Mac Users - software of choice

BB44

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Edit My Images
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I'd be really interested to get a flavour of what's on your machine. Do most Mac using photographers use Adobe's products, or stick to iPhoto/Aperture?

I invested in Aperture 2, and seem to have huge problems with it - image previews are in fact different images when they are opened up. I've probably mucked up when using Back Up and Restore from my old Macbook, but I just have this nagging feeling that I should be using Photoshop!
 
Isn't Aperture more for storage and location, plus a good RAW converter?
I always thought finishing off would be done in PS anyway. Does Aperture have layers?

I use CS2 here, but I do want to look at aperture, I don't use iPhoto much, don't see the need when I have CS2.
 
Photoshop all the way for me :)

A lot of people primarily use Lightroom and just "finish off" in PS. Personally never tried it though :shrug:
 
Hi,

For pure lazyness factor I use iPhoto to make slideshows and very minor editing, however like other's I also use Lightroom/CS3 for more indepth image correction/tweaking.

Michael.
 
I use Lightroom 2.2 a lot, mostly in fact... and CS3 a little, just for playing with to be honest. I also have Photomatix Pro for those inevitable poor HDR attempts :)

I also create music on my Mac and have Cubase S4, as well as a host of soft synths et al.
 
I mostly use Photoshop Elements with Nikon NX used as a RAW converter.
 
Adobe (Lightroom, Bridge and Photoshop) and Photomatix.

I tried the Aperture trial, but I'm too used to Lightroom so much preferred it :)
 
cs4 all the way , i tried capture but i just prefare things that work and thats why its photoshop. I can then concentrate on the exposure on the day and not worry about trying to find old stuff in the future,

pace
 
PS for me too. I did start using aperture but found that I was using PS as well on majority of the images and don't see the point in using two bits of software for an image. PS will do anything aperture will and more. Having said that, I really am not fully versed with all apertures feature and have no doubt it's more capable than I think it is.
 
Frostbear

I use Aperture and Photoshop, have done since I go the Mac, I did try Lightroom but found I liked the DAM functions of Aperture better. I do use photshop with most of my images but I also use alot of plugins for Aperture and if what I need to do can be done in Aperture I do not bother with PS.

Initially when I started using Aperture I had problems but that was because I was using a referenced Library since then I have changed the way I use Aperture and I now use a managed library and all is well.

For batch work I think it is great and for the conversion of RAW file I love it. If you need to do complicated editing then you will still require photoshop but if it just resizing dodge and burning and mono conversions then Aperture handles this fine.

Regards

Nigel
 
Lightroom,with Photoshop for the odd job it wont handle. IPhoto for quick looksee's
 
Photoshop CS4 for me ,I use Iphoto a bit for storage and sorting images into albums

I have been trying to do that this year, but I find it easier and quicker to just make my own folders and flick through with finder then open the file I want to edit. I really like iPhoto, just can't find a reason to use it.
 
Nigel, thanks to you and all the others for responding to my query. I'm doing an OU course so I think I can get Photoshop at student prices - tempted to go for it for the extra that it offers over Aperture. I'm assuming Lightroom is a referencing/management tool which dovetails well with Photoshop?
 
Lightroom is also a bloody good RAW processor and is great for outputting images to print/the web.

I use Lightroom for all my editing, I have the GIMP installed but have only used it for messing around with layers etc.
 
When we switched to Mac we started from scratch with aperture which handles the majority of any post production work we need. Anything extra is done either with aperture plug-ins or edited with Elements6.
 
Aperture & PS.

I think aperture is great. Especially the non-destructive editing. You can remove all editing with a click of a button leaving the original file. Even using an external editor to PP your work creates a seperate reference which can also be deleted without effecting the original file. Great program and as another poster has already mentioned great DAM functions.
 
Aperture & PS.

I think aperture is great. Especially the non-destructive editing. You can remove all editing with a click of a button leaving the original file. Even using an external editor to PP your work creates a seperate reference which can also be deleted without effecting the original file. Great program and as another poster has already mentioned great DAM functions.

Think eventually I'll go down this route. Craikeybaby's commendation of Lightroom's simplicity in getting RAW onto web/print merits some more digging about on my part though!
 
I would just get ps if you can and use aperture as you already have it how long have you been using it. For the first couple of months I struggled but now I have it doing just what I want
 
Adobe lightroom 2 and CS3 (with those really useful scripts that that Cowasaki chap did!)
 
With everyone saying Photoshop is Elements going to be OK for me. I am a newbie with the camera running an iMac 4gb ram etc etc

The olds have said they will buy Photoshop Elements for me for my birthday should i accept or put money towards something else?

Cheers
D
 
Photoshop Elements is going to be absolutely perfect for you, especially if you are just starting out. It is basically a slimmed down version of Photoshop without some of the more advanced features, most of which you probably wouldn't use anyway :)
 
With everyone saying Photoshop is Elements going to be OK for me. I am a newbie with the camera running an iMac 4gb ram etc etc

The olds have said they will buy Photoshop Elements for me for my birthday should i accept or put money towards something else?

Cheers
D

If you have to pay full price for CS4 then go with Elements, if you can get a student discount then put the money towards CS4.
 
Aperture and round trip to Photoshop if and when needed.
 
I used Aperture for a good while but when I tried Lightroom out I dropped Aperture. Lightroom for the archive protocol and quick edit facility and then PS for more in depth editing. Two thumbs fresh :thumbs::thumbs:

T.
 
I used Aperture for a good while but when I tried Lightroom out I dropped Aperture. Lightroom for the archive protocol and quick edit facility and then PS for more in depth editing. Two thumbs fresh :thumbs::thumbs:

T.
Really? You prefer Lightroom to Aperture? I've never even tried the demo of Lightroom as Aperture seemed very capable. interesting to hear a long term Aperture user switch to Lightroom. I might just download the trial and take a look :)
 
Really? You prefer Lightroom to Aperture? I've never even tried the demo of Lightroom as Aperture seemed very capable. interesting to hear a long term Aperture user switch to Lightroom. I might just download the trial and take a look :)

I found it far more advanced, the metadata search, the format of collections, the output sharpen during export. Check it out, you may like it too.
T:
 
Photoshop, i detest all these programs that make you force you to make a copy of all your files. why cant they just let you open them instead of having to import everything?!
 
They don't 'force you to copy' them at all. You can use reference files in Aperture for example. The import is to bring their metadata and previews into the database to make for better cataloging and searching options.

File->Open versus "Import"

Hardly a world apart.
 
Photoshop, i detest all these programs that make you force you to make a copy of all your files. why cant they just let you open them instead of having to import everything?!

They don't. I think Mr Beeblebrox your suffering from a case of NRTFM :nono: (Not Read The ******* Manual).

I thought you folk from Betelgeuse always read the manual? :thinking:
Anyway,
In Lightroom you have a variety of import preferences to choose from, such as
'Move to new location with out copying' & 'Import without copying'.
This function is selectable in the drop down box in the preferences panel when connecting a card or selecting 'Import'.

All the best

T.
 
Mainly light room, which is good at file management and easy to use

occasionally DDP as works better on image quality and Noise reduction.
 
Scan negs and slides into PS - edit - then import into Aperture for storage/library and exporting in different formats and sizes.
 
Really? You prefer Lightroom to Aperture? I've never even tried the demo of Lightroom as Aperture seemed very capable. interesting to hear a long term Aperture user switch to Lightroom. I might just download the trial and take a look :)

Trying to get a definative answer from users regarding which is best is fraught with difficulties. Its like asking Canon or Nikon, Mac or PC Which is best, its very subjective.

Oh alright then if you really must know

Canon, Mac, Aperture, there you go the definitive guide:lol::lol::lol:

Steve
 
iphoto2 to store all in the one place, eventsis useful,as is the new face thing,and the gps
LR2 trial is going well, still havent found out where it puts them though:cuckoo:
once I have made changes, dont really see the point in PS, aperture is a quite bizaar software system
 
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