What software is essential for newbie photographer

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kilbofragins

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Adam
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Hello all
I am in the market to get some photo software (not just PP) so please can you know what software is good to help with digital photography please.

I already have Photoshop, and I am aware of Lightroom.

Any others that would be very useful to look at purchasing?

Cheers
Adam
 
oh and if its free, even better, but can you advise where you can get it. eg free trials or websites?

Thanks
 
You must have spent a fortune already!!!

If by chance you have an old version of PS and the integral raw coverter ACR cannot be updated for the 7d, I'd forget them and spend £50 on Elements 9.
 
Canon's Digital Photo Professional that comes on the CD with the 7D is enough to get started with, and download the latest update version from their website, and it's free :)
 
artyman said:
Canon's Digital Photo Professional that comes on the CD with the 7D is enough to get started with, and download the latest update version from their website, and it's free :)
Click to expand...

Seconded, I've used lightroom for editing raws but still go back to dpp as it is able to get all my pictures edited individually quickly and ready for Photoshop.

I received a copy of elements as a prize and gave it a go to see if it would simplify my workload but since I was already using Photoshop I grew frustrated by it's limitations quickly.
 
You might want to check out ACDSee Pro. It's pretty good for what it is, good batch functions. Trial can be downloaded, google it. Personally I use Lightroom.
 
kilbofragins said:
I already have Photoshop, and I am aware of Lightroom.
Click to expand...

If you have Photoshop, you have everything you need! Use it along with DPP and you have a winning combination.

If you shoot RAW, you can use either DPP or ACR to convert and use Photoshop for your final editing and JPEG conversion. Why do you feel the need to invest in more software?

Cheers
HighPriest
 
If you have a mac then Aperture from the new App store is £45, not the best out there but at that price you can't really go wrong.
 
Hi
Was interested in what others had. I have PS but I havent really played with it, and it seems like a complicated beast :(. I do shoot in raw. I have also got a trial of Lightroom now, which is nice, easy to use, but seems more geared around file mgt (not sure why it so expensive?) I thought elements, but refuse to buy when I already have PS.
Guess best bet is to get a basic guide on using PS and play. As soon as I suss it out, i will look to post my results....eek :)
TY for help all.
 
Lightroom vs Photoshop: Lightroom is for making mass changes to a group of photos all at once. This can save you massive amounts of time if you want to, for instance, tweak the light balance on 50 photo files that were all shot in the same area. Photoshop is for making changes to individual photo files, for instance HDR work. They really aren't used for the same things at all, even though some of their tools over lap. Like a previous poster mentioned, Lightroom is very good for catalog management.
 
As others have said in above posts, have you not tried the Canon software that is free with your body and free to upgrade when a new version is released ??

If you're finding PS a bit of a complicated beast, why not give DPP etc a try - it is afterall free :)

I tried PS and just couldn't get my head round it (lack of perseverance on my side I think), I manage with DPP and PSE now
 
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