The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (Full Version)

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L5FanLady -> The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/21/2008 7:08:25 PM)

I want photo-editing software, but I have no clue where to begin looking! Where can I find the best kind at a reasonable price? (or free even, though I'm sure that is not the best).

Also I would like software for editing clips for making a YouTube video. Would this be the same kind of software or something different? What is the best kind of this with a reasonable price tag?



Bettawrekonize -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/21/2008 7:41:14 PM)

For editing pictures, you could try the Gimp
http://www.gimp.org/

It's pretty good for general purposes, has many of the functions Photoshop has. Free and open source (GNU - GPL).

For editing clips, Windows comes with windows movie maker or something. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/moviemaker2.mspx

It's not that good but I believe it's free.

This link has more stuff
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071104064901AAj2jOz

It lists

TrakAx
http://www.trakax.com/software/pc/

avidemux
http://fixounet.free.fr/avidemux/

Virtuadub
http://www.virtualdub.org/ (GNU - GPL , my favorite license)

TMPGenc
http://www.tmpgenc.net/

Among a few more (I don't want to list every single one, you can visit the URL). I never tried any of these (I've tried windows movie maker and it's not that good) so I can't comment on them (but I would try anything released under the GNU - GPL first).

This link has a comparison of a bunch of different software on different platforms including ones that are free and/or licensed under the GPL.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_video_editing_software



Miss Giggles -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/21/2008 8:18:52 PM)

Photoshop is the best editing software, however its pricy. But most of the features are in the Photoshop Elements edition which is cheaper.. you can download a free trial.

I am not sure about the video editing software as I don't use that kind of software.



stellaluna -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/21/2008 9:47:13 PM)

I use Adobe Photoshop, which is very pricey, as Miss Giggles said. I've used it for years and years, though, so I'm hard pressed to give it up.

I use Adobe Premiere Elements for video editing. It's about $100. Windows comes with free editing software, or at least mine did--Windows Movie Maker. That's suitable if all you're doing it uploading video to YouTube.



TMeeks -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/21/2008 11:42:13 PM)

It's all about preferences. [:D]

For serious image editing I use the full Photoshop product. But, I'm NOT a big fan of Photoshop Elements.

So, for the quick & easy approach to image editing I prefer to use PhotoImpact which is now sold by Corel. I don't know if Corel will be good or bad for PhotoImpact. But, the latest version should be good for you for a long time to come.

I designed what may have been the first desktop video product (JVC Video Titler) for the PC back in 1984. And, shortly thereafter, worked on the interface for Pinnacle's first video product. So, I've been connected with video editing, etc. on computers for a l-o-n-g T-i-m-e. Among the most popular pro tools is Adobe Premiere. Again, I have the Elements version; but, it isn't my favorite tool.

My favorite pro tool is Sony Vegas. The great news is that virtually ALL of the critical capabilities of Sony Vegas are found in the consumer version, called Vegas Movie Studio. It's around $100 and I use that almost as much as I use the full version of Vegas. It's a wonderful product.

When creating video for YouTube and other 'tube' services, please pay a LOT of attention to your audio. The great thing about Vegas Movie Studio is that you can plug in your own choice of audio editors like Audicity, which is free.

Here is a video on TeacherTube I uploaded about using Audacity to enhance the sound for online videos created with a product called Camtasia.



Technophile -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/22/2008 12:21:26 AM)

for images, i would recommend adobe photoshop elements. it has many of the features in the full photoshop for only about $100 (maybe even cheaper, i got it in a bundle). gimp, as someone mentioned, is open source - which means its free.

i currently use photoshop elements, but since i am a photographer, i will probably buy the full version someday.



Papa-san -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/22/2008 4:33:00 PM)

Gimp, which was mentioned earlier is pretty close to Photoshop. It can do just about everything Photoshop can do, but you have to re-learn where everything is. I like it because it comes up as several different windows that do different tasks. (You can customize it to be a clone of Photoshop if you want to, but that can take a while.) I suggest at least trying it... Its free, and you can always remove it if you decide to get something else.



skreyola -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/22/2008 4:48:03 PM)

For photo editing, I recommend the GIMP (linked previously).
Adobe Photoshop is probably the best thing available, but I don't think it's worth the expense unless you need to do graphical editing for a job.
The GIMP is free and offers many useful tools. I use GIMP for all of my image editing, so Photoshop is not absolutely necessary even for professional work.
Another program I hear a lot of good things about is Inkscape for vector graphics. That's probably not what you need if you want to edit photographs, though.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Papa-san
Gimp, which was mentioned earlier is pretty close to Photoshop. ... ... Its free, and you can always remove it if you decide to get something else.

Exactly. Start with the free one, and if it doesn't meet your needs, you're only out your time, not a pile of money.



DaveW -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/23/2008 4:26:53 PM)

Photoshop is the best.

Paintshop Pro from Corel is almost as good and a lot less $$.

There is also Serif's PhotoPlus which is very good. Version 6 is available for free download, and version 8 is currently downloadable for about $10, but the regular price is $80.

http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/software/PhotoPlus/default.asp

It looks NOTHING like Photoshop.



makarizo -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/23/2008 9:29:29 PM)

I started with paintshop pro... I think it was version 5. it had everything I needed to to edit pictures.
if you are an old time crosswalker... and remember my blinking martian avatar, I did that with paintshop pro. for what you get, it is very affordable.

I now us photoshop, and I find that the simpler tasks are virtually the same as paintshop pro, but there is so much more to this software which requires much more reading, studying, learning, and practicing.



L5FanLady -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/24/2008 3:50:52 AM)

Thanks for all the info so far, everyone![:)]



bluestone -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/24/2008 10:48:42 PM)

I love photoscape for ease of use and features .

I have gimp, but it is pretty complicated for the casual photographer.



upNORTder -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/25/2008 1:10:51 AM)

ULEAD Photoimpact- does what Photoshop does at a fraction of the price. It can even use Photoshop plugins. ulead They have a good video editor too. Both are available as free trials.



BuckleysMom -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/26/2008 4:35:03 PM)



I use Paint Shop Pro Deluxe, however it does take some getting used to. I got it years ago to make graphics but now I use it mostly for photo editing. It's not all that expensive, definitely under $100. I think I paid something like $45 for the last upgrade.

Hubby uses a couple of free ones.....he really likes Picasa2, and Microsoft Digital Image Suite9, but he doesn't do anywhere near the amount of editing I do. I've tried both of those but I always end up back at Paint Shop, but that's the prg I know the best so I'm not being fair with the other two. If you want a free one though, I would suggest you check both of them out.



1love1God1way -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/26/2008 7:52:03 PM)

For photo editing, at this point in time, I would not recommend anything other than Adobe Photoshop CS2 or CS3. If you are serious about your editing, they are worth the price.

GIMP has a few good features, but overall, is nothing compared to photoshop.



OLEEguacamole -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/26/2008 7:56:41 PM)

unless you're planning to go professional, photoshop elements 6 is a fraction of the cost of cs3 and it cand do tons. tons. you really wouldn't be missing much at all.



1love1God1way -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/26/2008 9:10:56 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mrsdash

unless you're planning to go professional, photoshop elements 6 is a fraction of the cost of cs3 and it cand do tons. tons. you really wouldn't be missing much at all.


I wouldn't say professionally. . . even if you are not going to be doing it for a living, if you are truly serious about editing, I would still recommend CS3.



OLEEguacamole -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/26/2008 9:19:32 PM)

what specific features are you thinking the cs3 has over elements for the average photographer, even serious hobbiest?



1love1God1way -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/26/2008 9:36:04 PM)

RAW conversion, better layering, actions, masks, better color models, etc.



OLEEguacamole -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/26/2008 9:44:07 PM)

elements 6 has all of those tho actions are hard to find right now.



1love1God1way -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/26/2008 9:49:21 PM)

Elements RAW is only 8 bit. The layers are limited. And, as I said, the color models are simply better.



TMeeks -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/26/2008 11:12:21 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: 1love1God1way

quote:

ORIGINAL: mrsdash

unless you're planning to go professional, photoshop elements 6 is a fraction of the cost of cs3 and it cand do tons. tons. you really wouldn't be missing much at all.


I wouldn't say professionally. . . even if you are not going to be doing it for a living, if you are truly serious about editing, I would still recommend CS3.

$649 is WAY too costly a solution for the average person's photo needs. 'Seriously' is the operative word.

For my photographing my daughter's artwork I use Adobe CS2. But, that's because I blow it up to 13x19 using Genuine Fractals and NIK Sharpener Pro.

But, I also do a LOT of simple processing in PhotoImpact for smaller prints. The latest versions of PhotoImpact have seriously upgraded their Curves and Levels. It's still not up to the Adobe CS2; but, it's now better than Adobe Elements.



OLEEguacamole -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/26/2008 11:25:28 PM)

of cours cs3 would be better than elements but elemenst is really full of comprehensive photoshop features. it takes a lot of editing work and practise to need the leap to the $600+ price. unless you get a studnet discount and then the price is still double.



1love1God1way -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/27/2008 4:51:56 AM)

Or, unless, you're a pirate.

[sm=pirateparot.gif] arrrrghhh. . ..



skreyola -> RE: The Best Photo-Editing Software? Price? (3/27/2008 10:17:07 AM)

I can't believe you'd suggest such a thing. Live up to your name.



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