Photo processing software

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My MBP came with iPhoto11, and I like it a lot for the basics. I want to do rather more than iPhoto can manage however, and I was going to go straight to Photoshop. Now that that's only available on a very expensive monthly licence I've lost interest in it (and I've never really understood it). I've used Lightroom in the past but hate the way it forcibly manages the pictures, even though its editing capabilities seem quite good. But how good is Aperture, and should I consider it as an alternative? The most advanced operation I want to perform is removing the background from a photo, leaving the main subject in the foreground, and substituting either a blank background or maybe a different image on which to superimpose the subject. Can Aperture do that?
 

chscag

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Try Pixelmator ($14.99) in the Mac App Store. It's not Photoshop but it can do many of the things that you mentioned. I'm not familiar with Aperture so perhaps someone else can chime in and answer your question about it.
 
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Have a look at Photoshop Elements.
Its a lot cheaper than Photoshop and should do everything you want.
 
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chas_m

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You'll need to reveal to us specifically what it is you want to do (and why you find iPhoto can't meet your needs) in order to get good recommendations.

Aperture is -- essentially -- just like Lightroom, just made by Apple so it does things even more in the Apple way of doing things.
 

bobtomay

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You'll need to reveal to us specifically what it is you want to do (and why you find iPhoto can't meet your needs) in order to get good recommendations.

...

The following seems to be pretty specific to me.

... The most advanced operation I want to perform is removing the background from a photo, leaving the main subject in the foreground, and substituting either a blank background or maybe a different image on which to superimpose the subject. Can Aperture do that?

I have never even considered doing that, so can't advise a direction for you.
 
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chas_m

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No, Aperture and iPhoto and Lightroom can't do that. They are photo managers with some editing features, not photo editors. You need a program like Snapheal or Inpaint for just removing backgrounds and touching up pictures. For more money -- but also more abilities -- Photoshop Elements or Photoshop itself is also a good choice.
 
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Thanks - I'll look at them. Do you know which is better/better regarded?
 
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chas_m

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I personally prefer Snapheal to Inpaint, but you should be able to locate free trials at the developers' sites so you can test and compare.
 
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Thanks. I've downloaded both but haven't had time to try either as yet.
 

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