What software is best for photography

[Hellychoc]

I am a keen photographer but have never 'altered' any images and would like to start, nothing very fancy, things like black/white with bits of colour, there is so much on the market, anyone suggestions

[Buenchico]

Photoshop is the choice of professionals. It's not cheap and it can take a while to get the best from it. (I recommend buying some books about it, or simply borrowing them from the library). However, It's my favourite program on my PC and I'd hate to be without it.

Among the free programs on offer, GIMP is the closest to Photoshop:
http://www.gimp.org/
Again, it takes a bit of getting used to but it's incredibly flexible.

At a more basic level, Google's Picasa is popular for image manipulation:
http://picasa.google.com/

Sticking with the Freebies, Serif Photoplus 6 is worth a look:
http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/software/Phot oPlus/default.asp

If you're prepared to spend money on software, I'd recommend 'pushing the boat out' and getting Photoshop. Otherwise just try the freebies I've mentioned. (They're at least as good, and possibly better, than most of the commercial stuff that's on offer).

Chris

[pug100]

ther are a couple of very good free programs out there, Irfanview

http://www.irfanview.com/

and Picasa

http://picasa.google.com/

If you want to pay for some software then Adobe Photoshop is the one used by the pros .

http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/family /

[ACtheTROLL]

I like corel paintshop pro ... but start with something simple
.... or free
the others have given some good suggestions.
like most things ... it's horses for courses ... try a fiew - see which fits best

photoshop elements gets good reviews

[Gromit]

Photoshop is the best. If you just want to play to learn the basics, go for one of the others.

[vehelpfulguy]

I think Photoshop Elements wins most of the awards. This is the baby brother of Photoshop.

Photoshop is the best, but is hundreds of pounds and is aimed at the professinal

Photoshop Elements is aimed at the amateur and is more geared for working with photographs.

You can download a 30 day trial from here

http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopelwin/

You can buy it for less than �60

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Adobe-Systems-Inc-Phot oshop-Elements/dp/B000VZEIOS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF 8&s=software&qid=1216717289&sr=8-1

Loads of books about it as well

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Photoshop-Elements-6-D ummies/dp/0470192380/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=book s&qid=1216717335&sr=1-1

[vehelpfulguy]

And PC Pro magazine have Photoshop Elements on their "A" list (best chocies for hardware & software).

A review here

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/128810/adobe-ph otoshop-elements-6.html

[Phantaxus]

also try paint.net

http://www.getpaint.net/

there is the gimpshop mod for The Gimp

http://www.gimpshop.com/

quoteing from the website "GIMPshop is a modification of the free/open source GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP), intended to replicate the feel of Adobe Photoshop. Its primary purpose is to make users of Photoshop feel comfortable using GIMP."