Photo editing tools - PS CS5 or Lightroom or ?

[Dysartes]

I started off using Photoshop CS2, but lost it when I had to reinstall Windows (though some would say I lost it some time before that - go figure).

Since then, the GIMP has satisfied my photo-tweaking needs.

[EldinTux]

GiMP all the way - but then I'm another of those Linux weirdo's

[War Griffon]

Doesn't matter what OS you use as far as I am concerned, as much as I would like a legal copy of Photoshop CS5 £600 to £800 for a package is just outrageous.

Gimp is just as good and with the various add ons you can download it can be just as good if not better.

Owt for nowt, if it's free give it to me as my brother days

[nathanr]

Gimp is probably good for what you want it to do but it definitely doesn't have the power that Photoshop has. Photoshop is the big name in graphic design and photo-editing software for a reason and the tools that it provides are definitely worth the money if you know how to use them to their potential. That said, if you are just tweaking the lighting and contrast then by all means use Gimp since it doesn't make sense to spend $1000 on something that you can get for free.

[Boris]

It's cheaper to buy an Adobe bundle than to get PS on it's own. I have the web bundle, I got it when I thought I was going to freelance.

[shanerozzell]

Ok, I've been in the graphics industry for a long time (before computers were even thought concevalble to graphic design). When they were, I started using paintbox on the Omega and quark, on the Mac. The PC didn't have much going for it back then but things have certainly changed, as did I and I now prefere pc. Over the years I have used a few photo editing apps and I have some amazing things done on all of them. So at the end of the day, get one that suits your budget and spend a few days learning how to use it. Paintshop Pro, Painter, Gimp, Photoshop and probably a few more; when it all boils down for manipulating colour on an image they all do the same thing at the end of the day.

Edit - I thought I'd add, if you do get a cheaper (or free) app then spend the money that you save on a tablet and a monitor calibration tool. These will make life much easier and speed up that learning curve.

[Boris]

Ah, Deluxe Paint II on Windows 3.1 - those were the days (and yes, before that I had a zx spectrum)

[Keeper]

and yes, before that I had a zx spectrum

*Falls into well of nostalgia*