The BOARDWORLD Forums ran from 2009 to 2021 and are now closed and viewable here as an archive

   

What Program does everybody use to edit photos????

Avatar

My camera!
Shoot properly and there’s no need to edit a photo.

To “process” my photo’s I use Aperture.
I process photo’s before printing them.
Or…
If there is something in a photo that is exceptional but I’ve not shot well.

I like Aperture because it files all my photo’s neatly and backs them up. It links to my online accounts and allows me to select what images are loaded where, online and with project files. For me filing is important since I have +50K photos on my system (half of them need deleting). No processing is permanent since a master copy is kept hidden in the background (like all Mac image software does) so it’s a more efficient program - unlike CS which tends to slow down all but the fastest computers. Aperture takes 2s to open for me, PS takes 30s.

Lightroom is a really good PROCESSING tool. And I recommend it if all you need is to process the images (not catalog and file).

Photoshop will work great as a processing tool but it’s like doing your grocery run in a Mclaren F1 - sure you can fit your shopping in but it’s a very expensive, longer process, of getting the job done.
Photoshop is designed to replace airbrushing paint on a printed photo or staining a neg. When finished it is no longer a “photo”. It is a human created piece of art, but instead of starting with a blank canvas your canvas has an image already on it.
Unlike the analog days if you make a mistake your image isn’t ruined - “command Z” I love ye.

I would do the shopping run in a Mclaren F1, but I bet I would use the hatchback sitting in the driveway instead of opening the garage door for the Mclaren.
“I often tow the Mclaren to track days”. - IE: My photos are imported using Aperture, processed using Aperture and only on those special days do I open Photoshop.

BTW - why say you use CS for photo work? CS is a package of different programs - it’s not “a program”, you don’t use all the programs in CS to do photo work - I’m sure none of you know how to manipulate a photo using PremierPro (because it’s a video edit program) or wouldn’t use dreamweaver to edit a photo, unless you didn’t know CS has dedicated photo editing programs.


What exactly do you need to do with your photo’s Rick?
- General processing (contrast, exposure, light/dark, raw corrections, dust removal, skin smoothing, colour filter, cropping etc.)
- Add/remove, to the image or create sequences.
- File and backup.
- Quicker workflow.

 

Finally; I use instagram more than any other software to adjust photo’s I show off.

 

 
Avatar
spaz - 04 September 2013 09:15 AM

BTW - why say you use CS for photo work? CS is a package of different programs - it’s not “a program”, you don’t use all the programs in CS to do photo work - I’m sure none of you know how to manipulate a photo using PremierPro (because it’s a video edit program) or wouldn’t use dreamweaver to edit a photo, unless you didn’t know CS has dedicated photo editing programs.

 

When we say CS[whatever] the implication is that we are using that version of photoshop.

No one ever says “i use photoshop 4”

You know that - i know you know that!

Stop being pedantic tongue wink

 
Avatar
spaz - 04 September 2013 09:15 AM

My camera!
Shoot properly and there’s no need to edit a photo.

haha - remember the good old days when I used to argue this side… and you were in the - its the modern day darkroom camp…

(and yes i know you are talking about processing not editing but just wanted to have a laugh!)

 
Avatar

Tills, YOU’RE DOING IT RIGHT!

I suspect you are being somewhat humble as that is the correct workflow - not just for when shooting in RAW. (and you said it much more simply than me).
Only someone the calibre of a <strike>“master”</strike> photographer should be shooting in RAW.

RAW is for photogs that know what setting their camera will be just by looking at the scene they are going to shoot, before they pick up their camera. People that can literally see a 1 stop change of light with their eyes/skin.
In the analog days; Slide Film was the equivalent of RAW - you had to shoot perfectly with only a half stop room for error.
The expectation was to get 5-10 good photos from each roll of 36.

 
Avatar

Just simple editing, mostly want to use Lightroom for my landscape shots, one of my good mates is a very good landscape photographer and he highly recomends Lightroom! Only reason I’m looking into it!

I’m sure photoshop will be more then enough for me at this stage anyway!

 
Avatar

Adobe Creative Suite (and all the programs within it, including Photoshop) is for graphic design not Photography


A professional doesn’t just say they shoot on canon, they tell you which camera model.
Saying you edit on CS(?) is like saying you shoot on Canon DSLR. An EOS1D is a bit different to a 60D but they are still DSLR.

When one has to interpret and make assumption as to what is being talked about it will lead to miscommunication and errors.

I can supress my aspergers like thoughts for the sake of argument.
So;
CS now means PS and PS still means PS and Adobe means PS but does CC mean PS and can I say I use PS and everyone will know I mean PSE?
DO YOU SEE MY PROBLEM?

 
Avatar
Rick0889 - 04 September 2013 09:34 AM

Just simple editing, mostly want to use Lightroom for my landscape shots, one of my good mates is a very good landscape photographer and he highly recomends Lightroom! Only reason I’m looking into it!

I’m sure photoshop will be more then enough for me at this stage anyway!

There is nothing more than Photoshop Rick.
You are saying that a Mclaren or Ferrari is enough at this stage.
Photoshop is full on overkill for your needs.

Lightroom or Photoshop Elements is all you need for photography from the Adobe camp.
Unless you are planning to do graphic design.

 
Avatar

spaz, I cant see what your fussing over. Everyone on the previous page wrote it as PS CS# or Photoshop CS#

 
Avatar

No-one gets Sheldon from BBT either.
I’ll just crawl back into my hole.

I’m either an insane genius or genuinely insane (go for the later it’s a safer bet).

 
Avatar

 
Avatar

I’m with Spaz, Aperture is pretty neat, works for me, couldn’t see the point swapping to Lightroom when I trialled it. (done so a few times just in case I changed my mind, in the end I didn’t).
Will use PS sometimes, but really for other stuff than photo editing. Aperture has a reasonable set of brushes.

 
Avatar

I’ve been wondering about what editing software to use recently.

I downloaded the demo version of Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 recently and it seems to be pretty good.

I mainly wanted it for fairly basic editing and to organise/manage my photos. I was tossing up with trying Lightroom, probably still will.

 
Avatar

From what I read, Photoshop sounded like over kill if you just want to spruce up a photo.

 
Avatar

i might end up getting photoshop and premiere for myself, still not sure yet tho haha

 
Avatar

I’ve used light room for about 3-4 years now, and wont use anything else..

its basically PhotoShop for photographers, (its all the same stuff, plus a few extras, for editing/precessing photos)

dont expect to be able to totally manipulate an image with it, but for white balance, temps, contrast, saturation, hue, cropping, sharpness etc, its perfect, you can copy the settings and apply to multiple images too (so if you take 15 photos in the same conditions on the same shoot, you can process one, then copy the settings to all,


a while ago there was a free trial online, I might see if I can find a link when I’m home, but its definitely worth a try.