The Pros and Cons of Photo-Editing Software
Image-Editing Software Has Benefits, But Also Requires Time & a PC
Aug 17, 2009
Some of the bundled software that comes with new cameras has editing capabilities such as cropping, fixing red eye, resizing, adjusting brightness and contrast and rotating the photo. But the most powerful photo-editing software goes well beyond these simple standard editing tasks to allow the photographer to jmake a photo appear just about anyway he or she wants it to.
Requirements for Image-Editing Software
To use photo-editing software, the photographer needs:
- A personal computer (PC).
- Time to learn how to use the tools and to make the corrective and creative adjustments
- To know the system requirements for the software. Before downloading or buying software, learn the manufacturer's advised essentials such as 1) minimum suggested processor speed and processor type 2) minimum suggested RAM or system memory and 3) what operating system ( Windows or Mac) is compatible with it. Some manufacturers of powerful software programs recommend 1GB of RAM, although most photographers can get by with 512MB.
- Enough free space on the hard drive.Some comprehensive software programs recommend 1GB of free hard drive space.Most photographers can get by with 100MB.
- To know what file formats are supported. JPEG (jpg) is a universal file format, but can the image-editing program work with the photos saved in TIFF or RAW? Not all RAW formats are the same. The photogrpher might need to ask the camera's manufacturer what RAW files it can work with other than the manufacturer's bundled RAW software. Also, the software manufacturer might be able to tell the photographer if the software supports RAW files from a specific camera.
Software Choices
Software is available free online or it can be purchased online and in retail stores. Which software a photographer chooses depends on his or her editing needs and budget.
Some Free Software
- Picassa
- GIMP
- Picnik
Some Software Available for Purchase
- ACDSee Photo Editor
- Foto Finish
- Paint Shop Pro
- Photo Impression
- Photo Studio
- Photoshop Elements
- Photoshop Lightroom
- Photo Plus
- Ulead Photo Impact
Read one site's evaluations of top image-editing software.
What Image-Editing Software Can Do
Depending on the software selected, here are some tasks image-editing software can perform in addition to the already mentioned ones:
- Remove unwanted objects or persons from a photo
- Add objects or persons to a photo
- Change background color
- Remove scratches from photos
- Give new life to old, faded photos
- Straigthen crooked photos
- Sharpen photos
- Blur objects or persons in photos
- Convert a photo to a color pencil sketch or watercolor
- Make photo montages
- Brighten or tone down colors
- Change colors
- Whiten teeth
- Tone down freckles or acne
- Remove selected wrinkles on faces
- Remove shadows caused by a flash
- Fix some underexposed photos
- Fix some overexposed photos
- Correct colors
- Put text in photos
Yes, editing software can do all of the above. However, that does not mean that photographers should snap photos without thinking. Try to have the correct settings. Do not blast a photo with flash. Almost nothing can be done to save a badly overexposured photo. Read the camera manual and read articles and books about photography to improve picture-taking skills.
Once a photographer has mastered the basics of image-making, there will be less need to use image-editing software as a corrective. It can then become a tool for letting the creative juices flow.
Source
- King, Julie Adair. Digital Photo Projects for Dummies. Indianapolis: Wiley Publishing, Inc. 2007.
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