How do YOU edit photos?

[kassiexlee]

I added this to the beginners section, even though I've been into photography for about three years, simply because I am new to editing.
I usually use online sources to edit such as FotoFlexer and Picnik but I'm unhappy with how small the files become.
So now I'm looking for a program that is easy to use to edit. Obviously Photoshop came to mind but I'm worried it's too complicated. How do you guys feel about it? I've tried Corel Photo Paint x3, GIMP, and Adobe Photoshop version 8. I'm not loving any of them.

Advice? Tips to make it easier? Favorite programs?
Any input would be great, thank you.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Try a free trial copy of Adobe Elements 9, you may enjoy it and find it useful.

 

[frisii]

it's a FAQ

which editing programme? thephotoforum - Google Search

 

[tirediron]

I use a combination of Photoshop CS4, Nikon Capture NX2 and Adobe Lightroom along with various plug-ins.

My suggestions to you would be to look at Adobe Photoshop Elements (latest version), or Corel PaintShop Pro (latest version). These both retail for <$100 and have all of the editing power that 99.9% of photographers require. They do have a bit of a learning curve, but by searching for tutorials on-line, you can usually figure out fairly quickly how to perform almost any task.

 

[jgooz]

I agree with the Elements suggestion. I pretty much use photoshop for everything. there's RAW codecs for both nikon or canon, or any other one i would imagine. there are literally endless tutorials online plus some basic ones on the Adobe website that will prove most helpful. and it just takes time to play around with everything.

 

[KmH]

I've tried Corel Photo Paint x3, GIMP, and Adobe Photoshop version 8. I'm not loving any of them.

Why are you not loving any of them?

Are you trying to figure out how to use them on your own, with no instruction? That takes a long, long time, and is know as the trial-and-error method.

My image editing reference library consists of 32 books, and a list of about 150 online links. I use Photoshop CS4 Extended, Photoshop CS5, Lightroom 2, and a plethora of other plugins from hdrSoft, Topaz Labs, imagenomic, Nik Softwrae, OnOne Software, and a few others. I have3 books on editing by Scott Kelby, Bruce Frazer, Tim Grey, Martin Evening, Adobe, Dave Cross, Matt Keslowski, and others.

There is no EASY button.

Beginning GIMP: From Novice to Professional

The Photoshop Elements 8 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter)

PaintShop Photo Pro X3 For Photographers

I don't use Corel's products, but Adobe software includes access to a ton of Adobe online tutorials. Just open your Adobe software and click on the "HELP' button.

Making good edits requires understanding how a digital photograph works. I'm referring to things like bit-depth, color management, anti-aliasing, dithering, luminosity, histograms, sharpness, color, interpolation, contrast, etc.

Tutorials for most of those subjects can be found here: Digital Photography Tutorials

 

[AfroKen]

I use Photoshop CS4, but it's not immediately intuitive, so you really do have to put in the time. If you can figure out layering and mess around with the filters and figure out a number of things associated with it, it would definitely help. I use CS4 and ViewNX2 since I use a Nikon.

I seem to remember Lightroom being fairly easy to figure out, and heard that Elements is easy to use as well. I personally dislike how GIMP is configured, but it's a powerful program. I just find it irritating to use, even when I know how to do things. But you can't beat the price.

 

[jmurphy]

I use Lightroom 3 & Photoshop CS4. I found Lightroom fairly easy to learn.

 

[Robin Usagani]

Lightroom 3, 95% of my edit. The other 5 is photoshop.

 

[KmH]

Photoshop CS4 uses ACR 5 to edit in Camera Raw. Lightroom 3 and CS5's Camera Raw use ACR 6 to edit.

Both ACR 5 and ACR 6 are pretty easy to learn how to use, but still require a book length treatment to really understand how to use them.

Real World Camera Raw with Adobe Photoshop CS4

Real World Camera Raw with Adobe Photoshop CS5

 

[IgsEMT]

I am with others on multiple software combinations of PS, LR, Capture as well as number of plugins from ink, topaz, onone, etc.
I tried dxolabs, biblepro, but found that none of them worked for me. I also use acdsee for previews, batch renaming and little things as such.
As KmH mentioned there is magic button, I wish there was though

 

[EPPhoto]

Lightroom 3, 95% of my edit. The other 5 is photoshop.

Same here...maybe even more LR for me. I love batch processing! Makes my workflow so much faster/painless lol

 

[480sparky67 67]

I use WhiteOut and colored Sharpies.

 

[KmH]

Many that have CS(x) Camera Raw, don't know it can do batch edits. After all Lightroom and Camera Raw are both ACR, as far as editing goes.

And since Photoshop Bridge can host Camera Raw, you can have Bridge doing Camera Raw batch edits, while you do edits on other images in Photoshop.

 

[adversus]

I use:

Aperture
Pixelmator
Photomatix