Help me choose best photo editing software.

[BigGreen73]

I want to move up from what I have been using for photo editing but I am not sure what to get. Going to start shooting more in RAW as well. What's the newest, best programs under $200? I see Lightroom 4, photoshop elements 10 etc. What to the Dis faithful recommend?

 

[OKW Lover]

I guess it depends on what how extensive you intend to get with editing your photos. On my MBP, I've got both Aperture and Photoshop Elements 10. Both are very good, with Elements having a much greater editing ability including being able to airbrush things out, as well as more special effects.

 

[handicap18]

Like Jeff said, it depends on what you want to do and how well you it right with the shot.

I personally don't like to do a lot of editing. I always try to get it right when I take the picture. Easier said than done.

I've used aperture, lightroom, photoshop elements and Capture NX2. In the end I always go back to Capture NX2. Its Nikon's own software and it does what I want, crop when I need, adjust exposure compensation when I need, red eye if needed, adjust white balance, and a few other things.

I will use Elements occasionally for some "fun" editing stuff, but thats not to often.

I shoot RAW and personally, I don't want to deal with getting all the plug-ins and bla bla bla with 3rd party editors. I do have some specific settings in camera and unless I get the right plug-in the 3rd party editor don't recognize what I've done in camera. I'm sure its fairly easy for most people to get the plug-in's, but I just don't want to deal with it. So I stick with Capture NX2. For me its less hassle. Plus I don't want to spend all kinds of time doing post processing. I like my computer, but not that much.

 

[ssanders79]

You cannot go wrong with Lightroom. If you have a mac you can also look at Aperture. I've been using LR for years as my main program from editing RAW files. I've not upgraded to LR4 yet as I may switch to Aperture when I get a new computer.

 

[BigGreen73]

Like Jeff said, it depends on what you want to do and how well you it right with the shot.

I personally don't like to do a lot of editing. I always try to get it right when I take the picture. Easier said than done.

I've used aperture, lightroom, photoshop elements and Capture NX2. In the end I always go back to Capture NX2. Its Nikon's own software and it does what I want, crop when I need, adjust exposure compensation when I need, red eye if needed, adjust white balance, and a few other things.

I will use Elements occasionally for some "fun" editing stuff, but thats not to often.

I shoot RAW and personally, I don't want to deal with getting all the plug-ins and bla bla bla with 3rd party editors. I do have some specific settings in camera and unless I get the right plug-in the 3rd party editor don't recognize what I've done in camera. I'm sure its fairly easy for most people to get the plug-in's, but I just don't want to deal with it. So I stick with Capture NX2. For me its less hassle. Plus I don't want to spend all kinds of time doing post processing. I like my computer, but not that much.

You pretty much sum it up for me. I have had my camera for over a year now, time flies, and I am working really hard to try and get the most out of my camera. I want to try and learn the best settings, modes, and lenses for certain situations to get the pic that I want with the camera.

I take tons of pics and don't want to spend a ton of time post processing, except a few tweeks or some cropping here and there. I came home with 1400+ pics from my recent Virgina vacation and all but 1 are just what I was hoping for. The 1 is out of focus. I currently shoot in Jpeg and just use Picasa and the software include with my A55 (PMB) for my editing purposes right now and that has been fine.

I want to venture into taking RAW pics a little bit and was thinking of moving up the ladder with editing software. Maybe something with more creative options. I have heard good things about Lightroom and photoshop and was leaning there but would like to know which may be better w/ better options. If there are better software programs out better than those, I am open to suggestions.

 

[meanpc]

For pixel editing, Elements is really good and cheap. For "developing" it'd be hard to do better than Lightroom.

 

[NLD]

It really depends on what you want to do with your pictures.

Lightroom is good for managing your workflow and making global adjustments to pictures. Photoshop (and Photoshop Elements) is good for making localized adjustments.

If all you do to your pictures is adjust the exposure a bit, increase the contrast, adjust the white balance, play with the curves and temperature... Lightroom will suit your needs.

If you need to clone objects out, add objects in, substitute a different background, soften certain parts of the image and sharpen other parts..... Photoshop.

Given what you've said about your current shooting, how much time you spend editing, and your level of satisfaction with images straight-out-of-camera... I'd recommend Lightroom as a starting point. Then if you find there are things you still want do that Lightroom can't handle, if you want to get more detailed with editing specific parts of images, you can always pick up Photoshop Elements, too.

 

[photo_chick]

Like said, it depends on what you want to do. Lightroom is excellent for image management, RAW processing and basic editing. Photoshop (either elements or if you need heavy duty CS) is for when you want to do more. One thing to note though... Photoshop Elements can do everything that Lightroom does except for the image management tools. Adobe Camera RAW and Lightroom are the same image processor, the UI is just different. The appeal of Lightroom is that it's easier on the workflow because the image management IS in there.

And then there's the other options like Aperture, Bibble, Corel...

Go download some free trials. See what works for you.

 

[bob100]

I want to move up from what I have been using for photo editing but I am not sure what to get. Going to start shooting more in RAW as well. What's the newest, best programs under $200? I see Lightroom 4, photoshop elements 10 etc. What to the Dis faithful recommend?

I've used Canon DPP, Paintshop Pro, Picasa, but now it's pretty much all Photoshop CS3. I don't need all the features of a program like PS but it's nice having the software tools in case I do need them (or learn how to use them)

 

[NLD]

Like said, it depends on what you want to do. Lightroom is excellent for image management, RAW processing and basic editing. Photoshop (either elements or if you need heavy duty CS) is for when you want to do more. One thing to note though... Photoshop Elements can do everything that Lightroom does except for the image management tools. Adobe Camera RAW and Lightroom are the same image processor, the UI is just different. The appeal of Lightroom is that it's easier on the workflow because the image management IS in there.

And then there's the other options like Aperture, Bibble, Corel...

Go download some free trials. See what works for you.

Yes, true. If you're really just concerned with editing, might as well go Photoshop Elements.

Given that OP said they don't want to spend lots of time editing, I'm thinking the image management might be a benefit, though. Would get a number of editing capabilities PLUS the ability to improve workflow.

Really up to you, OP. PS Elements: can make global and localized edits. Lightroom: can make global edits and improve workflow.

 

[wbeem]

You cannot go wrong with Lightroom. If you have a mac you can also look at Aperture. I've been using LR for years as my main program from editing RAW files. I've not upgraded to LR4 yet as I may switch to Aperture when I get a new computer.

Let me know what sort of issues you're contemplating about the switch. By far, the most common search query that brings people to my blog is "Aperture vs Lightroom", or some variation of those terms. Since that isn't what my photography blog is about, I setup a new blog dedicated to covering features of Aperture & Lightroom, doing some comparisons where appropriate.

There's plenty of material to use, but I'm always curious which issues motivate people to go in one direction or another.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I use Capture NX2 and love it. So user friendly, I have tried other programs and always come back to it.

 

[ssanders79]

Let me know what sort of issues you're contemplating about the switch. By far, the most common search query that brings people to my blog is "Aperture vs Lightroom", or some variation of those terms. Since that isn't what my photography blog is about, I setup a new blog dedicated to covering features of Aperture & Lightroom, doing some comparisons where appropriate.

There's plenty of material to use, but I'm always curious which issues motivate people to go in one direction or another.

William, I have taken a look at the new site and even spent 30+ minutes using Aperture at the Apple Store. My first issue, which is also the biggest, is getting a new computer. From there it is determining if I want to live in the apple eco system and go with Aperture or stick with what I am used to in LR.

How does Aperture deal with Adobe DNG files? I've also spent considerable amount of time building my keyword hierarchy, will this be lost or is there a way to import those as well?