Photo-Editing Software Review

Photo-editing software keeps getting better

Photo-editing software covers a huge price range, from free software such as Google Picasa 3 all the way to Adobe Photoshop CS4 (*Est. $665). With new versions released often, we found the most helpful reviews at photography and technology publications that stay current. PC Magazine and another high-tech site, ArsTechnica.com, top the list -- covering the latest versions of Photoshop, Lightroom, Picasa and many more titles. A U.K. publication, Which? magazine, updated its comparison tests in January 2009, covering 18 popular programs priced for digital photography beginners and enthusiasts, though some of the programs have already been updated since that report was published.

Nearly all digital cameras come with basic photo-editing software, often including some kind of image browser that shows thumbnail-sized previews of photo files. Consumer Reports rated 10 such programs in its 2007 review of photo software, finding big differences in capability. This was a brilliant idea, but that review is now seriously outdated. It's still a good idea to take a close look at the software that came with your camera(s) to see how well it meets your needs. If all you want to do is crop or brighten occasional photos, this may be all you need.

The more you see what's possible with image manipulation, however, the more you'll want to do. Suppose the ten group photos you took at the family reunion are all unsatisfactory because in each one, there's a different person who will say, "Oh no, I look terrible in this one!" With Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 (*Est. $80), you can combine the best parts of each photo to make one group photo that will please every one of the subjects. Furthermore, you can do it without spending the hours that such a task might have taken a few years ago.

In fact, this software, Adobe Photoshop Elements 7, is one of the two most highly recommended programs in the more than 20 reviews we analyzed for this report. Experts recommend it for beginners because it's easy to learn to use -- and for photography enthusiasts because it provides plenty of growing room for developing advanced editing skills. Many of the best and most popular features and tools in the top pro editing software, Adobe Photoshop CS4 (*Est. $665), are also included in Photoshop Elements 7. For Mac users, Photoshop Elements 6 (*Est. $80) is the most current version, but it also earns top marks.

Earning even more recommendations is a mid-priced program, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 (*Est. $275). Though Lightroom started out just as a companion to Photoshop, the editing tools included in this latest version are so complete that it can also stand alone as an advanced photo editor. It makes it easy to compare photos to pick the best one of a group, and provides many other features that help anyone who takes a ton of photos. You can even install modules that let you publish edited photos directly to a site such as Facebook.

Most top-rated software is available as a free download for a trial period, and experts recommend doing just that before committing to buy it. Though reviews can assess a program's speed, tools and general ease of use, different minds work different ways. A program someone else says is easy to use may baffle you, while you find a different photo-editing program quite intuitive. Several completely free photo programs are also available, and some integrate especially well with the web. The top options are discussed later on in this report.