Editing Software

[jwisecarver]

What editing software do you guys use. Need help deciding on what software to get.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Some people use Gimp which is freeware. Lots of people highly recommend it. Personally it doesn't suit me.

Lightroom and elements which are easier to use and quicker to do common photography tasks are great.

Corel Paintshop is commonly recommended and is much cheaper than Photoshop CS3.

Photoshop CS3 is good but very expensive (unless you're a student). It's also difficult to learn and so flexible some common photography tasks are harder to do than in lightroom.

[AlexMonro]

I mainly use The GIMP for detailed, complex editing, and LightZone for quick and dirty RAW conversions for proof prints. I've also had a bit of a play with RawTherapee, but don't really seem to get on with it.

I also tried the evaluation download of Bibble, but it doesn't seem to support my camera (Fuji S9500). Shame, 'coz it looked quite good. I might try it again when I change cameras.

[JTL]

For my RAW workflow and RAW editing I use Phase One Capture One Version 4. For tweaking of jpeg files I use PaintShop Pro X2 90% of the time. I've have yet to find a better general purpose tool. When I have to run a specific custom action or need to do channel editing, then and only then do I resort to using PhotoShop CS2...

For RAW workflow, I also like Lightroom a lot, but frankly it has too many limitations right now...some of which are being addressed in the next release.

[Firedog28]

What editing software do you guys use. Need help deciding on what software to get.

What kind of camera are you using, and do you shoot raw? Paintshop Pro is a great tool for jpgs, but it won't even read my raw files, let alone edit them...

[ianpullinger]

What editing software do you guys use. Need help deciding on what software to get.
I think you need to be more specific regarding the platform you use (Windows, Mac or Linux), your budget and the types of editing you expect to do (basic colour and exposure adjustments or more complex multiple layer effects.)

For the Mac, I use Aperture for managing and image adjustments. PhotoShop CS3 is used for the more advanced stuff.

Ian
Digitalopia (http://digitalopia.com/) - Digital Photography with the Apple Mac, from Amateur to Professional

[Ken.]

I use Lightroom for almost everything and occasionally Photoshop Elements if I have to do something complicated.

If you don't have a good editing kit then get a Wacom tablet. It comes with Elements, Bridge, Corel Painter Essentials, the table (of course), a stylus and a mouse. It costs barely more than Elements alone. Elements can convert RAW as well. It's a heck of a deal. Editing photos without a table is unnecessarily difficult and time consuming.

[Visual Reality]

table = tablet?

[JTL]

...occasionally Photoshop Elements if I have to do something complicated.LOL! Elements can't do any of the tasks that a serious CS2/CS3 user would consider "complicated"! Really, I'm falling off my chair laughing! :D:D:D

[Ken.]

I have CS3 and Elements. For intense compositing CS3 as a package, not just Photoshop, is best. I shoot RAW. Lightroom handles the majority of RAW tweaking faster, easier and better than Photoshop. Photoshop is for bitmap editing, Lightroom is for photo editing. Elements is an excellent choice for those who can't afford either. Don't dismiss Elements until you take it for a spin.

That anyone can get a full blown copy of Elements with a tablet (not table, I was typing fast) for a few dollars more than Elements alone is a bargain. Doing photo work without a tablet is a huge time suck. The amount of time you waste bouncing back and forth to adjustments alone is worth the cost of a tablet.

[rfuerman]

Picture Window Pro if you are on the budget. See PC Photo Magazine
10 Top Imaging Applications (http://www.pcphotomag.com/software/image-editing-software/10-top-imaging-applications.html)
"...one of the best values for serious photo work"
Bob