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General discussion

What's your favorite photo editor and why?

Aug 29, 2006 7:19AM PDT

What's your favorite photo editor and why?

ACDSee Photo Editor
Adobe PhotoShop
Adobe Photoshop Elements
Corel Paint Shop Pro
FastStone Image Viewer
The GIMP
IrfanView
Picasa
Ulead PhotoImpact
Other (what is it?)

Discussion is locked

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ArcSoft Photo Suite
Aug 29, 2006 1:08PM PDT

I've been using a software program that came with one of my scanners. Arc Soft, seems to be better at doing most of my projects. I can't figure out the PhotoShop, could be I just got use to the Arc Soft.

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ARcSoft PhotoImpression 4, and MS Picture It!
Aug 29, 2006 11:58PM PDT

I, too, use ArcSoft - PhotoImpression 4 - does most of what I need it to, and the price is right! Happy
I've also used MicroSoft's Picture It!, which is fairly inexpensive - around $30, I believe.

Between these two, I've been able to do anything I've needed - mostly restoring and enhancing old family photo's that I've scanned - Removing scratches, tears, dirt, finger-prints - and replacing missing sections from photo's that have been torn or damaged in a fire!

It's been a blast!

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actsoft photoimpression 4.0
Sep 3, 2009 4:48PM PDT

I was working for some years with the photoimpression 4.0 lost now the program and am looking for a copy.can somebody help me? i live in germany
thnaks dani

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Nothing more than iPhoto
Aug 29, 2006 1:15PM PDT

I'm on my third edition of iPhoto, and the software just keeps getting better and better. With the newest release, version 6, Apple has added different photo effects that I can apply to my photos. I can very easily crop, resize, and adjust my photos. My favorite feature is that I can simply hook up my camera to a USB port, turn it on, and my computer does the rest. I can also order photos directly from Kodak. For me, iPhoto is the solution to all my photo needs.

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Photo editor vote.
Aug 29, 2006 1:19PM PDT

Photoshop is best.

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Favorite Photo editor
Aug 29, 2006 1:23PM PDT

My favorite photo editor is FXFOTO, it will add captions, frames, resize, import, and Email from the same page. I also use MIR by Acumen as it will resize a whole folder to any size with one click.

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My favorite photo Editor
Aug 29, 2006 1:25PM PDT

For what limited amounts of editing I do with my digital photos, I use the Kodak Easy Share. I know, there have been problems with it, but for the major point, I find that using the Enhancing Feature, they turn out very favorably for me. You can email, print or upload a group of photos into an album with this program, plus crop along with a few other features. I like it.

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Browsing: FastStone; editing: Paint Shop Pro
Aug 29, 2006 1:26PM PDT

It's nice to see FastStone included in this poll, as it's been my favorite photo browser for years now.

However, whenever I need to edit my photos, I use Paint Shop Pro. It's got the most bang for buck -- it does everything I need, and it does it very well.

However, we do use PhotoShop for our digital imaging at work.

- Wes

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Photoshop Elements 3.0
Aug 29, 2006 1:37PM PDT

I use this easy-to-learn, intuitive & inexpensive gem for almost all my editing needs. Sure, I have several other good/great programs on my computers, but I tend to rely on Elements because it's so darn good!

Besides Elements, I have ACDC, Irfanview, Picasa, PaintShop Pro, CorelDraw 10, Graphic Workshop, PhotoImpact and PhotoShop 7 (might have missed one or two).

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I use Elements too
Aug 29, 2006 8:04PM PDT

I also use Elements 3.0 for most of my photo editing. I use iPhoto for basic photo management, but Elements for tweaking and transforming my images. I have used Photoshop as well, but once Elements became available, I switched because it is cheap and has all of the features I need. I have also used some camera specific photo editing products (Kodak, Nikon) but found them either over-complicated and not very functional (Nikon) or too simplistic (Kodak). Photoshop Elements works for me.

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Photo Shop Elements
Sep 6, 2006 5:48AM PDT

I had Photo Shop, it was far to difficult for a caual user. the other freeware was ok, but not that good. I then tried Photo Elements, it really did the job for me. I could do simple photo clean ups.

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Microsoft Digital Image Pro7
Aug 29, 2006 1:38PM PDT

I got introduced to Microsoft Picture It 2001 which
came installed on a new computer .... I have since upgraded to Microsoft Digital Image Pro 7 and Pro 10.
They have extensive graphics, incredible editing tools, etc, I do a lot of work with digital photos and there is no other program for me ... easy to
figure out ... simply the best !

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Paint Shop Pro X
Aug 29, 2006 1:40PM PDT

I've used PSP since v.4, so I'm just used to it. Also, I can't afford Photoshop. PSPX does everything I need to it to do for photo editing and printing, and gives me tremendous flexibility and power for 1/4 the cost of Photoshop. I was apprehensive since Corel bought it from Jasc, but PSPX is a good omen, if they keep improving it.

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Long Time Paint Shop Pro User
Aug 29, 2006 1:57PM PDT

I, too, have been using PSP for years. I have tried others along the way and there are some really good ones out there. But, having invested so many years in PSP, I find the ability to do the same work in other packages much less intuitive.

The cost factor alone has to be a big decision point. The amount of functionality in PSP compared to the price makes it a fantastic value.

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Ditto to everything you say
Aug 29, 2006 2:31PM PDT

Ditto to everything you say, but I've only been using PSP since v.7. I,too, was worried about Corel. No need, I guess, but I'm not holding my breath. Can't afford PhotoShop, do have (Christmas present) Elements. Still most of the time, just because I'm so comfortable with it, I automatically use PSP v.7, then go back when I have more time & use PSP v.9. Now will use X, it's GREAT! PSP just doesn't have the snob appeal of PhotoShop & I could care less...

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Paint Shop Pro 9 or X
Aug 30, 2006 7:09AM PDT

I went back to ver. 9 as it did a better job of correcting pictures.

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Paint Shop Pro X
Aug 30, 2006 9:23AM PDT

PSPX is my first version of Paint Shop and I really love it. It has tons of features that are very good and as other posters have said, it is in the same category as PhotoShop CS2 and you don't need a mortgage to buy it. I am still learning how to get the most out of all the features with "Paint Shop Pro X for Photographers" by McMahon & Nichols. (I get no royalties from this plug--I just thought it would be useful to others!

My only problem with PSPX has to do with its apparent lack of an ability to process photos and keep them in the RAW format. As it stands now, I believe PSPX requires you to convert photos to TIFF. As I plan on getting a DSLR camera within six months or so I am kind of bummed out about this.

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Photoshop CS is My Pick.
Aug 29, 2006 1:43PM PDT

Photoshop is my pick; I downloaded the trail version found tutorials everywhere which made it easier to understand so I bought Photoshop CS.

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that's my reason, too
Aug 29, 2006 3:43PM PDT

I also chose Photoshop. Not only is it powerful, but there are literally thousands of tutorials out there! The learning curve might be a little steep (especially for someone who has minimal experience in working with image-editing software), but if you take the time to find your way around it, your effort is rewarded.

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favorite photo manager
Aug 29, 2006 1:51PM PDT

Microsoft Office Picture Manager because it is easy....

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Mine is Pixarra TwistedBrush!
Aug 29, 2006 1:51PM PDT

This versatile art-photo-anything you wanna do program is priceless for manipulating any photo!!! I quit using all of the others listed because twistedbrush has everything from masks to magic...LOVE IT!!!! They have a trial download too!

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Favorite Photo Editor
Aug 29, 2006 1:52PM PDT

For ease of use and quick results I like Microsoft Picture It.

I also have and use Corel Paint Shop Pro X and it is an intuitive program that is easy to use and get good results quickly.

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JASC Paint Shop Pro v7
Aug 29, 2006 1:54PM PDT

I have been using this for ALL my editing needs for over 8 years. This is one of the best programs ever written. There is nothing any of the listed programs can do that this program can't. The learning process was very slow because of the many things it's capable of. In fact, I find something new every day.

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PhotoDraw v2
Aug 29, 2006 2:07PM PDT

I've tried the others; I've tried the successors; but I still like PhotoDraw. It's easy, it's more intuitive, it's not complicated, it doesn't use complex terms, and I don't need more than three or four layers. Microsoft had a good thing going, but they wanted to emulate PhotoShop and make editing unnecessarily difficult.
It's like the Office Shortcut Bar -- it worked! it worked nicely! it fit all my needs, so well, so comfortably, without any severe learning curves! Why, oh why, don't they listen any more?

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couldn't agree more
Aug 29, 2006 8:06PM PDT

timcole, my reasons exactly, for photodraw. Im so pleased to know someone else still uses it! I've tried some of the more complicated programs, and the learning curve is just too steep. I don't want to have to wade through a huge manual to find out how to manipulate an image, and if I spend more time annoyed by a program because it won't "go" for me, then why bother?
there are some amazing image editors out there, and I wish I had the technological skills to play with them, but when you have to read the help file just to get an image on the screen, I know Im already in foreign territory. *g*

Microsoft has done the same thing to Word, turning it from a really good word processor into something so bloated it would take a lifetime to learn it all. I like programs that do what they intended to do with plenty of creative latitude for the user without a crash course in the program to do it.

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I prefer PHOTOSHOP, but there are many other handy softwares
Aug 29, 2006 2:30PM PDT

Just use the softwares that you think that you are comfortable with. It is not necessary to be photoshop. Photoshop is well recognized but it is not my favourite photo editing softwares. Usually I just use some of my other favourite picks.

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Ditto on iPhoto
Aug 29, 2006 5:38PM PDT

...4 the same reasons.

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iPhoto and Elements 3
Aug 29, 2006 2:30PM PDT

iPhoto is an amazing software that allows the non-pro, home consumer to tweak his photos for use in the family album or web site, and to store, archive, and organize the photos. For serious editing, Photoshop Elements 3 (I haven't made it 4 yet) goes as far as any non-pro consumer would ever need. Of course, this means using a Mac, which I must say makes it all effortless. I use Window's XP at work, but can't wait to get home to my iMac and iBook.

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It depends on what I'm doing..
Aug 29, 2006 2:31PM PDT

I use Photoshop CS, Elements 3 and Picasa regularly. One of things I do most is sending photos of interest to my friends and family, for this Picasa is perfect for doing a quick enhance, fix and crop as appropriate and then sending or uploading straight away automatically resized. Plus it doesn't actually change any of my originals so I can send just part of a photo that to someone without affecting the original. It's very intuitive and most people I've introduced to it with varying ability love it. For serious retouching, or image manipulation you can't beat photoshop, but most of the time I find that elements has all I need plus a few useful extras over the full CS version. I use CS at school but have rarely used any of the PS only features.

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A vote for Paint Shop Pro
Aug 29, 2006 2:39PM PDT

This wonderful program has provided us, at a low price, with all the tools we need to produce beautiful photos. It is almost the functional equivalent of Photoshop and virtually all the plugins developed for Photoshop can be used in Paint Shop Pro. I now have a copy of Photoshop but just can't take the time to cross over from a program that does all I require in digital photo editing.