processing software

[mclone]

I am preparing to buy a new PC, until now I have used freebie software that came with my old Kodak but am ready to upgrade. I am currently using a Nikon D40 that I bought used, it did not come with any software. Any ideas on what post processing software I should get? Something fairly easy to use, I mostly take landscape / nature photos. Thanks.

[Digidave]

Nikon has the free View NX2 software that normally would come on a CD with all new cameras. Just go to Nikon's website & you should be able to find it.

[Doug Sundseth]

As noted, ViewNX is free and it works adequately for many purposes, including RAW files.

If you're willing to spend the money, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is a brilliant tool for most processing and image management tasks.

If you need to do heavy pixel editing, you'll probably want dedicated pixel manipulation software like Photoshop Elements or Photoshop. Elements has most of the tools you would want, but it doesn't do CMYK (if you don't know what that is, you probably don't need it ), and it doesn't have Curves adjustments. (There are many other differences, but those two are the biggest for me.)

Lightroom and Photoshop (I'm not sure about Elements) have free 30-day trials, but if you decide you want them after that, you'll need to pony up the cash ... and Adobe likes their software quite a bit. Unfortunately for my wallet, I agree with them.

HTH

[Krill]

Hi all,
I have been given Capture NX 2 and it seems to do lots of things (most of which I haven't used yet). Does Photoshop (or others) differ greatly in what it can do? I suspect that there will be photographers who will have absolute favourite software and would not consider other programmes . I guess I would like people's opinion regarding which programme should be my favourite
Thanks

[windrider86]

Corel paint shop pro is an amazing tool. Easy to use and can do everything Photshop can do but at a HUGE price difference