User Friendly Photo Editing Programs

I’m often asked to recommend user friendly photo editing programs designed with the amateur photographer in mind.

It’s not a difficult task for me to recommend quality photo editing software as there are many, but
unless I know whether there’s a need for a specific editing and\or organizing feature I more often than not suggest a user download trial versions of the most popular photo editing software
and decide for themselves which one best meets their needs.

However, when I do recommend to novices they download and install multiple trial versions
of photo editing programs or for that matter a trial version of any software program, I always include a suggestion that prior to doing so they download and install a quality uninstaller program.

All state of the art software programs particularly photo editing programs will populate your Windows Registry with literally hundreds of entries. So many entries, that often Windows’ Add or Remove Programs feature will not purge them all. An accumulation of these Registry leftovers may eventually cause serious problems.

With this in mind, I encourage novices to download the “free” version of Revo Uninstaller (www.revouninstaller.com). Revo Unistaller for XP, Vista and Windows 7 will not only scan and remove all Registry leftovers it will uninstall software that for whatever reason Windows cannot uninstall.

In my opinion for the novice Revo is a far more reliable way to purge a Registry leftovers than the by guess or by golly method used by many Registry cleaners.

There are many photo editing programs available, but I suggest if you’re in the market for a quality, reasonably user friendly XP, Vista or Windows 7 photo editing and/or organizing program that has a reputation for a “safe and secure” trial version download, you investigate:

Picasa 3.5 (picasa.google.com). An outstanding, user friendly program for organizing and tagging photos and performing “limited” photo editing. Cost Free.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 (www.adobe.com). Arguably the best choice for amateur photographers seeking a user friendly program that includes the features of Adobe Photoshop CS4 that are appropriate for their level of expertise. Cost: $99.

ACDSee Pro 3 (www.acdsee.com). In my opinion ACDSee Pro is the most often overlooked photo editing/organizing program for those a bit beyond novice. I’ve found it to be even more useful than Adobe Photoshop Elements. It’s well worth investigating. Cost $170.

Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 Ultimate (www.adobe.com). A fair to middling photo organization and editing program. Cost $99 - currently with a $40 off promotion.

Here’s wishing you a Good Boot,