hipoint Loc: The Northshore, Gulf South

I am currently a Lr user but realize that I need some advanced photo editing functions which Lr does not offer and I do not need Lr’s organizing features. I also do not want a subscription based software and it is likely Lr may be going in that direction. I also want a 100% non-destructive program.

My Question: Will Affinity, On1, Luminar, Paint Shop, etc work with my Lr processed images and are these programs non-destructive?

I like Affinity, but the “develop Persona” may still be semi-destructive, On1 Raw sounds semi subscription like, not searched luminar or paint shop or others.

I process using a computer with Windows 10 and lots of memory.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

I do not believe On1 Photo Raw follows a subscription model at the present time. I've heard interesting claims about Luminar, but I have had some difficulty getting its trial Version to run on my MacBook Pro. There are some new editing apps on the horizon, but they have not established themselves yet. Watchful waiting may be the wisest course.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

ON1 is pretty good, but if you don't like subscriptions, don't contemplate buying any software. If you keep your stuff current, you will pay for upgrades, once every year, in the case of On1. $80 a year (their annual upgrade charge) is not any different than $6.67/month.

The answer to your question is to use a non-destructive workflow in On1 and/or Photoshop. Why settle for anything else just because you misunderstand software licensing and payment options.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I seriously question what you really need beyond LR. That said, I have probably 4 Topaz modules of which DeNoise, Detail and B&W get used the most. Every once in a while I need to add text to an image where PSE9 is fine as a plugin. So is 'advanced' all the time? Sometimes? And how advanced as in you don't know how to do it in LR or something LR really doesn't do? LR is professional-grade, market-leading for a reason ...

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I've been on a Lightroom learning curve since version 4. It has been fun and satisfying. The Develop module has grown with options. But realizing that I too "need some advanced photo editing functions", I started looking at Photoshop as a Lightroom plugin. I'm in the middle of a delightful course about Photoshop for Lightroom users. It assumes you get most of what you want done in Lightroom. Then, where needed, you use Photoshop from within Lightroom. I'm hooked. In the end, I will have about a dozen useful techniques that I can use when Lightroom isn't enough. One obvious example is spot/object removal.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I don't know about the non-destructive, but if you save the file with a different name, you still have the original. Some processing links below.

Affinity
http://www.shutterbug.com/content/affinity-photo-software-review-has-photoshop-met-its-match#d1c5lY5EQ03QoLjh.97
http://www.diyphotography.net/affinity-photo-can-give-adobe-run-money/
Others
http://digital-photography-school.com/a-beginners-guide-to-choosing-the-right-post-production-software/
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/03/23/best-photo-editing-software-photoshop-cc-and-7-photoshop-alternatives-tested/1/
http://www.redmondpie.com/best-adobe-photoshop-alternatives-for-windows-and-mac-list/

cthahn

Photoshop. PS and LR work exceptionally well together. For $10.00 a month you will probably get more than you can ever use.

fotoman150

If you're beyond LR you're a better man than me. Good luck. Subscription is awesome. You get constant updates. What could be better.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

LR has already gone to a subscription. Not sure I understand your objection, unless you are a person who wants to buy a program and then use it for years and years without updates. Getting yearly updates costs about what a subscription would cost in many cases.


No matter what system you use, it will be non-destructive if you either do your editing on a copy, or save the edited version with a different file name. I prefer to work on copies to prevent any errors on my part!

I cannot advise you on the programs you mention since I am a LR/PS subscriber. But I can tell you that PS is a great program, has great capabilities for editing beyond LR, and is totally compatible with it. Most subscribers use LR for its organization of images, and for first level edits. If you do not need/want what LR has to offer, you do not have to use it. Just use your own cataloging system and open images directly into PS; when done editing save them back to your folders. "Non-destructive" is available, just up to you to specify how you want to work. Such as opening images as "smart objects" and when editing is done, choosing "save as" instead of "save". This gives you a new name image and preserves the original untouched. If you are working on a previously edited version, and do additional edits, then you can choose "save" to add those new edits to that image [or "save as" to create a separate, new version].

My point is, that no matter what program you use, to preserve the original it is up to you to make the right choices. And a subscription is something you can cancel at any time, without losing any images, because they are all on your HD, not in the program [same as when using LR for organization]. Don't forget that most programs [LR and PS included], will offer a free trial period where you can see if you like using it. I love having new updates whenever they come out, indefinitely, as long as I am a subscriber, at no additional cost.

Yeti Bigtoe

I've tried a number of photo editing software programs. My take in brief: Paint Shop Pro for Windows is non destructive, intuitive to use and takes Topaz plugins. Switching over to Mac, Affinity is non destructive, more computer resource friendly than PS making it fast, takes Topaz plugins, intuitive to use with a fine ground up modern platform. It is also now available on Windows though I haven't tried that version. The icing on the cake with Affinity is the IPad app, it's a class on its own and can sync with the Mac.

Mundj Loc: Richmond TX

Would you share the details of the course you mention? I am also a LR user trying to learn Photoshop.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

There are a ton of reasons why someone would want to be able to adjust an image that comes out of Lightroom, especially if layers, luminosity masking, retouching, frequency separation, non-destructive, layer-based dodging and burning, focus stacking, etc etc etc. All of those things are not possible in LR.

Here are some videos of where you would want to use something beyond the capability of LR.

https://fstoppers.com/post-production/awesome-video-how-retouch-shiny-skin-1523
https://www.google.com/search?q=dodging+and+burning+using+blend+modes&oq=dodging+and+burning+using+blend+modes&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60.9351j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#kpvalbx=1
https://www.on1.com/blog/on1-short-clip-dodging-and-burning-using-blend-modes/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mibCkK1nDpI
http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-editing/sharpen-high-pass/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v91p8upSzH0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKmQt5VgZkI

And probably 1,000,000 more reasons why LR is considered an excellent place to start editing, but rarely the endpoint. I do not regard a simple, rules-based editor as adequate for producing finished images. LR is very good for generating proofs, though. Stopping at LR is like leaving money on the table in a negotiation. You CAN take an image beyond LR with pixel editors and plugins. On1 is a special plugin suite, since it also includes an excellent raw converter.

sailor2545 Loc: Victoria, BC

On1..

hipoint Loc: The Northshore, Gulf South

I appreciate all the great advice I have received. I think for right now I will take the advice of jraywallace in that watchful waiting (and more knowledge on my part) may be my wisest course. I really like working with Lr