What photography software do you use regularly?

[Bandit]

I use picasa for now. When I get a new computer, hopefully I'll be able to get something more powerful. At my level, picasa really serves me well.

[masp]

Hmm, when do you need to step up from a free photo management program like Picasa to something like Lightroom or Aperture?

I can see the advantage of using Photoshop with all the classes and third party support for it. I would like to stick with something that runs natively in Linux, but I have the feeling I'll want to switch over to Photoshop eventually if I get serious about photography.

[Mad Aussie]

Hmm, when do you need to step up from a free photo management program like Picasa to something like Lightroom or Aperture?

I can see the advantage of using Photoshop with all the classes and third party support for it. I would like to stick with something that runs natively in Linux, but I have the feeling I'll want to switch over to Photoshop eventually if I get serious about photography.

I guess money has some bearing in the cases of those programs you mentioned.
But also, when your current program doesn't seem to be fulfilling your requirements.

[JAS_Photo]

Lightroom, Photoshop Elements 8, Photomatix but I do not do a whole lot of HDR and the Topaz plug ins for Elements. Elements is probably your biggest bang for the buck at less then $100. Kelby on line training has a really good video that goes through all of its functions. I think it's about three hours long or so. I finally "get" layer masks. Kelby actually has quite alot of good videos, especially explaining some of the Nikons and Canons, how to use Photomatix, Joe McNally, lots of full Photoshop videos, and "how tos" on different kinds of photo shoots.

[craigUK]

I use PS CS4 fantastic software and sometimes Portrait Professional V9.5

[AcadieLibre]

Lightroom, and CS4 usually to resize it and make it web friendly, but for the most part just Lightroom for anything that I am going to print. CS4 I use on photos I have not intention of ever printing just so I keep up with at least some PS skills.

[masp]

Thanks for all the great replies. I think I have at least some idea of what to look for in the future now.

I noticed nobody mentioned the bundled RAW conversion software that came with their camera. Is this software generally not inconvenient to use (lacking batch processing and automation)? One would think that the manufacturer's software would do a superior job of converting RAW files (it's their camera after all), but maybe well supported thirty party vendors like Adobe can do as good a job or better?

[Wicked Dark]

I use Lightroom's converter only. Have never even loaded what my camera came with.