New to Mac and looking for suggestions for processing programs

John

This weekend I made the leap from a Windows laptop to a Macbook Pro and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for processing software. I use a Canon 400D and shoot RAW, I used to do all my processing in Photoshop Elements (version 7 I think) on the Windows machine.

Is Photoshop still my best bet on Mac or are there any better options? I'm fairly comfortable using Photoshop but would make the switch if there's a better option. I am currently looking at getting Photoshop Extended CS5 from http://www.software4students.ie/ (as it's only €192) but want to hold off until I get some advice.

Cheers!

.Longshanks.

Aperture is a mac only program and i've heard lots of good things about it - but have never used it.
I've no idea if its comparable to lightroom or to photoshop....if you understand the difference in the two

WheresMyCamera?

Photoshop is the image processing software from which all other image manipulation software are measured against. I would say stay with it if your already used to it's interface. And you can't really go wrong with €192 The thing is though it really does depend on how and what you use the pregram for. As other less advanced options may actually suite your needs better.

I use Lightroom myself for most of my own photography. I also use CS5 for when I want to do something more complex or simply something that Lightroom can't do. In the studio where I work they follow the same sort of workflow only instead of Lightroom they use Apples Aperture program. Which I used to not like very much, but the current version is very good. All said though I probably didn't really like it cause I wasn't used to working with it, but it's much better now.

I would say that before shelling out cash go onto Adobes website and download the trial versions of both Lightroom and CS5 and try they out for yourself. Then you can at least make your own informed decision

mathepac

OK, there seems to be some confusion here over OP's request.

If you shoot RAW, can I recommend for your attention http://www.raw-photo-processor.com/RPP/Overview.html which is free to use in its basic version but for a fee you can enable additional features. (I have no affiliation)

Photoshop Elements, or other similar programs, is an image manipulation program which works on interpolated images and provides more interpolation options.

RPP is like the first stage in the processing of roll film, the development stage, where chemical baths are used to produce a quality negative (or positive) transparency from the exposed film which can then be manipulated using various techniques and materials to produce a final printed image.

Unlike other programs, RPP generally does not de-mosaic image data but works on them directly and changes their values.

You'll still need Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Aperture, etc. for the back-end processes, but I think RPP is an invaluable tool for image development, the pre-manipulation stage.

Welcome to Mac. :cool:

Heebie

If you're not doing heavy editing, I'd recommend Lightroom. If you need to be able to do editing, then Photoshop.

John

Based on the above and reading around about those programs, I think I'll be going for Photoshop. Thanks for the advice guys.

ditpaintball

If I had a mac, here is the way I would do it.

Buy Aperature and CS5

1. Use bridge to organise and sort all your images
2. Use aperature to work on your raw files
3. Then use photoshop to work on them

CS5 does have Adobe Camera raw which works fine for JPEGS, but depending on the quality of the editing you need and your shooting style, then Aperature is a better Raw converter.

Adobe RAW and Lightroom use the same engine for the Raw converter so you can do pretty much the same thing. Lightroom just has extra fancy things like 'presets' and upload the web and stuff.

John

ditpaintball wrote: »

Adobe RAW and Lightroom use the same engine for the Raw converter so you can do pretty much the same thing. Lightroom just has extra fancy things like 'presets' and upload the web and stuff.

Ah right, I had never used either of them and wasn't sure what one offered over the other. I can do my own uploading to the web and tend to tinker anyway so if I was to go for either, I'd go for whichever one was cheaper!

As I mentioned above, I had been using Photoshop Elements' RAW and can't say I found it very limiting. What does Aperture/Lightroom offer that makes them better?

ditpaintball

I have never used elements, so I can't say.

Bottom line is as far as I can tell:

Lightroom is a stand alone product that can see you from RAW to JPEG and is more of a processor. 'Processing' i.e. brightness, contrast, colour mixing etc.

Photoshop with Camera RAW does the same stuff, but it gives you much more control and it is far better at 'editing'

I fly through my processing using actions in photoshop to quickly colour correct photos etc. Then I go back over the files that need 'editing' ... skin retouching etc etc.

End of the day, it all depends on your budget and if you see your self needing the extra power of photoshop over light room.