Newbie Digital Snapper

[Toffer]

My first venture into DSLR photography is with a Nikon D7000 and 18-200mm VRII lens and I would like a recommendation for a simple to use, inexpensive and effective editing software package.

How about "Photoscape"?

Sorry, but I just struggle with Photoshop and have neither the time or patience to learn how to use it.

[Efbe]

gimp

[Pixel Pusher]

Efbe said:

gimp

A bit harsh. He only asked.

[Cock Womble 7]

I have recently bought exactly the same kit as you (good, isn't it?).

The View NX2 software that comes with the D7000 is actually pretty good. After a prompt from the latest "N Photo" magazine, I gave the freebie another look and it does a pretty good job. RAW to jpeg and all that jazz.

Give it a go.

[Craikeybaby]

Photoshop Elements. I've tried GIMP and didn't find it that intuitive to use, there are also far more tutorials around for Photoshop.

[Simpo Two]

Call into Simpo Towers one day and I'll get you going with PS. It's not difficult, but it's different from MS Word. The hard part is working out what you need to know and what you don't - but I can help you with that.

A few basic hotkeys and bish/bash/bosh you'll be wondering what all the fuss was about!

[flat-planedCrank]

If you just want some sliders to play with (exposure, contrast, etc..) then how about Lightroom? It has tools for 'global' changes to the image, and also features management tools to keep your photos organised.


If you want more specific control - layers, creating masks, etc. - then Photoshop is probably the better route.



Though I'd argue it's not really an either / or as many (most?) have access to both types of tool. Most photos will probably only require the 'global' changes that Lightroom offers, then only moving to Photoshop when you really want to go-to-town


Demos of both...

Lightoom: https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?produ...

Photoshop Elements: http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?produc...

[Killwilly]

Try Faststone, (link below), I use it for all of my PP. It's easy to use and does everything I want, including converting RAW to either TIFF or JPEG. With an added bonus, it's free.


http://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDownload.htm

[Jetl3on]

I signed up for a £60 course at my local college to learn PS CS5 basics, but they cancelled it due to lack of interest. Would like to learn how to use it, as it came installed with the MBP rather than buy another product, can't find any tutorials on it, I'm guessing it's quite old, is that the reason anyone know? Would like to try some of the things I read about on here, HDR, layering, exposing only parts of a shot etc, I shoot in Jpeg fine, so know diddly squat about Raw etc, but heard its better?

Edited by Jetl3on on Saturday 6th October 16:56

[Simpo Two]

I don't view PS as a RAW converter, but rather as an 'everything else' tool. PS and shooting RAW are two different things so don't get sidetracked.

[Jetl3on]

Simpo Two said:

I don't view PS as a RAW converter, but rather as an 'everything else' tool. PS and shooting RAW are two different things so don't get sidetracked.

The very reason I need to scrub up on the basics of PS, having shied away from it for so long, some knowledge would go long way. Thx

[tenohfive]

Craikeybaby said:

Photoshop Elements. I've tried GIMP and didn't find it that intuitive to use, there are also far more tutorials around for Photoshop.

Likewise.

Simpo Two said:

I don't view PS as a RAW converter, but rather as an 'everything else' tool. PS and shooting RAW are two different things so don't get sidetracked.

I used PS Elements 10 for everything, from RAW conversion onwards. What is it missing that other software includes as standard?

[Simpo Two]

tenohfive said:

I used PS Elements 10 for everything, from RAW conversion onwards. What is it missing that other software includes as standard?

Well, say you have 600 wedding photos to process, needing adjustments to white balance, levels, curves, highlight recovery, shadow recovery and orientation to 0.1 degree. In C1 Pro I can adjust the first one as required, click 'add to batch' and crack on with photo two while the software is grinding the first. Applying changes to multiple images is quick and easy, for example 10 cake cutting photos where you can set the WB for the first one and then apply it to the other 9. Sometimes I'm ahead and files pile up in the process queue, sometimes I hit a hard one and the computer catches up. But anyway, the resulting JPGs accumulate safely in the Processed folder as I go along. By the time I've got to number 600 (three days later) they're all done.

From those, PS is used for high contrast subjects when I've made light and dark variants of the same image, which are then blended either manually or using a layer mask technique.

In short, it's about workflow, and everybody has their own that they prefer, and if Elements 10 does what you need then it's all you need.

Jetl3on said:

The very reason I need to scrub up on the basics of PS, having shied away from it for so long, some knowledge would go long way. Thx

Well, what I mean is that whilst PS does process RAW files, it is very much more than that, so I see it primarily as an image manipulation tool rather than a RAW processor per se (of which many other more dedicated examples exist)




Where's the OP gone anyway?

Edited by Simpo Two on Saturday 6th October 22:58

[Bacardi]

Simpo Two said:

Where's the OP gone anyway?

I think you scared him off to the pub. Polishing the Griff is more appealing.

[Jetl3on]

Simpo Two said:

Call into Simpo Towers one day and I'll get you going with PS. It's not difficult, but it's different from MS Word. The hard part is working out what you need to know and what you don't - but I can help you with that.

A few basic hotkeys and bish/bash/bosh you'll be wondering what all the fuss was about!

Any standing room in Simpo Towers for some basic tips on CS5? No?

What if I bring my friend Maurice 'Hennessey'? ;-)

Edited by Jetl3on on Monday 8th October 00:44

[StuH]

Jetl3on said:

I signed up for a £60 course at my local college to learn PS CS5 basics, but they cancelled it due to lack of interest. Would like to learn how to use it, as it came installed with the MBP rather than buy another product, can't find any tutorials on it, I'm guessing it's quite old, is that the reason anyone know? Would like to try some of the things I read about on here, HDR, layering, exposing only parts of a shot etc, I shoot in Jpeg fine, so know diddly squat about Raw etc, but heard its better?

Edited by Jetl3on on Saturday 6th October 16:56

Maybe try one of the online training sites like lynda.com?

[CommanderJameson]

OP: I do the vast majority of my processing in Lightroom, for reasons similar to that given about C1 above (batch processing, saved presets etc). Only occasionally do I make an excursion into Photoshop Elements.

Elements doesn't have the learning curve cliff that full-fat Photoshop does.