23 replies to this topic

[Mimi]

I am starting my course on Saturday (really beginner) and wondered if anyone had a software to start with that's easy to learn and not too expensive or that would have a trial version? Thank you

[Adam]

I would say try lightroom and photoshop elements.  You definitely can't go wrong with lightroom and it's also a great place to start!

[GregM1]

you can also download photoshop CS2 from the main adobe site for free. its older but is a great piece of software.

[Landscaaped]

I would say GIMP or photoscape to start out with they are both free to download and very easy to use and to get started with.

[LifeLens]

I started with Photoshop Elements and Lightroom, and now use Photoshop as well.

[PreservedLightPhoto]

If you are only going with one I would suggest Lightroom. It packs a lot of power for its ease of use.

[JIMMYMACK]

Get a artist tablet and practice.

[reinin]

I've just moved over to the professional side of things and as a beginner, I love Lightroom.  It was affordable enough to allow me to 'practice' without getting frustrated and I think I'll soon be ready to tackle Photoshop without feeling overwhelmed.

[eldonphotography]

I would definitely say lightroom its a lot of bang for the buck!

[Davem45]

Lightroom all the way and you can get a months free trial

[nbanjogal]

I second the motion for Lightroom! Very easy to learn and intuitive to use. And powerful. And it's not too expensive.

[ThePicturesofYou]

I say go with the Lightroom as well, it is a very good system to use and you can do nearly everything with it as a beginner! Good luck and be sure to post your work so we can see how awesome you are doing!!! 

[Davem45]

Amazing isnt it everyone thinks of Photoshop as the software for photographers but go on a photographic forum then lightroom always seems to be the prefered software or it is on the sites I use !

[Gump85]

DxO Pro optics has a trial version with a feature that uses Lens data and makes adjustments based on the camera and lens EXIF information. Lightroom 5 also shares this feature and requires one click while in the develop mode. for the money, LR5 is half the price of DxO and DxO requires a user to buy the elite software for full frame. Whats with that?

[Martin]

I am starting my course on Saturday (really beginner) and wondered if anyone had a software to start with that's easy to learn and not too expensive or that would have a trial version? Thank you

Personally I can recommend PaintShop Pro X6. It's pretty comprehensive, inexpensive, and seems fairly easy to learn (I've only just started using it). It also has a trial version that you can download.

[Afterimage]

you can also download photoshop CS2 from the main adobe site for free. its older but is a great piece of software.

 100% THIS - get Photoshop and learn to use it. Dedicate as much time learning to use it as you do learning to shoot.

CS2 is free, and the foundations of an industry standard.

[Davem45]

 100% THIS - get Photoshop and learn to use it. Dedicate as much time learning to use it as you do learning to shoot.

CS2 is free, and the foundations of an industry standard.

I would agree with this the only problem might be that CS2 will not convert RAW (NEF) files of newer cameras but if you link that in with lightroom which will convert and you can then go to edit in CS2 (you can send directly from LR)

[Afterimage]

I thought that Adobe Camera Raw would update to the newest version ... which would open the most recent RAW files. No?

[Davem45]

Unfortunatly not Camera Raw will only update for about a year after the software is changed I know people who have CS5 and got a new camera and Camera Raw will not accept it even though it is fully updated Both had the latest camera's one a D7100 and the other a Canon 700d

[GregM1]

Unfortunatly not Camera Raw will only update for about a year after the software is changed I know people who have CS5 and got a new camera and Camera Raw will not accept it even though it is fully updated Both had the latest camera's one a D7100 and the other a Canon 700d

 

that is the exact reason i went to CC. got the d7000 but couldnt get the newer raw processor. however, CS2 is still a great editing program.