Post Processing Alternatives to Photoshop
Nov 6, 2017 10:50:47 #
Funny how folks refuse to understand how little this subscription cost.
Also surprising is the same folks are not even aware of the free DNG converter offered by Adobe which makes all older PS versions compliant with newer camera raw format.
Then I am further flabbergasted that folks are not even aware of GIMP. One of the best f not the best free post-processing software that despite being free is almost as powerful as PS CC with digital images.
Oh, one more thing... YES, PS CC is an overkill for most of the subscribers.
Also surprising is the same folks are not even aware of the free DNG converter offered by Adobe which makes all older PS versions compliant with newer camera raw format.
Then I am further flabbergasted that folks are not even aware of GIMP. One of the best f not the best free post-processing software that despite being free is almost as powerful as PS CC with digital images.
Oh, one more thing... YES, PS CC is an overkill for most of the subscribers.
Nov 6, 2017 11:03:27 #
Capture One Pro 10 does everything well. It is a very good raw converter and organizer. It is a very good photo editor and Phase One provides an entire library of free webinars that cover all aspects of the software. I think there is even a free 30 day trial.
Nov 6, 2017 11:56:20 #
William Royer wrote:
I’ve been using Photoshop/ACR for many years — pur... (show quote)
I began using Affinity Photo about 8-9 months ago. I really like it. It does about everything I've tried as well or better than Photoshop (I have over 20 years of PS) It handles all the RAW files that people throw at it. The arguments for the DNG conversion do not convince me. Originally Adobe thought that DNG would become the main standard, but that hasn't really happened. I think Canon and Nikon will be here longer than the Evil Empire.
Corel is a good product. But the learning curve defeated me. I just never made the transition. Affinity, while different from PS, does have enough of a similarity to make it easier to learn. I've also looked at ACDSee, ON1 and some others. Affinity is only $50 for a lifetime license including all updates. (That will eventually change, but for now.)
The one problem right now is that I haven't found a perfect replacement for Bridge. I like the ability to categorize with four different label colors and five star levels. No one else, I have found does that. Fastone comes closest. My Bridge continues to work even though I have dropped the CC subscription.
Nov 6, 2017 12:07:56 #
augieg27
Loc: Central California
I was using PSE then I found Faststone and never went back to PSE. It does everything that PSE does, faster and easier to work with and... is free.
Nov 6, 2017 12:10:38 #
William Royer wrote:
This situation created by Adobe moving to subscription basis irritates me beyond words...
This situation created by Adobe moving to subscription basis irritates me beyond words...
Amen! I don't want to be an indentured servant of any software company! No other comment because the ones above give you good alternatives!
Nov 6, 2017 12:45:19 #
JerryOSF
Loc: Bristol, VA
There are 2 free programs to process raw images. Rawtherepee has been available for Windows for awhile. Theree is a prerelease of Darktable for Windows also available. Both of these have been used in Linux for a long time. Just download them and try both.
Nov 6, 2017 13:01:28 #
Nov 6, 2017 13:34:04 #
Charles P
Loc: Southern Central NY State
I like Faststone for simple edits and RAW conversion. http://www.faststone.org/download.htm
I've been playing around with Darktable for windows for a few days now, and I think that it shows a lot of promise. It might be a replacement for Lightroom, depending on what you want to do. Here's the latest snapshot installer if you want to try it.
https://pixls.us/files/darktable-2.3.0%2B1024~gec24c9282-win64.exe It too is free.
Hope this helps.
I've been playing around with Darktable for windows for a few days now, and I think that it shows a lot of promise. It might be a replacement for Lightroom, depending on what you want to do. Here's the latest snapshot installer if you want to try it.
https://pixls.us/files/darktable-2.3.0%2B1024~gec24c9282-win64.exe It too is free.
Hope this helps.
Nov 6, 2017 13:50:58 #
Leicaflex wrote:
I think you are in the same position as I am William.
I have Photoshop CS6, which I paid a lot of money for.
It is now no longer supported by Adobe Labs and therefore not a save
software any more. I to do not want to subscribe and are looking for
replacement software. So far I have looked at DxO, On1, Affinity
and Paint-shop Pro. Undecided so far.
I have Photoshop CS6, which I paid a lot of money for.
It is now no longer supported by Adobe Labs and therefore not a save
software any more. I to do not want to subscribe and are looking for
replacement software. So far I have looked at DxO, On1, Affinity
and Paint-shop Pro. Undecided so far.
Just because you have a software that is not supported by the mfg, does not mean you have to stop using it. There is still support through people on the web.....I still use Adobe PS CS2.....That's what I learned on and still use. I have other stuff also, but still use cs2. The limiting factor would be if you ever upgrade your operating system to something that would cause it not to work....File types don't change....the thing that changes are featured added to software...As long as you like it, keep using it and upgrade when you are forced to by operating system. Why get something new if the old still works fine. If you really want to change, all of the ones mentioned are fine. You just need to try and decide which one has the features you want... I also use an older ver of LR, I sue LR 5 and it woks fine with my CS2... I also have other stuff newer, but still fall back to these 2.
Nov 6, 2017 15:39:52 #
I have just begun to use the DNG converter for nef files. It’s quick and you are in photoshop raw conversation very quickly. You do end up with the extra file. JPEG, nef and dng.
Nov 6, 2017 16:03:22 #
frankraney wrote:
Just because you have a software that is not suppo... (show quote)
I still have Photoshop 7 and Lightroom 3 installed on one of my computers and they still work fine.
Nov 6, 2017 16:45:38 #
I would process your raw files with Capture one pro then use the tools you like from both PS6 and Affinity Photo.
Nov 6, 2017 16:51:18 #
Where many of you gasaholics purchase cameras and lenses, I have severe SAS, software acquisition syndrome. This goes back decades when I had to have the most recent upgrade of, you name it.
So I have settled in with the subscription plan of Adobe, but I still download everything I hear of. I am now at the point of sticking with Macphuns, Luminar. And once the Windows version is released, I am sure I will use it in conjunction with Lightroom.
ON1 has been intriguing, and I did purchase a version. But, damn, the new version is already out. I run Mac and PC platforms so I look at what can be the most cost effective.
BTY, I just did download the latest Paintshop to give it a whirl.
So I have settled in with the subscription plan of Adobe, but I still download everything I hear of. I am now at the point of sticking with Macphuns, Luminar. And once the Windows version is released, I am sure I will use it in conjunction with Lightroom.
ON1 has been intriguing, and I did purchase a version. But, damn, the new version is already out. I run Mac and PC platforms so I look at what can be the most cost effective.
BTY, I just did download the latest Paintshop to give it a whirl.
Nov 6, 2017 17:29:47 #
William Royer wrote:
I’ve been using Photoshop/ACR for many years — pur... (show quote)
I just went ahead and subscribed to the Creative Cloud bundle of Photoshop, Bridge, and Lightroom. $10/month or $120/year is peanuts — for what it does. It's about the cost of lunch for one day a month, or a few cups of coffee at Starbucks every month.
I was like you, all pissed off at the subscription scheme, until I did the math and realized that this is cheaper than buying JUST Ps alone and every other version of the Ps upgrades. And spreading the cost over time is way easier than spending $700 once and $300 every 18 to 24 months.
Finally, I have decades of Adobe experience behind me, so I like to leverage my training in apps I know. At some point, I may ADD Affinity Photo, but it won't replace anything. The Adobe apps are the de facto industry standard.
You are allowed to use all three Adobe apps on two computers, so that helps. It is ALWAYS up to date, so long as my OS and computers can run it. AND, despite over 25 years of using Photoshop, Lightroom CLASSIC CC 2018 is where I spend 80% of my time now. It is the centerpiece of my workflow.
Nov 6, 2017 17:33:20 #
fergmark wrote:
I have just begun to use the DNG converter for nef files. It’s quick and you are in photoshop raw conversation very quickly. You do end up with the extra file. JPEG, nef and dng.
Raw conversation. Good one! Is that the whole raw vs JPEG fight?
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