Photo editing program recommendation

[CobraMustang]

I have really gotten hooked on this photomode and I really like what some people have been able to do with editing progams such as Photoshop. Could someone give me a recommendations of a program that would be good for someone who has never used such a program but is wanting to learn. Is Photoshop the best choice? I am striving for realistic pics and also HDR, I really like what people have done with that process. Thanks for the help.

 

[L1ONE]

If you're willing to use it for more than just editing GT5 photos then yes it may be a good idea. Although if all you are looking for is to do small adjustments to photos then have a look at something like Photoshop Elements, Lightroom or Aperture (Mac Only).

 

[breezy]

The best software by far is photoshop, and once you learn the basics such as Levels, Lighting, etc., it can be very easy to use and make ordinary pictures look extraordinary. There are more technical aspects that take practice and training(DIY Tutorials all over the internet will help you with anything you need to know). If you're just looking to make your pictures look better Adobe Photo Elements or even post them on flickr and edit in "Picnik". All in all, the best option to take full advantage of post processing pictures would be Photoshop.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

Like L1ONE mentioned, if you're planning on using a program for all sorts of things past GT5, Photoshop is your best choice, as it's the standard for a reason. Doing graphic design meant I already had it, so it was an easy choice for GT5 work. If however it's just to dip your toe in, Elements is a good starting point, as well as every other suggestion so far. Another one, that is very popular with some of our members, is the freeware GIMP. I don't have experience with it but I have seen work done in it, and it can produce very similar results to Photoshop 👍

 

[freedomweasel]

Since you're just getting started with it, definitely give GIMP a go. It does most, like 90%+ of what Photoshop does but it's free.

 

[Negrumir]

GIMP yes, but if you want some basic photo editing stuff and maybe some cool plugins. Try Paintdotnet, (you need the .NET framework of course)

It's as easy as picking your nose to learn and it has quite a bit of things it can do. (especially with the aforementioned plugins) I know it doesn't hold up to the features of PS or GIMP but I know it's easy to use.

 

[speedthrill]

I use Photomatix and photoshop!

 

[MidianGTX]

Photomatix is great for HDR, but that's pretty much all it does so it's not a necessity. Photoshop is obviously the #1 option, there's basically nothing out there that does photo editing better. That said, Lightroom is fantastic and does a whole bunch of things Photoshop can't do quite as easily, plus it's non-destructive so you don't have to worry about ruining the photo or saving your progress.

 

[CobraMustang]

Thanks for the info, greatly appreciated.

 

[Talon]

Another vote for GIMP here. I've been using it for a while, and it has never let me down. 👍

 

[sixtoes]

I have really gotten hooked on this photomode and I really like what some people have been able to do with editing progams such as Photoshop. Could someone give me a recommendations of a program that would be good for someone who has never used such a program but is wanting to learn. Is Photoshop the best choice? I am striving for realistic pics and also HDR, I really like what people have done with that process. Thanks for the help.

As an Adobe Certified Instructor (ACI) and Expert (ACE) in Photoshop, I can tell you from experience that, if you've never used a photo editing program before, you'll need to be prepared for a significant learning curve with Photoshop - though the rewards are well worth it. As some have suggested, you might want to start with Photoshop Elements (if you're in the US, it's on sale for less than $60 from the Adobe store). If you're going to go for the full version, two quick things: one, you do not need CS5 Extended, just the Standard version and two, try the demo first.

Enjoy!