Editing Software...

[ChristopherCoy]

So is it commonplace to have more than one editing program? I was just reading a thread where the photographer started with one program, then used another, then another.

If so I have a LONG way to go from my Olympus Master... LOL

[Jim Bryant]

Yea whatever program is good for your workflow. In CS3&4 you have the Adobe bridge, which is a good program, but the better ones are aperture, lightroom and photomechanics. However, while I can email images using Aperture in my clients, when covering sports or news pix on location I use photomechanics for all my editing, FTPing and emailing images to my clients. BTW, I see that you are within reach of the Useless, Tx.,..... Dallas, Ft Worth, Euless around them parts

[ChristopherCoy]

Jim,

I'm quite certain that you just gave me some invaluable information there... However, after the "whatever's good for your workflow" part, I haven't a clue what you said... LOL

I'll take those program names and go google them! THANKS!

[Jim Bryant]

You gotta get The DAM Book: digital asset management for Photographers... by Peter Krogh. Work flow is the steps to take after moving the images from the camera to computer. How you process, organize, and protect your images from start to finish and how to deliver to your clients. That's workfolw. BTW, I see that you are within reach of the Useless, Tx.,..... Dallas, Ft Worth, Euless around them parts

Originally Posted by ChristopherCoy

Jim,

I'm quite certain that you just gave me some invaluable information there... However, after the "whatever's good for your workflow" part, I haven't a clue what you said... LOL

I'll take those program names and go google them! THANKS!

[ChristopherCoy]

I AM in fact just 10 minutes from Useless, TX... And just the fact that you know its dubbed Useless is absolutely hysterical!

I'll check out the DAM book soon! Thanks.

[Free]

Different programs do different things. So I think most people into heavy post production will be using a few programs to achieve their desired results. Adobe is pretty much king when it comes to anything image based these days. Most serious people have the Adobe CS (Creative Suite) version 3 or 4. This Suite of software includes an array of different programs including Photoshop (with you've probably heard of) and Bridge (which you probably haven't) and many more that as a photographer you'll probably never need.

Photoshop is VERY hard to get your head around initially. There are always 5 or 10 ways to achieve the same thing and anything you can dream of can be done to an image...If you can figure out how. While Photoshop is without a doubt the best program for editing your pics, if you're not into spending a lot of time learning it, your probably better of going down another path.

Bridge is basically just a better version of Windows Explorer (or "My Computer" for the less technical windows users ) It's a file manager, but it lets you import and tag and manage your files a lot better Windows Explorer. Bridge will make your life a lot easier when you have 10,000 photos sitting on your hard drive and you need to find "that photo of aunt Betty at the beach from about 3 years ago" or what ever else your wife wants in a hurry.

Since finding this forum, I've started using another program from Adobe called Lightroom to manage my photos and edit my photos. It is SUPER easy to learn and can do most of the basic editing you'll need as a photographer with a few clicks. I've put a few mates onto it and they couldn't believe how easy it is to use compared to Photoshop. The best thing about Lightroom is that it doesn't permanently modify your original photo. It makes the changes and print the photos but you can always convert back to the original if you change your mind later.(this is something you can't do in Photoshop). For someone new to post production I couldn't recommend Lightroom enough as good value, easy to use tool.

When you want to progress you can get CS suite down the track and after making basic edits in Lightroom you can send the photo to Photoshop and make more changes in that.

If you want HDR images it's into another program - I'm haven't done any HDR yet so I can't help with software for that, other than apparently it can be done in Photoshop...If you know how.

Anyway, I probably rambled a bit, but I hope that shed a bit of light on the programs Jim mentioned above.

Cheers
Free

[ChristopherCoy]

Thanks Free! I'll have to check out Lightroom as well.

Of course at this point, I just need to get accustomed to my camera and actually TAKING the pictures before I start editing them. LOL I tend to run before I even crawl... I'm very impatient when it comes to creative things.

[Free]

Originally Posted by ChristopherCoy

Of course at this point, I just need to get accustomed to my camera and actually TAKING the pictures before I start editing them. LOL I tend to run before I even crawl... I'm very impatient when it comes to creative things.

If your REALLY good in the post production, your photos don't have to be good

Just joking! Enjoy the new camera!

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by Free

Just joking! Enjoy the new camera!

Doing so greatly already! I was nearly like a three year old when I bought it the other day. If I it wouldn't have been so uncomfortable I would have slept with it under my pillow! LOL

[conor5150]

This is great as I was wondering myself about an image editor. Photoshop is very expensive for a novice like me.....$600 plus , and after reading Free's post I checked out Adobe Lightroom and that retails for $300.

Are there any good free editors , I am also thinking about Nikon's "Capture NX " software which retails in the region of $150

Any thoughts ?

Conor