Photo Editing Programs, your favorite and why

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!

Photoshop CS and CS2 are ver good as well.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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!