photograph editing

[ValerieP]

I would love to have a Mac and have aperature, but I don't, I live in the PC world and I am just wondering what is the easiest program out there to edit photographs? My dil has aperature and it is most wonderful, is there a pc like version?

[Jen D]

Yes... Lightroom is for PC and it is an amazing tool. It is very easy to use too I couldn't live without it!

[ValerieP]

Thanks, I will have to give the trial a try!

[esther_a]

Sometimes I just use photoshop tools and actions, sometimes I use Lightroom tools and presets. I find lightroom is a little better for noise reduction (I also use noiseworks free version). Lightroom is a LOT better at color balance and exposure adjustments. I love Pioneer Woman's free Photoshop actions, especially 70s and Cololorized actions, to give interesting effects to photos, but there are so many more free presets that you can download for all sorts of effects.
Lightroom takes a bit of learning. There was a thread here with a link to tutorials that I found very handy.

[anke]

I use mostly Photoshop anymore. For me it's just easier, I can do almost everything I can do in LR and I don't have to use 2 programs... but everybody has their own preferences.

[Carol Elliott]

I'm with Anke. I mainly use photoshop, although I do have lightroom (just have never gotten around to learning it!).

[tylertooo]

I use photoshop, although I just bought lightroom. My computer is giving me problems though, so I am not loading it until I decide if I am going to reformat and start everything from scratch. I can't wait until I can start using it though.

[Amson]

I really love lightroom and use it all the time.

[thessh]

I work on almost all my photos in Lightroom before using them in LO's.
LOVE Lightroom!

[TereseC]

I use Lightroom all the time, easy to use. Love it!

[digigrandma]

I'm on a Mac, Valerie and I use the for Macs version of Lightroom. I heard so many raving about Lightroom that I didn't realize there was Aperture for Macs. I really like it.

Often, I just use Photoshop Elements 9.0 because like Anke said it is easier to just be in one program.

[Myra]

For me, LR is as important as a catalog as it is an editing program. So I couldn't work without it. I like LR because I use Adobe products. So it seems more seamless to me to stick with one brand.

[iUma]

Lightroom work great on a PC and the new version has great improvements. OnOne Software also has a new program called Layers which works straight from Lightroom and allows you you use layers and blend modes without going to Photoshop. I like it, too.

[Leslie Nicole]

I use Lightroom 3 and Photoshop CS5. I prefer to edit in Photoshop, but I do my initial raw edits in Lightroom. I use Lightroom heavily for keywording, sorting work into categories, rating and choosing, etc. I couldn't live without either Photoshop or Lightoom!

That said, it is a good chunk of change to get both programs - you may want to try Adobe Photoshop Elements if it fits your budget better. I haven't looked closely at it, but I think Elements does have some photo management capabilities as well.

[AmyJ]

Let me ask you this- are you wanting the capabilities of Aperture or are you just wanting to edit. . . Aperture and the similar software LR are powerful and more expensive.

That said, I love LR!!! An additional side of these two programs is that they are stronger organizers. Very Very Powerful! Love them. (And I use Bridge, which of course comes with Photoshop CS to organize my supplies- so wish Bridge worked like LR)

[Leslie Nicole]

I love Bridge as well. Can't live without it. Although Bridge does have keywording, rating, etc. It's better as a file browser wheras Lightroom is a database manager and image editor. The advantages to having Bridge be more limited is speed. I couldn't live without being able to quickly browse images.

I can't live without all 3 programs, but I've also been a professional in photography/image editing for more than 25 years.

I know a lot of people do excellent work with Elements and what a price difference! If money is no issue and you are really serious about image editing - Photoshop / LR (or Aperture) are the way to go. Otherwise, I think Elements does a very decent job for the average non-professional (and even a lot of professionals). I bought Elements for my husband who is a photo / video enthusiast, but doesn't have much background in digital editing and I know he won't have the patience to learn Photoshop/LR.