Friday, February 15, 2013

Finding The Best Photo Processing Software

By Paula Barron


When you choose photo processing software, you need to consider both the options and features you need now as well as in the future. Many beginners opt to use free software versions to get started. Over time, they will find the free versions have significant limitations applied to their creative abilities. As the skills grow, you will find that you will need more features including filters, output formats, and workflow processes included.

Organizing the pictures is important. Operating systems usually have some sort of import feature that turns on when you plug in your camera. There are software packages available that will organize your pictures for free. Many of these will easily connect to social networks, making the process of sharing your images much easier. Some of these organization programs offer very basic editing features such as rotating, cropping, and even reducing red eye in photographs.

Basic editing is fine for most people. If you really do not want to do much more than rotating and cropping images, then you do not need much more than the free programs available. These will retain the raw image with the minor changes you have made. They cannot usually do much more than the very basic editing.

Advanced features can really spruce up an image. The number of filters and features included in advanced software is significant compared to the basic versions. They usually add a number of filters that can be applied. These filters help create a much nicer looking image by changing the tone to a more professional look.

Professional images are produced using professional level programs. These images not only use filters, but allow you to use the workflow to manipulate the images. The value here is that you can easily go back and remove a filter that you do not like without having to undo everything you have worked on. They also allow you to save the image with layers. Essentially, you will be able to do much more work without danger of ruining the original image or wasting time undoing a mistake.

Output formats vary. Most of the available programs can save in many different graphic formats. Very few of the free versions limit the formats. The advanced and professional versions include just about every format available.

The costs depend on the features needed. The free programs can come with some advanced features but offer little in the way of support. The advanced and professional programs can cost several hundred dollars, but they usually come with training and a large amount of support. You should consider the support, training, and features when you consider the price of the different packages. If you advance your skills, you may find your program being paid for as you edit photos from friends, family, and neighbors.

Photo processing software comes in many different flavors. There are many good free packages available. For those that wish to add a professional look, stepping up to the advanced and professional packages adds the many features that professional editors employ when they prepare for production. As you grow your skill-set, you will find a desire for more features and functions.




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