Photography software! Your opinions pweease.

[Lorns]

I stupidly lost all my files and cannot find the software for the photo impression version i was using and only have the basic windows one to play about with. So i'm looking for a new photo editing package to purchase.
I am a complete novice so i don't want anything too expensive or too complicated.

As there are a few budding photographers amongst us i was hoping you could point me in the right direction.

I would really value your opinions on the software available on the market. It's got to be Lorna proof though.

[Gluben]

Didn't you lose all your files before? If so, how did you make the same mistake twice?

[Lorns]

I'm not that silly, silly!

I've been searching for my old software i had but can't find it. Which is why i'm looking for a whole new software package.

Suggestions please!

[Dr Lobster*]

i'd go for something like paintshop pro or adobe photoshop elements.

i've had access to both the big cs version of photoshop and elements at work at various times and to be honest, the elements version of photoshop is more than adequate for most editing tasks. it doesn't have clever things like cmyk and more precise layer controls, but for most things like touching up and resizing photos, you don't need it and default 'styles' will do nicely.

i used to really like paint shop pro, but it's got bloated and slow - i prefer elements nowadays and it does everything i need and as i don't sadly have the time to sit down and learn the big version of adobe photoshop elements is an ideal starting point.

you can probably download it from limewire et all if you want, or you can pick up a copy from pc world for about 40 quid.