choosing the right s/w for Raw and Layers

[JohnFol]

Morning all, I am building a collection of photos taken on a D3200 and am wising up to fact that post processing of the images is a must for stunning pictures.

I'm really after some guidance. I believe s/w that supports RAW photos is better, and I'd like to be able to build multiple images into a single shot. To see an example of what I mean, have a look at this link
Mei's Photography: Final Project - Multiplicity Photography

I think this is called Layers, so my spec for any s/w should be really straightforward however finding a site that actually compares features is proving difficult.

The default seems to be Adobe, and elements / lightroom fits within budget. However I have a big issue with the idea of needing to log in to Adobe with an Adobe ID just to run s/w I have bought and installed and host locally on my PC.

So, any suggestions or guidance would be most appreciated

 

[pedroj]

Hi and welcome...You tube can be helpful...

 

[Horoscope Fish]

There's a lot of confusion about how Adobe Creative Cloud works. With Adobe Creative Cloud software installs you don't need to log in to use the software. The software sits on your computer and runs on your computer like any other application. The applications are *NOT* web based. A separate Creative Cloud application simply "phones home" monthly to make sure you're account is paid up. It runs in the background using practically no resources whatsoever and keeps your applications up to date. You can disable this if you want, but then you will have to log in manually.

That being said, do it right the first time and get the Photoshop Photography Program for $10 a month and learn either Lightroom or Photoshop. Once you begin to understand the power of Photoshop you'll be hooked.

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[BackdoorArts]

As 'fish has stated, the Adobe CC solution requires you to login to purchase and maintain the software, but it will still operate when you want to work without an internet connection - it just needs to check the activity of the subscription.

What you are looking to do you could certainly do with Photoshop Elements. But given that you do not have either at this point then it is my strong belief that it's more than worthwhile to invest in the CC subscription. You'll get full-blown Photoshop, which gives you tools like Content Aware Fill, Shake Reduction and Perspective Correction, all of which are reason enough on their own to bump up from Elements. Plus, you get whatever else is new as it's available. For someone with no software investment I find it difficult to conceive of going any other way. Lightroom seems to get an upgrade every 18 months ($75 a pop after the initial $99-150 investment), and you just can't buy Photoshop any more, but when you did it was $249 for the Academic edition and close to $600 for the full blown program - that's 5 years of CC subscription.

 

[hark]

There's a lot of confusion about how Adobe Creative Cloud works. With Adobe Creative Cloud software installs you don't need to log in to use the software. The software sits on your computer and runs on your computer like any other application. The applications are *NOT* web based. A separate Creative Cloud application simply "phones home" monthly to make sure you're account is paid up. It runs in the background using practically no resources whatsoever and keeps your applications up to date. You can disable this if you want, but then you will have to log in manually.

That being said, do it right the first time and get the Photoshop Photography Program for $10 a month and learn either Lightroom or Photoshop. Once you begin to understand the power of Photoshop you'll be hooked.

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Horoscope Fish, since this member mentioned Lightroom as a possibility, does it have the capability of working in layers? I wasn't aware it could, but then I don't know all the ins and outs of the program. I do know that Elements and PCC offer layers.

 

[Horoscope Fish]

Horoscope Fish, since this member mentioned Lightroom as a possibility, does it have the capability of working in layers? I wasn't aware it could, but then I don't know all the ins and outs of the program. I do know that Elements and PCC offer layers.

I'm *not* a big LR guy myself, but as I understand it you can work with layers in LR if you install a plug-in called "Perfect Layers". Now how that works, exactly, I don't really know. You are correct that Elements and PCC use layers natively.

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[hark]

I'm *not* a big LR guy myself, but as I understand it you can work with layers in LR if you install a plug-in called "Perfect Layers". Now how that works, exactly, I don't really know. You are correct that Elements and PCC use layers natively.

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New info to me!!! Thanks, HF!

 

[BackdoorArts]

Perfect Layers is no longer available as a standalone program and has since evolved into being the core of the onOne Perfect Photo Suite. The cost of the suite is about 1 year of CC and a little harder to use in terms of the layer stuff you're looking to do. Photoshop & Elements are more the standard and a far better investment.

Lightroom will not do layers on its own, and I've yet to see a plug-in that worked well.

 

[hark]

After seeing this basketball shot and reading through the link, I am hopeful that I can create something similar from the drama photos I took last weekend. The students did mostly music or dance routines so I hope I can piece together a composite from a dancer's photos. Thanks for posting this!

 

[JohnFol]

Many thanks for all the replies. I'll read through all but can spot an assumption I am looking at a subscription based Adobe tool. The version of Elements I have seen is a single, one off payment. Does this change the view on if I need an on-going connection / Adobe ID?

 

[wornish]

If you are a Mac user then Pixelmator supports layers but I don't think it can handle RAW files directly they have to converted to TIF or JPG or PNG first.
Its a lot cheaper than any adobe solution a one off payment of £10.49 in the UK from the app store, so I guess less than $20 in the USA.

 

[Horoscope Fish]

Many thanks for all the replies. I'll read through all but can spot an assumption I am looking at a subscription based Adobe tool. The version of Elements I have seen is a single, one off payment. Does this change the view on if I need an on-going connection / Adobe ID?

To use PS Elements you just purchase a copy like you would any other piece of software. Since it's not available via Creative Cloud it won't require an internet connection/Adobe ID except, most likely, to register the software and such.

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