Ok, having owned all of these here we go...
Nikon View
I use this for scrolling through both NEF, JPG and TIF files as Windows doesn't support NEF. I also use it to transfer images from the camera because the Windows tool will not transfer all the shooting data like ISO speeds.
Nikon Capture
I will use this to prep NEF files and correct things like White Balance issues and Under-exposure. Also, Vignette control is a very nice feature and if you have no other Noise reduction software the improved NR in NC 3.5 really isn't all that bad (I personally use Dfine).
Photoshop Elements 2.0
I bought this when I really couldn't afford the full Photoshop 7 yet and I have to tell you I would sooner use GIMP (free PS 4.x Equivalent package) then this package again... It lacks many simple things that you don't often think about until they're gone; You have no Curves, No Channel Mixer, The healing Brush and Patch tools... Furthermore, Adobe Castrated the algorithms that are present and when making the same changes in both PS7 and PS Elements 2 you get different results with the full PS 7 yielding much better quality images. At least with Gimp, you get most of the tools with decent quality and you don't have to worry about what the app is going to do to your image.
Photoshop 7.0
I finally cracked and bought this as I only had it at work before and I left that job. I use this for Curves, USM, Healing Brush, Dfine (NR) and NIK Sharpener Pro (both plug-ins), Channel Mixer, Layer and Channel masks and Color Management as well as resizing Photos for the web.
I would be very grateful if someone could take the time to tell me,
in point form and monosyllables,
because I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer,
the methods by which these programs INTERRELATE.
That is......basically what makes them uniquely worthwhile,
and in what simple order would one use them
Again, many thanks
p.b.
--
'He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.' -- King Solomon
