Photo Editing Software Angst...

I'm trying to decide on which editing software I should get.

Currently, I'm using Gimp, which was a free download. I'm not lovin' it, but I can do most of what I want with it. I also downloaded a free trial of Lightroom 3. I'm definitely not lovin' it. I know a lot of people love it, but I don't like the whole "import/export" thing.

For a long time, I had a bootleg version of Photoshop 7. When my last laptop died, though, I opted to go legit with new software.

A couple of things about my shooting:

• I shoot in large jpeg. In all honesty, I have never shot a single frame in RAW. I'm fine spending the rest of my life in jpeg.
  
  
• I don't like a program where I have to "import" or "export" photos.
  
  
• I don't need all the bells and whistles that a lot of software packages come with. My editing consists of, primarily, cropping, some minor color adjustments (lighten, darken, saturation, contrast), cloning, some artistic filters from time to time, and rotating (to fix level of horizon on landscapes). That's about it.
  
  
• I'm not a big fan of learning curves. I'm not a guy who spends a lot of time reading manuals. I like software which has a degree of intuitiveness to it.
  

you say "I have never shot a single frame in RAW. I'm fine spending the rest of my life in jpeg." Nooooooooooooooo....lo​l i will give that to you but RAW is so much better... I have saved many many shots of irreplaceable photos by shooting in RAW... have no opinion on your dilemma... I do use elements 9 & CS5 but I shoot in RAW... hope you find your answer...

Simple download; Reasonable cost. I have Photoshop CS5, DxO pro 6, Canon's DPP, Adobe Lightroom and Breezebrowser, but the one I use the most because of simplicity and ease of use is ACDSee Pro, now in version 4. Like Breezebrowser, it comes with a fairly sophisticated editing program. Give it a free try.

Another option that you could easily consider is Google's Picasa. It is freeware, and there is no importing/exporting. If memory serves correctly, it can do all you list with very little learning to be done. I have used it a couple times, but found it to not do everything that I want. I actually use Lightroom 3.3, and like you, I HATE having to import the images into my library. I do, however, LOVE the fact that all the changes that are made are non destructive (as in you can reboot your computer and still UN-crop a picture). I mainly use Lightroom, Adobe Camera Raw, and Canon's software DPP.

Have you spent any time with DPP? It may be all you need/want and it's free.
...Terry

I have been looking at paint shop pro I have a very old version but it will not do anything with the large files that a 15 mp camera generates any thought from someone in the know

You are probably a good candidate for photoshop elements. It's more powerful than the older Pre-CS versions of photoshop, it is cheap ($50-$80) and it can be as easy or advanced as you want to make it.

I have a pretty simple workflow:

1. RAW files get quick touch ups and output to JPEG via Canon DPP (you could skip this I guess)
2. JPEGs are sorted and managed via Picasa. Sometimes I do really simple edits here
3. Right click in Picasa and open with Photoshop Elements for more advanced edits.

Corel Paint shop pro is more powerful than PS elements and just as cheap, but bigger learning curve, IMO. I stuck with PSE.

advaitin wrote in post #12280662
Simple download; Reasonable cost. I have Photoshop CS5, DxO pro 6, Canon's DPP, Adobe Lightroom and Breezebrowser, but the one I use the most because of simplicity and ease of use is ACDSee Pro, now in version 4. Like Breezebrowser, it comes with a fairly sophisticated editing program. Give it a free try.

Haven't been able to find where to download it...

Overkill-F1 wrote in post #12281015
Have you spent any time with DPP? It may be all you need/want and it's free.

What's DPP?

DPP = Canon Digital Photo Professional. It should have come on a CD with your camera.

If you can justify buying lightroom, I don't think you'll regret it. And then you can still use gimp for any really specialized edits. But if you don't use a lot of layers or do a ton of localized editing and selections in the pictures you'll probably be fine just in lightroom. Plus, once you've gone lightroom raw becomes just as easy as jpeg to process

Another suggestion, if you like / want CS5. Enroll in a photography course at a local accredited college. Once you obtain your student ID and a record of your enrollment, order CS5 Extended, Student and Teacher Edition through Amazon.

You'll learn some things from the course (including why RAW) and you'll save a bundle on CS5.

I think you would be happy with PS Elements. It's not expensive, the learning curve is very short and it will do most, if not everything, you want to do. IF you ever decide to shoot RAW, I would recommend Lightroom. To fully appreciate LR, you should get a book on it.

BreitlingFan wrote in post #12280556
A couple of things about my shooting:

• I shoot in large jpeg. In all honesty, I have never shot a single frame in RAW. I'm fine spending the rest of my life in jpeg.
  
• I don't like a program where I have to "import" or "export" photos.
  
• I don't need all the bells and whistles that a lot of software packages come with. My editing consists of, primarily, cropping, some minor color adjustments (lighten, darken, saturation, contrast), cloning, some artistic filters from time to time, and rotating (to fix level of horizon on landscapes). That's about it.
  
• I'm not a big fan of learning curves. I'm not a guy who spends a lot of time reading manuals. I like software which has a degree of intuitiveness to it.

What should I be looking at?

I'm not going into RAW vs jpeg debate as you seem to have your shooting style down. Frankly, not everyone "has" to shoot in RAW and if jpeg works for you, then great.

Based on your statements, I suggest you first look at DPP. It'll mostly do what you need. It'll be fine for minor cloning. There's not any artistic type filters though. It's free.

I really think you'd be happy with PS Elements. It will fit your needs and isn't very costly. Download the trial and see how you like it.

There are free photo editors out there -- Google "free photo edit" and you will see quite a selection:

http://www.google.com …oe=utf8&q=free+​photo+edit

Of course, "free" means that there will be "tradeoffs". You won't get everything you might like. The "big" exception is Gimp because it has an enthusiastic crowd of contributing developers, but as you've seen it can be a bit much.

I'm a long-time proponent of Photoshop Elements because it has the full backing of Adobe and has been around for a lot of years, and just keeps getting better for the same low price. Corel Paint Shop Pro is also a solid offering, although I haven't used it in years.

The good news is that you can try all these things out. Of course, free ones like Picasa are, well, free, but for Elements and Corel (and ACDSee) you can get free trials.

Oh, and I don't get why you said you couldn't find ACDSee -- I Googled "acdsee" and got this page:

http://www.google.com …&ie=utf8&oe=utf​8&q=acdsee

Juneb wrote in post #12281018
I have been looking at paint shop pro I have a very old version but it will not do anything with the large files that a 15 mp camera generates any thought from someone in the know

The current version of PSP is X3 (13, really). It's very capable and will handle a 15 mp file with no problems.

-js