My OperaHindu Wedding Photography Digital Photography Editor
Sunday, September 26, 2010 7:41:28 PM
When it comes to photo editing software, such packages can range from one side of the spectrum to the other in functionality and ability. By the same token, the price can also share in such a broad range from free to hundreds of dollars. When I first began my search, the one thing I discovered is how quickly I became overwhelmed with so many options. Fortunately, I knew precisely what I was looking for which is the essential key in scaling down the search to a more manageable project. It's all about personal preference.
I am a professional photographer who was using Adobe PhotoShop in a studio within a high traffic mall specializing in professional portraits and virtual photography. I really loved PhotoShop in how it felt and the capability it provided. It took me quite some time to learn the program even though, I only learned but a fraction of all the functions and features. What I did learn I did come to know very well.
Not too long ago, the studio took a turn for the worst and I had to leave. Shortly after, my computer crashed and I lost all my software leaving me without any photo editor. I was forced to decide whether or not to spend the hundreds of dollars for PhotoShop or find a much less expensive alternative. Considering that I never used all the functions anyway and with all the software packages on the market today, I decided to begin my search for a comparable alternative. This is when I learned that too much of a good thing can be overwhelming.
What I learned in using Adobe, is how much I appreciated it's streamlined suite of tools that offered good functionality with only a few clicks of the mouse. It supported multiple file formats that allowed me to share my photos with a variety of other software packages and was very compatible with a multitude of other electronic devices. With the ever changing world of electronics, I consider this to be an essential part of my search. You should at minimum, make sure the photo editor supports the most common file format types....JPG, GIF, PNG, PICT, TIFF, PSD, PSP and RAW file types. Keeping in mind, the more the better.
Most of today's digital camera's come with some form of photography editing software, which is usually very easy to use yet, very limited in functions and capability. You will very likely be able to do limited adjusting allowing you to improve on good picture but, not very capable in fixing bad ones. This level of editing software is not for the photo enthusiast and lacking in any real creative capability.
For the more creative type, you will require a much more sophisticated suite of tools that allow total control over your photo manipulation. However, one thing to seriously consider is that the more complex the functionality the more you will need to emphasize the concept of "ease of use". Look for a software package that requires as few mouse clicks as possible to provide the finished product. When doing your comparisons, keep in mind how many clicks it takes between the various packages to provide the same final photo.
One very important lesson I learned is how some of the products differ significantly from the advertisement that described the software package. I strongly recommend taking advantage of the trial versions and money back guarantees allowing you to actually use the product before purchasing it. This way you will feel out the program and determine it's true fit in relation to your personal needs.
When choosing a digital photography editing software for your particular needs, it's all about personal preference. You want to make sure you don't get a program that is easy to use but, very limited in capability preventing you from utilizing the program to its fullest. However, contrarily....by getting a program that is too complex and requires more training than you are willing to put into it, can quickly discourage you into not realizing your personal creative potential. Each person's requirements are different therefore, plan ahead and identify what you plan to do with your photo editor allowing you to find one that is specifically geared to meet your needs.
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