software

[jgamble]

I am looking for some software to manipulate photo quality and noise reduction. I am looking at Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 and Noise Ninja. I would like to get the whole package for under $200. I don't need the full professional suite. Any suggestions for a good package?

[genece]

I am not sure this is the best price
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=32-105-124&depa=6
Elements has a NR filter included you may want to try it first.

This may be the best price I am not sure

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/software/B0002UDM2Q/rebate-info/103-6524927-6988619/103-6524927-6988619

Neat Image for home use is free
http://www.neatimage.com/

and I am just trying this , I wish it was available as a plugin.
http://denoiser.shorturl.com/

The page for Noise ninja if you must.
http://www.picturecode.com/purchase.php

[24Peter]

I know this is blasphemy in some photo editing circles, but I have real issues with Adobe software. I have Photoshop Elements 2 and 3 and I recently returned 3 to Adobe for a refund. I find their software unintuitive, slow and buggy. And in my opinion, they cripple some important features in Elements so as to not interfere with sales of Photoshop CS (for instance, you can't resize a selection in Elements.) Right now I'm using Microsoft Digital Image Pro/Suite 10 and it's very good for the basics. (Noise reduction in particular is top notch in my opinion.) I'm not really one to extoll the virtues of anything Bill Gates sells, but with a $30 mail-in rebate plus another $30 rebate if you buy a new digital camera 30 days before or after purchasing their software, for $9.99 ($69.99 minus the aforementioned rebates) it's a hard deal to beat. Also looking into Paint Shop Pro.

[scbwr]

For the same money as Elements, you can get Jasc Paint shop pro which is full featured like Photoshop. The new version has added some nice features, and I think it is a "best buy" for the person that wants a good photo editing program without paying the outrageous price Adobe gets for Photoshop. I've always felt that they encourage pirating of software by not pricing their programs at a more reasonable price....so they came out with elements as a way of hooking you and getting you to upgrade to Photoshop.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[andyn]

There's a Freeware programme under the strange name of "Gimp" that is supposed to be pretty capable - Amateur Photographer magazine in the UK raves about it. Could be worth a try.

[jgamble]

Thanks for the advise.