Sunday, September 28, 2008

Editing Digital Photography: Software living up to its promises?

By David Peters

Photography can be a tricky art selecting the perfect light conditions, adjusting the focus, zoom and even the time of the day you choose to click your photograph... every one of these factors adds up to create that perfect image, which you've planned so long and worked so hard to capture. But sometimes, despite your best efforts, your photograph doesn't quite end up the way you envisioned it. No matter how minor the glitch, it still detracts from the flawless image you're looking for. And fleeting moments don't last forever, nor are the changes of them occurring on a regular basis very likely. Here's where editing your digital image can salvage that lost pride in your skills, while also allowing you to add effects, you would have found exceedingly difficult, if not impossible to achieve with just your camera. But before you rush ahead and grab the first editing software you can get your hands on, stop a while and consider if your editing software does live up to your exacting standards.

A common error which most photographers make is to simply choose the first software they come across, without first considering its pros and cons. An editing tool which is the perfect blend of all the features you need, while also being appropriate to your level of skill is invaluable in determining that you achieve the best results with minimal wastage of time and efforts. However, if you find that you need to spend hours deciphering the tools and their various functions, then your software is certainly not living up to your requirements. This is because if you simply use your editing tools to simply erase a few basic blemishes from your vacation snaps, you are investing a lot more time than you need to, while also not getting your money's worth as despite your best efforts, you may still not be able to make use of the more advanced features that your software is equipped with, simply because it was designed with another category of users in mind.

When selecting your software, the two basic factors you need to bear in mind are the amount of flexibility the software allows you, while also how intuitive it is. If you are planning to create images of a very high quality or if your field of work entails editing images to suit a variety of purposes on a regular basis, then you might want to consider the category of Advanced Photo Editors. Of these, Adobe Photoshop is undoubtedly the most superior, both in terms of the features it offers and also the reliability of the software. It is also the most expensive choice in this genre and mastering the software can be an uphill task until you have successfully tided over the period where you grapple with the basics. A more affordable option is the Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo, but as many Photoshop loyalists will opine, the features and the amount of personalization the software allows is not quite up to the stellar standards that Photoshop sets. However, if you are looking for a reasonable amount of flexibility and an affordable price, then this may very well be the solution to your editing needs.

If your image editing is limited to minor image correction and you are more interested in a software that is easy to use, them you may do well with a Beginner Photo Editor. These editors are not loaded with features and many have a wizard to guide you through the editing process as easily and effortlessly as possible. You can also refer to the vast tutorials that a majority of these editors have and even follow the on-screen tips to sail through the process of editing your images. The category of Beginner Photo Editors includes Photoshop Elements and Ulead PhotoImpact Editing Tool among several others.

For photography enthusiasts who are looking for all the enticing features that the top-notch editing softwares have to offer, but can't afford to shell out the exorbitant price tags which come along with them, the Budget Photo Editors cover the gamut of editing functions, while also ensuring affordability. Many of these softwares are for free and can be downloaded off the internet, but may also compromise on the amount of reliability they have to offer. Also, you may also have to endure distracting pop-ups encouraging you to buy the retail version, which many prove to be a hindrance if you are planning on using the software for extended periods of time.

You can further augment the software you have chosen by supplementing its features with those Digital Imaging Softwares offer. These tools aren't much good, by themselves as they often skip the basic drawing and painting features and include only the more sophisticated ones.

It is crucial that you first establish the amount of time you will be able to dedicate to your software once you've purchased it. Although a software that enjoys a commendable reputation like Adobe Photoshop may be alluring, it won't be any good if you can't afford to devote the time and efforts that are essential to learning the finer nuances of the software. But once you've made your choice, and made it well, you can be sure that your images will look a lot more scintillating than they ever have before!

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