What Photo Software Should You Use if You Have a Mac?
With so many kinds of photo software, how do you choose the right one?
If you're new to the Mac, choosing photo software can be as overwhelming as buying a new car -- if (a little) less expensive! As you probably know, most major software publishers now release versions of their programs for the Mac.
While once upon a time it was almost impossible to find a version of, for example, Microsoft Word that would run on anything but a PC, you can now install the full Windows Office Suite on your beloved Macintosh.
But what about photo software?
Well, what this means for you is that you have a lot of choices. Just a few of these include:
-- iPhoto, which comes installed on many Macs at purchase: this is the Mac photo software flagship
-- Adobe Photoshop, which many consider the ultimate in photo sharing software. Adobe makes a version of Photoshop for Mac, but it's anything but cheap.
-- Free or inexpensive software, such as Gimp, which attempts to mimic the benefits of Photoshop without the cost.
-- Various photo software programs that come with your camera or printer
-- Freeware that can be found on the Internet.
As you can see, you're not at a loss for choices. So which photo software is the best for your Mac? Much depends on your personal needs and preferences. The top two spots are a tie between iPhoto and Adobe Photoshop.
iPhoto
If you're looking for photo software for personal photographs, iPhoto can't be beat. It's a simple, user friendly program that lets you perform basic editing, create photo books and slideshows, and order prints, all from within the program. If you use a lot of other Mac programs, such as iWeb or .Mac mail, you'll appreciate how easily iPhoto transfers photos between them.
If, on the other hand, you want to use a lot of fancy photos or do work for graphic design, you may find iPhoto inadequate for your needs.
Photoshop
Photoshop's main disadvantage? Cost. Whether you're shopping for a Mac or PC, Photoshop comes with a high price tag. And if you're using it for personal editing, it's probably overkill. However, Photoshop comes with a host of features you don't find in photo software like iPhoto: things like cloning, adding text and graphics, and high-tech effects.
Other photo software options might meet your needs, but none of them work quite as well as the two giants, iPhoto and Photoshop. As with any situation, the basic solution is to shop around. Decide what you need from your photo software and then enjoy it.
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