I have been asked many times what I use to edit my photos. So I have decided that instead of telling each person individually I would let you all.
The main software I use is Adobe Photoshop CS6.
For all my HDR’s I use Photomatix Pro by HDRsoft .
Coupon Code for your 15% discount – LeanneCole15, it is not case sensitive.
I am told that you click buy, you will be taken to the order form where you can enter the code where it says Coupon code. I hope many of you will take advantage of this, it is a great deal. I would like to thank HDR Soft for this opportunity. To purchase the software you can click on the Photomatix Pro link above, or go to their purchase page here.
As you can see there is a link on the side to Nik Software, and from them I am using Silver Efex Pro 2, Color Efex Pro 4 and HDR Efex Pro 2. Each are fantastic, but will admit I am very smitten with Silver Efex. They offer a 15 day free trial, so if you haven’t tried it yet, I would recommend giving it a go.
For additional editing I use Topaz Adjust 5, though I also have their new photo FXlab. I am also thinking of purchasing some other stuff soon too from them. After approaching them they have offered you a 15% on their products from their Topaz Labs Store, just add the item to the cart and when you see Coupon Code put in LCPFT for your discount.
I also have GIMP installed on all my computers, though my desktop computer only runs Ubuntu, so GIMP is the only Image Manipulation Program that will run on that.
On my windows machine I have Lightroom 3 and 4, though have not really used them much, something I need to change. I also have Photoshop Elements 8, which came with my scanner.
I am a creature of habit and if I find things that I like, it can be hard to get me to learn new things, but I usually come around. Especially if it looks like it will help me a lot.
Hi Leanne,
I’m surprised you don’t Abode Lightroom. Have you ever played around with it?
I’ve played with it, and thought it might be good, and I know a lot of people who swear by it, but it can’t do all the stuff that I want to do, and Photoshop can. My husband is a programmer and one think I have learnt through him is how to organise my files. I showed him what I had set up and he was really impressed, so that was great. I am really happy with what I can do in Photoshop so, I don’t think I will worry about Lightroom, though for some of the tutorials I am planning on doing I might look into it more. I hope that answers your question Jen?
Hi Leanne
What is your preference between GIMP and Photoshop? I run Ubuntu with GIMP (but I am strictly amateur) and I have also used Photoshop in the past.
Cheers
That is a big question, and to my husbands disgust, I prefer Photoshop. Though having said that, I think GIMP is fantastic beginners program. I started with it, but as I am now doing a lot more complicated stuff I find GIMP either can’t do what I want, or I have to do it in a very complicated manner. I suspect GIMP was designed more for graphics and all the tutes for it seem to be more along those lines. Photoshop was designed for photos. Does that answer your question?
Are you using the latest version of Ubuntu, I installed it on my desktop and I hate it, it doesn’t work properly and has so many bugs in it.
I’ve just upgraded to 12.04 this past weekend and so far no issues. I also upgraded my GIMP to 2.8 but have not had any time to play with it yet (I have this thing called a day job that interferes with my life…)
Hi Leanne,
Thank you for liking my Weekly Photo Challenge post – Urban. Perhaps some of your readers will find their way there too.
I use Lightroom 4 as my main editing programme, exporting to Photoshop CS5 as and when I want to do more complex editing. Liquify being a good example.
Lightroom is quick, easy to navigate and has a very short learning curve. The deeper you go into it the more you can achieve, it is surprisingly comprehensive. It’s also easy to export with plug ins for 500px.com (add /murraylaidlaw) to see my images, Flickr and Blurb books. It’s now possible to layout a book within LR4 although I’ve not tried this yet.
Photoshop will always be the de facto photo editing and manipulation programme and there are many excellent resources out there. Have you come across CreativeLive.com ? They run online video training course and have recently had a couple on Photoshop. For anyone wanting to know more they’re good but you really need to buy the course so you can watch it at your own pace rather than in real time.
Best wishes, Murray
Thanks for all that Murray, I wasn’t sure what you were trying to tell me. I love using Photoshop and some of the plugins I’ve found. No I haven’t seen CreativeLive, I am finding what I do so far fine, I’m not really interested in purchasing programs at this time, or tutorials. Thanks
I have never tried to have downloadable software on my blogs but have managed it on my website. I have tried many types of digital enhancement but have never found one that does everything that I desire to the photo`s. Also an interesting thing is the putting of massages into photo`s, in SA it will soon be a must if you have a weird sense of humour. i have not come across a photo blog that has had so much advice on howto, it`s very refreshing.
Thank you so much Leo, you point out some interesting things. I have never heard of some of that.
Ha! I’m a Photomatix user as well! I love that software for HDR processing!!!
Haha, same
Hi Leanne, if I’m using Lightroom 4, what version of Photomatix should I get? The plugin or standalone full?
Hi AiM, I use the stand alone, then I can use the images in whatever program I want. I think it is going to depend on the price, and how much you think you will use it?
I had a look and from what I can work out if you buy the standalone, then you also get the plugin for lightroom so you can have both. Sorry I probably haven’t been much help.
After I have been out to take photos I open up Photomatix and then I process all my HDR’s, one after another until I have done all the ones I want. Then when I go to choose images I want to process further that part is all done and I can view them in Photoshop. Good luck.
Leanne, do you use a Pen tablet when editing?
Yes, I do, I have Wacom tablet and pen. I love it, so much better for fine details.
Hello Leanne, I have a question for you – Have you developed RAW in Linux? What would you recommend for that ?
No, I haven’t Martin, my experience has been that Linux, or Ubuntu doesn’t recognise it. I wouldn’t recommend it.
Thank you
I’am with you about LR very nice but then I prefer to organize my stuff with other methods… I do not really like the archive management as I use external HD …
I really don’t like the way it insists on it. It can be quite frustrating. I really like the way I have organised my photos and can nearly always find my images. Nice to find someone else who feels the same.
Glad to see you recommended Topaz. When I switched to Mac, I lost all of my Nik Software filters. But I am hoping Topaz will do the job if not better.
I don’t know if it will do the job better, but it is good software, I only have Topaz Adjust and I use it for most of my images. Thanks
Hi Leanne, after 8 years I have settled on Lightroom as my main editor, with Photoshop Elements as the organiser and editor if I need to work an image (clone out etc), Like you I use Topaz Adjust in Lightroom or PSE. I also make use of their Denoise software (excellent for removing noise and preserving details) and for HDR I use Photomatrix Pro. I really like Lightroom V4 and find that I do 90% of my work in there.
Salut Leanne ~ you have a nice blog. I am new to this blogging arena so must plagiarise. . . er. . . pay homage to some of the styles of the pros to make mine what I hope it one day will be.
As a digital photographer I use Capture One Pro (I’m an image control freak!), which is great when shooting tethered . . . and have tossed Lightroom for Apple Aperture and Capture NX 2.
I do shoot mostly analogue though – and have done for the past 200 years (or so it seems!). I shoot large and medium format, develop my B/W in my kitchen
and scan and open in a pre-processing program (see above) and finalise in Photoshop.
It is interesting to discover others’ workflows, and glean some tips from them. I was certified in PS for about 5 years but use it much less today. How times change
I am very interested to see some of your work – I notice you don’t have a ‘gallery’ link on your navigation bar. . . am I missing something obvious?
Cheers ~
Sounds like you have lots of experience. I haven’t used the capture one, but I have heard some good things about it.
I don’t have a gallery link on the bar across the top, but if you click on images for sale in the sidebar it will take you to it. Though I haven’t put any images on it for a while.
I wish I had more time to photograph – or to write my blog. . . sheesh, life always gets in the way of fun
Hello Leanne
Thank you for visiting my blog. I really like your photographs and was interested to hear that you use photoshop. Photo shop is my choice as well but more for illustration. I like it better than any art or illustration programs out there. However I do use it for photography as well and think it is the best by far!
Hi! I’m ashamed to admit that I haven’t visited your blog before, though I’ve seen that you’ve liked several of my posts. I love your photography! I think some of my favorites are the Abandoned” and “Experimental” sets.
Have you ever tried Photivo? Amazing bit of software, free too, which is always good.
No I haven’t tried it, I haven’t heard of it actually.
Good idea, this section on software Leanne. I liked reading your commenter’s thoughts and your replies to each. I downloaded a Topaz trial and have played with it a bit. I know another photographer that, like you, recommends it. I suppose I should give it some more time.
I do only use Topaz Adjust, and I only a few of the features. Having said that I don’t think I could live without now.
Love Photomatix for HDR; my photo instructors turned me on to this. Thanks for sharing your info, Leanne! Oh, and thanks for liking my “Hung Up, or…” and “Ski Day Today” posts.
I love Topaz – they also have a great b/w plugin that is fantastic! Really enjoyed your blog – thanks so much for visiting mine!
I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the layout
of your website? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with
it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only
having one or 2 pictures. Maybe you could space
it out better?
I have toyed with it a little, but I haven’t found another layout that I like better. If you have places where people will click, then you won’t get anything, people don’t click. So it will have to stay the way it is for now.