Photo editing programs

I have a question that I hope you can help me with. I started out using Picnik a year ago when I began a flickr account. Since then I have looked at many photo editing tools that offer so much more than picnik. I photograph a little bit of everything, however my favorite are nature photos, to include macros. I have a Nikon D3000 and shoot in manual mode. I try to adjust my settings in the camera before I take the photo, however as you all probably know....sometimes you need help. I have recently started taking portraits and find that I need even more help. I have an account with SmugMug so all files have to be converted to jpeg before they can be uploaded to that program.

WHAT I NEED IS A PHOTO EDITING TOOL FOR DUMMIES!!! I have read and watched tutorials till I can't look at anymore. I'm not one to do a lot of "playing with the pixels" but would like something easy to use. My new laptop came with Adobe Elements Basic 9, but I'm just not happy with it. I don't want to spend a whole lot of money on an editing program, but know that I need something I can work with. I have been shooting in jpeg but am now switching to raw.

Any ideas?? If I don't respond to you "in a timely manner" it's because I am cleaning the house....been putting it off. However, I will get back with you!

Thank you!!!!!

Try PICASA 3 by google, it's easy to use, it's free( another advantage ) and if I can learn it without much trouble the it can't be too bad

Photoshop Elements is a very good program, takes a little time learning but a very good program. Another is Corel Paintshop Photo Pro, it will give you everything and then some that Photoshop Elements lacks.

Free Ones: Paint.net and Gimp. A little learning curve but excellent in the editing arena.

Good luck with your choice, with anything it does take some patience and persistence to learn.

Invest your time into learning Elements. It will be worth it. If you don't want to spend the effort in learning Elements or some similarly powerful program, then I wouldn't bother shooting RAW. Adjust your settings in camera to maximize image quality and shoot jpg. I would suggest Capture NX2, but I'm not sure if you would like it or not. Download a trial version and test it out.

Shadowfixer1 wrote: Invest your time into learning Elements. It will be worth it..

+1, its a fine editing program.............

FastStone Image Viewer and Windows Live Photo Gallery are both streamlined for easy use. But I agree with the other posts, Elements is well worth learning.

Kelly Cook

kbmccallie wrote: I have a question that I hope you can help me with. I started out using Picnik a year ago when I began a flickr account. Since then I have looked at many photo editing tools that offer so much more than picnik. I photograph a little bit of everything, however my favorite are nature photos, to include macros. I have a Nikon D3000 and shoot in manual mode. I try to adjust my settings in the camera before I take the photo, however as you all probably know....sometimes you need help. I have recently started taking portraits and find that I need even more help. I have an account with SmugMug so all files have to be converted to jpeg before they can be uploaded to that program.

WHAT I NEED IS A PHOTO EDITING TOOL FOR DUMMIES!!! I have read and watched tutorials till I can't look at anymore. I'm not one to do a lot of "playing with the pixels" but would like something easy to use. My new laptop came with Adobe Elements Basic 9, but I'm just not happy with it. I don't want to spend a whole lot of money on an editing program, but know that I need something I can work with. I have been shooting in jpeg but am now switching to raw.

Any ideas?? If I don't respond to you "in a timely manner" it's because I am cleaning the house....been putting it off. However, I will get back with you!

Thank you!!!!!

Didn't your camera come with an editing program like Capture NX? I know my Nikon did, I don't use it though, I use Photoshop CS4. If you want a good program to fix flaws on people in portraits, you might try Portrait Professional, It's not very expensive. The tools I use most in PS are clone,patch,dodge and burn tools, Cropping also. levels, contrast, saturation controls. Or you can spend a little money for all the effects that will do most of this it's self and go with OnOne Phototools.

Rob pix4u2 wrote: Try PICASA 3 by google, it's easy to use, it's free( another advantage ) and if I can learn it without much trouble the it can't be too bad

Picasa is as "easy as pie" and has online help and tutorials that are complete and concise. I taught 3 class sessions to seniors last winter and the only couple that had any trouble didn't know how to load their photos from their camera. Oh well.
www.picasa.com

Elements is a strong editing program...My suggestion would be to learn the Element's you already have and to buy the Visual Quick Start Guide to Elements. These books are organized & easy to read. They include pictures of the actual dialog boxes you will encounter. I think you will surprised at how quickly you will pick up on it.

I too will say Elements and Gimp, they are well worth learning. And once you do they will be indispensable.

Nikonjan wrote:

kbmccallie wrote: I have a question that I hope you can help me with. I started out using Picnik a year ago when I began a flickr account. Since then I have looked at many photo editing tools that offer so much more than picnik. I photograph a little bit of everything, however my favorite are nature photos, to include macros. I have a Nikon D3000 and shoot in manual mode. I try to adjust my settings in the camera before I take the photo, however as you all probably know....sometimes you need help. I have recently started taking portraits and find that I need even more help. I have an account with SmugMug so all files have to be converted to jpeg before they can be uploaded to that program.

WHAT I NEED IS A PHOTO EDITING TOOL FOR DUMMIES!!! I have read and watched tutorials till I can't look at anymore. I'm not one to do a lot of "playing with the pixels" but would like something easy to use. My new laptop came with Adobe Elements Basic 9, but I'm just not happy with it. I don't want to spend a whole lot of money on an editing program, but know that I need something I can work with. I have been shooting in jpeg but am now switching to raw.

Any ideas?? If I don't respond to you "in a timely manner" it's because I am cleaning the house....been putting it off. However, I will get back with you!

Thank you!!!!!

Didn't your camera come with an editing program like Capture NX? I know my Nikon did, I don't use it though, I use Photoshop CS4. If you want a good program to fix flaws on people in portraits, you might try Portrait Professional, It's not very expensive. The tools I use most in PS are clone,patch,dodge and burn tools, Cropping also. levels, contrast, saturation controls. Or you can spend a little money for all the effects that will do most of this it's self and go with OnOne Phototools.

Nikon stop giving Capture NX for free but Capture NX2 is a great program but I don`t like it!
Photo Tools I love and used regularly but you must have the full version of Photoshop...it`s a plugin
without the 'stand alone' feature.
If you want to improve then you should get to the level that your work demands...you don`t have to learn the program ONLY the parts that you will use.I uses CS5 but uses mostly my plugins.
Buy a good tutorial book and when you want to do something just look it up.

I think the OP was looking for ease of use not a recommendation for the program she doesn't like already.