Camera Labs

I am really keen on buying some photo editing software, but am confused by all the choices out there.

I currently use my Zoombrowser software that was supplied with my Canon 30D. It is very basic but allows me to process raw files easily. I then tend to use GIMP for colour levels and saturation as well as cropping and re sizeing my photos. Unfortunately, I find GIMP very difficult to use and even with on line tutorials I am struggling to do more than the basic functions I have listed abouve. Things like Layers are really confusing.

So, would I be able to do more with a cheap program such as photoshop Elements and do those things more easily than my current software, or should I stick to what I have got until I can afford the ££££ for photoshop CS3?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Photoshop elements isn't quite the same as Photoshop and I wouldn't even consider it a more basic version. Photoshop Elements is an all-in-one program that combines photo management with minor editing and it is aimed at consumers rather than the pro-sumer/professional(s) that Photoshop is so it is designed to be more user-friendly. However, because of its target audience, it's not as powerful or comprehensive as PS or GIMP. If all that you use the GIMP for is saturation, cropping and resizing then you might be able to get away with cheaper(or perhaps even free) programs.

Fastone that Zorro recommends here would do all the things you need for free.

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Graham
Flickr