Photo editing software recommendations

[Tintype_18]

On another thread, it was mentioned about editing photos. My T7 and File Explorer allow some editing but would like to expand the capabilities. Did the usual search and came up with a list from the XX Best Free Editing Software. GIMP was mentioned a few times as the recommended software. Anyone use this? Seemed simple to use and free. Thanks.

[Tintype_18]

I download every day 99% of the time unless it is late in the day.  I like to see them while the photo shoot is still fresh in my mind. I can review them and delete bad photos or ones I don't want to keep. Will be downloading DPP4 in just a few minutes. Again, thanks two bunches.

[FloridaDrafter]

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@Tintype_18 wrote:

Just downloaded the DPP4 and have it saved as a Shortcut for convenience. When I pulled it up, it had downloaded a bunch of jpg photos that I have taken over the years!

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I think it goes to whatever windows default folder is for downloads, i.e., usrs/*insert users name*/pictures, but as mentioned, it might have searched for images. It's been so long, I just don't recal what DPPs default was when I first installed it.

This is what I do: I keep my photos by year, so I pull down the "tools" menu and select "preferences" then in "General Settings", I specify a folder for DPP to start in. That makes it easy for me to navigate to the folder I downloaded to. Yes, I have a very large SSD 😉

[Tintype_18]

As mentioned, I downloaded the DPP4 software off the Canon support. Downloaded the manual which is 194 pages. Seems to be overwhelming and don't know if I want to take the time to read it. Seems by the time I edit some photos for a publication, my time "cost" would be below the old minimum wage. Any suggestions?

[jrhoffman75]

Actually, if you aren't willing to put your time into something don't expect me to put my time in. Good luck with your business. 

[FloridaDrafter]

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@Tintype_18 wrote:

As mentioned, I downloaded the DPP4 software off the Canon support. Downloaded the manual which is 194 pages. Seems to be overwhelming and don't know if I want to take the time to read it. Seems by the time I edit some photos for a publication, my time "cost" would be below the old minimum wage. Any suggestions?

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I've been using DPP for a very long time and I have only read a few pages of the manual, usually when a new feature is added or I just don't understand exactly what a portion or function does. In fact, I spend 90% of my editing time in two panels: "Basic Image Adjustment" and "Adjust Image Colors" (see attached). There are so few options, that it takes very little time to experiment with the sliders to see what effect they have on your Raw image. Frankly, if you have trouble with DPP you will be very overwhelmed with PSE, PS, LR, and especially GIMP. I've used them all over the past 30 years for graphics and photography work, yes, I still sell and publish a slect few (I'm retired). DPP is the most basic of them all, yet I find it's all I need, maybe because I get a good jump by taking the best image I can to begin with.

Basic Adjustment Panel.

Color Adjustment.

There are other useful tools in this program, but these are basically where I live.

Newton

[wq9nsc]

I agree with Florida Drafter that DPP is very simple to use once you just jump into it.  Most of the time you will just be using it as your basic RAW editor for cropping, adjusting white balance, exposure, and setting desired levels of noise reduction all done easily with point and click or moving sliders and everything is clearly labeled.  Making changes to contrast, saturation, shadow, and highlight gain are equally simple. 

My typical workflow, and I often have a very large number of images from 2 or three camera bodies after a sports event, is to dump them all to a directory on my PC and apply a simple recipe to them as a group which applies a picture style along with settings for white balance, contrast and sharpness and then I do a quick run through cropping the ones that have good possibility and selecting some of those for further minor adjustment. 

DPP isn't as capable as the Adobe suite for major editing but it does a wonderful job of RAW conversion and it allows me to do all of the editing I need for a majority of images very quickly and easily.  And it is extremely simple to use once you spend a short amount of time with it.

I guess you could say it has a steep learning curve but it is an extremely short learning curve and after you spend 30 minutes with a few images you will feel comfortable with it.  The DPP documentation is like much documentation these days in providing a place to look for answers to questions that arise (although google is faster and easier) but it isn't really a good how to get started guide.  That is best done by just diving in.

I have been using DPP since I bought a 1D2  back in 2005 and I still rely upon it.

Rodger

[Tintype_18]

Many thanks. Still weighing the pros and cons.

[Tintype_18]

First, an apology to John for my negative reply to this topic. John and others have been most generous with sharing their experience and expertise on this and other questions I have posted. I was overwhelmed with the lengthy manual for DPP4.

As I mentioned earlier, one writer/photographer used one softeware. Got an email from another who uses Windows Photo Editor, Paint and Paint 3D. He also suggested to get the editor's requirements on photo editing. Some will take photos "as is" and let the staff edit.  Others want some editing for starters. Others want fully edited photos. This like trying to buy a car...so many alternatives.

I did downlaod WPE and found it automatically comes up with a click on my older files. My One Drive has the most recent photos and allows for basic editing. I took a photograph of a bluejay at the suet block on the deck. Good photo but editing it with OD came out with great detail and colors with basic editing. Another thing I think is a factor is using the T7 to its greatest potential. I took a bunch of photos that were during cloudy overcast skies. Photos were dull to say the least. OD did allow some editing that improved the appearance. Several of theses photos were submitted to a magazine so I'm waiting to hear from the editor.

Here's my approach- One person narrowed down to the two parts of DPP4 that he used. Will look into this to start. Another is to view the tutorial videos to get the basics for starters.

Many thanks to all! Will be spening some time here learning the DPP4.

[Tintype_18]

Had some time this evening. Found John's link with the videos.

Edit- saved the link to Toolbar for future viewing.

[ebiggs1]

"He also suggested to get the editor's requirements on photo editing. Some will take photos "as is" and let the staff edit.  Others want some editing for starters. Others want fully edited photos."

That concept is so foreign to me I can't hardly believe it.  There is no way I would ever show an unedited photo to anyone let alone an editor that is considering publishing it. It never happened at my place of employment.  Sure there was an editing department that did what was needed to fit the photo to the project but they didn'y do any adjusting to my photos themselves.