I need all your help on software worth getting

WolfOnDigital

I need your help.
Could you send me a list of Mac software you think is essential to have for Photography please?

Long story short, I have a very generous client/ friend who I am helping and they want to pay me back by buying any and all software I need for my photography!
Yes, I know, It Sounds too good to be true but they told me to come up with a list of software I need/want.

When you get a few minutes would you please send me back a list of your ideas.
Include everything from CS to lightroom to plug ins etc with version numbers please?
Include the obvious software and the esoteric ones worth using for editing, workflow, etc.
This is a once in a lifetime situation and I do not want to miss anything for my list.


I really do appreciate it this everyone!!!

Thanks in advance,

Jeff

Andy

Photoshop CS5
Lightroom 3

pathfinder

How large is their budget for software...?

Like Andy said LR3, CS5

Also

Topaz Plug in bundle - http://www.topazlabs.com/products.html

Color Efex Pro and Silver Efex Pro as well - http://www.niksoftware.com/products/usa/entry.php

Perfect Resize 7 - http://www.ononesoftware.com/products/suite/perfect-resize/?ind&gclid=CL6J3bKMj6sCFUYEQAodpmZA0Q

Smugmug Pro Account of course!

Is your monitor calibrated? If not, it should be

WolfOnDigital

Thanks

Andy wrote: »

Photoshop CS5
Lightroom 3

Hi Andy! How are you??

Thanks for playing.
I appreciate this and the others who will offer suggestions.
I have a rare opportunity here and wanted to make sure I do not miss any pertinent Software.

Thanks again,

Jeff

WolfOnDigital

and to you Path

pathfinder wrote: »

How large is their budget for software...?

Like Andy said LR3, CS5

Also

Topaz Plug in bundle - http://www.topazlabs.com/products.html

Color Efex Pro and Silver Efex Pro as well - http://www.niksoftware.com/products/usa/entry.php

Perfect Resize 7 - http://www.ononesoftware.com/products/suite/perfect-resize/?ind&gclid=CL6J3bKMj6sCFUYEQAodpmZA0Q

Smugmug Pro Account of course!

Is your monitor calibrated? If not, it should be

The budget is open??? lol They said "I can buy you any software you need" OK...lol
So....
Of course a smug mug pro account, goes without saying.
But we have not gotten to equipment..yet!

WolfOnDigital

By the way...

WolfOnDigital wrote: »

The budget is open??? lol They said "I can buy you any software you need" OK...lol
So....
Of course a smug mug pro account, goes without saying.
But we have not gotten to equipment..yet!

Thanks for adding the links, they help.
I already was told tonight they have CS5 extended available for me to pick up.

WolfOnDigital

any one else? surely there are many more software packages that are worth owning?

Chris02

Already mentioned but Lightroom 3.4.1 and Silver efex 2

lifeinfocus

Portrait Professional
There has been a number of Dgrin posts lately about Portrait Professional - search Dgrin on that if you want to see what Dgrinners are saying. I am going to buy it today after trying it out. http://www.portraitprofessional.com

lifeinfocus

[QUOTE=.
But we have not gotten to equipment..yet![/QUOTE]

The comment about monitor calibration - is part equipment and part software. So you should add that to your list and there are number to chose from.

Phil

arodney

JUST getting Lightroom and Photoshop is enough to make most people’s heads explode in learning how to use these two powerful tools. You might consider Lightroom and Elements. But I’d highly suggest you stop there even if the offer runs dry, you’ll have thousands of hours of work ahead of you and you’ll probably find a huge point of diminishing return from many of the products mentioned above (for example, I can easily show you that Lightroom plus Photoshop will provide better results than any 3rd party product to resize up images. Same is true for converting images to B&W. KISS).

By all means, get your color management act together with those two products and get hardware and software to calibrate your display! Far, far more useful and necessary than any 3rd party plug-in. Look into the new X-rite i1Display Pro.

You’d be far better off with Photoshop plus LR and some good video tutorials on their use than a pile of other software products by far.

zoomer

Lightroom (3 is so slow for me I only use it when I need lens correction or noise control, otherwise I use 2.7)
Photoshop Elements is all most people will ever need, as far as Photoshop.
Nik Filters
Portrait Professional
Topaz (for fun)

These are the programs I use, 95% of processing is done in Lightroom.

WolfOnDigital

Thanks

lifeinfocus wrote: »

The comment about monitor calibration - is part equipment and part software. So you should add that to your list and there are number to chose from.

Phil

Appreciate the suggestion.

WolfOnDigital

Thanks

arodney wrote: »

JUST getting Lightroom and Photoshop is enough to make most people’s heads explode in learning how to use these two powerful tools. You might consider Lightroom and Elements. But I’d highly suggest you stop there even if the offer runs dry, you’ll have thousands of hours of work ahead of you and you’ll probably find a huge point of diminishing return from many of the products mentioned above (for example, I can easily show you that Lightroom plus Photoshop will provide better results than any 3rd party product to resize up images. Same is true for converting images to B&W. KISS).

By all means, get your color management act together with those two products and get hardware and software to calibrate your display! Far, far more useful and necessary than any 3rd party plug-in. Look into the new X-rite i1Display Pro.

You’d be far better off with Photoshop plus LR and some good video tutorials on their use than a pile of other software products by far.

I am aware of the CS5 AND Lightroom.
I am a veteran photographer.
I just wanted to make sure I did not miss any software I should ask for.

Thanks!

Jeff

WolfOnDigital

tutorials?

arodney wrote: »

JUST getting Lightroom and Photoshop is enough to make most people’s heads explode in learning how to use these two powerful tools. You might consider Lightroom and Elements. But I’d highly suggest you stop there even if the offer runs dry, you’ll have thousands of hours of work ahead of you and you’ll probably find a huge point of diminishing return from many of the products mentioned above (for example, I can easily show you that Lightroom plus Photoshop will provide better results than any 3rd party product to resize up images. Same is true for converting images to B&W. KISS).

By all means, get your color management act together with those two products and get hardware and software to calibrate your display! Far, far more useful and necessary than any 3rd party plug-in. Look into the new X-rite i1Display Pro.

You’d be far better off with Photoshop plus LR and some good video tutorials on their use than a pile of other software products by far.

Do you know which Tutorials are the best ones? I could add that to the list.

WolfOnDigital

Appreciated

zoomer wrote: »

Lightroom (3 is so slow for me I only use it when I need lens correction or noise control, otherwise I use 2.7)
Photoshop Elements is all most people will ever need, as far as Photoshop.
Nik Filters
Portrait Professional
Topaz (for fun)

These are the programs I use, 95% of processing is done in Lightroom.

Thanks.

WolfOnDigital

Plug ins
Any suggestions for all of you as the best Plug In Packages to get?
Or specialty software for effects etc?

Richard

I would add a noise reduction plugin to the list. ACR/LR does a fine job most of the time, but you can do better with a specialized tool for severe cases, or when the noise is limited to a single channel. I use Noiseware Pro, but be aware that the 64-bit version is only available for Windows. BTW, to avoid unpleasant surprises, you should check on availability of 64-bit versions of every plugin you get.

Art Scott

WolfOnDigital wrote: »

Any suggestions for all of you as the best Plug In Packages to get?
Or specialty software for effects etc?

I use software: LR3 - have never found LR3 to slow down my laptop ever...and PSCS4
(PSCS 5 has some abilities I could really use... so in the near future I will get it.)

Other Software: Portrait Professional (makes damn quick work of editing portraits)
Photomatix for HDR - currently sort of a toy for me...still learning

Genuine Fractals - read my signature line for the quote from Vincent Versace --- GF is none Perfect Rezise by OnOne Software......this has allowed me huge prints that need NO viewing distance to view them, meaning you can stand nose to print and not see any grain type noise from the enlargement......it has won all the major uprez software awards many years over....

Sam

This might be a little off topic, but is your patron getting you legitimate software packages with serial numbers?

It's just that the whole thread seems a little off kilter. The software your asking about will run somewhere between $1000.00 and say $3500.00. You say there is no budget. I have viewed your equipment list and if there is no limit why not look at upgrading your camera body and lenses?

I guess what I am saying is it don't look right.

Sam

WolfOnDigital

Thanks

Art Scott wrote: »

I use software: LR3 - have never found LR3 to slow down my laptop ever...and PSCS4
(PSCS 5 has some abilities I could really use... so in the near future I will get it.)

Other Software: Portrait Professional (makes damn quick work of editing portraits)
Photomatix for HDR - currently sort of a toy for me...still learning

Genuine Fractals - read my signature line for the quote from Vincent Versace --- GF is none Perfect Rezise by OnOne Software......this has allowed me huge prints that need NO viewing distance to view them, meaning you can stand nose to print and not see any grain type noise from the enlargement......it has won all the major uprez software awards many years over....

Excellent Points.

WolfOnDigital

Thanks!

Richard wrote: »

I would add a noise reduction plugin to the list. ACR/LR does a fine job most of the time, but you can do better with a specialized tool for severe cases, or when the noise is limited to a single channel. I use Noiseware Pro, but be aware that the 64-bit version is only available for Windows. BTW, to avoid unpleasant surprises, you should check on availability of 64-bit versions of every plugin you get.

Thanks for reminding me.

WolfOnDigital

Let's Be Crystal Clear Here

Sam wrote: »

This might be a little off topic, but is your patron getting you legitimate software packages with serial numbers?

It's just that the whole thread seems a little off kilter. The software your asking about will run somewhere between $1000.00 and say $3500.00. You say there is no budget. I have viewed your equipment list and if there is no limit why not look at upgrading your camera body and lenses?

I guess what I am saying is it don't look right.

Sam

Sam,

I appreciate your concern.

I want to be Crystal Clear.
Software is IN ORIGINAL SHRINKWRAPED BOX FROM STORE.
NOT PIRATED. That's Number 1

#2 My post stated that My Friend would help with software. That's all.

So nothing off kilter at all. Too good to be true, YES. Time will tell.
But I assure everyone in here it is all very legit.
You do not know the details of the arrangement.
Just that I'm helping the friend with some advice and other things Business items.
This is a Barter.

As for my equipment, Certain items had to be put off do to family health expenses over the last few years. So in due time my equipment will get to where I want it to be.
It certainly hasn't held me back in my creative abilities much.

Thanks for your Concern Sam.

Jeff

Sam

WolfOnDigital wrote: »

Sam,

I appreciate your concern.

I want to be Crystal Clear.
Software is IN ORIGINAL SHRINKWRAPED BOX FROM STORE.
NOT PIRATED. That's Number 1

#2 My post stated that My Friend would help with software. That's all.

So nothing off kilter at all. Too good to be true, YES. Time will tell.
But I assure everyone in here it is all very legit.
You do not know the details of the arrangement.
Just that I'm helping the friend with some advice and other things Business items.
This is a Barter.

As for my equipment, Certain items had to be put off do to family health expenses over the last few years. So in due time my equipment will get to where I want it to be.
It certainly hasn't held me back in my creative abilities much.

Thanks for your Concern Sam.

Jeff

Jeff,

Good to know all is on the up and up, and no I don't need the details.

OH and for the record if your friend ever needs any help you can't provide, please put my name on top of the list. :D:D:D:D:D

Sam

basflt

Sam wrote: »

This might be a little off topic, but is your patron getting you legitimate software packages with serial numbers?

It's just that the whole thread seems a little off kilter. The software your asking about will run somewhere between $1000.00 and say $3500.00. You say there is no budget. I have viewed your equipment list and if there is no limit why not look at upgrading your camera body and lenses?

I guess what I am saying is it don't look right.

Sam

put a good virus-scanner on the list [ is software ]

Cindy

Rather than 'just' lightroom & photoshop... why not the whole Adobe Creative Suite which includes the previous + so much more (InDesign, Illistrator, Etc. )
Camera specific software if upgrades are needed (sometimes you just need it to make a job easier such as tethered shooting, etc :-)
Diskeeper Pro (awesome maintenance program but make sure to get the one that defrags 1+ tb drives)
Nik Complete Collection
Portrait Professional
X-rite i1Display Pro
Some sort of studio management software
Neat Image Pro
Wow... I could list on & On :-)
Etc
Etc
Etc

Have fun & hope you get everything you need & then some!

WolfOnDigital

Sam

Sam wrote: »

Jeff,

Good to know all is on the up and up, and no I don't need the details.

OH and for the record if your friend ever needs any help you can't provide, please put my name on top of the list. :D:D:D:D:D

Sam

Sam,

YOU will be the First on the list!


Jeff

WolfOnDigital

Thank You

basflt wrote: »

put a good virus-scanner on the list [ is software ]

GREAT Idea

WolfOnDigital

Hi

Cindy wrote: »

Rather than 'just' lightroom & photoshop... why not the whole Adobe Creative Suite which includes the previous + so much more (InDesign, Illistrator, Etc. )
Camera specific software if upgrades are needed (sometimes you just need it to make a job easier such as tethered shooting, etc :-)
Diskeeper Pro (awesome maintenance program but make sure to get the one that defrags 1+ tb drives)
Nik Complete Collection
Portrait Professional
X-rite i1Display Pro
Some sort of studio management software
Neat Image Pro
Wow... I could list on & On :-)
Etc
Etc
Etc

Have fun & hope you get everything you need & then some!

CINDY,

I like your Thinking!!!

Jeff

WolfOnDigital

And?

Cindy wrote: »

Rather than 'just' lightroom & photoshop... why not the whole Adobe Creative Suite which includes the previous + so much more (InDesign, Illistrator, Etc. )
Camera specific software if upgrades are needed (sometimes you just need it to make a job easier such as tethered shooting, etc :-)
Diskeeper Pro (awesome maintenance program but make sure to get the one that defrags 1+ tb drives)
Nik Complete Collection
Portrait Professional
X-rite i1Display Pro
Some sort of studio management software
Neat Image Pro
Wow... I could list on & On :-)
Etc
Etc
Etc

Have fun & hope you get everything you need & then some!

And what else? You said the list goes on....?????

MileHighAko

This guy's blog entry might be of interest. It was sent to me by a friend yesterday who had a similar question and wanted an opinion on the list. I mostly agree with the list (haven't used the Nik suite so can't comment on it).

http://www.ronmartblog.com/2010/12/what-plug-ins-should-i-buy.html