Any Inexpensive (or Free) Photo Editing Software
- This topic has 17 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated Dec 7, 2011 at 4:30 pm by
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I just shelled out big bucks for a new camera that also takes RAW pics.
I don’t have the money to buy Lightroom. Right now I’m using Picassa and Photoscape. Is there a better free or inexpensive program I can use?
Thanks,
Randy
Was going to say AFAIK for free people look to Gimp and Picassa.
Were I you, I’d get Photoshop elements. Now or later
Far Cheaper than CS5 and easier on the pocket book than LR for 75% functionality.It is amazing how much a program like lightroom and photoshop can improve your photos, Buying a fancy camera helps, but editing programs can really make the photo “pop”. If i were you, shell out the money for lightroom or photoshop, It will greatly help your photos.
I bought an Olympus xz-1. I was looking at Photoshop elements. Didn’t realize it was so inexpensive.
Don’t know, however, how much it can do compared to Lightroom, which I just don’t have the money for.
Randy
Yeh… Elements is the way to go.
I switched down from full CS4 to Elements 9 and cannot see the difference in the end result. (catastrophic hard drive failure… had to repurchase the product)
Somethings are easier and other harder, but almost as good, and I actually find a lot of the Elements functions to be easier to use..
There is one thing I miss… PS4 has a function that allows you to select a section of a photo and change the exposure in the RAW format, then select another area and do the same, so you can correct the exposure of the entire image, bit by bit… Elements cant do that…
If you told me that money was no option, CS4 or Lightroom… but Elements is a great compromise.
Randy. From what I’m reading Elements is the way to go. In an effort to keep this short, you can think of it this way.
Lightroom. (fairly expensive)
Robust Database management with good editing propertiesCS5 (really expensive)
Robust editing via PS and old school data base managementElements. (cheap)
75% functionality of the above LR and CS5.ALSO
keep in mind. Both CS5 and LR are resource hogs. Is your hardware up to it? If not, it wont be long before your adding, incurring thinking about a new PC (and the cost)Thanks folks. I just downloaded Gimp, but I think I’ll go with Elements for the reasons cited.
Also, from what I read, if I learn Elements, learning Photoshop and Lightroom will be easier.
Just curious: How does Gimp compare with Elements? I think with Gimp I’ll have to use UFRaw.
Finally, any thoughts on Paintshop Pro?
Randy
Hi
Sounds like you have some solid options – though Gimp is probably the least attractive.
If it is not on your or anyone else’s radar Picture Window Pro is an amazing image editor for little cost.
All operations are 16 bit and it functions in a very ” darkroom ” like user interface with full color management etc . It lacks the graphic options and bells and whistles of PS ( which suits some folks like me just fine ) but has a very deep editing toolset if you follow the capture image at optimum /do as little manipulation as needed/output to industry demanded specs , in other words a very straight ahead approach to image making
As it turns out, I found a few new Paintshop Pro x4s for around twenty bucks – no cpc code on the box (not sure what that means) – so I figured I’d give the program a shot.
It does have a noise reducer, and many folks seem to like it. Eventually I hope to move up to Lightroom.
Randy
Finally, any thoughts on Paintshop Pro?
I use GIMP from time to time, for one functiono only and only because I had PS4 before, I need it to un-stack images save in PS4 (if you’ve never worked in PS4, you won’t need it)… everything else I do in Elements, there after.
I downloaded the Paintshop Pro trial and tested it first, what a heap of shit… sorry for those guys using it, my advice, switch to Elements.
BTW, I tested about 5 solutions, all in the $100 range, some were OK, but after PS4, Elements is as close to where you want to go, as possible.
Any other questions on the cheaper options?? I have been through most of them…
As it turns out, I found a few new Paintshop Pro x4s for around twenty bucks – no cpc code on the box (not sure what that means) – so I figured I’d give the program a shot.
It does have a noise reducer, and many folks seem to like it. Eventually I hope to move up to Lightroom.
Randy
OH
And I think what you bought here is a media disk with the software trial, you’re probably going to have to pay them for the license code in like 30 days…
Mike,
I hope not. According to the seller -via Amazon – I’m just not eligable for a rebate. But if I had to do it over again, I’d spend the money for a completely new version.
(Also, after I made the purchase I saw that Lightroom was selling for $99.00)
It seems that PSP has received very good reviews wherever I looked.
Many feel it’s an excellent, inexpensive alternative to Photoshop, while that might not be true, so I’m surprised to hear your opinion, though I respect it. I figure for twenty bucks, if I don’t like the program I can ditch it.Randy
The problem with moving up to lightroom later is getting your images from one software to another. It can be a big pain and very time consuming. My advice is buy LR (if that’s the system you want) while its on sale. Watch some youtube vids to learn how to set up LR correctly the first time. Then backup backup backup.
From someone who’s been there, done that.
Thanks Mike. I just can’t swing the hundred bucks now. Besides, my computer is old. I’m afraid Lightroom will eat up too much data. (See the post above.)
For now, I’m doing very basic photography – to go with articles – for a regional fishing magazine.
I still love slides, and my little Minox. Right now, this jump into digital seems overwhelming and scary. PSP is supposedly easier to use than Lightroom.
True, I should’ve started with digital years ago, but that’s history.
Randy
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