Beginner PS Elements or CaptureNX2

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Jim
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I've been using Fastone for jpeg editing but have begun to notice one or two shortcomings and missing features I want. I also want to have a go at editing raw files. Does Elements handle raw files and and does CaptureNX have things like dodge/burn and some of the other useful tools of PS Elements? I would rather buy something to own rather than go down the subscription route of the full Photoshop/Lightroom package.

Regarding raw, I had a go with Raw Therapee, but it seems hard for me to get a decent result that beats jpeg. ViewNX2 seems to have a default more or less the same as the in camera jpeg, giving you a starting but is light on features. I'm at a bit of a loss as to where to start with raw.
 
Elements handles RAW files with a simple and capable interface. I have used Elements since version 9 (current version is 13.) Don't see me using anything else now.

Always had Nikon cameras and had NX2 on my PC along with Elements. I could not get used to NX2 (just my opinion, but I never found it user friendly ........... I seem to recall that it can dodge and burn and that I found it very awkward). NX2 does not work with my current Nikon, which needs ND so it got binned.

You'll find masses of free tutorials for Elements and specialised user forums.
 
NX2 is old technology.

It replacement, NX-D is a poor 'lite' version of NX2.

View NX2 is what is says; effectively just a viewer, with no manipulation powers.

Forget it and go for Elements.

You have a learning curve to meet whatever.
 
shreds said:
NX2 is old technology.

It replacement, NX-D is a poor 'lite' version of NX2.

View NX2 is what is says; effectively just a viewer, with no manipulation powers.

Forget it and go for Elements.

You have a learning curve to meet whatever.
Click to expand...

Ordered Elements this morning. I have ViewNX2 and is fine for just the basic jpg editing but as you say is really nothing more than a viewer.

I have been playing around with gimp, so hopefully Elements will be easier in comparison, if by nothing more than having a decent layout. The gimp user interface is horrific.
 
I still use elements 9 it does most things I need it has layers. My only gripe is that it does not recognize my new camera raw files but it does not affect my work flow as good old aperture does.
 
Elements has several options for user interface, from 'dummy' to 'expert'. I'm a dummy, but use the expert UI... :)

Works well with LR too BTW..
 
If choosing RAW processing software have a look at Lightroom. I moved to Lightroom from Photoshop elements about 2 years ago and wish I had done it earlier. Image library and non destructive RAW processing all in one. I still use PS elements for the occasional stitching and blending images but most processing is done in Lightroom. Lightroom is non-destructive so all of your RAW files are not touched and safely stored on the hard drive. The processing changes you apply are saved in the Lightroom catalogue and applied to create an image when you export it. The best thing is you can try out different processing ideas for the same image and save each idea as a snapshot. I regularly use snapshots for the final edit before applying different crops or creating a black and white image whilst still wanting a colour image. Also you can export an image, use it for online uploading and then delete from your hard drive knowing everything is saved in Lightroom and it's easy to create a new processed file if you need to later. This decreases the amount of space needed on your hard drive. Previously when using PS elements I had to save the RAW file, the final edited TIFF file and then the final JPEG file. It took up lots of hard drive space plus was a very convoluted work flow. Workflow is so much better in Lightroom.

These free videos for Lightroom 4 really helped me learn the program. You may be able to find a second hand copy of Lightroom 4 on here. I'm still using Lightroom 4, I don't see a need up upgrade to the latest version unless my camera wasn't supported. Upgrading software to the latest version is like upgrading your camera to the latest model, totally pointless unless it gives you something extra.

http://en.elephorm.com/tuto-lightroom-4-complete-training/lightroom-4-introduction.html
 
Nikon Capture NX2 has some great features but it is slow if you want to do batch processing, it is no longer supported by Nikon so you have to ensure that your camera is supported.

I find it extremely easy to use and the U Point facility is so simple and effective, you have to use it and compare it with creating masks in Elements to really appreciate it. You do not have to worry about layers as the program takes care of all that, each step is automatically saved on its own and can be edited, or deleted, without affecting any other steps.
It does not have Dodge & Burn buttons but it is extremely easy to set up adjustments that do the same, using levels, and then save them, they can then be loaded with 2 clicks. You can shoot JPEG and save the edited file as a NEF which will save all the adjustments and allow you to re-edit them if you wish. If you shoot raw it will apply all the camera adjustments to the opened file but these adjustments can be changed at will with no effect on quality.
There are quite a few youtube videos showing how adjustments are made and it is worth looking at these to see what can be done. There are also a few tips on the Nikon site http://static.nikonusa.com/NX2_90_Seconds/NX2/index.html
What is not so good is the healing tool, it is OK for simple things like telephone cables across a sky but struggles with more complicated things. It does not have a clone tool and you cannot move or paste pixels from one place to another.
I use Capture NX2 for 90% - 95% of my editing and only move across the Elements for any healing, cloning or merging of 2 pictures.
 
shreds said:
NX2 is old technology.

It replacement, NX-D is a poor 'lite' version of NX2.

View NX2 is what is says; effectively just a viewer, with no manipulation powers.

Forget it and go for Elements.

You have a learning curve to meet whatever.
Click to expand...

Not quite sure why you say that View NX2 has no manipulation powers?

It uses the same algorithms as Capture NX2 but does not have all the extra adjustments so it is more efficient and therefore faster.

It has
Exp comp
WB
Picture Control
Sharpness
Contrast
Brightness
Highlight Protection
Shadow Protection
D Lighting
Colour booster
Crop
Straighten
Auto Red Eye
Axial CA
Auto Lateral CA

You can also edit metadata, batch process etc. and it is Free.

Capture NX2 has all the above plus U Points, Control Points, Selection Tools, Heal tool etc etc
 
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James, if you are one of those people (like me) who prefer to study a dedicated book on a subject rather than search the web then :-
Photoshop Elements 13 Book by Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski .......... These two guys are excellent and their books are superbly illustrated.

Within Elements is a very comprehensive Organiser for your pictures. If you want to do your own organising using My Pictures etc. within Windows you can simply ignore the Elements Organiser and use the program solely for editing.
 
arclight said:
James, if you are one of those people (like me) who prefer to study a dedicated book on a subject rather than search the web then :-
Photoshop Elements 13 Book by Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski .......... These two guys are excellent and their books are superbly illustrated.

Within Elements is a very comprehensive Organiser for your pictures. If you want to do your own organising using My Pictures etc. within Windows you can simply ignore the Elements Organiser and use the program solely for editing.
Click to expand...

The book would be good, I prefer to study a subject from a dedicated source rather than being at the PC/on the net with all its distractions/notifications etc. The organiser would also be handy, as I've always struggled with managing lots of image files, especially once I start editing etc. In fact, I could really do with sorting out a proper workflow full stop.

One thing I didn't like in ViewNX 2 was that it backed up the original file (of one you edited) to an 'originals' folder when not using 'save as'. That seems the wrong way around - I would rather leave the original where it is and have a default 'edited' folder to save the new one to. Although I'm presuming you can change this setting somewhere.
 
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Can you batch process raw files with Elements, say reduce noise on a folder of images and then save the setting you used?
 
There's a million and one workflow methods out there, and I'm yet to come across two people who process images in exactly the same way!

I usually make exposure and any 'serious' corrections using NX2, then output as highest possible resolution JPEGS for processing in PS Elements.
 
Forkbeard said:
I've been using Fastone for jpeg editing but have begun to notice one or two shortcomings and missing features I want. I also want to have a go at editing raw files. Does Elements handle raw files and and does CaptureNX have things like dodge/burn and some of the other useful tools of PS Elements? I would rather buy something to own rather than go down the subscription route of the full Photoshop/Lightroom package.

Regarding raw, I had a go with Raw Therapee, but it seems hard for me to get a decent result that beats jpeg. ViewNX2 seems to have a default more or less the same as the in camera jpeg, giving you a starting but is light on features. I'm at a bit of a loss as to where to start with raw.
Click to expand...

If you'd posed the question differently, like 'what's the best post-processing programme' then you'd have got a lot more people suggesting Lightroom. It's rightly very popular, practically the default standard for enthusiasts and professionals working from Raw. Free 30-days trial here http://www.adobe.com/uk/products/photoshop-lightroom.html Best with a book, if you want a single source that covers everything, eg Scott Kelby guides.
 
Well I ended up cancelling my Elements order and going for the download instead. It had finished when I got home and have been playing around with it since.

I am converted (pardon the pun)! I can immediately se the benefits of raw; I tried editing and converting a few raw iso3200s to jpg and they look miles better. The editing ability is amazing, I can't believe how far you can push/pull exposure and shadow/highlights etc., everything is smoother, no weird artifacts...even raw files with very little noise reduction look better than jpegs. The noise looks almost like film grain.
 
Forkbeard said:
....

One thing I didn't like in ViewNX 2 was that it backed up the original file (of one you edited) to an 'originals' folder when not using 'save as'. That seems the wrong way around - I would rather leave the original where it is and have a default 'edited' folder to save the new one to. Although I'm presuming you can change this setting somewhere.
Click to expand...

I'm sure that nikon software saves edits to the original NEF but there is always an option to "revert" to the original NEF if need be. There are some advantages to saving edits to the original rather than to sidecar files or a "calalogue" although I generally prefer sidecar for edits over saving edits to the original or to a catalogue.
 
boliston said:
I'm sure that nikon software saves edits to the original NEF but there is always an option to "revert" to the original NEF if need be. There are some advantages to saving edits to the original rather than to sidecar files or a "calalogue" although I generally prefer sidecar for edits over saving edits to the original or to a catalogue.
Click to expand...

Ah OK yeah sorry, I was thinking about jpegs with this, not raw.
 
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