Which Photo editing program?

sauce839

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I have a quick question, I've been playing with Nikon Capture NX (trial version), and have moved on to Photoshop Elements 7. Both seem to do roughly the same thing, but with a different interface. Anyways, my elements 7 trial is about to run out, and I was going to try CS4, but which one... there seem to be a few different versions available (master, design, etc...) so which one is good for just photo editing?

Thanks in advance,

Chris
 
from what I heard GIMP is good. But if you have too much money get CS4 Extended(I think that's the most expensive one)
 
If you want just photo editing, just download the trial of photoshop cs4 extended. The things you listed are packages. The master one, is every adobe program in the suite except like one (photoshop,flash,dreamweaver,illustrator etc.) Then there are "job specific" packages. Like web premium, design premium, which come with about 5 programs, for instance design premium has Photoshop, illustrator, dreamweaver, flash, cant remember the last one. Just download a trial of photoshop cs4 extended and you'll be fine.
THis is the place https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=photoshop&loc=en
 
on tip from me - you can always edit a photo if you have it to edit -- you can do it today, tomorrow, next year or in 10 years time*
However you can't take a shot tomorrow that you missed today.
I don't advise people to jump in the deep end with the expensive adobe packages - elements does more than enough for many newer photographers and it has a wide range of 3rd party upgrades and addons that can add quite a lot of missing features as well. Compare that to CS line which are £/$100s in cost and also where a newer photographer is not going to understand enough of editing to even use half of what you have just bought for a long time. Based on that I advise people to go for the cheaper options (elements, paintshop pro, Gimp**) or maybe for lightroom (though again its a bit more specialist in that its made for RAW processing - not ideal for many just starting out) and spend the rest of the funds on things like new glass, tripods, flashes etc... --- basically things that let them get the shots in the first place


* provided that you keep your images well achived and backed up of course
 
I completely agree with overread. I was just trying to get a basic rundown lol. I would say download the trial of photoshop cs4 extended and gimp. Use them all, and see what you like best. If you really like cs4 and have the cash, cool. If you like gimp, sweet its free, if you like elements, again, cool its not too expensive. Also, dont forget, a good image starts from the camera.
 
By the way, you don't need the Extended version of Photoshop for photo editing. Personally, I use Lightroom for 99% of my editing and it's like 1/2 the cost of Photoshop.
 
I'm one of those, "last to upgrade" type of people. I've been using CS2 for quite since it was released. I don't see a need for most photographers to need a later addition. You can find used retail copies of CS2 for ~$100-150 on eBay. Probably even cheaper on Craigslist.

Personally, unless you've exhaused the capabilities of lightroom, then upgrade to CS*. Less money spent on software = more money to spend on lenses :lmao::lol:
 
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Personally, unless you've exhaused the capabilities of lightroom, then upgrade to CS*. Less money spent on software = more money to spend on lenses :lmao::lol:

I've already got the lenses that I want for now... unless I go up to the massively expensive exotic lenses... but the Nikkor 12-24, 18-135, and 70-200mm will work just fine for now. I do still need to pick up some new filters, but that will come later. :D

The reason I ask, is that I have some free time coming up, and figure it would be a good time to start looking at some software instead of spending a month playing around with a trial version and then have the trial period run out and start all over again with a new program. Also, my sister can pick me up a student version of CS4 for about 1/4 the normal price.
 
if your looking at picking up the serious software then consider also possible a workshop/meetup with a local photographer or some good training books to get the most out of it. Its money well spent and it will let you get far more out of your software than most trial and error work will (also don't forget to read up on printing as well - it has different editing requirements than online images)

Also it might be worth putting some of that saved money towards a screen calibrater like a Spyder 3
 

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