Your favorite software?

fredjclaus

I know of Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, and Lightroom. What software do you all use, and why? I have been using Paint Shop Pro only because I picked it up at a garage sale for about $10.00. It seems to work just like Photoshop, but I personally have not used the new CS3.

What are your thoughts?

arodney

Lightroom for me is indispensable and has allowed me to limit the use of Photoshop hugely.

photokandy

My setup consists of Lightroom + Photoshop CS4. Lightroom actually came first, and the integration with CS4 was what eventually got me to add Photoshop to the list.

As far as I'm concerned, Lightroom is amazing, and worth every penny ($299). It makes categorizing and processing RAW files SO much faster and easier, and being able to stuff it with presets just expands the creative options. It would be okay for JPG, too (certainly faster), but I'm a RAW only person.

Photoshop CS4 is nice. I'm not sure it is worth the actual price -- especially when there are equally capable programs out there like PSP or Photoline (www.pl32.com). BUT - the integration with Lr was what sold me - and the fact that there is so much material out there to use with Ps. (BTW - You can integrate Lr with any other photo editor fairly nicely. It just isn't quite as slick as with Ps CS4.)

The downside to both of these programs is pretty much one thing: resources. My machine is not old by any means, but it can struggle to support both Lr and Ps at the same time. Lr is relatively fast until you start adding adjustments (or importing RAW, but that's expected to some extend), but Ps is absolutely painful to start up. If I get a new machine, that'd be the reason. I think you probably need a Quad Core machine with 8gb to really get good performance (Mine is Dual Core + 4gb). Even so, I'll live with the current machine for awhile more -- especially when faced with the choice between new computer or new camera gear!

pathfinder

My basic software in Lightroom2, and CS4.

I started with Photoshop a number of years ago ( PS4 I think ) so Lightroom was kind of starting over again and I did not like Lightroom v1 initially. LR 2 is much better and I am quite happy I made the investment in time to learn to use its tools. Like Andrew said it just speeds up workflow so much more quickly. I really like importing my RAW files from my compact flash, and having two separate copies being created on two different hard drives simultaneously - that is cool. The ability to create and use presets is fantastic as well.

I also use Photomatix, and a number of other Plug ins for Photoshop as well - Viveza, Color Effects Pro, Sharpener Pro, Topaz Adjust, Genuine Fractals, and others. These have been acquired over several years.

divamum

I started out with an old (OLD) copy of PSP that we had found as shovelware somewhere; it's very powerful, but since most tutorials seem geared towards PS, it was only when I switched that I got the hang of the most powerful features, eg layers. Once I switched to PS, a new world opened, particularly as there are zillions of video tutes all over the net. But I have to say that PSP does all the same things, and actually has a few things that it does better than PS, although there aren't nearly as many plugins/actions etc available for it.

My own workflow uses the following softwares:

- I upload through Picasa - yep, the freeware program. Although LR is designed for cataloguing (and I do use it elsehwhere in the process), I find the simpler catalogue interface of Picasa suits me perfectly for uploading and a first perusal.

- After I've uploaded, sometimes I'll import thewhole shoot into LR, and sometimes I'll go through the shoot in Picasa and delete the complete tossers and pick the obvious keepers before importanting; depends on how many there are.

- I will then process the raw files in LR, editing further in Photoshop as necessary. I was making separate PSD files in PS, but have recently discovered the "edit in..." feature of LR and am now making tif's instead. In either case, I ensure that LR and PS are talking to each other so that adjustments I make in PS will show up in LR, so effectively I'm working in both programs simultaneously.

- I then use LR's stars, colours and flag system to further cull and select. I will then export the final keepers to a sub-directory of the original folder which I generally call "processed" (it's taken me a while to come up with this and I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner -keeps everything together yet separate and is VERY helpful when looking for a final copy of something!)

- lastly, if necessary I will run things through Noiseware's FREE community edition. I think if there is one piece of software I absolutely could'nt live without, this one is it. It has taken more than a few images from "aaargh" to "wow - that looks pretty good now it's cleaned up". When I have the money, I'll be upgrading to the plugin so I can use it selectively, and have the batch function as well. Truly awesome piece of software (and the FREE version is insane value for money! )

HTH!

SKnight

This thread came about at just the right time. I downloaded LR2 for the 30 day trial and thus far have been amazed, with what I'm seeing here I'll go ahead and get the registration number for it. Thanks guys!

fredjclaus

Thanks everyone. I think I'll have to take a look at the both of those programs and see how I like them. I noticed that CS4 is around $700.00, and PSP 12 is only $60.00. Is there really that big of a difference?

colourbox

fredjclaus wrote:

Thanks everyone. I think I'll have to take a look at the both of those programs and see how I like them. I noticed that CS4 is around $700.00, and PSP 12 is only $60.00. Is there really that big of a difference?

I don't know PSP well at all, but some of the reasons Photoshop costs what it does are support for advanced prepress workflows (CMYK, multitones, multichannel, dot gain curves, custom black generation...), color management including assign/convert profiles, soft-proofing, customizable responses to mismatched and missing profiles (I really don't know what PSP supports in this area), support for three different scripting languages (JavaScript, Visual Basic, AppleScript) plus Actions; Smart Objects for resolution independent transformations, Smart Filters for nondestructive filtration, etc. I see that PSP has raw format support, but I don't know how it compares to Adobe's pro-featured Camera Raw that comes with Photoshop.

In other words, Photoshop has a lot of really subtle or obscure high-end stuff that many casual users may not even know why it's important, but may be critical for certain specialists at places like multi-million-dollar printing companies where $600 makes Photoshop the cheapest expense in the plant.

I mostly use Lightroom, which you could certainly pair up with PaintShop Pro because they would be complementary. The more you use Lightroom, the less you would need Photoshop if you already have a decent pixel editor like PaintShop Pro.

Simon Park

Lightroom & Photoshop
I would say Lightroom is a most have $299 or($99) if your a teacher or if your in school or if one of your kids are in school. I also have CS4 this is a great tool but i agree that the price is high but again if you get the school discount you can get it for $299 then it a bargain.

regards

Simon

fredjclaus

Thanks for the information. I think I'm going to download and try these two programs.

MrBook2

I use Bibble Pro for raw (ver. 4.10, although I have the beta trial for the upcoming ver. 5 release) and the GIMP for jpeg work (version 2.6.6.) Both can do monitor profiling, handle Nikon NEF just fine (although you need a plugin for the GIMP, but I do raw conversion with Bibble anyway) and have more than enough power for what I need. Bibble also has a version of Noise Ninja built right in, for those high ISO messes (of course a D700 would fix that, but it is not in the budget quite yet...) Most importantly, they both support all of the major operating systems, including Linux, which is what I run (Ubuntu 9.04.) To me, this pretty much rules out the usual Photoshop and Lightroom tag team.

A lot of folks knock GIMP, but it is more than enough for most of the folks out there, and it is free (and legally free, not just able to be found free... ) Yes, there is a learning curve and some limitations, but that is true of all software. Let's face it, if we do our job right in the field, we only really need to straighten, crop, and maybe fiddle a little with some curves or sharpening. Just about any image software can do those things for you. (Oh, Bibble is pretty cheap too. When I bought it, the pro version was about $130. And that allows me to run it on both my Linux box and my Windows box. I did not need to buy a seperate license for each.)

Am I saying everyone should use the GIMP? Heck no. If you do this sort of thing for a living, you probably need the extra power and flexability that the Big Guns give you. And when you have an image that is total crap but you absolutely need to salvage something from it, you will be happy to have Adobe in your corner. But it is more capable than most folks give it credit for.

Just my 2 cents. I will step off the soapbox and go back to being the lonely Linux guy around here. Never get too hung up on what software to use. Find one that does what you need and you feel comfortable working with.

pathfinder

Shay used Gimp and Ubuntu also, with great results. Gimp will do curves and such with ease.

There are several folks using that set up here on dgrin. It's cheap and it works pretty good, and does not require the latest and greatest hardware to get decent speed.

I have considered trying it, but I know nothing about Linux, and don't really want to take the time to learn a new OS.

I just want my computer to be like my toaster, turn it on and make toast, turn it off when I am done making toast. I want to spend zero time on computer maintenance.

My present computer comes as close to that as any I have ever had.

W.W. Webster

fredjclaus wrote:

Your favorite software?

My top three are:

1. Lightroom

2. Lightroom

3. Lightroom

There is no number 4!

Miguel Delinquento

DevonThink
My favorite software has nothing to do with processing photographs, but has everything to do with organizating information about processing photographs.

DevonThink is Mac only but I'm sure there are very similar Windows tools. The application lets me structure all the little bits of valuable information into a organized whole that makes sense to me. Simple select, drag and drop into a "bucket" with a built-in browser as well. I store clippings, software registrations, usage tips, a link to the smugmug print table, etc. within DevonThink. Easy to use too.

M

WingsOfLovePhoto

I used to use Paintshop due to money limitations but when I was able I bought photoshop CS2( at the time) It had a huge learning curve coming from paintshop but there is no comparison at all in what can be done. I now use Lightroom2... upload all my raw files there, do initial cropping, conversion, brightness, blacks and clarity are my favorite sliders, then if I need to clone or do layer things you can hop right to photoshop CS3 now.... with a command E. Then it will save what you have done as a psd file right next to the original so you essentially don't cause any distruction with the original. These are invaluable tools to bring your photography to the next level in this competitive market!

MarkR

I was/am a big fan of Lightzone, which offers professional, powerful editing in a very user-friendly format. It uses non-destructive layers that can be blended and faded similar to layers in PS, allows for regions to be selected by area, color range, and tone, and can be integrated into Lightroom or Aperture for added functionality. You can view training videos which show off Lightzone here

Unfortunately, the interface can be slow. Updates are few and far between, and there are some small but annoying bugs that still have not been fixed.

In order to streamline my workflow I've moved to LR+CS4 (with TopazLabs plugins: Topaz Adjust mimics some of LZ's Relight tool), but my heart holds a special place for LightZone.

bradpowellphoto

My software
Not as advanced as some of the photographers here....but here are my favourite programs...

1. Lightroom 2 (best upgrade EVER from version 1 to 2)
2. Elements 7
3. Topaz Adjust Plugin
4. Noiseware Pro Plugin
5. Photomatix
6. Panorama Factory

fredjclaus

Ok, here is my thoght. I'm learning on Paint Shop Pro X2 because of the cost. Once I get good at using these programs I plan on offering photo restoration services and that is mainly what I'm learning. Would the techniques I learn in Paint Shop Pro carry over to paintshop when I purchase that one?

For those of you who have used both, are their short cut buttons in PhotoShop such as "Background remover" and "Scratch Remover", like there are in PSP?

GoofBckt

I use PS Elements 7. It does everything I need it to do w/o the learning curve of CS3 or 4 programs. And the cost to buy it online is a fraction of the others. I love it.

fredjclaus wrote:

Ok, here is my thoght. I'm learning on Paint Shop Pro X2 because of the cost. Once I get good at using these programs I plan on offering photo restoration services and that is mainly what I'm learning. Would the techniques I learn in Paint Shop Pro carry over to paintshop when I purchase that one?

For those of you who have used both, are their short cut buttons in PhotoShop such as "Background remover" and "Scratch Remover", like there are in PSP?

Miguel Delinquento

Photoshop is the standard
Fred, I assume you mean Photoshop when you wrote "paintshop" below?

My question back to you is why are you using Paint Shop for reasons of cost when Photoshop Elements is very reasonable in price?

If you are considering offering professorial retouching services, do realize that Photoshop is the standard in the industry. There is plenty to not love about Photoshop, but it is what it is. Though the concepts of a competing tool are pretty much the same, and I'm sure it performs excellently, the tool has little status, and even less mindshare among your peers, and more importantly your customers.There is also a larger and richer community and support structure built around Photoshop. That matters a lot.

My advice to you is to start with Elements and learn the ways and means of Photoshop ASAP.

M

fredjclaus wrote:

Ok, here is my thoght. I'm learning on Paint Shop Pro X2 because of the cost. Once I get good at using these programs I plan on offering photo restoration services and that is mainly what I'm learning. Would the techniques I learn in Paint Shop Pro carry over to paintshop when I purchase that one?

For those of you who have used both, are their short cut buttons in PhotoShop such as "Background remover" and "Scratch Remover", like there are in PSP?

MarkR

Miguel Delinquento wrote:

Fred, I assume you mean Photoshop when you wrote "paintshop" below?

My question back to you is why are you using Paint Shop for reasons of cost when Photoshop Elements is very reasonable in price?

If you are considering offering professorial retouching services, do realize that Photoshop is the standard in the industry. There is plenty to not love about Photoshop, but it is what it is. Though the concepts of a competing tool are pretty much the same, and I'm sure it performs excellently, the tool has little status, and even less mindshare among your peers, and more importantly your customers.There is also a larger and richer community and support structure built around Photoshop. That matters a lot.

My advice to you is to start with Elements and learn the ways and means of Photoshop ASAP.

M

Miguel,

At one point -- and I'm not sure if this is true or not anymore -- PSP was considerably more feature rich in content than Elements, with support for advanced layers and masking, CMYK support, and more. The last time I touched PSP it was still owned by Jasc, so