Help in making choice of Post Processing software

[Robert L]

I used to dabble in B&W photography, film processing, and printing. My experience included "dodging" and "burning", and use of various filters for printing enhancement.

Now, we're in the digital age and there's so much one can do as so beautifully illustrated here on this wonderfully informative site.

There's a tremendous learning curve ahead for me. I have Adobe PhotoDeluxe Home Edition 4.0, ArcSoft PhotoStudio 2000, and I d/ld'd GIMP 2.6. I would say all of the above packages have me somewhat baffled with all that they can do.

Which package, in your opinion, would be best for me to invest the time in learning?

Thanks for any and all opinions.

[glyphon]

i have no experience with PhotoDeluxe or PhotoStudio, but my guess would be they suck and are extremely limited.

Gimp is a full featured and free program that is a viable alternative to Photoshop in many regards, and as such will be the most useful. it will also have the largest learning curve of the programs you have. and if you have no desire to spend any money on new programs, i'd focus your efforts here. it will take a bit longer, but will have the biggest payout in the end. there are plenty of tutorials out there to help you out (just google "gimp tutorials"). you can probably even apply most photoshop tutorials to gimp. it has most of the same tools, they just tend to be in different locations.

if you don't mind spending a little and getting a good, current, more beginner friendly, yet still powerful program, theres:
Paintshop Pro (PSP) for ~$100
Photoshop Elements for around $100 as well.

and if you look, you can find them for less than that from reputible online vendors, such as amazon.

[wulf]

There is a lot of choice. Personally, I like The Gimp. I can use the skills I have developed with it whether I am working on Linux, Mac or Windows and it is powerful and flexible.

One thing you neglected to mention, Robert, is what operating system you are using. That will affect your choices and may suggest some obvious candidates. On my main home machine, a Mac, I find iPhoto is a great tool to act as a library for my shots and for simple adjustments, although most of my editing is still done with The Gimp. Tell us what you've got and that might narrow things down a bit.

Wulf

[Robert L]

glyphon, thank you for your thoughts and input.

Gimp does seem to be popular and as you say, there are tutorials available. That certainly makes it easier.

[Robert L]

Wulf, thank you as well for your input.

Out of necessity, I've had to have Intel based machines running a Microsoft OS. I used to own an Amiga and loved that machine but Commodore didn't do so well in the US. My preference would be a MAC over Microsoft 7 days a week, but I work with what I have, which is XP Pro.

[SusanH1970]

I also have Arcsoft Photostudio, as it came with my computer, but it's very limiting. I made the leap to Photoshop Elements 7 (and also downloaded the trial version of CS4, but have no plans to purchase it as of yet, due to price). Just my two cents about Arcsoft - it's really not all that great.

[ukreal1]

I use Picnik premium.They don't have dodge/burn tools yet, but they are in development. I LOVE it and it is so easy to use. Depends on how much editing you want to do also...