PP Software

[cbknight]

Ok. New to DSLR but not new to SLR photography. But consider myself an amateur compared to yall. So..heres my dilemma which has been asked a million times I am sure, I have read most threads...But I was looking for some help specific to my use.

Family portraits (of course)
Senior Grads and glamour portraits of family and friends (not for public but for all friends and family, or friends of family and friends)
Glamour/nudes wife (no one else, I am not allowed)
Landscape photos
Nature photos (wildlife, birds, deer, etc.)
Stock photographs such as old piers, lakes, fences, etc

So nothing highly professional, but will need a quality product just for pride and reputation.

With that said, I would like a pp program that would give me room to grow. I have been using Paint Shop Pro II (free trial) and it was ok, but maybe not all I was looking for even though I know I cant use it to its potential yet. I just dont know. I dont mind a learning curve, but I will need something I can do the basics on right now for sure (curves, sharpening, etc). What I do have of course is DPP and Gimp, which Gimp seems to have a lot more than I know, but cant find good training tools.

On the glamour side, I would like the ability to edit out skin imperfections, smooth skin of course, edit/emphasize or de-emphasize a nose or breast, thin a person out, etc. This is not a must, since I am a good ways from ever getting to that point, but I would rather buy once (if that is even a possibility in photography and pp).
So if anyone would like to take a shot at what I need, please jump in.

Thanks in advance....

[Kagemaru]

Photoshop

[TTk]

Second:cool:

[JackLiu]

You may want to consider Photoshop Elements as an initial starting post processing software. It's a small investment where you will get great hands-on experience. And then upgrade to current Photoshop version.

[highstakes]

I'd say Photoshop Elements 2 or Aperture 2 if you are not familiar with Photoshop.

[kelz]

CB, my vote is also Photoshop. You said you would like room to grow then photoshop is the way to go. You can do all the basics of what you would like to accomplish then eventually get into the advanced features.There is virtually nothing you can't do with photoshop and there are many books/videos that will help you along the way as well as the fine folks in this forum. If you go to youtube there are plenty of tutorials there as well. Besides the power of just photoshop itself there are many plugins that are also available to achieve the image you have created in your mind.

[Tigran]

I'm a big fan of Gimp. You can add to it with freely available plug-ins and brushes available on the web. Go on Youtube for tutorials -- there are so many and for basically every function in Gimp. I have done some amazing things using Gimp that I never imagined I could do with photos. It just took a few minutes reviewing a tutorial on Youtube and playing around with Gimp.

[Mark_Cohran]

While Gimp (free) and Photoshop Elements are low cost editing programs, eventually I suspect you'll want to get Photoshop or Adobe Lightroom.

[Thierry boudan]

photoshop and nic software plug in

[dsd17]

Lightroom is quite nice if you aren't wanting to do any major edits (clone out people, posts,etc).