Best editing software for a beginner

New 2 This · 04-20-2014, 09:29 PM

Hi, what is the most user friendly editing software for a beginner? Thank you for your responses.

**Miguel** · 04-20-2014, 10:14 PM

iPhoto if you have a Mac.
What kind of computer do you have?
Picassa is good and basic and free.
There are also several free online applications that I have heard decent things about. That's a Google search you can do.

M

EastVanBear · 04-20-2014, 10:37 PM

I used photoscape at first because it is free and easy. Tried Picasa first but it is very basic. Bought lightroom recently and loving it. Plenty of YouTube or Adobe videos and gives great results. Only thing it will not do is stick pictures together to make panorama. Darktable is free and works on Mac or Linux. It looks incredibly similar to lightroom and PDF manual easy to follow.

**clackers** · 04-21-2014, 12:38 AM

Originally posted by Miguel

Picassa is good and basic and free.

An excellent start. But when someone gets to wanting noise reduction, it's time to move on.

Last edited by clackers; 04-21-2014 at 06:30 AM.

Adam · 04-21-2014, 12:39 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by New 2 This

Hi, what is the most user friendly editing software for a beginner? Thank you for your responses.

I would recommend Lightroom. It's user-friendly and a good all-in-one program without getting too technical.

adventure95004 · 04-21-2014, 05:35 AM

Another vote for lightroom, I'm new to all this as well and although LR can look complicated at first if you take it slow and learn the basics first and then move deeper into it as your knowledge builds it is quite easy.
Learn all about "work flow"
Lots of free tutorials on the Internet. It also keeps the original file so you can always go back if (when) you mess up :-)
If you didn't already have your photos sorted and filed in a logical system LR is also good for that, and it will integrate with other programs as you need more features while keeping the same file system for your pictures.
Regards
Andy

wullemaha · 04-21-2014, 05:39 AM

Originally posted by Adam

I would recommend Lightroom. It's user-friendly and a good all-in-one program without getting too technical.

+1!
I started with the Pentax RAW converter thingy, which sucks big time, moved to Picasa, which is fine for simple stuff and easy to use, and then really started enjoying RAW development once I got lightroom.

devouges · 04-21-2014, 05:44 AM

Photoshop Elements is OK......

ziscwg · 04-22-2014, 01:01 PM

Originally posted by Adam

I would recommend Lightroom. It's user-friendly and a good all-in-one program without getting too technical.

2nd Lightroom.

You get 30 days free trial. If you don't like it, you don't have to buy.

**rparmar** · 04-22-2014, 01:34 PM

Just get Lightroom. Because eventually you will realise that organising your photos is even more important than editing them.

Then, later, get Google Nik plugins.

**Kerrowdown** · 04-22-2014, 02:19 PM

Another Lightroom vote here too.

reeftool · 04-22-2014, 03:30 PM

As a raw beginner, start with the free Picasa and then move up to Lightroom.

wullemaha · 04-22-2014, 05:01 PM

Originally posted by rparmar

Because eventually you will realise that organising your photos is even more important than editing them

Ah, well, that very much depends on the user.
I love lightroom, but just as with my mp3s, I never let some software do the organizing of my raw files.
That's what I have folders for ;-)
I only use Lightroom for editing - as soon as my JPG exports are done, both the DNG and JPG files normally move out of Lightroom's field of view.

mee · 04-22-2014, 06:08 PM

Lightroom may seem daunting at first, but I'd still recommend it and watching Lightroom tutorial videos online (I think adobe themself host quite a number of tutorial videos on how to use LR)

The plus with starting with Lightroom is you can use it from beginner to veteran photographer.. no more relearning a new process.. learn once and done (as long as Adobe doesn't make LR a rental only software in the future).

Plus it is quite powerful.

Beyond that, maybe Photoshop Elements. You get layer support, plugins, and a limited RAW convertor (LR has the full one -- called ACR -- built in). Photoshop Elements (you may see it as just PSE online) also has panorama stitching and, with the appropriate free, 3rd party actions, focus stacking blending.

I use both actually. I load all my photos into Lightroom, do basic edits and offload to PSE when needed.

Sigmund · 04-22-2014, 06:23 PM

Here's an edited and commented list of free software that includes photo editors: Gizmo's Freeware | Find the best freeware fast

04-20-2014, 09:29 PM	#1
New 2 This Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Nevada Posts: 33	Best editing software for a beginner Hi, what is the most user friendly editing software for a beginner? Thank you for your responses.

04-21-2014, 12:39 AM - 1 Like	#5
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,597	Originally posted by New 2 This Hi, what is the most user friendly editing software for a beginner? Thank you for your responses. I would recommend Lightroom. It's user-friendly and a good all-in-one program without getting too technical. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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04-20-2014, 10:14 PM	#2
Miguel Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Near Seattle Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,743	iPhoto if you have a Mac. What kind of computer do you have? Picassa is good and basic and free. There are also several free online applications that I have heard decent things about. That's a Google search you can do. M

04-20-2014, 10:37 PM	#3
EastVanBear New Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 12	I used photoscape at first because it is free and easy. Tried Picasa first but it is very basic. Bought lightroom recently and loving it. Plenty of YouTube or Adobe videos and gives great results. Only thing it will not do is stick pictures together to make panorama. Darktable is free and works on Mac or Linux. It looks incredibly similar to lightroom and PDF manual easy to follow.

04-21-2014, 12:38 AM	#4
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by Miguel Picassa is good and basic and free. An excellent start. But when someone gets to wanting noise reduction, it's time to move on. Last edited by clackers; 04-21-2014 at 06:30 AM.

04-21-2014, 05:35 AM	#6
adventure95004 New Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 12	Another vote for lightroom, I'm new to all this as well and although LR can look complicated at first if you take it slow and learn the basics first and then move deeper into it as your knowledge builds it is quite easy. Learn all about "work flow" Lots of free tutorials on the Internet. It also keeps the original file so you can always go back if (when) you mess up :-) If you didn't already have your photos sorted and filed in a logical system LR is also good for that, and it will integrate with other programs as you need more features while keeping the same file system for your pictures. Regards Andy

04-21-2014, 05:39 AM	#7
wullemaha Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Tokyo Posts: 503	Originally posted by Adam I would recommend Lightroom. It's user-friendly and a good all-in-one program without getting too technical. +1! I started with the Pentax RAW converter thingy, which sucks big time, moved to Picasa, which is fine for simple stuff and easy to use, and then really started enjoying RAW development once I got lightroom.

04-21-2014, 05:44 AM	#8
devouges Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 324	Photoshop Elements is OK......

04-22-2014, 01:01 PM	#9
ziscwg Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 110	Originally posted by Adam I would recommend Lightroom. It's user-friendly and a good all-in-one program without getting too technical. 2nd Lightroom. You get 30 days free trial. If you don't like it, you don't have to buy.

04-22-2014, 01:34 PM	#10
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,823	Just get Lightroom. Because eventually you will realise that organising your photos is even more important than editing them. Then, later, get Google Nik plugins.

04-22-2014, 02:19 PM	#11
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,835	Another Lightroom vote here too.

04-22-2014, 03:30 PM	#12
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,555	As a raw beginner, start with the free Picasa and then move up to Lightroom.

04-22-2014, 05:01 PM	#13
wullemaha Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Tokyo Posts: 503	Originally posted by rparmar Because eventually you will realise that organising your photos is even more important than editing them Ah, well, that very much depends on the user. I love lightroom, but just as with my mp3s, I never let some software do the organizing of my raw files. That's what I have folders for ;-) I only use Lightroom for editing - as soon as my JPG exports are done, both the DNG and JPG files normally move out of Lightroom's field of view.

04-22-2014, 06:08 PM	#14
mee Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 7,403	Lightroom may seem daunting at first, but I'd still recommend it and watching Lightroom tutorial videos online (I think adobe themself host quite a number of tutorial videos on how to use LR) The plus with starting with Lightroom is you can use it from beginner to veteran photographer.. no more relearning a new process.. learn once and done (as long as Adobe doesn't make LR a rental only software in the future). Plus it is quite powerful. Beyond that, maybe Photoshop Elements. You get layer support, plugins, and a limited RAW convertor (LR has the full one -- called ACR -- built in). Photoshop Elements (you may see it as just PSE online) also has panorama stitching and, with the appropriate free, 3rd party actions, focus stacking blending. I use both actually. I load all my photos into Lightroom, do basic edits and offload to PSE when needed.

04-22-2014, 06:23 PM	#15
Sigmund Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 142	Here's an edited and commented list of free software that includes photo editors: Gizmo's Freeware \| Find the best freeware fast