Paint.Net

[Kyna]

Hey,

I am new to the forum and JUST got my Canon Rebel XS for Christmas. I have lots of friends with children that I will be practicing on to improve my portrait skills.

I am wondering if I will be able to get away with using paint.net for editing for a while or if photoshop is REALLY necessary. I also have a picnik account but I am afraid that the images will loose their quality from uploading.

I don't want heavily edited photos, I just really like the bright and light style of portraits. I have included an examples of what I mean....

 

[arcooke]

Paint.NET isn't the only alternative to Photoshop. You can also use Gimp, which is also free and very similar to Photoshop.

 

[Boomn4x4]

RawTherapee, from a "processing" persepective, is much better than Gimp or Paint.net.

 

[Kyna]

I know you guys didn't take the photo obviously, but can you tell if it was the editing that makes it look so bright or the lighting?

 

[Kyna]

Just want to have an idea of how to "mimic" it.

 

[enzodm]

I am wondering if I will be able to get away with using paint.net for editing for a while or if photoshop is REALLY necessary.

Included with your camera there is a Canon software that does the very basic (not on selection but just on the overall image, yet good for start).

 

[Boomn4x4]

I know you guys didn't take the photo obviously, but can you tell if it was the editing that makes it look so bright or the lighting?

Mostly the lighting. You can tell by the shadows, or lack there of. Processing can be used to brighten up pictures, but if the lighting is bad, you'll still see it. Processing can't fix bad lighting.

 

[Kyna]

Thanks for the info!