Which Adobe Photo shop for amature use....?

[Ghiblidaisuki]

Hi,

I am becoming more interested in using software to correct flaws in my photos and maybe to let me ass some effects to enhance my photos.....

Which leads me to my question.....

Which Adobe Photo shop would be best for amature use....?

I use a Canon DSLR and shoot a variety of styles of photogarphy, but I am mostly interested in Landscaped and Macro so I wonder which version of the software would be best are there are so many to choose from I am very confused whay to buy.

I currently do not use software because I wanted to control what I capture when taking a photo, but slowly and I feeling I can use photo shop to enhance what I have captured in the phot....

Any recommendations for me?

Thanks

 

[hotdog321]

This is a very good question. In my opinion (I've been shooting professionally for 30 years) every image can be improved beyond the camera stage. I've never seen image: negative, slide or digital, that can't be improved with a bit of PP (post processing). But RAW digital, in particular, offers enormous tweaks and fixes.

That said, the software that comes free with your Canon (Digital Photo Professional--DPP) is highly regarded once you learn to use it. Many pros love Lightroom, and I continue to use Photoshop CS5 just because I am most comfortable with it. Others swear by GIMP and some other free software programs.

Lightroom is targeted to photographers, and Photoshop CS5 offers insane amounts of flexibility that graphic artists seem to enjoy. CS5 also costs a fortune and Adobe's recent upgrade changes are problematic.

I'd say go with DPP or Lightroom. The most important thing--and this is the real key--is to learn how to use the software and stick with it. Most of this stuff can produce amazing tweaks.

 

[runscape]

Photoshop Elements is another option.

 

[plantdoc]

Elements 10, perhaps with a plugin or two, is rather impressive for the price. I started using DPP and Elements and wonder why I upgraded to CS5. Why Elements? Bought the combo package with Elements Premiere for initially editing video.

Greg

 

[Ghiblidaisuki]

Thank you for the very detail information,

I am very greatful you take time to write so much detail.

If I use DPP do i neeed to shoot in RAW or can I shoot ins normal format ?

I know RAW maybe allows more PP editing, but I want to use both RAW and normal format when I take photos, for example if my card is running low on storage i may swap back to normal format or shoot with normal format with test shots then take raw inages once I am happy with the composition etc ?

Thank for any furthur information you can provide.

Warm Regards

 

[Ghiblidaisuki]

Thanks,

yes elements is a cheap option and if i become competent with the DPP and elements I am sure I can make some improvements to my images.....

but I am not sure because there are so many options, but I donot want to spen the monney for CS5 type softward because i think it is aimed at a higher level that I am at right now, to I would not get the benefits from this software....

Regards..

 

[Jim Cockfield]

I'd look at other options, too. Adobe is highly regarded. But, they're not the "only game in town". ;-)

For example, for a great alternative to Lightroom, look at Corel Aftershot Pro (formerly Bibble Pro).

It's really fast:

http://bibblelabs.com/products/bibble5/features/speed.html

It's inexpensive, too. Corel bought Bibble Labs and reintroduced Bibble Pro as Corel Aftershot Pro for $99 retail (when Bibble Pro 5 was selling for $199). Corel is offering it for only $79 right this minute:

http://www.corel.com/corel/product/index.jsp?pid=prod4670071

If you dig around, I've also seen some deals at vendors where you could get Corel Aftershot Pro and Corel PaintShop Pro X4 for around $99 as a bundle.

Here's a "Webinar" showing some of it's features. You'll see some of the selective editing features showing how to use layers and regions about 30 minutes into it (so you can do things like adjust the exposure and use fill light on the bottom of an image, without changing the sky).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i633ZBya9Fc

Corel AfterShot Pro is also cross platform (available for Linux, Windows and OS X).

For image editing, you may also want to look at the GIMP. It's open source and free. GIMP 2.8 RC1 was just released yesterday with loads of new features. It should go final very soon (I'd expect to see the final release within the next few weeks) and have a Windows version available.

--
JimC

 

[hotdog321]

Yes, you can use any of these programs for RAW or jpeg, no problem. In fact, I shot jpeg only for many, many years and only started shooting RAW last year.

jpeg works great if the light is decent and you pay attention to your exposure. RAW really shines if you are facing nasty, cruddy, contrasty or off-color lighting situations.

 

[skyglider]

Which Adobe Photo shop would be best for amature use....?
Any recommendations for me?

Recommend the latest version of Photoshop Elements. Photoshop Elements has adjustment layers capability that can do things that are not possible without them.

Paintshop Pro also has adjustment layers. As far as I know, the free GIMP software does not.

Learn how to use adjustment layers and you'll never go back,
Sky

 

[dlkeller]

I use LR for my Raw processing and filing system then go to Elements when I need to do more detailed work such as cloning, selective sharpening or blur, layers, and other features. I took a CS5 cloass and found I could do most of the things with my old Elements 6, and it's my understanding Elements 10 has gone quite a ways from my older version.
--
Dave

 

[Denis247]

I use Elements 10 for Raw and Jpeg.

Great little programme and easy to use. Lots of support in these forums from users also.

 

[Glen Barrington]

in terms of "Bang for Bucks", non Adobe products offer the photographer much. That being said I am a dedicated Lightroom user! And yes, I am fully aware of my inconsistent attitudes! But I have a restless heart and I'm always trying to see what's over the next hill.

With Paint Shop Pro (their stand alone editor) and now Aftershot Pro (similar to Lightroom, and of high quality, too), Corel, at last, offers serious and effective competition to Adobe. If they don't let their marketing guys screw it all up. (something of a tradition at Corel).

I've pretty much switched from a combination of Lightroom and Elements to a combination of Lr and Paint Shop Pro. Would I switch from Lr to AP? Not at this point, I have too much time and effort in the Lr experience; but if I were starting out, it would be a real horse race between Lr an AP.

I'm also pretty impressed with ACDSee Pro as a substitute for Lr. Go for 'Pro' over regular ACDSee, it doesn't cost that much more, and it does so much more, plus adds raw capability to to the mix.
--
I'm so bright, my father calls me son.

Now that you've judged the quality of my typing, take a look at my photos. . .
http://www.jpgmag.com/people/glenbarrington/photos

 

[Ghiblidaisuki]

I think I am going to buy Photoshop Elements 10 the latest version. It seems suited to my needs and not expensive.....

Thanks for all the great detail replied and thanks for your time and effort you put into your replies.

I appreciate it very much

Warm Regards