photo editing app for a newb to photography

[boxer82003]

i got photoshop elements with my rebel but im a newb to photography and it seems like a program for more advanced users is somthing a bit easier to start with

[Scottes]

You'll benefit greatly by sticking with PS Elements. It's worth a little effort, and it really doesn't take much to use the basics. Take a look at the Post Processing forum - there's a link at the top with many tutorials. Many are geared to easily processing images with Photoshop, and much of the info pertains to Elements. In particular, take a look at the one called "Camera to JPG - Quickly" - you'll be processing fine images within minutes.

[HJMinard]

This book has some very specific step-by-step instructions for completing most common tasks in Photoshop Elements:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0735713928/qid=1063117695/sr=1-14/ref=sr_1_14/002-3390079-2508013?v=glance&s=books

[Belmondo]

Without knowing that you already own PS Elements, that's what I would have suggested you buy. The beauty of it is that if you ever feel the need to upgrade to the full version of Photoshop, you'll alrady be familiar with a lot of the methodology.

[timmyquest]

Dont let this set you back but uhh...photoshop elements IS the program for the less advanced users.

Dont worry, ask questions, read online (or books) and most of all just play around.

I've been using PS for about 3 years now and i hardly know everything, i learn new things at least every week and i learn it simply by playing around.

[Radtech1]

I started with PhotoImpact, which was very easy to master and it allowed me to learn the basics of what a filter does. Also some RedEye removal. It laid the foundation of understanding of "What happens when I apply that". In VERY SHORT ORDER the benefit of hand holding became a frustration as I wanted to do more. Mostly because it wont let you screw up, it also wont let you experiment. $50.00 here and gone in a month.

Next was Microsofts Picture-It. That program served as a bridge between PhotoImpact and PS-E2. It gave me the feeling of "OK! Now, This is more like it!" A lot more versatility than PhotoImpact, but, again, in about a month I was bumping my head against it's limitations. Most effects were applied in a drag and drop manner, with only one or 2 adjustments. BUT, it did serve it's purpose. Kind of like the training wheels between your tricycle and being free on your first two-wheeler. Another month gone, this time $100 bucks in the wind.

Even with the above $150.00 foundation, it took me at least a month to be able to take PSE2 on a straight line between the image on the screen and the one in my head.

At first I just applied filters, and that was great. (Me and the Diffuse Glow - We were buds!) Then I learned the different methods of selection - lasso, magnetic lasso, marquee, and the magic wand. (God Bless the magic wand). Then I started resizing, rotating and (gasp!) distorting my selections. Then one day I noticed that each selection was on its own layer! MY GOD! The world opened up. I could apply filters to just one part of an image by using layers!

Last month I barked up the 800 bones for PS-CS. It had taken me a year and a half to wear out PS-E2. I still use it for quick stuff as it loads quicker and I know it better. And there are some very useful features that PS-CS does not have. The eyedropper style of white balance, for example is in E2 and not CS. It is used to correct off color shots. Say you have a shot that was taken outside in the bright sun. Someone is wearing a white shirt, but it looks a little bit blue, kind of. In fact, everything looks a little bit blue, kind of. Go to "Enhance" then "Adjust Color" then "Color Cast" then whit the eyedropper, click on the white (blue) shirt. The shirt will change to the white it should be and the *rest of the shot* will change along with it, getting rid of that blue tinge.

Just for that reason alone, I strongly recommend that you start playing with Elements. It is a very robust, very versatile program. I paid $150.00 to tap dance through 2 lesser programs, only to end up using - very happily - Elements. If you get anything less, it will be $$$$ that will return very little in the way of usability. Even though I was glad to have the hand holding at the time, about a month into Elements, I was wishing that I had spent the money on something that would have lasted. Down payment on a nice lens, for example.

Good luck,

Rad

[aam1234]

I agree with HJM. Scott Kelby's book is a very good starting point. He will show you how do common things in a step-by-step style. The only drawback is that he doesn't tell you "why" he did this or that. Still an excellent starting point.