Posted: 11/19/2006 5:17:10 AM EDT
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OK, I love taking digital photos and normally just save them and print them. I want to get a program to do some adjustments and just play with some of the pics. I have a Nikon D50 camera. Best Buy has a sale on Corel Paint ShopPro Photo XI for 29.99 and Microsoft Digital Image Suite Anniversary Edition for 39.99. Would either be better than the software I got with my camera and printer? I just got the Epson R260 printer. Would either program, since they are relatively cheap, be good starter software? Thanks for any opinions/advise. |
The more I read about it, the cooler it gets. Just have to start using it more  Any drawbacks? A recent article I read talks about RAW future readability. Recommends saving all RAW files to PNG (a photoshop format I believe). Does GIMP read PNG? Do Nikon and Canon RAW reader programs save to PNG? |
+1 Gimpshop might also be useful, presents gimp in a more PS-esque interface.
PNG is an open graphic format specification, so as to avoid the GIF patent problems. I don't believe the Nikon program uses PNG, but Canon's DPP does not (JPG/TIFF besides raw). Adobe is pushing DNG (digital Negative), but I doubt that will go far until they get Canon and/or nikon on board. |
) copy of Photoshop CS2.|
I was going thru some of the demos for Nikon's CAPTURE NX. VERY COOL! $150. There is also a 30 day free trial (I just downloaded it today) Demos - www.capturenx.com/ Download(s) - support.nikontech.com/cgi-bin/nikonusa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=61 |
I use Nikon capture (non-nx) and ran the trial of NX. I am not sold on NX yet. I wish both ran faster, they are rediculously slow. Many have noticed they can achieve better results with Capture and some photoshop than photoshop alone and I have found that to be true. Especially when dealing with a less than optimum exposure. Some have noted quirks in image quality with NX vs. regular capture as well that aren't great. I guess Nik is the one who did a lot of the work on NX? The control points are kinda cool, but I think I need more time screwing with them to decide on them. The upgrade price to NX is cheaper if you have an old version of capture. You might even buy an old one to get the cheaper price. |
As mentioned earlier I have discovered the Capture NX to be rather slow. I am certain that my 1.3Ghz P4 with 512mb ram is also a bottleneck but its what I gotz. Who else has experience with Photoshop Elements? I don't have the upgrade option for NX and PE is certainly priced right  .I was playing with PictureProject for the first time last night, that sharpening feature is amazing. eta: Saw the PE trial option on Adobe just now, downloading
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