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Celtic Radio Community > Photography > Photo Editing Programs

Posted by: CelticRose 30-May-2007, 08:08 PM

There are times for us photogs when we will need to be using photo editing programs for any minor or major reason. Just wondering what you recommend.

Presently I have the following:

-Adobe Photoshop 7. I have neither the patience, time or intelegence to learn this program. I want something user friendly and fast!

-Adobe Photo Elements which I was hoping would be better, but need to take time to learn.

-Picasa, which I totally love and is so easy to use and user friendly. This was recommended to me as well.

http://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDetail.htm

Anyone dare to recommend what they love using and why? I am looking for something extremely user friendly. Many thanks!

Posted by: Blue_Dragon5 31-May-2007, 08:49 PM

Photoshop CS and CS2 are ver good as well.

Posted by: Aaediwen 01-Jun-2007, 03:35 PM

Jasc Paint Shop Pro is a really cool program that makes cleaning up most photos a snap. I'd also be committing a sin if I didn't mention the GIMP. Most all the features of PS, none of the cost, and a lot less bloat.

Posted by: CelticRose 02-Jun-2007, 02:03 AM

Hmmm...interesting..Aaediwen! I have never heard of the programs you mentioned! A friend of mine is really hung up on ACDsee. I had it for awhile but I just didn't care for it.

I just downloaded a free trial of Photoshop Elements and will see how I like it. already I can see I am going to be a real dope with this program.

Picassa is so easy and I love it, but I need a program a wee bit more than Picassa does. So I guess I am going to have to roll up my shirt sleeves and take time to *try* to learn it!

I always did love paint shop, but I need something that will allow me to put watermarks or at least copyright on my pics. Perhaps Paintshop does that. I just don't know.

Thanks all!

Posted by: Aaediwen 02-Jun-2007, 04:50 PM

Should be able to do that with any of these programs. For a quick and dirty watermark in PSP, PS, or Gimp, I'd just add another layer, set it to say 5 or 10% opacity, and put some grey text or grey image on it. Then when you flatten that down to one layer again, it becomes embedded, and you're set. Same basic idea for adding a copyright notice to the image.

Posted by: oldraven 25-Jun-2007, 09:45 AM

I started out with Photoshop Limited 5.0, and now am using Photoshop CS2. It is a very easy to use program that creates clear images without being massive files. Quite user friendly.

Posted by: CelticRose 19-Jul-2007, 03:43 AM

I just purchased the latest Photoshop CS3. I was able to get to a certain part of editing and then.........poof.........lost. But I am getting a tutorial in the mail any day now that should help me. Before that I was using PS 7.

Posted by: Drothgord 19-Jul-2007, 04:14 AM

Photoshop CS3 is pretty good update to CS2 actually.
At last it has a proper b/w conversion and a little better raw support

In linux i use Gimp, which is the best free image editor out there.

Posted by: MDF3530 21-Jul-2007, 02:43 PM

The proprietary photo-editing software that came with my parents' newest printer/scanner is pretty good.

The printer is a HP C3135 All-In-One. The software is called HP Photosmart.

Posted by: CelticRose 28-Jul-2007, 12:36 PM

Well, I had to roll my sleeves up and focus, focus, focus, but learning Photoshop CS3. It really is a very cool program. Does all kinds of things. Helped to get a tutorial book and DVD though. I hope to learn to do much from this program! So I highly recommend it, but still love my Picassa as well!

Posted by: Drothgord 30-Jul-2007, 04:29 AM

CelticRose, yes it sure takes some time to get familiar with photoshop if one have never used it before.
I'm a graphical designer so i use photoshop a lot, but i know it's hard to learn.. i was learning once too.

Posted by: CelticRose 09-Aug-2007, 05:08 AM

Thanks, Drothgord. I just ordered the instruction Adobe Photoshop book for CS3. I sure hope this will help me! Thanks for your encouragement!

Posted by: Avonlea22 20-Nov-2007, 05:49 PM

I use a combination Photoshop CS2 and Elements 5.0.

I also use Microsoft PictureIt! Express 7.0 for real quick edits, such as size or crop. It came free with Wal-Mart discs several years ago.

Posted by: Gillian 08-Sep-2008, 06:40 AM

I agree on needing a manual for Photoshop. I love to tinker around with photo editing for fun and I could not figure out Photoshop for the life of me. It's not user friendly at all! But I found a book that details step-by-step many of the more common features and it has been a God-send! Also, my local community college offers adult continuing education classes on Photoshop editing that I am looking into. Something like that may be of use to you as well.

Posted by: DesertRose 16-Sep-2008, 12:59 AM

QUOTE (Avonlea22 @ 20-Nov-2007, 06:49 PM)

I use a combination Photoshop CS2 and Elements 5.0.

I also use Microsoft PictureIt! Express 7.0 for real quick edits, such as size or crop. It came free with Wal-Mart discs several years ago.

Avonlea, I have been hearing some really good things about "Picture It'. I may download that myself.

Gillian, care to share what good and helpful book you found for CS3? Thanks!

Posted by: Shadows 14-Mar-2012, 02:38 PM

QUOTE (Aaediwen @ 01-Jun-2007, 05:35 PM)

I have used Jasc Paint Shop Pro for many years and love it, I use it in conjuntion with Olympus Master 2. Both have great features.

Posted by: j Padraig moore 02-Jul-2013, 04:03 PM

I recently purchased a Mac Book Pro laptop, and therefore later purchased Aperture. Aperture is similar in many ways to Adobe Lightroom. I have never used LR but I certainly do love Aperture!

Posted by: CelticRadio 07-Jul-2013, 08:54 PM

I like Jasc Paint so much, I upgraded to X2 which Corel purchased Jasc just to get the same features. Unfortunately my printer needed the new drivers in X2.

I also have Corel Draw 6, but have not had a lot of time to explore the features. I mainly use it to convert wmf and cdr files which it does a great job.

Posted by: DesertRose 20-Jul-2013, 07:46 AM

My goodness! I was reading all my replies from way back of what editing software I used. How time changes things.

I am currently using Photoshop CS6 and Lightroom 5. LOVE LR5.

Now Adobe is only offering a rental for anything CS6 and higher. LR is not included...yet.

I really love Adobe products but can't justify spending the rental fee of what they now call the Creative Cloud suite. So will make use of what I have now till I no longer can and then switch over to either PaintShop Pro or Aperture.

Posted by: Shadows 20-Jul-2013, 10:14 AM

Hi Rose long time no see!!

I have added a new editing program to my collection. It is Called Portrait Professional. It is great for cleaning up portraits and faces in group shots, not much good for wildlife though.

Posted by: DesertRose 11-Aug-2013, 02:53 PM

Hey Shadows!! I used Portrait Professional for awhile. It is a really neat program. One has to be careful about opacity so not to make portraits look plastic-like though. Glad your enjoying it.

You might really like Lightroom 5. It is great for landscapes/nature. Has a ton of presets you can use to make your photos more artistic, if you wish.

You can do the same in PaintShop Pro, too.