Hey Mac users! I need advice

[samhail]

For all of you that do photo editing on macs i need some help. I will be getting a mac soon (switching from PC) and I don't know what software to get for photo editing. On the PC I used Adobe Photoshop Elements. Should I continue with that program for Mac or get something else. I like Elements and am comfortable with it. I use it for basic photo editing and I sometimes use it for making xmas cards and ect. Are there any other Mac programs that are similar to Elements but you feel are better?

[Sime]

Samhail, If you're happy with Elements - use it, sure. Maybe try Lightroom (download a trial) it manages, edits (light edits) and also has a design / print module.

Love your signature quote ;-) ... see you and raise you "the circus is falling, down on its knees"

[inkista]

Also, don't know if it applies to Elements, but you may want to call up folks at Adobe and find out about crossgrading; especially if you have an older version of PSE (I.e., you can probably just buy an upgrade of your current license, but swap the platform).

[jhsanny]

I switched over from PC to Mac just a few months ago (mostly for school reasons) but I had a similar question. Let me just tell you, from personal experience, I wouldn't waste your money on Aperture 3. I picked it up and had it preinstalled on my Macbook before they shipped it. It's neat, but I find Lightroom to be more useful. Maybe it's because I transitioned from the PC, which I was used to for the last 10+ years, but I still try to use Aperture from time to time. It's just not giving me the results I want, and Lightroom and Photoshop's Raw Editor truly offer me what I want and need in an editing program.

Hope this helps.

[Slyanius]

I highly recommend Apple's Aperture 3. Although it is not as comprehensive as PS, it is an excellent photo organisation tool with image editing capability. You can download a trial version off Apple's website for free.

[OsmosisStudios]

I use CS4 exclusively for RAW and pixel-level editing

[41(thirty)]

The good news is there are alot of choices. First choice to make is if you want a application that only edits (but is very powerful), one with moderate editing but also organizes, or both. Personally I use Aperture 3. Lightroom from what I hear is also a great choice. I have CS5 but only really use it for removing things with content aware. Now a lightroom/aperture + photoshop setup is going to be big bucks so you may want to look into a few other applications. I have heard from a few people that acorn is decent and pixelmator has been mentioned to me a few times as a cheaper alternative to PSE. I think most applications nowadays have free trials so download everything and see what you like!

[no.absolutes]

I recently switched to mac from pc and also had Aperture 3 installed. I also went ahead and got Lightroom 2, which is what I used to use on pc. I did have to upgrade to Photoshop from Paint Shop Pro (no available for mac). Personally, I learned to LOVE Aperture 3 much more than Lightroom. I use LR only to batch convert photos from RAW to JPEG and for a few presets (oh how I love presets!!)... I have notice my editing style has gotten much more natural with Aperture. I also love how I can retouch right within Aperture. I do a skin smoothing action and an eye-pop action in Photoshop CS5, and do any cleaning up (content aware fill is great most of the time) and then I'm done. I also use PS to make any storyboards.

[lputman]

I went to MAC and continue to use Lightroom and CS4. Elements will be just fine on a MAC if you want to stay with it.

[ReenaG]

any of the above will work great on the Mac. Do what was suggested, download trials and see what works the best for you.