Post-Picture Processing on a Mac? Which software??

[Emster]

I have a Canon 40d and I'm using the software Digital Photo Professional that came with it. I'm kinda new to all this so I wanted to ask you guys with more experience.

Should I stay with Digital Photo Professional or spend the $99.00 and get Photoshop Elements 8? Is it that much better? I'm looking for easy or user friendly, also I'm on a Mac if that matters.

 

[BlueCorn]

The software choices really aren't any different between Mac/PC for photography.

Adobe Lightroom +400

 

[Emster]

$400.00

 

[MAXreefer]

I have also a Canon. Mine is an Rebel XTI.
In the beginning I just took tank/coral pictures with one of the presets but after a while taking pics in the "RAW" format becomes a must. This way you are not depending on the White Balance etc. which is difficult to set when taking aquarium pictures. You just can adjust it with a good software.

I use for a while Adobe's Lightroom now ($299 new and if you are able to get a Student version it is only $99). I really like it a lot to work on the pictures, categorize and publish them.

I would suggest you download a 30-day trial version (Lightroom and/or Elements) from Adobe's website and play around with it for a while and see if they meet your needs or goals...

 

[J. Montgomery]

The software that came with your camera will be just fine for most purposes. If you don't want to spend any money on more software, then just wait to see if you really need it over time.

 

[BlueCorn]

$400.00

#1. It's not $400.
#2. You asked for an opinion from experienced users. You got one.

Perhaps you should have been more clear on your criteria.

 

[xtm]

I'm looking for easy or user friendly, also I'm on a Mac if that matters.

How about iPhoto? You might be surprised with its capabilities.

 

[DBarsotti]

#1. It's not $400.
#2. You asked for an opinion from experienced users. You got one.

Perhaps you should have been more clear on your criteria.

...how very helpful

 

[dendronepthya]

Lightroom or Aperture

 

[iceemn360]

lightroom is much better than iphoto in my opinion. editing is just feels more accurate and more fine tuned.

I really like lightroom and it makes quick work of the some 30K images I've taken this past year

 

[BlueCorn]

How about iPhoto? You might be surprised with its capabilities.

iPhoto IS a decent program but it has a problem when you start working with RAW files. It imports the RAW file and generates a JPG. All of your further adjustments are against the JPG, not the RAW.

 

[spencers]

GIMP.
It's the free Photoshop-equivalent!

As for pay-apps: Photoshop, Aperture, Lightroom.

I prefer iPhoto for grabbing all the photos from the camera.
Then I just take them into Photoshop for post processing.

 

[iceemn360]

sorry if i sounded too critical of iphoto. I used it for 2 years

its good, quick, and easy and LR does many of the same things with more options.

 

[Lobb4920]

I use photoshop CS-4 it is more expensive but I feel that it is worth it you can do so much with it. Student edition is a lot cheaper also.

 

[xtm]

Adobe Lightroom +400

$400.00

It's not $400

lol, I think you guys misunderstood each other. :lol:

lightroom is much better than iphoto in my opinion. editing is just feels more accurate and more fine tuned. I really like lightroom and it makes quick work of the some 30K images I've taken this past year

Of course LR is leaps and bounds better than iPhoto. BUT we don't know what the OP wants. Maybe he's on a budget.. maybe he doesn't shoot RAW... or maybe he only needs basic adjustments.. and iPhoto is most likely already included in his Mac.

 

[d2mini]

iPhoto is not a post processing software.
It lets newbs import their photos (in some random effed up way) and lets you get rid of red eye or crop a photo.
If you are serious about post processing your photos you do Lightroom/Aperture and Photoshop. You can get away with just Lightroom/Aperture or just Photoshop with Bridge. If I had to, I would do the first.... Lightroom or Aperture. But I like to use Photoshop to do things that Lightroom can't or things I think PS handles better.

I suggest you download the free trial of Lightroom or Aperture. Aperture is a little more "mac-like". They both can do pretty much the same thing. The best thing about these two is they are hands down better than anything else when it comes to organizing your photos. Also, all the adjustments you apply are never actually applied to the original photo, so you always have the original to go back to. Both these softwares are worth every penny. I think Lightroom has the edge but mostly it's personal preference.

That's my professional 2 cents.

 

[boodlefish]

ok so how about someone who is familiar with Photoshop CS 4 should i go LR or Aperture? will LR do everything that Photoshop CS 4 or do i need both?

 

[MAXreefer]

I have CS4 and LR. They work pretty well together.
Do you need both? Maybe not. You really can do a lot with LR. I take pics in the RAW format and then with LR I adjust the White Balance, some cropping and use the vignette filter to get some more focus on the object and do some sharpening. This is technically all you have to do to with your pictures if you want to keep them "real". Besides that you can create real nice web galleries, slideshows etc.
Really the best way to find out is to download a 30-day trial from LR and see if it works for you.

 

[boodlefish]

I know CS4 pretty well and was hopping that there might be the similar op system benefit of going with LR, I am assuming that it uses the classic adobe keystrokes that i am already used to, that would be a huge plus.

I am looking at LR not to replace CS4 but as a 90% of the time substitute. It sounds cool and easy, i have been not shooting RAW as much as i should because time and space it takes to view, organize and utilize the images via CS4 ps and bridge. I think LR would encourage me to shoot RAW like i should. I need to just do it.

 

[Emster]

Wow I think this is all more complex then keeping a reef tank. I need to study more
Cs4, Lightroom, Photoshop, Aperture,Bridge,elements, Adobe???????? I am lost, can someone make this simple to understand. What company makes what? Adobe makes? Apple makes Aperture? Photoshop makes cs4???? I know I need to just google it all but if someone can put it in simple dummy terms with prices would be very nice. I shoot in Raw and need to be able to adjust the white balance, sharpen, crop, brightness, contrast,and convert to jpg 800 x 600. I also need something that just works and is easy to organize the photo's. The software that came with my camera just seems a little off to me, not working fast and has some bugs, although They all might be like this. I don't know thats why I'm asking here. Thank you all that have replied I'm trying to go through it all