Best image editor program?

[/backslash]

What is the best image editor for the best price? I want something similar to ACDSee that's easy to browse & easy to edit (currently using an old OLD version) and I'm stuck between 4 choices. I sometimes do photo edits and after using the trial version of ACDSee Pro 2.5 it seems pretty swish, although a tad expensive. Then there's the current promotion bundle of ACDSee Photomanager 2009 & Photo Editor 2008 for US$50 digital download - seems quite good although its a more basic version.

Other choices include Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 & Adobe Photoshop Elements 7. I'd like a program that isn't a resource hog either, quick to load and doesn't crash randomly

[/backslash]

Had a look at Aperture 2 (Mac only) and it seems SO much better than the other current Vista-related programs, shame I can't get it :(

[Vicious]

In terms of image editing what are you actually using it for? Minor photography touch-up, minor image manipulation, or full blown image manipulation?

It's pretty hard to help not knowing what your intent is :p

[Lazlow]

GIMP is pretty comprehensive and free, but takes a while to load, and as someone who's worked exclusively with the Adobe range (and CorelDRAW 12 & X2) I find it horribly cumbersome.

And my experiences with CorelDRAW have been pretty dominated by unusual glitches and frustrating random out of the blue crashes. It is seriously the most unstable, horribly written "professional" program I have ever worked with.

[Watchers]

Paint.

[/backslash]

It's pretty hard to help not knowing what your intent is :p
Something that has roughly the same features as ACDSee Pro 2.5, does that help? :p

And my experiences with CorelDRAW have been pretty dominated by unusual glitches and frustrating random out of the blue crashes
Yeah I've really never been a fan of Corel, I downloaded a trial version of their PSP X2 last night and the interface is pretty unfriendly & hard to navigate

[fishfishmonkeyhat]

I would say photoshop but god only knows how much that costs.

[Lazlow]

I'd recommend Photoshop Elements, contains the basics to do the basic stuff.

Having never used ACDSee I can't say how it compares.

[/backslash]

I would say photoshop but god only knows how much that costs.
About a million dollars after the dodgy US to AU store difference :p

I'd recommend Photoshop Elements
Yeah I was thinking that, but then I found Adobe Lightroom 2 which seems surprisingly similar to Apeture2 but not as fast. When a version says its the Academic version, does that mean its only for students/teachers only? It says its not for commercial use but I wouldn't be using it for that anyway and if you buy from whatever website that'll ship it to you, how do they find out if you are a student? Would it ask for your student number or something during the setup?

[Lazlow]

From what I can gather from the Academic/Student versions of Corel and Adobe products I've seen on shelves in JB, you need some sort of student ID to purchase/register them.

[/backslash]

Dang. Well I purchased Adobe Lightroom 2 Full version from a guy I've dealt with before on ebay. Not a bad price, US$263 incl p&h (AU$322 apparently according to Paypal), that's about $150 cheaper than buying it locally for the cheapest price

I kind of wanted something inbetween Adobe Photoshop CS yet better than a normal image editor so I think I've done well :)

[Serenity]

If I had known about this I would have recommended Elements.

[/backslash]

I was almost convinced on Elements at first until someone who'd been a long user of Lightroom 2 convinced me to buy it >_> At least I saved nearly 50% off local RRP ($600) and it does seem to be better than Aperture in some ways which is great news

[StorminNorman]

I would say photoshop but god only knows how much that costs.

$1400 standalone.

You're better off paying $2700 for the "Design Standard" package, which comes with Photoshop, InDesign, and a free copy of Illustrator.

From what I can gather from the Academic/Student versions of Corel and Adobe products I've seen on shelves in JB, you need some sort of student ID to purchase/register them.

With Adobe, not only do you need the ID to purchase it, but the software knows when your ID expires, and forces you to pay for a full version once you're no longer a student.

Honestly, Adobe make Microsoft look well-mannered when it comes to software licensing. Maybe the fact that it's the world's most pirated application software makes them paranoid.

[JubeiSaotome]

Photoshop/Elements, sure.

Or you could just use paint.NET or the gimp. No need to buy a program for simple image editing. Both of which support photoshop plugins, AFAIK.

[Blue]

Just BUY Adobe CS3 or 4, with Photoshop included. It only COSTS several thousand dollars. It's practically a STEAL at that price.

[/backslash]

I know someone who spent $10,000 on a single application that recovers large files (much bigger than the freeware ones allow) that you might've accidently lost/deleted which can be handy for people who use computers for work. Upon buying it you have to show proof that you're using it for legitimate purposes and they even run a criminal background on you or something

With Adobe, not only do you need the ID to purchase it, but the software knows when your ID expires, and forces you to pay for a full version once you're no longer a student.
Wow....that's just evil

[SOX]

GIMP works fine and is free.

[StorminNorman]

GIMP is a terrible program. Adobe have too many patents for it to ever become useful.

I've just remembered that the Mac has exactly the program that /backslash is asking for: GraphicConverter. It is payware, but all that does is remove a nag screen that forces you to wait 30 seconds. The program has been in development for many, many years, and works as a low-end alternative to Photoshop, and as a useful complement (its image browsing features kick Adobe Bridge's arse, for example.)

There's also a Mac program called Pixelmator, which is more focused on being "Photoshop Lite", and is pretty useful as well. It also has the best name for a graphics program ever.

[fishfishmonkeyhat]

I know someone who spent $10,000 on a single application that recovers large files (much bigger than the freeware ones allow)

Having just recently considered purchasing a recovery program after deleting some important files I can see why he might think of doing that, but a quick test showed me that a program worth $199 US does exactly what the one I didn't pay for did.

Much like secure file deletion overwriting programs the basics are of how to operate are known. Every other feature they claim to have over that is just window dressing.

[/backslash]

Having just recently considered purchasing a recovery program after deleting some important files I can see why he might think of doing that, but a quick test showed me that a program worth $199 US does exactly what the one I didn't pay for did.
What's the program called?

I've just remembered that the Mac has exactly the program that /backslash is asking for: GraphicConverter
That does seem a bit similar of what I was after when looking at cheaper prices but even if it was for Windows I'm still happy with what I bought :) Shame it wasn't local, hate waiting

[fishfishmonkeyhat]

I'd usually say this in pep, but, you know. I said I didn't pay for it, not that it was a free program.

ZOMG WINK!