulate take a look at Lightroom 3.

[AlbertZeroK]

I agree completely, Photoshop doesn't tend to crash, in fact, I've never known Photoshop to crash, BUT, you MUST have a decent computer to run photoshop, you won't have good results on something like a netbook. If you are in school, you can get an academic copy of Photoshop pretty resonably.

I could see people with slow computers saying Photoshop crashing, without the right amount of power, Photoshop would appear to freeze while it's working.

Now, if you are just doing basic editing, Lightroom is my weapon of choice, if they would add a healing brush to Lightroom, I don't know I'd ever go into Photoshop! Lightroom is non-destructive, which means it keeps your original picture and just applies your adjustments, if you want, you can go back to the original picture, or make virtual copies of the image and edit each seperately. Very cool, I love it.

You can try GIMP which is free and is the open source program which is suppose to be a replacement for photoshop (it's not.) Also, try Google's Pisca (is that spelled right?) We use that at work for simple photo editing.

Paint Shop Pro is also an alternative. I used to use it years and years ago, but haven't touched it since.

But Photoshop and Lightroom are top of their game for good reason. But I can understand that $1000 for both may be a bit out of reach.

[spinetnglr]

If you are just looking to edit and organize Lightroom would also be my recommendation. If you are looking to manipulate and get really creative with your pics you will need Photoshop. I use Lightroom and love it. I am not a photo manipulator so I can't give an opinion on likes and dislikes of Photoshop. You can try Lightroom for 30 days free by downloading it from the Adobe site. Once you try it though I am sure you will be hooked. If you are or know a student to teacher you can get the academic discount and save $200 on the price. I got mine from Academic Superstore.

[MICKEY88]

Paint Shop PHoto Pro is another great program It will allow you to do everything you can do with photo shop at a much lower price, it also has an easier learning curve,

It has a lot of built in actions for doing things, which are nice for beginners, as you grow and want to take more control over your processing, you can do that also.

[AlbertZeroK]

Paint shop pro also has a free trial, if the price tag of Photoshop is an issue, give it a try.

[photo_chick]

When talking prices, remember that Adobe has educational discounts. So take advantage of the students and teachers in your life.

[GrillMouster]

Photoshop CS5 is going to be overkill for you, and it has quite a learning curve. Photoshop Elements will probably do everything that you need and much more for a fraction of the price. Because you mentioned simplicity, you may want to try something like Picasa. It's free, and includes basic photo editing; it may be all that you need.

[MarkBarbieri]

...It will allow you to do everything you can do with photo shop at a much lower price...

I would agree that it will allow the typical photographer to do most things that Photoshop can do, but certainly not everything. Heck, Photoshop CS5 can do many things that couldn't be done in CS4, which could do many things that couldn't be done in CS3, etc.

[SrisonS]

I agree completely, Photoshop doesn't tend to crash, in fact, I've never known Photoshop to crash, BUT, you MUST have a decent computer to run photoshop, you won't have good results on something like a netbook. If you are in school, you can get an academic copy of Photoshop pretty resonably.

I could see people with slow computers saying Photoshop crashing, without the right amount of power, Photoshop would appear to freeze while it's working.

Now, if you are just doing basic editing, Lightroom is my weapon of choice, if they would add a healing brush to Lightroom, I don't know I'd ever go into Photoshop! Lightroom is non-destructive, which means it keeps your original picture and just applies your adjustments, if you want, you can go back to the original picture, or make virtual copies of the image and edit each seperately. Very cool, I love it.

You can try GIMP which is free and is the open source program which is suppose to be a replacement for photoshop (it's not.) Also, try Google's Pisca (is that spelled right?) We use that at work for simple photo editing.

Paint Shop Pro is also an alternative. I used to use it years and years ago, but haven't touched it since.

But Photoshop and Lightroom are top of their game for good reason. But I can understand that $1000 for both may be a bit out of reach.


What version of LR do you have??? I have LR2, and there's a Heal/Clone tool there. Or does it not act exactly like you want it to????

[MarkBarbieri]

What version of LR do you have??? I have LR2, and there's a Heal/Clone tool there. Or does it not act exactly like you want it to????

I can't answer for Albert, but the big difference to me is that the heal/clone tool in LR is just a circle of varing sizes. That works great for spots, but not so good if you want to brush it on a moderately large non-circular area.

[DBL101]

I would agree that it will allow the typical photographer to do most things that Photoshop can do, but certainly not everything. Heck, Photoshop CS5 can do many things that couldn't be done in CS4, which could do many things that couldn't be done in CS3, etc.

Actually, I think Paint Shop Pro is more on par with Photoshop Elements. I've used PSP for years. I use it for both photos and DISigns.

[HappyGramma]

I want to thank you all for the advise regarding an editing program. I have been doing some more info gathering on programs and I am leaning towards Adobe Elements. The cost of Photoshop CS5 is a big issue right now. I really do love the fact that Photoshop CS5 has the ability to "erase" unwanted things in your photo such as telephone poles and wires. It's something I have wished I could do with many photos. There are also many other features about it that I really like. I have Paintshop right now, but want a program I can do more with. If Elements does not give me the ability to do what I want I will probably consider Photoshop. I am glad to hear that no one has had problems with it crashing. Again, thanks so much for the advise. Mary

[AlbertZeroK]

I want to thank you all for the advise regarding an editing program. I have been doing some more info gathering on programs and I am leaning towards Adobe Elements. The cost of Photoshop CS5 is a big issue right now. I really do love the fact that Photoshop CS5 has the ability to "erase" unwanted things in your photo such as telephone poles and wires. It's something I have wished I could do with many photos. There are also many other features about it that I really like. I have Paintshop right now, but want a program I can do more with. If Elements does not give me the ability to do what I want I will probably consider Photoshop. I am glad to hear that no one has had problems with it crashing. Again, thanks so much for the advise. Mary

Photoshop Elements ships with many different pieces of equipment, including a wacom tablet. Elements is $80 after mail in rebate of $20, but the bamboo that includes a copy of photoshop elements is $99.

http://www.wacom.com/bamboo/bamboo_pen_touch.php

Just make sure you get the bamboo, not the bamboo pen or the bamboo touch, you want a straight bamboo, the others don't come with elements.