What Photo Editor to use?

<p>Hi all!<br>

I have been doing photography for a little while and I want to start editing my images the best that I can, but I have no idea what photo editor to use. There are so many (The line of Adobe Photoshop and Elements) how do I know which to choose? I do many portraits, commercial, food, and nature photography. Is there a particular photoshop that I need? </p>

<p>Thank you!<br>

-Brandy</p>

If you are a beginner at editing photos, I would suggest using, if you're on PC, Adobe LightRoom. If you are using a MAC, there is the similar application named Aperture. You can take a look to iPhoto too.

 

Both are easy to use and you can do some batch process if you want to apply the same effect to a set of photos. Every tool is intuitive and easy to understand or manipulate. Also, any changes made to the photos are none destructive, which means that the original photo is never touched.

 

If you are an advanced user at editing, Adobe Photoshop is definitely your friend with all the advanced functionalities.

Aperture for mac was an interesting program but it has been abandoned by Apple so it is pretty much a dead end and not worth learning, since the inevitable new camera raw files and computer operating systems will make it difficult to use in the future.

Even though the OP is from 2013, I'd still stick to my recommendations above. For sure, Aperture is deceased, gone to the choir invisible, etc.

For full-powered image editing, there is still nothing to beat Photoshop.

 

I am not a fan of the licensing method of supplying PS these days; but it does make cost-wise sense, I suppose, if you are just starting out.

When the original thread started, it wasn't available yet, but an excellent alternative to Photoshop nowadays is Affinity Photo. It's priced below PS Elements, functionality-wise though it's closer to complete Photoshop than it is to Elements. And it has a perpetual license, no subscription model. In fact, for photographers, I'd argue there is something to beat Photoshop for full-powered image editing (graphics designers may miss things, though).

 

Likewise, Lightroom isn't the only one in town: Capture One existed well before Lightroom, and is still a very capable option. DxO Photolab is certainly worth checking too, and there are several other lesser-known options like ACDSee Pro and Cyberlink PhotoDirector.

 

So, for those who don't like Adobe's subscription model, or simply don't like Lightroom or Photoshop for whatever reason, there are perfectly viable alternatives.

The going rate for Photoshop by subscription is a lot more palatable than the one-off purchase cost, so I'm actually in favour of what Adobe did, especially given the rolling updates.

 

For what it's worth, at work on a Linux box I use a combination of GIMP (for interactive edits) and ImageMagick (for job lots), which are both free. My biggest issue with GIMP is that it's limited to 8bpp bit depth in full releases, at least unless you try the 2.9 development version. On my Macbook at home, I usually use DxO Photolab (was Optics Pro) for initial import (lens corrections, colour corrections, tone correction, haze reduction, PRIME denoising), and Photoshop for more complex edits (motion blur correction, more complex object removal or multi-layer effects). I actually find it relatively rare that I need to resort to Photoshop for an image (with the exception of Nikon Wednesdays, for which I need to apply some post-resize sharpening that isn't really in the DxO workflow), but it's good to have it when needed. I also have Portrait Pro and Landscape Pro, but I've not really given them a workout yet. I used to use PhaseOne software, but while it seemed perfectly capable, I don't know that it did much that I couldn't in other software. Some prefer its raw conversion.

 

I don't claim GIMP is easy to use, and ImageMagick certainly isn't, but then I always thought most Adobe applications have UIs designed by a special kind of sadist. I've learned to use them, and they're reasonably powerful. And if all else fails, I write output to a PPM file and write a program to fix it myself...

 

I'm sure other options are perfectly capable too, though. I can only report on what I've used.

What I resent which was not a problem when this thread started is that now you can only lease PS and can not purchase it. I just purchased Affinity from the MS and it seem to be quite competent but have not had a chance to really sink my teeth into it yet. There are quite a few tutorials on line for a very good price and are lower priced the PS tutorials. Also Affinity is only $49

I'm sympathetic, Donald - as were many users when Adobe switched model. On the other hand, the UK standalone price for Photoshop was, at least at one point, about £600. Currently the rate is £10/month, including Lightroom. (Actually, now I look, I'm really paying quite a lot more for the limited use I give InDesign et al.) That's five years of use, including rolling updates, which doesn't seem entirely unreasonable to me given how quickly stuff moves on. Obviously Adobe have historically charged more for Photoshop because they could - while I could code up 90% of the functionality for my own use, it's the industry standard and does have a lot of integrated functionality that's lacking in competition (though in increasingly obscure areas). Dropping to the subscription model means they can reduce piracy and have a lower bar to entry if you only want to use it for a limited time. It makes sense for them... but obviously if you're still using a five-year-old piece of photo editing software (and yes, a lot of the stuff I use on a daily basis is older) it's not such a bargain.

 

Other packages are certainly available (at budgets from free to moderate), and often competent, especially for 95% of what people do. And I'm honestly no great fan of Photoshop - I just don't have time to write my own, better version. Perhaps when I eventually retire...

 

On the other hand, while I've not tried Affinity, I've hated pretty much every piece of Microsoft software that I've had to use with a passion - most of it is fixated with "do what I think you mean" and refuses to get out of the way and act predictably, or do basic jobs (like lay out text) properly. I strongly believe that no amount of donation from the Gates Foundation will make up for the damage that company has done to the software industry, although I appreciate the effort. This doesn't stop me from paying them a similar rolling subscription for Office (because I need access at home), and I have a great deal of respect for Microsoft Research, so I'm prepared to believe something slipped out of the company that was actually usable. YMMV. :-)

Andrew; Just noting that although Affinity is available from the Windows store, it is not a microsoft program, and is available for mac as well. Serif is the publisher.

If you use it enough then leasing is not an issue. It is just a personal and subjective thing for me that I want to own the program. Having had issues with viruses the MS store is at least a safe haven where you should not get infected software one thing about MS is you can bring in any computer and they will remove virus for free.

 

Well I am sure the MS get better better. My son is now a team project leader as a software developer for MS. But he is not involved in programs for the average consumer but for large targeted contract programs. I can say that when I have issues with MS software he shows me all kind of features that I knew nothing about that make life easier.

 

Affinity is not a MS product but I have determined to only download from MS store, Apple App Store and other safe sources ie Adobe, Hamerick, Silverfast etc. My son told me he is finished cleaning up my computer, just take it to the MS store.

Worth reviving this thread to sing the praises of PhotoShop and Lightroom?

 

Yes, everyone knows that Adobe's pricey products are the industry standard image editors.

 

However, the latest version of the open-source and free GIMP will match PhotoShop's editing ability in almost every important feature.

USER DELETED[/b]' date=' post: 5809748, member: XXXXXXXXX"']that gives you tools to do anything from drawing funny moustaches on people to creating convincing fake photos or original artwork.

 

Actually PS is very poor as a drawing tool, even when using a graphics tablet, but that's not what most photographers use it for. And your OTT praise just makes you sound like an Adobe shill. Or pushing the graphics tablet you link to.

 

Member since today just to post this mindless blather?

 

Is this spam by any chance?

Edited February 13, 2020 by William Michael

Information for members -

 

Is this spam by any chance?

 

Yes, "rodeo_joe" the post by "USER DELETED" was Spamming and Advertizing.

That post has been deleted.

That user's account has been deleted.

 

Your post has other content relevant to the topic.

 

William

Edited February 14, 2020 by William Michael

Hey, everyone knows about Lightroom and Photoshop, so probably I will not be original in the response :)

I use Lightroom CC on my smartphone or tablet, and I also use Photoshop Fix and Photoshop Express (also on my smartphone for quick photo correction).

A couple of times I used Photoscape and Paint.net.

<p>I use Darktable, which is an open source clone of Lighttable. I am not sure how close it matches Lightroom as I have never used that program. If I need to do serious editing I use the GIMP. GIMP is available for windows, not sure about Darktable. I've also used rawtherapee.</p>

 

Darktable + Gimp is my fav combo, too. And yes, DT is available for Windows :)

Edited April 4, 2020 by eolaystwyth

Darktable and Gimp it's my default set too. Sometimes use Adobe CC.

$10 / month gets you both lightroom and photoshop, not to mention bridge and a host of other apps. Just do that if you're serious about commercial shoots.

Darktable and Gimp it's my default set too. Sometimes use Adobe CC.

 

Does The Gimp or Darktable edit photos in 16 bit depth?

<p>Many people use Lightroom together with Photoshop Elements. You will use Lightroom for 97% of your edits and the remaining 3% can be done in Elements. What Lightroom also gives you is that it manages the workflow, which is really important. You could also use Lightroom with Photoshop but that can be expensive. </p>

You downgrade to 8 bits from 16 bit when you move from LR to Elements. It may not matter, but you should be aware.

 

Lightroom CC today is a monthly charge. doesn't it include Photoshop though?

If you use it enough then leasing is not an issue. It is just a personal and subjective thing for me that I want to own the program. Having had issues with viruses the MS store is at least a safe haven where you should not get infected software one thing about MS is you can bring in any computer and they will remove virus for free.

 

Well I am sure the MS get better better. My son is now a team project leader as a software developer for MS. But he is not involved in programs for the average consumer but for large targeted contract programs. I can say that when I have issues with MS software he shows me all kind of features that I knew nothing about that make life easier.

 

Affinity is not a MS product but I have determined to only download from MS store, Apple App Store and other safe sources ie Adobe, Hamerick, Silverfast etc. My son told me he is finished cleaning up my computer, just take it to the MS store.

Donald, Can I get your son's telephone number for when I have Microsoft problems? :)

Does The Gimp or Darktable edit photos in 16 bit depth?

The latest version of GIMP is fully 16 bit capable. Not sure about Darktable.