Photoshop on a I Mac

I just purchased my first Mac and I am wondering which photo editing software is best.

Photoshop CS4 or Aperture?

They do different tasks. Aperture is designed to be a photo library, while Photoshop is pixel-level editing. If you need to work with layers, Photoshop is the way to go. If you need more basic editing functionality, Aperture or Lightroom are good choices.

low note lee wrote in post #8271484
They do different tasks. Aperture is designed to be a photo library, while Photoshop is pixel-level editing. If you need to work with layers, Photoshop is the way to go. If you need more basic editing functionality, Aperture or Lightroom are good choices.

I agree. For most users either Aperture or Lightroom is all you need. Serious users will generally have either Lightroom or Aperture in conjunction with Photoshop. They'll do their cataloging and the bulk of their post-processing within Aperture or Lightroom and then send the heavy lifting stuff out to Photoshop.

Yes.

ie: whatever RAW converter you chose, you should also invest in Photoshop to go with it.
Or you can work with Photoshop's built in ACR converter alone.


So if you get only one, start with PSCS.

... Or Photoshop Elements.

I use Lightroom and photoshop, you cannot go wrong with the workfloww this creates for you.

Thanks for all the tips so far. Can never get enough information!

I am on a Mac with PSE and Lightroom....Works a treat for me..

I'm on a Mac and its Aperture for 99% and CS3 for 1%.

Photoshop w/ Bridge ACR is a nice set-up & will do anything you pretty much want. If you go that route, this is a great book to get the most out of ACR.

rooeey wrote in post #8274223
I am on a Mac with PSE and Lightroom....Works a treat for me..

Same here. LR for cataloguing and most of my editing, PSE when needed for pixel-level editing. Since I started using LR, I find myself using PSE less and less.

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

Veemac wrote in post #8276676
Same here. LR for cataloguing and most of my editing, PSE when needed for pixel-level editing. Since I started using LR, I find myself using PSE less and less.

Exactly what i found veemac...

I posted a pole on this many moons ago and the popular opinion was that LR reduced a significant amount of the PP required by PS or PSE....