Looking for photo editing software recommendations. I have had limited experience with photo editing using iPhoto, Im looking for a user friendly yet more sophisticated editing software. I do not anticipate doing a lot of editing but something I can start with that's not too complicated for a beginner. I shoot mostly landscape and wildlife. Thanks for your input and recommendations.
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Photo editing software recommendations for beginner
- Thread starter edirner
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There are several free programs that some people recommend and you might even get some suggestions for a raw processor like Lightroom (which would be ridiculous 
) but the industry standard is Photoshop and Photoshop Elements would be your smartest choice.
Elements will do everything most people need and it's easy for a beginner because it has auto adjustments that will get you started while you're learning how to use the manual adjustments.
There are all kinds of "how-to" videos and books like "Elements for Dummies" that can teach you how to do as much or as little as you want to do with your images.
The stand-alone version of Elements 2019 is about $100.00 but worth it because it should be all you need for quite a while and if you're serious about photography Photoshop is the way to go.
) but the industry standard is Photoshop and Photoshop Elements would be your smartest choice.Elements will do everything most people need and it's easy for a beginner because it has auto adjustments that will get you started while you're learning how to use the manual adjustments.
There are all kinds of "how-to" videos and books like "Elements for Dummies" that can teach you how to do as much or as little as you want to do with your images.
The stand-alone version of Elements 2019 is about $100.00 but worth it because it should be all you need for quite a while and if you're serious about photography Photoshop is the way to go.
despacito
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- A massive collection of "looks" (present filters) which allow you to change the look in 1-click, if you prefer the quick/easy way
- Fine tune/advance editing with many built-in filters, including 2 AI filters (general use & skies) that do their magic with zero effort
- Library manager for managing your photo collection
- Perpetual license (no need to pay each month like Adobe's model, if you prefer not to. (by the way, they upgraded Luminar 2018 users to Luminar 3 at no cost, and release periodic updates with new features). Previous version upgrade cost was discounted.
- A huge collection of tutorials/guides/videos on their site, with many more independent guides on youtube.
The official price is $70 but Google a bit and you'll find discounted offers (saving you $10 or more).
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-...-expectancy-eggs-dairy-research-a7168036.html
- Fine tune/advance editing with many built-in filters, including 2 AI filters (general use & skies) that do their magic with zero effort
- Library manager for managing your photo collection
- Perpetual license (no need to pay each month like Adobe's model, if you prefer not to. (by the way, they upgraded Luminar 2018 users to Luminar 3 at no cost, and release periodic updates with new features). Previous version upgrade cost was discounted.
- A huge collection of tutorials/guides/videos on their site, with many more independent guides on youtube.
The official price is $70 but Google a bit and you'll find discounted offers (saving you $10 or more).
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-...-expectancy-eggs-dairy-research-a7168036.html
KCook
Forum Pro
There are now more editors than ever. And each has its fans, so brace yourself for a food fight :-D
I struggled with Elements for years, ended up finding Lightroom easier to use. A few years ago I kicked my Adobe habit for ACDSee, have not used Adobe since. Now I'm being tempted by Luminar.
Anyways, links for prior food fights -
Which software for beginner / enthusiast ?
How much Photoshop/Lightroom vs other editing software do you use?
RAW processor software
Kelly Cook
I struggled with Elements for years, ended up finding Lightroom easier to use. A few years ago I kicked my Adobe habit for ACDSee, have not used Adobe since. Now I'm being tempted by Luminar.
Anyways, links for prior food fights -
Which software for beginner / enthusiast ?
How much Photoshop/Lightroom vs other editing software do you use?
RAW processor software
Kelly Cook
neoofmatrix
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If you are just a beginner, you should start with Nikon's Capture NX-D. (I see you have a D7500). It is Nikon's own software and it is Free.
It is not only a competent Raw editor but it gets the best image quality out of Nikon's cameras. It has most of the basic tools that you can learn within a day or two and recently they added some local adjustments.
Once you outgrow Capture NX-D, you can move to any paid software, but I guess that will be a long time.
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downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com
ToxicTabasco
Senior Member
Good question and an important one.
Editing pics is one huge aspect of creating photography. And, it's what separates the advanced photographer from the masses of phone shooters.
The best way to start editing is to use the software that came with your camera. That software is often downloaded. And it contains everything you need to get started on the basics of photo editing for your camera's raw file or JPG. These basic editor software have all the basic editing adjustments (Sharpness, contrast, exposure, color tint, and more).
Once you have a good grip on the basic editing, you can explore the advanced editing software. Advanced editing have more tools, and can be used with other software for specific tasks. Features like Detail sharpening, local adjustments, grad and circular shaped filters with individual exposure and color options, WB adjustments, and batch processing for big projects, etc... This would be your paid for editing software like Lightroom, Luminar, On1, DxO, etc...
Then there is the next level of paid software which takes you into graphics art territory. Software like PhotoShop Creative Cloud, Paintshop Pro, PhotoDirector, etc... These have the tools for layering, masking, and a huge amount of features for titles, HDR, object removing, perspective correction, etc... They do a lot, and it takes some time to LEARN how to use them.
Thus, it all depends on the level of editing you want, and the skill you're at. Learn the basics first, them learn the advanced techniques. Hope this helps, good luck on your editing software venture.
techie takes pics
Senior Member
I use Darktable as a free alternative to Lightroom.
It does non-destructive editing. I like how you can switch a module on or off and see the differences.
RawTherapee is also free and does raw processing.
Photo processing requires a learning curve. Watch a couple of Youtube videos on he topic.
It does non-destructive editing. I like how you can switch a module on or off and see the differences.
RawTherapee is also free and does raw processing.
Photo processing requires a learning curve. Watch a couple of Youtube videos on he topic.
BigBen08
Veteran Member
Thanks for the comments and links. I'm in the same place as the OP.
Interesting that you found LR easier to use than Elements. I thought it would be the other way around.
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My best aviation photos: https://500px.com/kenfm2018
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It seems that a lot of people use Lightroom to completely process their images and that's okay if that's what they want to do but Lightroom is a raw processing tool and not a complete post-processing program.
Lightroom simply lacks several tools that are available in a post-processing program like Photoshop.
Everyone is different but after I develope an image with a raw processor I always transfer the developed raw image, as a JPEG, for final processing in Photoshop.
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KCook
Forum Pro
Elements is essentially the JPG version of Photoshop, minus quite a few tools. Plus they added a couple of "wizards" to Elements to streamline the process for novices. From my perspective this ended up as the worst of all worlds. First of all they should have stuck with just one wizard, offering 2 different flavors just confuses things more. Plus, these wizards are tucked away over on the right side of the desktop (screen). You would be more likely to find and use them had they been on the left side. The other issue with Elements for beginners is that it offers layers, a very powerful tool from Photoshop. But layers are really beyond the beginner realm, had no business being there in the first place.
Whereas Lightroom has only one UI, no confusing wizards. And (drumroll) Lightroom does a beautiful job without layers! So at the end of the day Lightroom is more focused, and easier to master.
Kelly
My suggestion is to insure that the photo editing software can do the following:
- Apply edits from one image to multiple similar images. This can save you a huge amount of time, ending up with optimal results on many images. For instance, say you are taking pictures at a birthday party. When it's time to blow out the candles, you start taking many shots of the scene before, during and after. All of the images have the same lighting. You spend time to edit one image to look the best and then you just apply those adjustments to all the rest of that sequence of images. A huge time saver with optimal adjustments for all those images.
- Can make virtual copies of the original image in different aspect ratios for prints. You edit all of the pictures for an event, vacation or whatever. All edits are done to the original maximum resolution images. Now you want to make 4x6 inch prints of most of the images. But some better ones you want larger 5x7 inch prints. And exceptional ones you want even larger 8x10 inch prints. ..... The software you use can make virtual copies of the original full size images in the 4x6 inch size at 1200 x 1800 pixels. This gives 4x6 inch prints at 300 ppi. Virtual copies of the 5x7 inch prints at 1500 x 2100 ppi. Virtual copies of the 8x10 inch prints at 2400 x 3000 ppi. Virtual copies are only the instructions on how to crop the original image but the original edited image is unchanged and remains at it's full resolution size. The virtual copy instructions are saved so you can make more prints in the future if needed.
- Can target adjustments only on the highlights or only on the shadows.
$.02,
Sky
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khunpapa
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I use ACDSee. It doesn't have much capability nor flexibility as PS or other heavyweights.
IF it can't solve the imperfection of the image I edit, I quit the editting and go on with the next image or next photo session.
It may be possible to make good food from rotten raw materials. But to me, the amaetuer photographer, it's easier to start from good raw materials.
IF it can't solve the imperfection of the image I edit, I quit the editting and go on with the next image or next photo session.
It may be possible to make good food from rotten raw materials. But to me, the amaetuer photographer, it's easier to start from good raw materials.
BigBen08
Veteran Member
Thanks for the update.
davidedric
Veteran Member
That's what I found, too, though plenty of others take the opposite view.
I've been using Lightroom for about five years, and at first I found I was finishing quite a few off in Elements. Lightroom has developed to the point where now I almost never need to.
As an aside, I recently picked up Affinity at a ludicrously low price as an alternative for the odd occasions when I would like to have pixel editing, and so far I'm rather impressed.
Dave
KCook
Forum Pro
Exactly my experience
Only my post-Adobe path has been a little different. My switch from LR was to ACDSee, no longer use LR at all. I did give the Affinity demo a brief try, but Luminar intrigues me more. Sure is fun that we now have so many choices, compared to 10 years ago!
Kelly
Jonsi
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I see you're going to try the Nikon software, but if that doesn't work out for you I would definitely suggest Luminar for it's ease of use and excellent results. It's $70 but often on sale for $50 or $60. Plus it comes with a 2 month money back guarantee.
Also, On1 Photo Raw is a full-featured editor like Photoshop, with extras. It's $79 right now and you get a lot more for the money than you do with Elements or Lightroom/Photoshop.
I have the Photoshop rental but I use the above 2 programs instead (also DxO Photo Lab). Also, they are a one-time purchase price, no rent/contract/commitment. Both have free trials also.
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