confused about software ...

[Tastris]

I know that there are alot of posts about what people use for editing but I just need some clarification if possible.

I have been playing with lightroom and its been doing a great job but I was looking at heading into photoshop, I have played with is before, nothing major just tinkered away.
I started looking into it for a while now but the CC has got me confused, Do i need to have a yearly subscription?

On another note what are some recommendations for editing programmes? Im looking for something other then what comes with my camera. I am using a new iMac.

Thanks

[Koko]

Tastris I'm with you Adobe's CC is very confusing and seems expensive for the amateur photographer.. Will be interested in what others have to say here..

[MarkChap]

There is always the option of Photoshop Elements, a "cut down" version of Photoshop, but still a very powerful tool.

Most photographers probably never go anywhere near using anything but a very small portion of the power of Photoshop

[Tastris]

Thanks Mark, i might give elements a go and see how that goes.
Thanks so much.

[WhoDo]

I have been playing with lightroom and its been doing a great job but I was looking at heading into photoshop, I have played with is before, nothing major just tinkered away.

Ok, are you really SURE you need to move on from Lightroom? Why do you think that is necessary?

Yes, Photoshop Elements is the logical move, but only IF you really need it! I have both, and hardly ever touch Elements. Now that I have LR5 I expect that will continue to be the case, only more so. Things like multiple exposure blending or selective colour, in fact anything that requires work on multiple layers for a combined effect, then you will need PSE. Otherwise, stick with LR and explore its full potential rather than just "playing with" it.

Either way, forget CC in my opinion. There is simply no way to justify the expense when you'll only use a fraction of the services on offer. It's fine for those who have the need but that is a relatively small fraction of the photography community IMHO.

[ROA44]

Well we always hear about Adobe LR & PS, but does any one use Corel PaintShop Pro & what are your thoughts about their software. It is a cheaper product and the company I used to work for used it all the time and the main person who did all the photography & graphics said it Adobe wasn't worth the extra expense & corel could do just as good a job.

Interested in others thoughts.

[MissionMan]

I'd hold off with Adobe CC for now. They are supposed to be introducing a special combination for photographers (that I assume will include Lightroom and Photoshop). Unless you stand to benefit from the other apps (I do because I use indesign, photoshop, acrobat pro etc), its not cost effective for you to buy it for only lightroom and photoshop.

If you wanted to go for it now, I'd recommend purchasing Lightroom outright and then taking the CC for just one application which would cost $20/month.

[mongo]

Mongo thinks the whole business is an outrage !!!

[ROA44]

I reckon Corel should jump ship and go to the Linix, Ubuntu, or Mint side then some of the other software companies might see that when everyones drops M$ that M$ is a joke.

[Boo53]

I'm sure there will be many parties coming to the fore if adobe keeps this CC going as is. Corel for one, Oneon maybe, and I'd be surprised if google (who bought nik 12 months ago) would let the opportunity slip.

Anyway, I started using Photoshop Elements first, then a student edition of CS5 with youngest sons student ID.

I eventually started using LR and now do most of my pp using it, but still use PS on a small number of shots.

If you want Elements then the download in AUD is as good as any with our dollar where it now is.

If you want CS6 it is still available to purchase on disk, as both the full version and student version, from Amazon. They will not ship to Aus directly but you could use a re-shipper like hopshopgo. I think they charged about $20 when I purchased CS6.

[trueblue]

Likewise I use lightroom for most my work. Stick with it and learn it. You will not regret the use of it. Great for cataloguing your photo collection and really good for quick fast edits in batches. Learn to utilise the presets and add more presets to your application. I rarely use photoshop but turn to it now and then for more intricate work.

[Dazz1]

I reckon Corel should jump ship and go to the Linix, Ubuntu, or Mint side then some of the other software companies might see that when everyones drops M$ that M$ is a joke.

You mean like Aftershot Pro ? http://www.corel.com/corel/product/i...anguageCode=en

[ROA44]

I have got CorelDRAW Graphics suit 4 & have just purchased Lightroom 4. I have got Corel loaded but it has been playing up a bit for some reason and haven't got round to doing a reinstall yet as i am now going to look at doing a clean install and re arranging my system which I did do awhile ago but started setting things up for photography with proper filing but as time goes by well yeh.

My main thoughts for raising the Corel point is that you never hear anyone talking about, it whether that's because it's not in the ball park (no good) or because Adobe is all that is talked about I'm not sure but if anyone is using it, it would be nice to hear any feed back regarding it's viability as a product. As you would have noticed I only have a couple of shots posted,

1. I haven't sat down with the locked in attitude of having a proper try at it because when I do It's later at night and to hard then.
2. The monitors I have are quite old and really need calibrating and don't have equip. to do that but good opportunity to get Kym & his Wife over for a coffee & well overdue get together, () who has.

So if Corel is a good package it would be nice to hear some feed back so that others could have another possibility added to their options I have any preferences either way. I have fumbled my way around this IT stuff with a modicum of success but as my son would say "Here Dad just let me do it" hence another reason I suppose I haven't put in a bit more effort. .

So hopefully I have stirred a few interesting responses and raised a more positive option toward Corel if it is a good option.

And can you have to many software programs then causing conflicts with in ones system.

So more food for thought and interesting feed back I hope that might be of help to others and little old me oops enough of the old.

PS Speaking of Lightroom just picked up a Mag. which gives a technique for processing Photos to B & W " Australian Photography + Digital hence partly the reason for stepping out and buying LR. Got that for $88's locally cheaper than any other outlet I had looked at. So I will be keeping them in mind for sure.

[Dazz1]

While we are talking about software alternatives, has anyone tried Rawtherapee? I am playing around with it at the moment. Also, I have to throw Gimp in the ring as yet another alternative that I use all the time.

[paulheath]

lightroom 5, cs6..... now lightroom 5 has included the spot healing tool which is very similar to CS6 and the radial filter, i find myself doing more and more with just LR5. don't get me wrong i started out using Gimp... but the power of Photoshop and lightroom really does leave it in the shade.

[Dazz1]

It keeps changing all the time. Gimp has a great spot healing tool as well.

[Unbound]

There are plenty of editing programs out there, but it really depends on how much pp / manipulation you want to do. The various bit of software that ship with Canon cameras are pretty good.

[oxygen45]

What would be the best recommendation for software to start using layers, panorama & photo merging? Mainly want to try my hand at these tools with landscapes.

Using LR4 for management and PP at the moment and think it is excellent. Would only be using a second program occasionally so free would be good for now

[WhoDo]

What would be the best recommendation for software to start using layers, panorama & photo merging? Mainly want to try my hand at these tools with landscapes.

Using LR4 for management and PP at the moment and think it is excellent. Would only be using a second program occasionally so free would be good for now

No question ... go for Photoshop Elements. It's cheap and has all the power you need for photography, including layers, blending, etc. What's more it can be called from within LR4 for specific editing and then you can shift back to LR for the finishing touches. No brainer, O45.

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Oops, missed the bit about "free". That means GIMP, which has all the power you want BUT it does come with a pretty steep learning curve for some operations.

[Dazz1]

No question ... go for Photoshop Elements. It's cheap and has all the power you need for photography, including layers, blending, etc. What's more it can be called from within LR4 for specific editing and then you can shift back to LR for the finishing touches. No brainer, O45.

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Oops, missed the bit about "free". That means GIMP, which has all the power you want BUT it does come with a pretty steep learning curve for some operations.

But it does do layers, stacking, and all that stuff. I think part of the learning curve difficulty is if you are coming from other software. If Gimp is the first you experience, I don't see it as any harder than most other pieces of software I have come across. I could name worse ...