software use for image editing

What software we use for professional works of image editing is no longer a secret. Today we have all the opportunities to search and learn anything that exists. Things have become convenient for the advancement of information technology.

Today image editing and retouching services have gone far enough to take a stable and demanding position. Look at the digital world today and compare it with the world twenty years ago.

You will see enough differences in technical and visual. Professional Image Editing Services’ software also grew at full throttle. So, let’s learn about the software we use today for outstanding visual presentation

A number of image editing software you can see today. They are full of functions and tools. So, do they all have the same user-friendly platform for editing images?

Unfortunately, no. Various programs contain various options for editing the image perfectly. The programs which are rich with tools and activities by the graphic designers, rule this division. Common editings we do are;

We will try to let you know some of the software with amazing capabilities of editing. Stay with us and learn about them.

The software we use (What software we use)

As you already know, the software should be convenient to do the editing job. With the proper hand of work, graphic designers give amazing masterpieces. In this short content, we will not be able to explain each software in detail. But, we will give you a brief of the top five image editing and retouching software.

The editing program is the platform only. Real creativity of inner can achieve perfection. We are about to discuss the following;

  1. Photoshop
  2. Illustrator
  3. Lightroom
  4. Adobe Indesign
  5. Gimp

Photoshop (What software we use)

Photoshop (What software we use)

Image Source: Adobe.com

The most renowned and used image editing software is Photoshop. Adobe Corporation developed Photoshop in the year 1987. Two brothers named John and Thomas Knoll were the programmers of this amazing software. You can use this for any image from simple editing to advanced manipulation.

And, you can have enough tools and options to have the freedom of editing. Even Though, the program has some rules to follow. You cannot just open the image in Photoshop and do anything like hand painting.

Well, a device called Pen-Tablet (Wacom) has some features to use as a drawing board. You can use it for handwriting, painting, and some more things that you cannot do by mouse-clicking.

How To Use? (What software do we use)

The software is user-friendly if you learn it first. As it is rich with tools and features, you should use some time to learn about them. If you have already used it, you should know the techniques you can use to save labor. However, some edits are quite complicated and require hard work and accuracy.

You should start with the tools to get the knowledge. Today, you can see thousands of tutorials on Photoshop through YouTube. But, I personally suggest you learn the basic steps from a professional graphic designer.

What Photoshop Can Do? (What software do we use)

Photoshop is a heavily loaded image editing platform for any kind of retouching. You can cut out the image subject, remove the background, and show/hide areas as basic. Then, you can add multiple images, texts, shapes, etc Also, you can increase or decrease image size, transparency, and manipulation.

And, there are a lot of things you can do with Photoshop that you need to try by yourself. You can also create animation with the images and do Vector designs.

Photoshop for PC and MAC

Photoshop is compatible with both Windows PC and MAC. You will find no difference in the tools or options for image editing for the same version. The only differences you may find with the menu tab and some names. As for the computer platform you use, there are some computer requirements you need to have to run Photoshop.

For Windows PC

  • Processor: 2 GHz or higher (Intel® Core 2 or AMD Athlon® 64)
  • OS:  Microsoft Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 (Ser. Pack 1)
  • RAM: Minimum 2 GB RAM
  • Disk Space: 3.1 GB or higher
  • Display: 1024 x 768 with 16-bit color, 512 MB VRAM or higher.
  • OpenGL 2.0-capable system.
  • Internet connection

For MAC

  • Processor: Intel Multicore 64-bit
  • OS: MAC 10.13, MAC 10.12, MAC 10.13
  • RAM: Minimum 2 GB
  • Disk Space:4 GB or higher
  • Display: 1024 x 768 with 16-bit color, 512 MB VRAM or higher.
  • OpenGL 2.0-capable system.
  • Internet connection

Photoshop Supported File Formats

  • PSD – Photoshop Document
  • PSB – Large document format
  • TIFF – Tagged Image File Format
  • RAW – Camera RAW File Format
  • PDF – Portable Document Format
  • GIF – Graphics Interchange Format
  • PNG – Portable Network Graphics
  • JPEG – Joint Photographic Experts Group
  • Cineon – Cineon Digital Film System by Kodak

Photoshop Versions (What software we use)

  • Adobe Photoshop (first development) 1987
  • Earlier Version February 1990
  • Photoshop CS October 2003
  • Photoshop CS2 May 2005
  • Photoshop CS3 April 2007
  • Photoshop CS4 October 2008
  • Photoshop CS5 April 2010
  • Photoshop CS6 May 2012
  • Photoshop CC2013 June 2013
  • Photoshop CC2014 June 2014
  • Photoshop CC2015 June 2015
  • Photoshop CC2017 November 2016
  • Photoshop CC2018 October 2017
  • Photoshop CC2019 November 2018
  • Photoshop CC2020 End 2019

Illustrator (What software we use)

Illustrator

Have you heard of the Master of Illustration? In the world of photo editing, Adobe Illustrator deserves the title. You can do artwork, drawings, and illustrations. Today all the creative designers in the world use Illustrator to create masterpieces.

The journey began in the year 1987, at the same time as Photoshop. Adobe Corporation created this program in collaboration with Photoshop and other editing programs they have. So, this program has the compatibility to use any edited image by Adobe programs.

How To Use? (What software do we use)

The use of Adobe Illustrator is quite friendly to create art. For the images of the digital and printed platform, the program is the master behind that. You can add image, logo, cartoon, objects, shapes, and anything that are relevant. And, you can use them by placing, resizing, decorating, positioning, and anything you need to do.

Also, you can do some of the photo editing if you need to do it. You can choose the output image format with a large number of compatible extensions.

The editing is actually manipulation with the combination of multiple objects. So, you need to use your creative ideas to achieve the best results.

What Illustrator Can Do? (What software do we use)

Illustrator has the ability to handle objects in many ways. So, it doesn’t matter which creative work you want to do with this. The question is, what else do you want to do with Illustrator? Experts say Illustrator is a program where you can have the freedom of choice.

Almost every editing you can do with the program. The best part is, that you can do anything with it and change an object anytime you need it. Also, you can do Vector artwork and designs and they are free of transformation. How big or small you make the Vector file, the quality is always perfect.

Illustrator for PC and MAC

Adobe Corporation released the Illustrator program for both PCs and Macs. So, whatever OS platform you use, you do not need to change that. The minimum requirements for the program to install are nearly the same as Photoshop. The requirements are;

For Windows PC

  • Processor: 2 GHz or higher (Intel® Core 2 or AMD Athlon® 64)
  • OS:  Microsoft Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 (Ser. Pack 1)
  • RAM: Minimum 2 GB RAM
  • Disk Space: 3.1 GB or higher
  • Display: 1024 x 768 with 16-bit color, 512 MB VRAM or higher.
  • OpenGL 2.0-capable system.
  • Internet connection

For MAC

  • Processor: Intel Multicore 64-bit
  • OS: MAC 10.13, MAC 10.12, MAC 10.13
  • RAM: Minimum 2 GB
  • Disk Space:4 GB or higher
  • Display: 1024 x 768 with 16-bit color, 512 MB VRAM, or higher.
  • OpenGL 2.0-capable system.
  • Internet connection

Illustrator Supported File Formats

The creative design program Illustrator has a lot of file format support. The default file format is ‘AI’. You can save Illustrator work files in this format and can edit them later. Other formats that Adobe Illustrator supports are below

Illustrator can save or export files

  • PDF (Portable Document Format)
  • EPS (Encapsulated PostScript)
  • WMF (Windows metafile format)
  • VMF (Valve Map Format)
  • SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
  • DWG (AutoCAD Drawing)
  • DXF (AutoCAD Interchange)
  • BMP (Bitmap File)
  • EMF (Enhanced Metafile Format)
  • SWF (Flash File)
  • JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
  • GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
  • PCT (Macintosh PICT)
  • PSD (Photoshop Document)
  • PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
  • TGA (Trucolor Graphics Animation)
  • TXT (Text Format)
  • TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)

Also, Illustrator can Open or Import files

  • FXG (Flash XML Graphics)
  • AI (Adobe Illustrator File)
  • DXF (Drawing eXchange Format)
  • DWG (AutoCAD Drawing)
  • BMP (Bitmap File)
  • CGM (Computer Graphics Metafile)
  • CDR (CorelDraw)
  • EMF (Enhanced Metafile)
  • FH7, FH8, FH9, FH0, FH11, FT11 (Freehand)
  • GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
  • JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
  • PCT, PIC (Macintosh PICT)
  • RTF (Microsoft Rich Text Format)
  • DOC, DOCX (Microsoft Word Document)
  • PCX (PiCture eXchange)
  • PSD (Photoshop Document)
  • PXR ( Pixar Image File)
  • PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
  • TGA, VDA, ICB, VST (Trucolor Graphics Animation)
  • TXT (Text Format)
  • TIFF, TIF (Tagged Image File Format)

Versions of Illustrator (What software we use)

  • Adobe Illustrator (First Development) January 1987 for Apple Macintosh
  • Illustrator Version 2 in January 1989
  • Illustrator Version 3 in October 1990
  • Illustrator Version 4 in May 1992
  • Illustrator Version 5 in June 1993
  • Illustrator Version 6 in February 1996
  • Illustrator Version 7 in May 1997
  • Illustrator Version 8 in September 1998
  • Illustrator Version 9 in June 2000
  • Illustrator Version 10 in November 2001
  • Illustrator CS in October 2003
  • Illustrator CS2 in April 27, 2005
  • Illustrator CS3 in April 2007
  • Illustrator CS4 in October 2008
  • Illustrator CS5 in May 2010
  • Illustrator CS6 in May 2012
  • Illustrator CC on June 17, 2013
  • Illustrator CC2014 on June 18, 2014
  • Illustrator CC2015 on June 16, 2015
  • Illustrator CC2017 on November 2, 2016
  • Illustrator CC2018 on October 18, 2017
  • Illustrator CC2019 on October 15, 2018
  • Illustrator CC2020 on October 24, 2019

Lightroom (What software we use)

Lightroom (What software we use)

Adobe Corporation created Lightroom to organize images and to do the manipulation. The system was initiated for the MAC version but, today the program has compatibility with most devices in the world. The best part is, that the editing is non-destructive. You can edit the complete image later.

Lightroom is not rich with a detailed editing method through pixels, but the combination in organizing is fascinating. In the beginning, the program was nothing but a product. Whereas, now it is a big family of Adobe with significant differences.

How To Use? (What software do we use)

The use of Adobe Lightroom is pretty simple. Similar to Photoshop you can add/remove and organize images and create a collage. You can consider this as your personal library with information within. Moreover, the non-destructive editing method keeps the original details safe.

You can add images in various file formats like TIFF, JPEG, PSD, etc., and more. The color mode support is both RBG and CMYK. Also, you can add and edit camera RAW images, with no problem.

What Lightroom Can Do? (What software do we use)

Lightroom is capable of doing most of the editing that Photoshop can. Well, not everything is the same. The purpose is a little different. Photoshop is mainly created to do detailed editing, whereas the lightroom is to create the presentation.

However, the program is capable of adding color/exposure correction, white balance, red-eye correction, noise reduction, sharpening, cropping, straightening, etc., and more. But, the software cannot create drawings, symbols, diagrams, line art, or maps. And, you cannot create 3D rendering or 3D objects at all.

Lightroom for PC and MAC

You can install and use Lightroom on your PC or MAC without any problem. The configuration for your computer should be similar to Photoshop or Illustrator. But, it is better to use a higher configuration because you have to do heavy work with it. We are mentioning the minimum configuration you can use for Lightroom.

For Windows PC

  • Processor: 2.2 GHz or higher (Intel® Core 2 or AMD Athlon® 64)
  • OS:  Microsoft Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 (Ser. Pack 1)
  • RAM: Minimum 2 GB RAM
  • Disk Space: 3 GB or higher
  • Display: 1024 x 768 with 16-bit color, 512 MB VRAM or higher.
  • OpenGL 2.0-capable system.
  • Internet connection

For MAC

  • Processor: 2 GHz or higher (Intel Multicore 64-bit)
  • OS: MAC 10.13, MAC 10.12, MAC 10.13
  • RAM: Minimum 2 GB
  • Disk Space:4 GB or higher
  • Display: 1024 x 768 with 16-bit color, 512 MB VRAM or higher.
  • OpenGL 2.0-capable system.
  • Internet connection

Lightroom Supported File Formats

  • AGLIB (Adobe Lightroom Library)
  • AGTOOLKIT (Adobe Lightroom Toolkit)
  • DCP (Adobe DNG Camera Profile)
  • DNG (Digital Negative Image File)
  • JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
  • KDC (Kodak Photo-Enhancer File)
  • LRCAT (Adobe Lightroom Catalog File)
  • LRDATA (Adobe Lightroom Data File)
  • LRDB (Adobe Lightroom Database)
  • LRLIBRARY (Adobe Lightroom CC Library File)
  • LRMODULE (Adobe Lightroom Module)
  • LRPLUGIN (Adobe Lightroom Plug-in)
  • LRPREVIEW (Adobe Lightroom Preview File)
  • LRSMCOL (Adobe Lightroom Smart Collection Settings File)
  • LRTEMPLATE (Adobe Lightroom Template)
  • LRWEBENGINE (Adobe Lightroom Web Gallery File)
  • PNG (Portable Network Graphic)
  • RAF (Fuji RAW Image File)
  • RWL (Leica RAW Image)
  • SRW (Samsung RAW Image)
  • TIF (Tagged Image File)

Additional supported file format

  • AGMODULE (Adobe Lightroom Module)
  • AGTEMPLATE (Adobe Lightroom Template)
  • LRLIB (Adobe Lightroom CC Library File)
  • LRTOOLKIT (Adobe Lightroom Toolkit)
  • TIFF Tagged Image File Format)

Lightroom Versions (What software we use)

  • Lightroom Version 1 January 29, 2007
  • Lightroom Version 2 April 2008
  • Lightroom Version 3 October 22, 2009
  • Lightroom Version 4 March 5, 2012
  • Lightroom Version 5 June 9, 2013
  • Lightroom Version 6 April 21, 2015
  • Lightroom Version Apple TV July 26, 2016
  • Lightroom Classic CC (Lightroom Version 7 Unofficially) October 18, 2017
  • Lightroom CC (Lightroom Version 8 Unofficially) year 2018
  • Lightroom Classic CC (Lightroom Version 9) November 4, 2019
  • Lightroom CC (Lightroom Version 3.1) December 9, 2019

InDesign (What software we use)

InDesign

Adobe Corporation created a convenient software only for publishing purposes. You can create banners, magazines, newspapers, books, etc. easily. Designers related to this kind of activity, rely on InDesign. The program is available individually.

So, you can have it without purchasing any other product from Adobe. Also, you can have it with the Adobe Creative Cloud package. And, this was also included in the Adobe CS group. The latest version of InDesign is CC2020.

How To Use? (What software do we use)

The use of Adobe InDesign is close to Illustrator. The difference is, in Illustrator you can create various types of shapes and art and organize them as well. But in InDesign, you can organize the objects and create eye-catching manipulations.

You can use Illustrator for the jobs you can do but the process is a bit different. On the other hand, in the software InDesign, you may not have all that Illustrator can but the process is quite user-friendly.

InDesign for PC and MAC

For Windows PC

  • Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 or AMD Athlon® 64 processor
  • OS:  Microsoft Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 (Ser. Pack 1)
  • Not Supported OS: Windows 10 versions 1507, 1511, and 1607
  • RAM: Minimum 4 GB RAM
  • Disk Space: 3.6 GB or higher
  • Display: 1024 x 768 with HiDPI display support
  • Video card: 32-bit video card
  • Internet connection

For MAC

  • Processor: 2 GHz or higher (Intel Multicore 64-bit)
  • OS: MAC 10.13, MAC 10.12
  • RAM: Minimum 4 GB
  • Disk Space: 3.5 GB or higher
  • Display: 1024 x 768 with Retina display support
  • Video card: 32-bit video card
  • GPU: Minimum 1024 MB VRAM, OpenGL version 4.0 or greater.
  • Internet connection

InDesign Supported File Formats

File Formats InDesign Can Open

  • INDD (InDesign document)
  • INDL (InDesign Library)
  • INDT (InDesign Template)
  • PMD (Adobe PageMaker File)
  • QXP (QuarkXPress File)

Which File Formats InDesign Can Save

  • INDD (InDesign document)
  • INDL (InDesign Library)
  • INDT (InDesign Template)

The File Formats InDesign Can Export

  • XLF (XML Localisation Interchange File Format) Adobe Flash CS4 Pro (only for Flash CS4 Pro)
  • TXT (Text Formate Files)
  • INDT (Adobe InDesign Tagged Text)
  • PDF (Portable Document Format)
  • EPS (Encapsulated PostScript)
  • INCX (InCopy CS3 Interchange)
  • ICML (InCopy document CS4 only)
  • INX (InDesign CS3 Interchange)
  • IDML (InDesign Markup Language)
  • JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
  • RTF (Rich Text Format)
  • SWF (Shockwave Flash file format)
  • TXT Text-only
  • XML (Extensible Markup Language)

Graphic File Formats InDesign Can Import

  • TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)
  • GIF (Graphic Interchange Format)
  • JPEG, JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
  • BMP (Bitmap Format)
  • EPS (Encapsulated PostScript)
  • DCS (Desktop Color Separation)
  • PICT (Picture file format for Mac)
  • WMF (MS Windows Metafile Format)
  • EMF (MS Windows Enhanced Metafile Format)
  • PCX (PC Paintbrush File Format)
  • PNG (Portable Network Graphic)
  • SCT (Scitec CT)
  • SWF (Shockwave Flash file format)
  • AI (Adobe Illustrator)
  • PSD (Adobe Photoshop Document)
  • PDF (Portable Document Format)
  • INDD (InDesign Document)
  • TXT (Text Documents)
  • DOC, DOCX (Microsoft Word Document)
  • XLS, XLSX (Microsoft Excel Document)
  • RTF (Rich Text Format)

Other File Formats InDesign can Export

  • SML (Extensible Markup Language)
  • EPUB (Open Publication Structure eBook)
  • HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) for Dreamweaver

InDesign Versions (What software we use)

  • InDesign 1.0 on August 31, 1999
  • InDesign 2.0 in January 2002
  • InDesign CS in October 2003
  • InDesign CS2 in May 2005
  • InDesign Server in October 2005
  • InDesign CS3 April 2007
  • InDesign CS3 Server in May 2007
  • InDesign CS4 in October 2008
  • InDesign CS5 (7.0) in April 2010
  • InDesign CS6 on April 23, 2012
  • InDesign CC on January 15, 2014
  • InDesign CC 2014 on June 18, 2014
  • InDesign CC 2015 on June 15, 2015
  • InDesign CC 2017 on November 2, 2016
  • InDesign CC 2018 on October 18, 2017
  • InDesign CC 2019 in November 2018
  • InDesign CC 2020 in November 2019

GIMP (What software we use)

GIMP (What software we use)

GIMP stands for GNIU Image Manipulation Program distributed worldwide for free. The operation is quite friendly and convenient to implement. Though, the software is not as rich with tools and techniques as Photoshop but good enough. If you are a creative designer and want to start your editing with free software, this one is good for you.

How To Use? (What software do we use)

You can use the software the same as other image editing software you may have. The window is well-organized. You can find the tools easily at your fingertips. The editing method is also nearly similar to Photoshop. Well, you may not get it exactly the same but can handle it well. Obviously, this one is really helpful for everyone without any cost.

One thing is mentionable, it is better to use GIMP for non-professional, personal work only. For professional purposes, you better choose Photoshop.

GIMP for PC or MAC

For Windows PC

  • Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 or faster processor
  • OS:  Microsoft Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 (Ser. Pack 1)
  • Not Supported OS: Windows, MAC, GNU/Linux, Unix, etc.
  • RAM: Minimum 256 MB
  • Disk Space: 200 MB or more
  • Display: 1024 x 768 standard display
  • Video card: No specific instruction
  • Internet connection you may need for downloading plugins, otherwise, no.

GIMP Supported File Formats

  • BMP (Bitmap Format)
  • GIF (Graphic Interchange Format)
  • JPEG, JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
  • MNG (Multiple-image Network Graphics)
  • PCX (PiCture eXchange)
  • PDF – Portable Document Format
  • PNG (Portable Network Graphic)
  • PSD – Photoshop Document
  • SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
  • TIFF – Tagged Image File Format
  • TGA (Trucolor Graphics Animation)
  • XPM (Adobe Extensible Metadata Platform file format

GIMP Versions (What software we use)

  • GIMP development In 1995
  • GIMP 0.54 in January 1996
  • GIMP 0.60 on 6 June 1997
  • GIMP 1.0.0 on 2 June 1998
  • GIMP 1.1 in 1999
  • GIMP 1.2.0 on 25 December 2000
  • GIMP 2.0.0 on 23 March 2004
  • GIMP 2.2 on 19 December 2004
  • GIMP 2.4.0 on 24 October 2007
  • GIMP 2.6.0 on 1 October 2008
  • GIMP 2.8 on 3 May 2012
  • GIMP 2.10.0 on 27 April 2018
  • GIMP 3.0 Beta was released in November 2019
  • GIMP 3.2 non-destructive future version not released yet

Conclusion

You may have various software for Photo Editing Services. The question is, do you want to pay or not? If you wish to do professional work, I suggest purchasing Adobe software. You will have enough options to apply and modify both. Also, you can ask for online support if you face any difficulties.

And, if you use the program for non-professional purposes, you can choose GIMP. The software has sufficient tools and options that you can use. No offense, but free software has some limitations you may face. However, you can do most of the editing you might need.