Something simple to start with?

cottj

cottj

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Name
Jacqui
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi all,

I'm looking for a recommendation of some fairly easy to use software for PP - I use a Macbook Pro with Mavericks running, so something that will work on this - and really is simple and idiot proof! I used photoshop years ago and found it really complicated. Hubby was using something yesterday called Focus 2 which seemed to do a bit of tweaking. As I've said on other posts, I'm not a big fan of editing - I want to enhance what I photograph, not significantly change. For me, the challenge is getting the shot set up right before I press the button on the camera, not needing to spend hours on it afterwards.

Thanks for any help
 
Hi Jacqui,
I am on a Mac,started with iPhoto then went to Aperture,with Apple dropping support I have been looking around for another option,tried Lightroom,it is good but probably more than i need,
I used to shoot Canon and used their DPP software that did the job,moved to Nikon and I've just installed the capture NXD free software and the View NX2 bits and bobs,so far I'm liking it.
Picassa is free and ok.Im like you and don't go overboard on PP just like to enhance a bit and catalogue and do slideshows.there is a new photo App from Apple any day now,it again will be a bit like I photo
so not over complex.
hope that helps
 
Picassa can gently tweak photos.
Lightroom is best for RAW files so you can change colour balance, handle high ISO noise and recover a photo that is not perfectly lit or exposed.
 
SsSsSsSsSnake said:
Hi Jacqui,
I am on a Mac,started with iPhoto then went to Aperture,with Apple dropping support I have been looking around for another option,tried Lightroom,it is good but probably more than i need,
I used to shoot Canon and used their DPP software that did the job,moved to Nikon and I've just installed the capture NXD free software and the View NX2 bits and bobs,so far I'm liking it.
Picassa is free and ok.Im like you and don't go overboard on PP just like to enhance a bit and catalogue and do slideshows.there is a new photo App from Apple any day now,it again will be a bit like I photo
so not over complex.
hope that helps
Click to expand...

Thank you - I also use a Nikon so I'll have a look for those bits you've mentioned
 
Stowfords34 said:
Picassa can gently tweak photos.
Lightroom is best for RAW files so you can change colour balance, handle high ISO noise and recover a photo that is not perfectly lit or exposed.
Click to expand...

I've heard a bit about Lightroom; if it's not expensive I'll have a look and see if it's simple enough for me - thank you.
 
to be fair I'm sure that Nikon software can do all that too and if Jacqui shoots Nikon I'm sure it can handle RAW NEF files pretty well and it doesn't cost anything,Lightroom is about a £100 a year although it does include Photoshop,if I wanted to do a lot more complicated stuff i think i would probably get lightroom but for more basic to middling
stuff give the Nikon software a go and also a months free trial of Lightroom
 
Have a look at PaintShop Pro. Get your hands on the manual and have a read through it to see if you feel it can be used in a way that suits your preferences.

It's one of those things, but creative digital photography leans on editing to a certain extent, imo. I can appreciate what you say about getting it right in-camera, but you can tune your shots and take them that bit further by learning a few editing techniques. Nature of the beast -- to an extent.
:)
 
i use both photoshop or lightroom (i use to use aperture til apple stopped supporting it)

i have heard and seen some pretty good results coming out of pixelmator... might be worth having a look at (http://www.pixelmator.com/)

good luck with your search

yukioMishima
 
Jacqui since my last post I've had another go with Apple Photos and if all you need are basic editing functions that do an ok job,look no further and it ties in beautifully with things like Facebook Flikr etc etc.

I was going to really get into the nikon software but like you I only do basic editing and Photos is working great for me. I'm learning all of the shortcuts and what it can do and its really fun,the slideshow function is great to.

At some point Apple may even add some functions to it but give it a go and see what you think
 
I found Picasa to be a great piece of starter software, I used it initially (as a complete novice) until I felt brave enough to progress to something more powerful.
 
Lightroom. It's easy and very powerful and there's millions of guides on YouTube if you need it.
 
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