I haven't even looked at price yet because I know it largely out of my price range right now. But, I know NOTHING about PS.

What is the best reasonably affordable photoeditting program? Under $500 (not that I can afford even half that right now). What do you recommend? Approximately how much was it? How much do you use it? Worth it?

I use photoshop elements which was about $100.

i LOVE love love adobe lightroom. i do almost all my editing there. (i have photoshop but i really don't know how to use 1/2 of it...but lightroom is all the stuff i know how to use)

PS the full version is pricy. photoshop elements is about $100 and very easy to use, from what i have heard.

lightroom is another option, more than elements but less than PS. i didn't like the trial at all so i didn't buy it, but as you can see, jules loved it. it's all so varied and personal to your style.

ETA that i use the full former version, photoshop cs2 & am mostly self-taught (plus a little help from a scott kelby book on it.)

You can download 30 day trials of most editing software. I have Paint Shop Pro (it came with our computer), but I think about switching to Elements on occasion. There are a few things that PSP can do that Elements can't though and that always seems to hold me back from switching over.

the big question is, what do you want to use it for, and how much control do you need?

the big question is, what do you want to use it for, and how much control do you need?

and how does your brain work....b/c i think so much of them are personal style...like tracey and i...we just edit differently.

and how does your brain work....b/c i think so much of them are personal style...like tracey and i...we just edit differently.

yep. what she said.

the big question is, what do you want to use it for, and how much control do you need?

Just family stuff. I don't think I need much control because I probably wouldn't care to learn anything too challenging. I didn't know about element. I was talking to my dad today (he's a techno jukie if ever there was one) and he suggested element. And, he said not to pay $100 for it because you can always find it cheaper (he said he's seen it for $50 and I figure I can swing $50 for something I *might* need more from one day far in the future).

So, I'm excited to learn about element. I thought PS was the only thing. See how clueless I am about this stuff :lol:

and how does your brain work....b/c i think so much of them are personal style...like tracey and i...we just edit differently.

From a photography and editting perspective, I wouldn't even begin to have any clue. :lol:

Now, I CAN tell you that my theta to beta ratio is far too high in my left hemisphere AND that my high-theta way exceeds even my theta in the right hemisphere. :hahaha:

But, as far as photoeditting :juggle:

download a trial of lightroom first...and you can probably download a trial of elements

is PS the one you can select an area to go B&W or infuse color into something? Like digital hand touching?

is PS the one you can select an area to go B&W or infuse color into something? Like digital hand touching?

Like selective color? You can do that in most photo editing programs, although it's easier in some than others. I loved the ease of doing it in Elements.

I saw Elements 6 at the store the other day for $79.99. If you don't mind OEM software, you can get it for lots less online.

(OEM?)

Yes - selective color :) Thats it!

OEM is "original equipment manufacturer" and usually the CD only.

is PS the one you can select an area to go B&W or infuse color into something? Like digital hand touching?

I do this with Paint Shop Pro X. I've been using PSP for years and really like it. I think I got PSP X for about $30 off of Ebay. NIP, too. It retails for just under $100.

If you go with PSP, I would get a tutorial book, or join a PSP tutorial email list. When I firt got it I learned how to make snowglobes (they were all the rage then) and a bunch of other effects.