Best Photo-Editing Software

Adobe Photoshop Elements 7: Best photo-editing software for most users

When it comes to the best professional photo-editing software, experts agree that Adobe Photoshop CS4 (*Est. $665) is the de facto industry standard -- albeit very expensive. A free open-source program, GIMP, is nearly its equal in power. However, the almost unlimited power of both these programs means they have a steep learning curve that can be quite daunting. While both programs are appropriate for graphics professionals, reviews say they're overkill for most users.

Instead, reviews recommend Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 (*Est. $80) as the best photo-editing software for most people. That program is PC only; Mac users must still rely on the earlier version, Adobe Elements 6 (*Est. $80); fortunately, reviews say that it too is excellent. Experts say the guided editing program within Adobe Elements makes it easier to learn to use than most photo-editing software. As you progress, however, Elements can also teach you to use many of the advanced editing tools also found in Adobe's pro-level software, Photoshop CS4.

If you want to e-mail photos or post them on the Internet, the "save for web" feature in Photoshop Elements is especially useful -- letting you preview the resizing and compression along with the new file size and estimated downloading time. The newest version also comes with membership at Adobe's Photoshop.com, making it easier to share photos online. Adobe Elements also provides fairly sophisticated tools for image management and backup, so you can find stored photos quickly.

Upgrading from an earlier version saves you about $20. Reviews say these newest versions do add significant new tools and features, making upgrading worthwhile. The "smart brush" helps you change specific areas within an image. Reviewers are also keen on new photo-merging features that let you take the best parts of two or more photos to make one composite. This is useful, for example, when every group shot you took includes a different person who doesn't show up well.

Corel Paint Shop Pro X2 Ultimate (*Est. $100) also gets good reviews for use on PCs. Like Adobe Elements, it supports RAW photo files as well as earlier image-file types, comes with lots of templates for fun photo projects and has improved its image organizing. First developed by Jasc, then bought by Corel, Paint Shop Pro has developed a reputation as the poor man's Photoshop because of its extensive tools. However, in recent years Adobe Photoshop Elements has added so many editing tools that it's considered just as robust, and -- quite important -- easier to use.

However, if you're already a Paint Shop Pro fan, reviews say the X2 version is worth the upgrade, and the newest X2 Ultimate adds even more new features. For example, the Ultimate version supports RAW file formats from 250 different digital cameras. New editing tools include a background remover. You can also make people look thinner with one click, and quickly remove red-eye.

For Mac users who don't want to spend $80 for Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac, Apple iPhoto '09 is a photo-organizing and editing program that comes bundled with Apple iLife (*Est. $80) and comes free with a new Mac computer.

Reviews say Apple iPhoto keeps getting better and better. A recent PC Magazine article on "The Best Free Photo Software" calls iPhoto "one of the best consumer photo-editing options around." Unless you get it free with a computer, however, the article suggests that the free Picasa 3 software (discussed later on) has better web integration. That's an extra with iPhoto; you'll need the Apple MobileMe service (*Est. $100 per year).

For Windows, Ulead PhotoImpact X3 (*Est. $50) gets some recommendations. About.com's guide to graphics software, Sue Chastain, calls Ulead PhotoImpact a best buy, finding it both easy to use and capable. It accepts plug-ins, which means you can add additional features. The biggest negative is that it lacks adjustment layers -- an editing feature that can save a lot of time. Adjustment layers let you try different fixes and image tweaks without making them permanent till you're satisfied. Additionally, the program doesn't make it as easy as Photoshop Elements to tag photos with keywords and find stored photos later.

Even though reviews say Ulead PhotoImpact gets better with each version, it lags behind Adobe Photoshop Elements and Corel Paint Shop Pro. As free photo-editing software gets better and better, reviews tend to recommend either a full-featured $100 program like Photoshop Elements, or free software that can do almost as much -- often with better web integration.