The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Photo Editing Software

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by soldier0316, Jul 26, 2007.

  1. soldier0316

    soldier0316 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    305
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hi ya'll, i was wondering what kind of photo editing software do you guys use/recommend? im thinking about purchasing adobe illustrater but need more feedback. thanks
     
  2. Overclocker

    Overclocker Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    28
    Messages:
    355
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    For organization and touchups, I use Picasa. I also keep Irfan View handy for cropping and screenshots. For general viewing, Pwalk is my favorite.
     
  3. digicamhelp

    digicamhelp Notebook Consultant NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    17
    Messages:
    227
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Why Illustrator?! It's an illustration program.

    If you're interested in photo editing, why not get Adobe Photoshop? Or it's little, less expensive brother, Photoshop Elements. Other options include PaintShop Pro, The Gimp (free) and, as already mentioned, Picasa for basic photo editing and organizing. Picasa is free too

    I primarily use Photoshop but I also use Picasa.
     
  4. AKAJohnDoe

    AKAJohnDoe Mime with Tourette's

    Reputations:
    1,163
    Messages:
    3,017
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    A CD of Adobe PhotoShop Elements used to come with virtually every Canon camera and scanner. It's good. I currently use PhotoShop CS2, but I'm thinking about upgrading it to CS3.
     
  5. kappa.squared

    kappa.squared Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    19
    Messages:
    108
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Paint.NET isn't bad either, and is open source!
     
  6. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    4,982
    Messages:
    34,001
    Likes Received:
    1,415
    Trophy Points:
    581
    As is the Gimp which I personally use. It's quite powerful and offers a much better cost/benefit ratio. It has a steeper learning curve just cause it's not PS which everyone is used to, but if you are familiar with photo editing software, it's not too much of a leap. If you are only doing light photo editing, it's a solid choice.
     
  7. AmazingGracePlayer

    AmazingGracePlayer Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    236
    Messages:
    1,737
    Likes Received:
    12
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Get Adobe Photoshop. Doesn't matter which version, because they're almost all the same...
     
  8. lesinlondon

    lesinlondon Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Got 'Photoshop', but for basic stuff I use 'Photofiltre Studio'. Small, light and excellent.
     
  9. Arla

    Arla Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    1,073
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Picasa 2, GIMP for free stuff

    Paintshop Pro and Photo Album for paid products (got before I knew about GIMP and I do find Paintshop pro still easier and better than GIMP)
     
  10. kinkouin

    kinkouin Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    82
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Paint.net has bascially all the functions you need in photoshop...

    But photoshop if you really want to get serious with things.
     
  11. soldier0316

    soldier0316 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    305
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Great thanks!
     
  12. Cape Consultant

    Cape Consultant SSD User

    Reputations:
    153
    Messages:
    1,149
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I am a big fan of Ulead's Photo Impact. Have used it for years. I also like Photoshop elements by Adobe. Dave
     
  13. sasanac

    sasanac Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    144
    Messages:
    456
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    It depends on how in depth with the editing you want to go.. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is very good and has all the colour adjustment, levels, sharpening, softening tools you could ever want.
    http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshoplightroom/

    If you're talking about cloning areas, retouching, removing blemishes or dust marks on the photos, using meshes, channels, layers, and other bells and whistles you'd be better with Photoshop, if you were talking about spending the sort of cash you'd need for Illustrator then go for Photoshop CS3 (not the Extended version tho). It is the best, tho in my opinion there are very few users who use more than 15-20% of it's features! I am a huge fan of Photoshop (used it since version 3 which came on about 8 floppy disks) and it just gets better and better. As you can tell I am slightly biased on this!

    Why not try out some of the 30day trials and see which suits you best.. it's well worth doing that it you're talking about spending a big chunk of money on some software which will last you a long time.
     
  14. ViciousXUSMC

    ViciousXUSMC Master Viking NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    11,461
    Messages:
    16,824
    Likes Received:
    76
    Trophy Points:
    466
    Im a photoshop fan, im pretty set in my ways with CS2 but I dabble in CS3 now and then.
     
  15. bin

    bin Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    269
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    picasa for me.