When it comes to digital photo editing and choosing a digital photo editor, one product usually comes to mind: Photoshop. There is no question that Photoshop is the industry standard for digital photographers and graphic designers. For the beginner, Photoshop’s $600 price tag is a bit steep. So how does one get their feet wet in the graphics world without breaking the bank? I wish I could tell you there was a plethora of low cost solutions out there. Having tried many of the low end tools, they simply don’t stack up against more commercial products. Read our article on free digital photo editors for a discussion about that topic.

There are three image tools that take the spotlight for middle market image tools:

• Adobe’s Photoshop Elements
• Paint Shop Pro by Corel*
• Ulead’s PhotoImpact

All three are in the approximate price range of $80-$120. They all offer a 30 day trial. The links in the sentence above will lead you to their respective free trial download pages. It is worthwhile to give each a try before plunking down the cash.

Photoshop Elements is a cut down version of Photoshop. If you aspire to be a Photoshop pro one day then starting with Elements is the way to go.

Paint Shop Pro seems to have the second largest following behind Photoshop. It is a very vibrant program and is fun to use and definitely recommended.

However, since this site focuses on the beginner, our main recommendation is reserved for Ulead’s PhotoImpact . Ulead tends to produce very easy to use imaging software.

I have had nothing but good experiences so far in using their software. Professionals may not find all the power they need in PhotoImpact but the beginner will have everything they need for their digital photo editing needs. PhotoImpact is labeled as “a complete image-editing suite for enthusiasts who want professional results without the steep learning curve.” I would once have to agree with the marketing. PhotoImpact retails for $90 but I’m sure you can find it cheaper elsewhere. In fact, pay attention to Amazon. I have seen them offer Photo Impact for as low as $40. Plus don’t forget to check out Ulead’s PhotoImpact tutorial which will help you get started.

*Corel bought JASC in 2005.

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