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Hi All,

What software do you guys use for post-processing?

Is Paint Shop Pro 9 worth buying?
Is Adobe Photoshop CS worth the extra dollars????


Any help appreciated

Thanks

John

Nikon Capture & Photoshop 7.

I have been told the upgrade to CS is not really worth it, but I have also been told it is

Sorry I can't be more helpful.

W00DY

Post processing usually consists of a few steps:
1) RAW converter (eg Nikon Capture; if you shoot raw)
2) Image editor/manipulation (ie. your Photoshops and Paint Shop Pros)
3) Sundries - included in this is everything else, eg. special effects filters (can be PS actions or plug-ins), noise reduction software.

For the #2 step - CS is probably the industry benchmark. Its features probably exceed most people's abilities, and something less will probably do. But due to the features, flexibility and endless plugins and third party support for this program, I feel it's worth it.

I personally wouldn't consider CS a standard and from what I remember, many of the news offices like Reuters and AP still use PS7.

However, all I use is PS7 with the Nikon RAW driver that lets me just drag them into Photoshop and do the conversion straight.

I'm not sure about PSP9. It's been ages since I touched it so I can't tell you, and there's always The Gimp if all else fails.

Nnnnsic wrote:
However, all I use is PS7 with the Nikon RAW driver that lets me just drag them into Photoshop and do the conversion straight.

Where would I get this driver?

When you say you can drag them into Photoshop and do the conversion is this to JPEG?

Cheers,

W00DY

Provided you have Nikon View or that other software (PP?) that comes with the camera installed, Photoshop should open them using the Nikon driver if you open them up using Photoshop (by either opening them within Photoshop or dragging them in, etc).

Alternatively, you can download the latest Adobe version from the Adobe website.

G'day,
For me it's currently Nikon Capture and PaintShop Pro v9.

I originally purchased PSP 9 for the RAW support for the camera I had previously (Fuji S7000) but the product seemed excellent for me... Good control over manipulation, runs most PS-CS actions, good CA controls, batch processing and scripting etc. I really like it... For the price (about 20% of the cost of PS-CS) I find it does the trick for me... Can also handle D70 raw files too...

Cheers,
Mudder

Thinking about the same issue myself.

How stripped back is photoshop elements compared with the full version?
Can it handle raw?

Thanks.

For the #2 step - CS is probably the industry benchmark.

A slight correction to the statement made by Onyx - Photoshop IS the benchmark not just CS - IMO

There are some added photo uses in CS over PS7 such as shadow and highlight adjustment which is basically equivalent to Nikon Capture DEE. There is also coloured lens effect and lens blur and of course, photomerge.

I have, and use, PS7, PSCS and Nikon Capture but there are many programs that will give intermediate as well as beginners the control of their images.


Chris

The relatively new Photoshop Elements 3 can handle RAW and integrates photo cataloguing. I believe earlier versions cannot handle RAW and the catalogue is separate. Elements 3 also has the terrific healing brush functionality, which I find gives better results than plaing cloning in many situations.

You can download a trial version from the Adobe website - why not give it a go?