Editing software

[MICKEY88]

Is there any free software that you can download to get the red eyes out of digital pics? I don't have any photo editing software on my laptop and don't want to purchase any for just that...

Thanks!

if you have photo editing software on a desktop, check the license agreement, some software allows you to do a second install on a laptop, as long as both machines aren't turned on and used at the same time..

 

[pnutmnm]

Any suggestions for which editing software I should buy? I am new to photo editing. What are the differences between Photoshop Elements 7 and Photoshop Lightroom2? thanks

 

[Spectro is #1]

For basic photo editing you want Elements.
Lightroom is designed for photographers to showcase, organizing, batch processing and easily add meta data and contact information to large groups of photos. Lightroom would be used by someone like a wedding photographer who would have hundreds of shots from one wedding and need to keep track of several photos for multiple clients.

 

[Groucho]

It depends on what you're after... if you just want to crop, rotate, resize, and occasionally do a little red-eye reduction, there are free tools which will suffice quite nicely (Irfanview being my favorite.) If you want more advanced editing, like being able to "paint" on effects, cut out bit of the photo, etc, then something like Photoshop Elements or Paint Shop Pro will do.

Like Spectro said, Lightroom is more of a "workflow" app - it actually does have some decent editing tools now but cannot use the usual Photoshop plug-ins (like for noise reduction), you won't be using layers, you won't be moving someone's head onto someone else's body, etc. That being said, I use Lightroom constantly and very, very rarely load up Photoshop at all anymore.

 

[jrc-elpaso]

Check out Picasa. It will download the pics from your camera, crop, fix the color or lighting, transform your shot to b&w or sepia, fix red eye, etc. And it's FREE from Google.

 

[HLAuburn]

Found the disk! Thanks anyway....


I have an S3 that I am giving my mom since I got a new camera. The only problem...I'm missing the "Canon Digital Camera Solution Disk" that comes in the box. Now what? What happens if she just plugs the camera into her computer? Is the disk a "must"? Any way to get a (cheap) replacement?

Thanks!

 

[ukcatfan]

If you just need to get the shots off, then use a card reader. There are also better free options for photo editing.

 

[HLAuburn]

n/m!

 

[jrc-elpaso]

Download Picasa (by Google). It's FREE!!!! You can use it to download the pics from your camera and it's got excellent basic photo editing features. I use it almost exclusively unless I need to do something really complicated like removing scratches, etc. from a photo.

 

[1tripandIfell]

I have been wanting to get a good program to edit my pics, and this week Best Buy has Elements7 photoshop on sale for 69.00. and the Elements 7/Premier elements 7 on sale for 99.00. Does anyone use this and like/love it? TIA

 

[VVFF]

I have been wanting to get a good program to edit my pics, and this week Best Buy has Elements7 photoshop on sale for 69.00. and the Elements 7/Premier elements 7 on sale for 99.00. Does anyone use this and like/love it? TIA

I normally use photoshop CS4...however I have to say that having used GIMP on occasion I doubt there is much that it can't do that elements can. It's a very full featured program. Sure, it doesn't always have the polish of the Adobe products...but it's free. For most of the edits I do it has 90% of the capability of photoshop. I would try this program first unless you need a specific capability that is only available through Elements.

 

[1tripandIfell]

I actually have downloaded GIMP and played in it a little bit. Do you know if I could do HDR using GIMP? (I think HDR is the right term I am looking for? When you take 3 pics of the same thing using bracketing and merge them together to get a different look?!?!)

 

[VVFF]

I actually have downloaded GIMP and played in it a little bit. Do you know if I could do HDR using GIMP? (I think HDR is the right term I am looking for? When you take 3 pics of the same thing using bracketing and merge them together to get a different look?!?!)

It sort of can. It's not as automated as photoshop and takes a more work but any program with layers and layer masks can do an HDR image.

From my personal experience though...my results for HDR images in photoshop have been underwhelming. I will admit that I don't have a ton of experience with HDR imaging and in general don't care for it. I only use it when it's necessary to avoid clipping out an entire sky or highlight and even then only use it to a minor degree.

I've also used photomatix and achieved better results than I was able to get with Photoshop but I have done ok with both.

My results using RAW files adapted to different exposures are probably my best results from HDR. It may not be the typical sense of HDR imaging, but the results are realistic and the technique is only used to maintain detail in highlights and shadows.

It really depends what you're trying to do with HDR. Do you plan to do a ton of pictures and need the process automated or are you using it to save the occasional highlight. Unless you are into HDR big time I wouldn't pay $100 just to get the ability to automate the process.

 

[zackiedawg]

I've used Paint Shop Pro for quite some time now - I've got version 8, which is quite a few back...but it does 90% of everything the new ones do and Photoshop CS does, so I've never had reason to replace it. I still prefer PSP's interface over Photoshop - maybe just because I'm used to them - but I usually hear from people that PSP is a bit easier to pick up and use, and find all the tools. It has some simplified 'auto' and shortcut functions for beginners, but still has all the advanced tools for those who become proficient.

I use alot of different plug-ins, some free and some paid for: Helicon noise reduction, Topaz DeNoise, Topaz Adjust, Virtual Photographer, Nik Silver, and Nik Color FX. I use Autostitch for panoramas.

 

[boBQuincy]

I actually have downloaded GIMP and played in it a little bit. Do you know if I could do HDR using GIMP? (I think HDR is the right term I am looking for? When you take 3 pics of the same thing using bracketing and merge them together to get a different look?!?!)

I have been doing a lot with HDR and have not had much success with Photoshop CS4. I imagine GIMP is not much different. A dedicated HDR program is probably better for this and I have found Photomatix to be the best so far. I do some final touch up in CS4.

Here are some recent photos done with Photomatix. Some are over the top, some are very subtle, all are processed from HDR.

http://suzieandbob.com/trains/roanoke/HTML/index.htm?1

 

[tiggr33]

Currently I am a PSE6 user. I have but haven't loaded Premiere 7. I hope to load it tonight. My question to you, would be, what type of editing do you want to do? For my purposes PSE is the way to go. I tend to do only global adjustments to enhance images. Nothing against those that manipulate, but I am a photographer not a digital artist. I do use Photomatix on occasion to enhance an image, due to the limitations of digital capture verse that of the human eye.

 

[TakeMe2Disney]

I'm new to the photography board. I have a Nikon D40 with 2 lenses, 18-55mm and 55-200mm. I've just really started to get in to the more creative and artistic shot taking, not just family events.

My first question - which software is best for a beginner? I'm looking for something that does the basics, but isn't so far behind the next up and coming that I'll wish I hadn't gone so basic.

My second question - Sort of more a suggestions request. Friends of ours are getting married at Disney in October and have asked that I come and take photos while they get ready, etc. Disney photography is apparently expensive as heck and kind of limited. They'll be getting ready at GF, married at the chapel and reception at one of the GF ballrooms. I would love any suggestions for some neat shot ideas, but more importantly suggestions on the best settings, etc. for getting great pics of people. I can take a pretty decent pic of a flower, but I never seem to get really great people pics. I know I have a timing issue to work on, but my lighting is usually a little off (I finally figured out how to work with ISO this weekend!!). Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

 

[VVFF]

I'm new to the photography board. I have a Nikon D40 with 2 lenses, 18-55mm and 55-200mm. I've just really started to get in to the more creative and artistic shot taking, not just family events.

My first question - which software is best for a beginner? I'm looking for something that does the basics, but isn't so far behind the next up and coming that I'll wish I hadn't gone so basic.

My second question - Sort of more a suggestions request. Friends of ours are getting married at Disney in October and have asked that I come and take photos while they get ready, etc. Disney photography is apparently expensive as heck and kind of limited. They'll be getting ready at GF, married at the chapel and reception at one of the GF ballrooms. I would love any suggestions for some neat shot ideas, but more importantly suggestions on the best settings, etc. for getting great pics of people. I can take a pretty decent pic of a flower, but I never seem to get really great people pics. I know I have a timing issue to work on, but my lighting is usually a little off (I finally figured out how to work with ISO this weekend!!). Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

For your first question. start off with GIMP. You can download it free. It's definitely full featured and maybe not the easiest to pick up and use but it has the simple adjustments once you find out where they are located...oh and did I mention its FREE? If you need to learn how to do something simply ask google. Plenty of people use GIMP and there are many resources...or just ask here.

As for your second. I would be very careful about this situation. A wedding is a very special moment that's once in a lifetime. You don't want your friends to go disappointed if you weren't able to capture the shots they wanted. Now provided they understand that you aren't a pro and can't be expected to take pictures that normally cost thousands of dollars then you are good.

In regards to what settings to use. That's the age-old question isn't it. It's not something that be described in a forum post. You need to read up on aperture, ISO, shutter speed, metering, Color Temperature, Exposure, Dynamics range...oh its limitless. It's not just a matter of set your camera to this and you'll be good. Weddings are typically low light and the lenses you have will probably have difficulty without a flash. If you aren't careful and use the pop up flash you could get some really washed out subjects or harsh shadows.

I don't mean to scare you away, I'm just trying to point out that there is a reason those wedding pictures cost thousands of dollars and that's because you are buying the cost of that equipment used and the experience of the photographer. Now go out and start snapping pictures to learn how to handle your camera and when you don't like your results, post them here and we'll try to help find your problem.

 

[handicap18]

For the wedding pic's I would make sure you have a flash (like the SB-600) with a diffuser. You may also want to rent a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens (either the Nikkor or the Tamron). It will be much sharper and give better IQ than a kit lens.

Go to different photo sights and search for wedding pictures (smugmug, flickr, zenfolio, etc...). Find a bunch of different kind of shot and see what you like. Practice A LOT. Then practice some more. Make sure you are very comfortable with your camera.

 

[GrillMouster]

Disney Photography is expensive, but the couple can hire an independent photographer. That's what most of the brides on the DIS wedding board do. Check out the wedding forum here on the DIS; the brides there can recommended photographers with very affordable rates. If there's any part of a wedding that the couple should not skimp on, it's the photography. Food is consumed, flowers die, and everything else about a wedding quickly fades from memory, but photographs live on for generations.