Photo software

[GJB]

Decided to start playing with RAW instead of continuing with large .jpg.

What software do you guys use and recommend. We don't want to spend hundreds of pounds but don't mind investing in the right software. What sort of thing should we look for.

Use apple and pc. Note that Apple offer one called Aperture. Does anyone use this and is it any good.

Thanks guys.

[carlosfandango]

Adobe Photo Shop Elements (PSE). Currently version 8 - about £50 or so on Amazon. It'll do all you need unless you intend turning pro. Even then quite a few use still Elements I believe...

There is loads of training, videos, manuals, whatever available for it as well.

[beano500]

Adobe Lightroom - good for organising, developing, print and web preparation and slideshows. I find it makes life with RAW files very easy.

If you're not sure it's want you want you can currently try out the next version (v3) as there is a beta available for anyone to trial - just go to Adobe's website and search for it.

[rasputin]

I use Raw Therapee for RAW processing.

Free and easy to use. I output 16 bit PNG to continue editing elsewhere without quality loss.

[andy-xr]

rasputin said:

I use Raw Therapee for RAW processing.

Free and easy to use. I output 16 bit PNG to continue editing elsewhere without quality loss.

Thats rescued a fair few shots of mine recently under difficult lighting conditions that LR just couldnt handle as well. It's not as refined in terms of catalogue and a couple of other things (XRite being one) but given it's amazing price tag I've been using it more recently. Understanding RL Deconvolution took me a while though

[stigmundfreud]

OP if you use Canon then you have one of the best tools there is and its free - digital photo professional. Lightroom etc are good if you are lazy and dont sort your lighting out in advance If you shoot anything else, like Nikon, good luck, you've got a few bob to spend

[RobDickinson]

Canons DPP is good and free (if you have a canon SLR).

I also use Photoshop CS4 as my main image editor.

Trying to use LR3 but not getting on with it (didnt with LR1 either..)

[Lucas CAV]

UFRaw

It's free and works as a GIMP plugin.

[GJB]

Thanks guys.

I'll play with the Canon supplied software first but thanks for your input.

Normally find the most commonly used product means that there are far more people who've already got to grips with it and can lead the way. Adobe seems to have cornered the market but are their packages targeted only at PC's or are they compatible with Apple as well. Don't want to buy more than I need and would prefer one common soloution. This may mean that the Canon software is the best starting point for us. Thanks again, much appreciate your replies.

[SamHH]

Adobe make Mac versions of their software and loads of people use Macs for image editing.

I found the Canon software to be pretty appallingly clunky, but seeing as it's free you might as well give it a go first.

[mojitomax]

i've just bought a new canon and put all the manuals and bumf away (i.e in the loft with all the other boxes and junk) with the cds. i usually use lightroom but since switching to a mac i've not got any mac software. do you know if the software that comes on the canon cds is mac compatible. it'll save me a trip to the loft.

also i've aperture is good but i've not tried it yet. i found lightroom to be very easy to use albeit very slow on my PC even though the pc had 2GB of ram. being a converted macophile i'm tempted by aperture or any other software you think might be useful. i've tried gimp but can't get it to work for some reason so have given up with that.

any thoughts would be welcome