essential software for PP

ianflynn

Currently have cs4 and lightroom 2. Got rid of gimp cos I could not get the hang of it. What else would you class as essential?

5uspect

Photoshop is the main application you will probably need. There are several plugins for it but such as noise removal tools but you can do pretty much anything in PS.

GIMP is also excellent, but as you found it's not so user friendly.

Any particular type of PP in mind?

oshead

Plugins for Photoshop. Noiseware Pro and ColorEfx Pro and SilverEfx Pro.

ianflynn

Nope i've nothing in mind at the moment, im just getting my head around pp lately and want to have a good arsenal!

PopeBuckfastXVI

I use Bibble 5 to process my RAW's and Gimp & Paint.net if I need to take it a step beyond curves & normal adjustments.

I'd love to give photoshop a go, but I don't think I'll ever be able to afford it, would rather buy a new lens, if someone handed me 700 smackers.

ianflynn

ah sure 700 quid is here nor there...
the overall impression i get is this is all i'll really need for a while yet?

sheesh

I got photoshop cs3 for 415 i needed so if you look around you will get it cheaper

shanona

i got photoshop CS3 for $135 in the states when i was a student... if you know any students (or if you ARE one) you can get a sweet discount. This applies for teachers too. A teacher friend got me Lightroom 2 for $99.
it's worth having a look if you know someone.

BUT I used to be a photoshop junkie for all my photos - since i discovered Lightroom, i've been using it as my main platform ever since. To be honest, i was a little skeptical of LR when i started using it... i just didn't see how it would improve on such a great tool as Photoshop! After a week of learning the ropes though, i was surprised to find that my workflow had been sped up substantially and i can do many of the same effects as i had been doing in Photoshop (with actions).
My personal opinion is that Lightroom is an essential tool, as it was made to be used WITH photoshop - but if you can afford only one or the other, and you're only doing "simple" tweaks, go for Lightroom.

mehfesto

Students can get CS5 for e200 at the mo on software for students.ie
:DIt's Awsome!:D

ianflynn

I now have CS5
and lightroom 2.6.
we'll just say money is no object (;))

shanona

ianflynn wrote: »

I now have CS5
and lightroom 2.6.
we'll just say money is no object (;))

haha great! well i need.... ;)

I have Photoshop on my PC (unsure which version) but I still haven't used it feck all.

I dunno. I can't fault Paint.net. Does everything I need, has a straightforward simple menu systems and has a bucket load of plugins that can be downloaded from their forums etc.

Photoshop's price is outrageous, by the way. I don't think they understand this whole 'internet' thing.


(EDIT; In saying that, their "heal" tool is pretty good for removing spots, speckles and such, though "clone" on Paint.net is fairly handy too for small issues)