Which software for beginner / enthusiast ?

[Stephen 500]

hello all,

i am wishing to purchase some software for my interest in working with my images.

After a interest in digital sir photography passed by many years ago I have recently become yet again interested and am wishing to look at kit and equipment I need to either purchase or upgrade.

many years ago I used photoshop 4, may even have the old CD laying around. Have had a quick look on the Internet forums etc and it appears now you can rent the required software from Adobe.

What is the difference please between Adobe photo CS and Adobe Lightroom, it looks like you can purchase them as a package or separate.

if you stink I should not uses Adobe, then could you recommend any other software ?

could you guys give me some hints and tips on the most suitable software to stat using agin. The kit is a average laptop running Windows 10 and I have an old Olympus E510 with. The normal kit lenses plus the 11 to 22 wide angle.

thanks and regards

John

 

[KCook]

There are lots of alternatives to Adobe. These links should give you some ideas -

Best free photo editing software for W10?

What RAW processor do you use primarily?

Kelly Cook
(ACDSee)

 

[Gerry Winterbourne]

i am wishing to purchase some software for my interest in working with my images.

After a interest in digital sir photography passed by many years ago I have recently become yet again interested and am wishing to look at kit and equipment I need to either purchase or upgrade.

Any digital camera you buy will have editing software bundled with it. This may come on a disc in the box with the camera or you may need to download it from the maker's website.

Many makers have their own proprietary software, a few provide Lightroom or other third party program.

My advice to newcomers to digital photography is to start with the software provided by the maker and only spend money on something different when you have developed some ideas about how you like to process your pictures. As you already have some experience with Photoshop this may not be appropriate for you but it will cost you nothing to try it.

many years ago I used Photoshop 4, may even have the old CD laying around. Have had a quick look on the Internet forums etc and it appears now you can rent the required software from Adobe.

What is the difference please between Adobe photo CS and Adobe Lightroom, it looks like you can purchase them as a package or separate.

The early versions of PS were aimed at JPG but there was a separate raw converter Adobe Camera Raw (ACR). At that time ACR did nothing but convert the raw file into something PS could work on.

Then ACR was incorporated into PS with some very limited editing capability. The first version of LR was just ACR plus a lot of non-editing things, mainly file management.

For people who didn't want to edit small parts of a picture LR was reasonably good. Since then it has developed into a very powerful editing tool. It is still mainly a whole-picture editor but it does have limited ability to edit selected areas. All the editing that LR does is also now included in ACR.

Thus, for whole-picture editing there's no meaningful different between LR and PS. It's only if you want to do selective editing (down to the pixel level if you want to) that need PS.

The Creative Suite bundle includes both LR and PS (Adobe only calls it LR CS because people recognise the name; it's just the same as PS CS). If you want the detail editing of PS the only way to get it is by subscription; and you'll get LR too. If you don't want that level of detailed editing you can buy LR6 rather than subscribing.

if you think I should not uses Adobe, then could you recommend any other software ?

could you guys give me some hints and tips on the most suitable software to stat using again. The kit is a average laptop running Windows 10 and I have an old Olympus E510 with. The normal kit lenses plus the 11 to 22 wide angle.

See above, although you may find it hard to get hold of the Olympus software for your camera.

 

[John Deerfield]

What is the difference please between Adobe photo CS and Adobe Lightroom, it looks like you can purchase them as a package or separate.

AFAIK, you can only purchase Lightroom (LR) outright. Photoshop (with LR included) is strictly subscription based.

You already know a bit about PS: it is a pixel based editor. You can drill all the way down to the pixel to make changes. I suppose the really big thing with PS is that it supports layers.

LR has two major functions. First, it is an image organizer. It can help you import, sort, rate, tag, find, back up your images and more. As your library of images grows, simply finding images can be a cumbersome task and this is something LR can make so much easier.

LR is also a global image editor. By that I mean that you aren't going to drill down to the actual pixel, you are editing "areas". You can increase/decrease exposure, contrast, vibrancy and more. LR will support brushes allowing you to target adjust different ares in an image.

if you stink I should not uses Adobe, then could you recommend any other software ?

I am not aware of anything like Lightroom's image database approach to organizing your images. Everything else I know of employs the Operating Systems file hierarchy approach. Adobe does make Photoshop Elements that can be purchased. Elements is two programs in one: the Organizer (LR lite!) and the Editor (PS lite!). And there are others as already pointed out. The advantage with Adobe is just the sheer number of peer-to-peer support that is out there.

 

[Dutch Newchurch]

There is a reason why Lightroom and Photoshop are the most commonly used packages.

I started with Elements, but the subscription for Lightroom and Photoshop are not much more expensive. I would not recommend Elements.

I use LR to catalogue my shots, and most of my processing. I'll do a bit more work on some in Photoshop.

 

[lehill]

if you think I should not uses Adobe, then could you recommend any other software ?

could you guys give me some hints and tips on the most suitable software to stat using again. The kit is a average laptop running Windows 10 and I have an old Olympus E510 with. The normal kit lenses plus the 11 to 22 wide angle.

See above, although you may find it hard to get hold of the Olympus software for your camera.

From this webpage it kinda, sorta, maybe looks like Olympus Viewer 3 will work with the EVOLT E510 (Viewer 3 looks pretty good actually):
http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_support_manuals.asp?id=1295

If you dig around the E510 support page there's also a couple firmware updates that may interest you:
http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_support_downloads.asp?id=1295&os=w

 

[Stephen 500]

Hi all,

Many thanks to all who have posted replies. Will give them all,plus the links sent,a read over the weekend and read up on the subject.

once again thanks to all for your prompt replies and response

regards,

John

 

[Bobthearch]

if you stink I should not uses Adobe, then could you recommend any other software ?

I have three suggestions for basic software packages, full-featured reasonably-priced photo editors:

• ACDSee Photo Editor 10. On sale now for only $30.
• Affinity Photo, $50.
• Paintshop Pro X9 Ultimate, currently $45 as a new version is coming soon.

By full-featured, I mean each of these programs has the ability to:

• Add plug-ins for additional or specialized functionality;
• Work in layers with masking;
• Work directly with RAW files (you'll have to investigate your specific camera compatibility);
• Perform all sorts of editing and correcting.

And most importantly, none of these programs are designed around damn (DAM) organization functions. No cataloging or databases or importing required. Working with these programs is as simple as open file, edit file, save/save-as/close file.

And of course each of these three is purchased outright, no monthly payments.

--
Personal non-commercial websites with no ads or tracking:
Local photography: http://ratonphotos.com/
Travel and photography: http://placesandpics.com/
Special-interest photos: http://ghosttowns.placesandpics.com/

 

[Bobthearch]

If you want something free and fast, easy to use but with some nice functionality, check out Topaz Studio. It's primarily marketed as a wrapper for the [very expensive] Topaz Plug-Ins, but it has a lot to offer as a stand-alone editor as well. It might just suit your needs:

Loading…

web.topazlabs.com

Click the "What do I get for free?" link.

 

[Catspaw]

Since I switched to digital about 10 years ago (probably the last one on the block to do so), I've used Paint.Net - pronounced "paint-dot-net". I found it very easy to learn and still use it exclusively today. Beast of, it's FREE. I send a donation of $20 once a year.

 

[Bobthearch]

Since I switched to digital about 10 years ago (probably the last one on the block to do so), I've used Paint.Net - pronounced "paint-dot-net". I found it very easy to learn and still use it exclusively today. Beast of, it's FREE. I send a donation of $20 once a year.

 

[KCook]

Lightroom lacks layers. And yet lots of shooters use LR as their only editor.

Kelly

 

[Bobthearch]

Lightroom lacks layers.

Adobe probably expects photographers to use Photoshop in conjunction with Lightroom; the two are even bundled in the rental deal.

For general editing, I would prefer PS Elements. Layered editing and no importing files into a damn (DAM) catalog system.

And yet lots of shooters use LR as their only editor.

I would assume more because of that program's RAW developing and DAM features than because of it's photo editing capabilities?

 

[KCook]

I would assume it's because they find the editing tools in LR perfectly adequate for their use. Not a "poor choice". BTW, I have Elements, hardly ever bother with it.

Kelly

 

[Gerry Winterbourne]

Lightroom lacks layers.

Adobe probably expects photographers to use Photoshop in conjunction with Lightroom; the two are even bundled in the rental deal.

I think Adobe is realistic and expects a wide range of users to use its tools in a range of ways.

It certainly expects a lot of people to want to do global editing only; after all, it had been offering pixel-level/layers editing in PS for years before it brought out LR. So the global-only capability must have been seen as widely-enough wanted to be commercially viable. Of course, it recognises that that's not quite enough for some people, which is why later versions of LR have a certain amount of selective editing.

It expects a lot of people to want pretty basic pixel-level/layers editing with raw capability because it brought out PSE as a very slimmed-down version of PS. LR users who want a bit of pixel-level/layers editing can get PSE without the full PS and Adobe expects this too.

The bundling is interesting. For several versions ACR has had the same editing as LR so for users of PS there's no editing reason to want LR. However, the DAM part of LR can be valuable so adding LR into PS CS was a handy way of attracting some more CS users.

Regardless of what Adobe expects users to do, it wants users to join its subscription model. LR CS is just the same as PS CS but with the name changed to attract LR users.

 

[Mystery member]

Could you guys give me some hints and tips on the most suitable software to start using again. The kit is a average laptop running Windows 10 and I have an old Olympus E510 with the normal kit lenses plus the 11 to 22mm wide angle.

Depending on how "average" your laptop happens to be, it may not be sufficient for LR and the other full strength programs (minimum is roughly Intel i5 with 8Gb RAM and sufficent HDD space, maybe 500Gb). The various freeware (or nearly free) programs are worth thinking about, and there are several programs that haven't been mentioned.

I use Picasa (superseded program from Google, but still available for download) on my small travelling notebook, and it's fine for a quick look at JPEGs as well as basic editing/resizing for email etc. Picasa also installs a handy default image viewer for Windows, as well as keeping a basic catalogue of images and offering undo features.

Picasa editing screen...

 

[Bill Donnell]

Why buy? Fastone Image Viewer is free and add free. Photo editing is easy and has many functions. Download it and check it out before you buy. Just move the arrow to the left side of the screen and editor opens automatically for picture being viewed.

 

[Josh Root]

To my eye, for around $75, Photoshop Elements is the best deal out there as far as general editing software. Can you do more with other software? Of course. But Elements will get you in the game and let you learn to play with your images. By the time you've reached its limitations, you'll know more about what you want out of photo software.

 

[MichelB]

To my eye, for around $75, Photoshop Elements is the best deal out there as far as general editing software. Can you do more with other software? Of course. But Elements will get you in the game and let you learn to play with your images. By the time you've reached its limitations, you'll know more about what you want out of photo software.

Well said.

There are many valid options for beginners, but really which other can boast at the same time:

- 'Play with your images' - Yes playing for learning, that's fun.

- not only a selection of what is best in Photoshop for the editor, but quick and guided editing modes. Far from being a 'sripped down' version of Photoshop, rather the essence of Photoshop without the 90% of features you'll never use.

- A lot of support in books, videos, forums.

- Excellent raw conversion

- No better learning tool if you think you may have to move to Photoshop or Lightroom.

- Powerful organizer with revamped interface (search by touchscreen...) If you think you may use LR later, your powerful organization in catalogs will be recognized.

- availability of external add-ons to reveal missing Photoshop features, of a lot of plugins, actions, tutorials;

- Even if you choose Lightroom later as your main tool, it's the perfect complementary tool for pixel editing and layer work.

- Does not require as powerful a hardware setup as the CC.

Yes, I am partial;-)

 

[fotografffic]

I would not recommend Elements.

Why not?

I just purchased it and think it's very good especially for a beginner. I've been using Photoshop from version 1 through CS3. Have no real need to subscribe but I still want to do more than basic editing and PSE (2018 version) has most of the tools I personally use. If not, I improvise. And for a beginner, the Quick and Guided editing modes are terrific!

Any photo editing program has a learning curve but it's well worth the time and effort.

btw, I've struggled getting a handle on the Organizer but with help from dpreview and Adobe forum participants I'll eventually get it. I do like PSE very much.