Hi - I am not making a living as a photographer, but I am trying to learn as much as I can to get as much of a shot correctly in camera. I do know there is a need for some touch-up or post-processing of images. I recently upgraded my computer, and now finally have a machine that could handle one or more of the programs listed. I got the "freebie" Canon Digital Photo Professional which is pretty OK for no money. But, if I were to get one of the software packages listed, what are the pros and cons, advantages/disadvantages, etc. of each? I know I am asking a lot here, but any opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Comments
Huge question and not an easy one to answer off the bat?
You see, many people have 'progressed' over the years to get to what they use/prefer today and it's not a straight answer without knowing what each can do.
First up, I have been using Photoshop for around 18 years since Version 3 long before digital come into use mainstream as my job was in a newspaper and editing digital files come about mainstream around 10 years ago.
So, having that grounding and knowledge base with the use of Layers, Masks, Channels, etc. makes me biased but deservedly so, then Aperture (for Mac) and Lightroom (PC) come about and then the others, like Phase One's Capture One program (excellent, but like Photoshop, very heavy learning curve.
PS Elements, well, let's just say it does not cut the mustard in my book, you cannot use Layers/Masks/Channels anywhere near like Photoshop.
My initial response to your question would be to get LR, it's probably one of the most used programs out there for general editing, but, it also cannot use Layers/Channel Masks, etc. like PS.
Don't get me wrong, very many successful people use it but when doing hundreds of images from say weddings, you cannot afford to take 10 mins on each image like you would for maybe that cracking landscape shot you took.
I do use LR or Capture One for my 'base' edits, like White Balance and Density/Exposure, but I only use the Exposure itself, and don't try to work the 'Shadows/Darks/Lights/Blacks to get contrast as and export out as PSD files and then run an action to tweak backgrounds, detail, colour, contrast etc.
DPP is pretty good though if using Canon, and you can get some good results like in your situation of only hobby/serious amateur status and I would not presume to impose anything I may use/do onto anyone.
LR is now very reasonably priced, it started out at around $400 early on, I think it's around the $120 mark these days, cheaper if you are student/teacher.
You can 'mask' but *only* by brushing, not Channel Masks which give absolute perfection but you most definitely would be happy with LR for what you are going to use it for.
If you did opt for Photoshop it comes with ACR (Adobe Camera RAW) which is what is needed to edit the RAW files, but you can then do so much more in PS itself as ACR opens up separately for RAW files.
I have attached 2 images, one as shot as the jpeg extracted from the RAW file, and the other I edited it in Photoshop after dropping exposure a little and very little White Balance adjustment. You can see the massive difference I can get out of Photoshop though.
Very steep learning curve from the get go and I really do wish you all the best.
There are books/online tutorials you can purchase for LR/Photoshop, some expensive, some online free, but the trouble is if you are learning incorrectly from the 'experts' you may see online, so it's a matter of a lot of reading/researching.
The one advantage of LR also is the filing system, cataloguing the files into Libraries, Collections, etc.
Cheers,
Trev.
Edited file
PS: Trev, IMHO the "as-shot" photo you attached was really pretty darn good.
I would recommend trying the free 30-day trial of LR, and doing a bit of reading and watching videos on it. Here are some:
http://blogs.adobe.com/jkost/lightroom-training-videos
It takes some getting used to, because LR really acts as the central database for your images rather than a one-image-at-a-time editor like PS or PS Elements. You don't "file open", edit an image, "file save", etc. in LR. You "import" the images into LR (using the "library module"), and when you edit (in the "develop module"), all the edits are stored in LR's database - it's all non destructive. When you are satisfied, you "export" a JPG (for example) to use on the web, email, for a print lab, etc. A great feature is being able to copy your edits to other photos. So say you have a series of photos all taken around the same time and all have similar issues (eg. you want to change the WB, add more contrast, add more saturation, bring up the midtones, pull back the highlights, you have some spot corrections in the sky because of dust on your sensor, you want to apply some noise reduction, etc.). You can edit one image to your satisfaction, then copy these edits (called "develop settings") to other photos you select - so all the images will get the same treatment.
Dave
I can only speak here in Australia as I tried that myself a good while back, but the reason's you needed it were involved, and had to have proof from school/university/college of that. I just did not bother.