ArcSoft PhotoStudio & Darkroom

[ndwilson]

Hi,
new to the forum and back into SLR photography after a 15 year break. I've bought a new Canon EOS 400D and a 28-135 IS/USM lens.
I'm now looking at a suitable post processing package on a limited budget. While I like the look of Lightroom and photo-Shop, I have an ArcSoft PhotoStudio 5.5 package that came with my Canon Scanner.
Looking on the ArcSoft website, they're offering a programme called 'Darkroom' which may be available as an upgrade to PhotoStudio (but costs $99.99 as a straight purchase). Does anyone have any experience and/or opinions of the ArcSoft programmes?
I've used the PhotoStudio to do some basic manipulation of scanned photo's, and it appears to be OK.:|

Cheers,

Neil

 

[Brains]

Education version of Lightroom is £90 (if you know a teacher/student) and Photoshop elements around £50/£60......personally I would save up for these two.

 

[RobertP]

There is a lot of free software out there and some of it might meet your needs until you grow out of it. Googles Picasa is quite impressive for free. There are plenty of others too. Paint shop pro (PSP) is relatively inexpensive for slightly older versions and very good. No doubt others will be along with more suggestions

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