Help chosing software for beginner.

[V8A*ndy]

Wife has a 550d and I wanted to get her some software for editing.

She has been using the Canon software.

I know very little about this area but wanted some software for editing and processing video to.

We have a fast PC (i7) with plenty of ram.

[Lukhash]

It`s all depending how much would u like to spend on it.
For example u can get free PhotoScape for basic postproduction(effects,saturation etc.)
If u want to go further u can buy a Adobe Lightroom.

Edited by Lukhash on Friday 16th November 17:44

[V8A*ndy]

Don't mind spending money on a decent package.

I just had a quick look at the price of Lightroom £90. That's ok.

Would this be enough for her to be getting on with and why would she not use something like Photoshop?

Thanks.

[CommanderJameson]

TBH, the included Canon software is actually pretty decent, functionality-wise. OK, the user interface looks like it was designed by monkeys on crack, but hey. It's free and it works.

I use a combination of Lightroom and Elements, a combination that together costs about £160 (but always be on the lookout for discounts and offers). I do most of my editing and all of my cataloguing in Lightroom, only popping an image into Elements for cleanup that involves layers or selections.

[CommanderJameson]

V8A*ndy said:

Don't mind spending money on a decent package.

I just had a quick look at the price of Lightroom £90. That's ok.

Would this be enough for her to be getting on with and why would she not use something like Photoshop?

Thanks.

I think that Lightroom has better photo-oriented adjustment tools than Photoshop Elements - for example, twiddling levels or exposure, or adjusting the finer points of colour balance.

Dunno about full-fat Photoshop; I've never bothered spending the £600 to find out if it'll be a life-changing experience over and above Elements.

[TOPTON]

Coral paintshop pro does just about everything photoshop does for a fraction of the price. When I say just about everything, I mean it goes well beyond my capabilities and wants. Its layout is very similar to p/shop too

[flat-planedCrank]

V8A*ndy said:

Don't mind spending money on a decent package.

I just had a quick look at the price of Lightroom £90. That's ok.

Would this be enough for her to be getting on with and why would she not use something like Photoshop?

Thanks.

Lightroom (about £96) is a organisational, processing package with the power to do most 'global' types of editing - contrast, exposure, curves, etc. Then, when you want to really go-to-town editing a shot you can use photoshop.

Demo: http://www.adobe.com/go/UK_D_FP_11_T




Photoshop Elements (about £63) will give you more pixel-level control of the image. Allow for layers to be built up, masking and other powerful tools.

(Though I believe Elements does have some organisational 'asset management' tools so if I was going for one package it'd probably be that.)

Demo: http://www.adobe.com/go/tryphotoshop_elements_uk


Photoshop Elements is a more consumer oriented package than 'full fat' (£630) Photoshop. It's a bit more approachable, and the last time I used it (was probably ver. 9?) I was surprised how powerful it was




Loads of tutorials / program introductions 'n explanations on Adobe TV - http://tv.adobe.com/

[driver67]

Download Paint.Net for free. Much easier for a novice to do basic editing and enhancement.

This software started out as a US University project to perform 'photoshop' functions for free on the Windows platform.

Excellent Stuff.

http://www.getpaint.net/

Plugin filters, loads of tutorials online. Have fun !

[RobDickinson]

CommanderJameson said:

TBH, the included Canon software is actually pretty decent, functionality-wise. OK, the user interface looks like it was designed by monkeys on crack, but hey. It's free and it works.

+1 , the results are nice especially DLO but the usability is dreadful. Having to us it to process EOS M raws at the moment Cant get the same 'look' as I do with ACR/photoshop.