Image editing software?

I'd like to hear some opinions about image editing software. While I anxiously await my K100, I realize I'll have to update my software from the old version of Elements (2.0) that I've been using.

I'm not a professional and CS is definitely out of my range. Has anyone tried Lightzone? How about the Nikons Capture software or Adobe's new Lightroom?

Brian

I've bought LightRoom and I'm pleased with it. You download the full software for a 30 day trial.

For more info go to:
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshoplightroom/


Be aware though, LR is NOT a photoshop type program, it does not allow the same sort if image manipulation that photoshop does. LR works with what is in the image, you cannot add or take out parts of the image.

Actually I don't see why you need to upgrade from version 2 of Elements!
It's perfectly fine
(There are a number of plugins that will extend it's ability. Try www.hiddenelements.com )

Lightzone is ok, and I quite liked it for its different way of editing, but I still prefer Photoshop. I use CS2 (for work), but I could do 90% of my editing in Elements

You might also want to check out my tutorials at www.mattmatic.co.uk - might give a new lease of life to Elements!
Matt

keep elements, add gimp, use the free version of silkypix.
when you run into a problem you can't solve with those, then you'll know what to look for when you're really ready to upgrade.

ps I see alot of students who bought cs2, and now are beginning to grasp the basics and now cs3 looms over them.
in other words, they could have bought elements 3-4 and by the time they learned everything they could get from that, photoshop got upgraded!

don't buy more than you have to.

I use CS2 sometimes, but actually prefer PS7 in many ways and tend to use that if I don't need the newer features of CS2.

There's a temptation to think we must upgrade, but it's not necessary most of the time.

Hi Brian,

http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html

GIMP is free, and works great. Install the (correct for your OS, I'm assuming MSW**) GTK runtime environment first, then GIMP.

** A quick search will find GIMP for all the OSs, should you happen to use OSx, Linux, Solaris etc.

You can also use GIMPShop..

http://www.gimpshop.net/

..if you want the interface to more resemble PS. They're the same program, but the menus are moved around a bit.

The worst that can happen is that you don't like it, and you've lost nothing. I do all my jpeg handling in either of the above.. and they work just fine. I certainly can't see a case for me needing anything else.

For RAW, as Matt says, SilkyPix. I'm using RawShooter Essentials at the moment, because I prefer the interface. This is however discontinued, although on a quick search, I've found it here..

http://www.photo-freeware.net/raw-shooter-essentials.php

Cheers

Liam

I'll add my weight to Gimp. Once you're used to it, it 's excellent.

Also, no one seems to have mentioned Google's Picasa. For basic editing and fixing, it's very good.