The simplest photo-editing software lets you make improvements like eliminating red-eye, cropping and adjusting contrast. But the best software lets you do much more, such as combining the best elements of several photos, substituting colors or adding special effects.

Here's what pros say to look for when choosing a photo editor:

  • Check the system requirements. Some photo-editing software can be notoriously large, requiring up to 2 GB of hard disk space. Most also require an up-to-date operating system like Windows XP, Windows Vista or Mac OS X.
  • Look for the right level of handholding. If you're a beginner, you'll want a program that walks you through basic editing tasks, such as removing red eye or cropping pictures. The best programs have two modes -- one for novices and one for experts -- so that once you've learned the basics you can proceed however you want.
  • Download a trial version first. Unless you're signing up for a free online photo-editing program, experts suggest downloading a trial version of software first. Usually this gives you 30 days to evaluate the program. It's often wise to try two or three programs at the same time before deciding.
  • Balance features with ease of use. Software with more features is usually harder to learn to use. While Photoshop and GIMP are unmatched in terms of power, unless you're headed for a career in photography or graphic arts, most experts suggest starting with more basic photo-editing software. While the learning curve will still be steep, once you get familiar with the basic tools, it's a bit easier to make the transition to professional-level software.
  • Make sure the program lets you import and export a wide range of file formats. The most common are BMP, TIF, GIF, PICT, EPS and JPEG files. If you anticipate a need to process RAW files, be sure the software supports this -- though many photo editors do. The RAW format, an option with better digital cameras, gives you the most editing scope because no post-shot processing is done by the camera itself.
  • Do you want to use layers and masks? If you plan to do extensive photo editing, these are the tools that reviewers mention a lot -- especially if they reach for them and they are missing. Masks help you edit just one portion of an image, and layers help you try more adjustments with the greatest flexibility.
  • Consider image management. Most photo-editing software includes some basic image-management features to organize photo files and find them later. Most enthusiast and professional photographers prefer separate database tools for this -- for faster and better searches. That's a whole different category of software, worth checking out if you anticipate taking more than a few hundred photos.
  • Look for web integration. The new generation of photo editors lets you save your digital photos in web format and e-mail them to friends, as well as post them online so distant family members can peek at your latest snapshots. Newer online photo editors integrate directly with photo-sharing and social networking sites.
  • Templates make fast work of simple projects. Photo-editing software for beginners often includes lots of templates for fun projects, from creating greeting cards to faking magazine covers.
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