What editing program?

[tazdev3225]

I bought a new computer in the past year and a scanner for my old pre-digital photos. The last piece that I need is an editing program that goes beyond the pre-installed stuff from Microsoft. I eventually want to move to RAW as I feel more comfortable with my DSLR. For now I want to be able to fix some of the flaws in my photos, and I know with JPEG I am limited, and restore some of my older photos.

I have looked at Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 and Corel Photo Pro X. They seem to do the same thing but with a $40 price difference. The people that work in the stores are useless when it comes to having any knowledge of these programs. Those of you that use editing software any advice on which is the better program. I am never going to be a pro photographer but would like to bump my photos up a notch if you know what I mean.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

We have PE8 and Pro2. The DW likes Corel and I like PE. IMO, its what you get used to using. I see good results from both.

 

[LordAthens]

If you're going to be shooting in RAW, Adobe Lightroom is highly recommended.

 

[mrcricket]

If you wanting an "editing" program, then Photoshop is the way to go. If you want a "processing and cataloging" program Lightroom is the way to go. I do 90% of my processing in Lightroom. I only go into photoshop for heavy duty editing like removing parts of photos, or adding or moving things. I think most people will do well with just Lightroom. Very easy to learn and an excellent RAW processor.

 

[photo_chick]

Just a note on the scanning... don't save the scans as a JPEG, save as a TIFF. You'll be glad you did down the road.

Mr. cricket summed up the PS/Lightroom differences perfectly. I use both Lightroom and Photoshop CS5 myself. If I had to pick one though, I'd go Photoshop because even though image management in Bridge is painful, I can always process in Camera RAW. Where as I can't do what I need to do with scans in Lightroom. But we all have different needs.

 

[tazdev3225]

Just a note on the scanning... don't save the scans as a JPEG, save as a TIFF. You'll be glad you did down the road.

Mr. cricket summed up the PS/Lightroom differences perfectly. I use both Lightroom and Photoshop CS5 myself. If I had to pick one though, I'd go Photoshop because even though image management in Bridge is painful, I can always process in Camera RAW. Where as I can't do what I need to do with scans in Lightroom. But we all have different needs.

Can I ask what the difference is? I did save the photos as JPEG but I will delete and start all over if that is a better way to go.

Thank you all for the input. I have a much better idea what I want to do now.

 

[LordAthens]

Keep in mind there is a HUGE price difference between Photoshop CSx and Lightroom. LR runs ~$170, CSx is ~$500

 

[photo_chick]

Can I ask what the difference is? I did save the photos as JPEG but I will delete and start all over if that is a better way to go.

Thank you all for the input. I have a much better idea what I want to do now.

JPEG's use a lossy compression, TIFF's don't. I wouldn't start all over, you can still do all the same editing with either one but you'll have to deal with compression artifacting with a JPEG. I'd just scan the rest as TIFF's.

On the price difference between PS CS5 and Lightroom... yeah, but you can get Photoshop Elements, which still has camera raw and solid editing tools for less than Lightroom.

 

[topdog]

You lose image quality every time you save the jpg file repeatly. The more you edit and save the image, the more image quality will be lose.

TIF file retain all image information no matter how many time you save the file.

 

[Marlton Mom]

Keep in mind there is a HUGE price difference between Photoshop CSx and Lightroom. LR runs ~$170, CSx is ~$500

I took a intro to Photoshop class at my local Community College. It was only 4 sessions and way too fast but I got a huge discount on the software and the class itself only cost $98.

It was a good investment of my time and dollars so that is one way to save on the $$$ costs of Photoshop.

Hopefully that will help you out....
~ Marlton Mom

 

[tazdev3225]

JPEG's use a lossy compression, TIFF's don't. I wouldn't start all over, you can still do all the same editing with either one but you'll have to deal with compression artifacting with a JPEG. I'd just scan the rest as TIFF's.

On the price difference between PS CS5 and Lightroom... yeah, but you can get Photoshop Elements, which still has camera raw and solid editing tools for less than Lightroom.

I may start all over because some of these are really old Disney trips. It isn't that big a deal for me as I don't work and have the time.

I may look into Elements to start and move up as I improve my skills

You lose image quality every time you save the jpg file repeatly. The more you edit and save the image, the more image quality will be lose.

TIF file retain all image information no matter how many time you save the file.

Thanks, that is what I needed to know I did great as an amateur before the computer age. I have been doing a lot of reading to understand how I have gotten the results on my pics. I get a lot of compliments but I want to get better

I took a intro to Photoshop class at my local Community College. It was only 4 sessions and way too fast but I got a huge discount on the software and the class itself only cost $98.

It was a good investment of my time and dollars so that is one way to save on the $$$ costs of Photoshop.

Hopefully that will help you out....
~ Marlton Mom

I am actually looking into a class given at a local college on Photoshop. It's only a couple of sessions but may be just what I need to understand it.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[SrisonS]

You can also download trial versions of those programs from the Adobe site. And Lightroom will probably be easier to get a hang of. You basically just slide levels all over the place. Of course you should know what they do; but just sliding them around will help you figure that out. And those adjustments are nicely layed out. No need to rely on icons or hunting through menus.

 

[mom2rtk]

You can also download trial versions of those programs from the Adobe site. And Lightroom will probably be easier to get a hang of. You basically just slide levels all over the place. Of course you should know what they do; but just sliding them around will help you figure that out. And those adjustments are nicely layed out. No need to rely on icons or hunting through menus.

So if I just slide those bars around, I'll get pictures just like yours, right Scott???? Had no idea it could be so easy!

 

[SrisonS]

So if I just slide those bars around, I'll get pictures just like yours, right Scott???? Had no idea it could be so easy!

Of Course!!!!!!!

 

[tazdev3225]

You all have been so helpful and maybe one day I will get to be as good as some of you. I have made a decision or I should say that Staples made the decision for me. I got a preview of their upcoming ad and Photoshop Elements is going to be on sale for President's Day. I have 3 very close to me so I will be going there first thing Sunday morning.

I had a great film camera that took all the guess work out of photography for me and now I am catching up with the new technology so I am happy. As I learn I will post some pics for amusement or critique.

Thanks all. I love this board.

 

[lblume91]

I came to the photography boards looking for this exact question. Thanks so much!! I got my 1st DSLR back in May. Now that I've (mostly) mastered it, I'm ready to learn how to "fancy" my photos up even more.

 

[cosine4]

You can also download trial versions of those programs from the Adobe site. And Lightroom will probably be easier to get a hang of. You basically just slide levels all over the place. Of course you should know what they do; but just sliding them around will help you figure that out. And those adjustments are nicely layed out. No need to rely on icons or hunting through menus.

I have seen some of your work on here and would like to learn a little more about how you do that before taking the plunge and buying Lightroom. I do get an education discount but still want to make sure that I will use it fully before spending the money.

Do you have a good book or resource that you could recommend for making the lighting/tone/sharpening adjustments that you have shown?

I currently don't shoot in RAW mainly due to the need for post processing. Can Lightroom do batch processing and how long does it take? For example if I come home from a trip with 4,000 pics can I just pick out the ones the I want to adjust differently than a default and set the rest to run?

I currently use GIMP for all of my editing and prefer it to photoshop. Are there any open source programs that compare to Lightroom?

 

[manning]

Can I ask what the difference is? I did save the photos as JPEG but I will delete and start all over if that is a better way to go.

Thank you all for the input. I have a much better idea what I want to do now.

This article may interest you.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/raw.htm

 

[SrisonS]

I have seen some of your work on here and would like to learn a little more about how you do that before taking the plunge and buying Lightroom. I do get an education discount but still want to make sure that I will use it fully before spending the money.

Do you have a good book or resource that you could recommend for making the lighting/tone/sharpening adjustments that you have shown?

I currently don't shoot in RAW mainly due to the need for post processing. Can Lightroom do batch processing and how long does it take? For example if I come home from a trip with 4,000 pics can I just pick out the ones the I want to adjust differently than a default and set the rest to run?

I currently use GIMP for all of my editing and prefer it to photoshop. Are there any open source programs that compare to Lightroom?

Scott Kelby has a great book about the ins and outs of Lightroom. So that's a great place to start. And LR can do batch processing. I've never used it though, so I couldn't tell you too too much about it. I've never heard anything bad about it, and I'm sure it works great; but it's just not personal type of work flow. But the good thing about LR is that all photo changes can easily be undone; and it keeps track of every adjustment you make. So say you've made 100 adjustments on a photo (like testing how things work, and going back to previous adjustments... etc..); you can scroll through that photo's History, and a preview screen will show you how each little adjustment affected that photo. So even if you do all that work, you can always revert back to the original and start from scratch.

In fact, you can create Virtual Copies, and process one photo in various ways (doesn't make a duplicate image file, just a duplicate processing entry... Others can explain it better)... a color copy, a b&w version, a test technique version... And all of this can be done because LR is a non-destructive program. Those changes never really touch your original file. And unless I overlooked the setting, I don't think GIMP has a database of all your processing adjustments. Once you're done working on a picture, you're DONE. No going back a month later to make one tiny little change. But PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong about that. I only used GIMP a short while to add borders, and another small task.... Both of which I can do in LR now.