Software
Below is a list of the software I use. Consider this a work in progress. As I remember what I have or when I add to my software arsenal, I’ll update this list. Further down the road, I may break the items out of the bulleted list and write about how I use them and/or why I use them. I’ll also eventually include links to all of them.
I plan to spend a little time with cost. Some of these are very affordable; others are not. How much you want to spend will dictate the software you’ll buy. Most of them offer a trial download. I highly recommend taking advantage of those offers, but only when you’ll have about 30 days to play. Also, most of them let you download full versions for 30 days. Some will let you download, but will apply a watermark to your image until you purchase the license to use it. Even with that, you get an idea whether or not you’d like to own it.
I have justified the expense of some of these by comparing the cost of learning how to achieve the effects with the cost of the software. Some of these I purchased just because I thought they were fun. The Tiffen Dfx filters are so cool, but they’re pricey. However, if you’re using a mobile device, you can get some really fun effects with Tiffen Cool fx and Photo fx. They’re pretty reasonable, especially considering what they do. If you can justify a few of these, you’ll have so much fun!
For the time being, these are my favorites and the ones I use the most.
Desktop Apps:
- Adobe Lightroom
- Adobe Photoshop
- Photomatix Pro 5.0
- Topaz Labs‘ photoFXlab
- Topaz Labs’ Impression.
- CameraBag 2
- Pixlr-o-matic
- Tiffen Dfx
Mobile Apps:
- iPhoto
- 100Cameras in 1
- Cool fx (Tiffen)
- Snapseed
- PhotoStudio
- Photo fx (Tiffen)
Photo Granny's Blog 
I am impressed by your computing skills 🙂
Thank you. I’ve been using Macs every day since Spring 1992. I’ve got a couple of Windows laptops, and I work now, in an office where I use a Windows machine. Most of the classes I’ve taken in school, since 2011, are Windows machines. I just love technology. It’s a hobby and a passion—and as you might be able to tell, my social life. I really need to update this page and get back to the software. It really is fun stuff! As soon as I get my present project behind me, I will have more weekend time to play again.
Blogging can take over! But it is all good fun. I have recently been forced to adapt to Windows 8 – horrid! Things get put where “it” decides – so takes me a while to make it how I want it!! Lucky for me I am stubborn 😉
I didn’t have much trouble with Windows 8, primarily because I think it probably resembles a Mac interface than a Windows interface. So, there was a little learning curve, but not what I’ve heard about. I think Windows 8 is just SO different from what the Windows user is used to, and that created problems.
I WISH blogging would take over. Most of the time, I can’t think of anything interesting to say. Despite that, the little bit I do write proves to be enough to get a reaction so I have some company for awhile. 🙂 So, it is all good fun!
There you go 🙂 Just post whatever you feel like; a photo is fine if you don’t feel too chatty 🙂 And the interaction with other bloggers does make it more fun too 🙂