Editing software

[jorf]

I imagine this is the zillionth time for this question. I've read some of the threads on it....

Brand new on the forums. Just got my D5000 and am wondering about the software I might want for editing. I'm looking for something along the lines of compare and contrast opinions from users. Capture NX2? Elements? Lightroom? Others?

Right now I have the Nikon transfer and View programs going but actually end out using Preview on my mac! View has the basic image sliders but no crop and I just don't like the format of it. I have Photoshop - an older version - on another computer in the house. Husband uses it a lot and has a bit of a sense of it...I don't and don't really have the patience for it. Anyway, I can get to it if I need it but am not looking to buy it.

Thanks much.

[tingeliM]

If PS is too complicated for you, and if you'd like to do just the basic stuff (contrast, lighting, cropping etc.) then I think you should try Picasa (a free-wear from Google).

And if you ever do want something ore like PS, but don't wanna pay the big bucks then GIMP is the way to go. But it does need some time to get used to (tutorials are all over the web though).

[jorf]

I hear great things about GIMP but it's only for Windows OS - very sad....
I'll take a second look at Picasa. It's nice to know I have PS for a back-up if I want to get crazy!
Thanks!

[dharmit]

Gimp is available for Mac, go to this WEBSITE to download it.

Google Gimp for Mac and you will get lots of hits.

Good luck

[jorf]

Thanks. I went back to the site after I posted that, thinking I might put it on my work computer (Windows) and saw the Mac version.... Looks like maybe some bugs but I might try it on the Windows computer first and see if I like it. Just took up the deal on Elements 8....

[oldwolf]

Paint Shop Pro is cheap and does just about everything PS can do. I think it's a bit more user friendly but that's just my personal opinion.

[jorf]

Thanks. I'll keep that in mind as I go...

[woods]

You could also try Lightroom, The beta 3 is available here : Adobe Labs - Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3

[Mpow]

Photoshop Elements is pretty powerful and a lot less expensive than PS (new version just came out, I don't have it yet, but I'm hoping that Santa will come through, as I hear it has a lot of new "stuff"). I was struggling with PSE, and finally took a few week community ed. course that gave me that "ah ha!" moment that I needed.
I also use GIMP, but am just learning. I have it on my mac, it took me a while to figure out how to download it correctly to get it to work (but please don't ask me what I did, because I don't know!). If you are interested in GIMP, check out iffles.com blog. She goes through some great techniques and plug ins.

[jorf]

Thanks Mary Anne. I was put off by some of the discussion of difficulties of downloading gimp on a mac. I'll check out that site if I decide to go with it. I'll give PSE a chance. My husband is a fair PS user (thinks he probably uses no more than is in elements) so hopefully he can help me out until I have the ah-ha you're talking about!