Zaydewise Loc: Nashville TN

Without a doubt ON1 RAW 2019 is a great alternative to Adobe and no subscription. ON1 also has an unbelievable number of videos on photography. Get a free download on their website.

Carusoswi

Bob:

I don't see many (if any) companies claiming their product is as good as the gold standard. Similar comments seem to follow the GIMP around, that it is/was conceived as an alternative to PS. It was not, nor does it strive to be.
One reason not to "go with the gold standard product" would be that many of the features that some feel make it "the gold standard" have little to do with photography.

In today's world, there are many fine applications that cater to image processing, many of which do a fine job. I am not anti-Adobe, but it is refreshing to see and use alternatives, and for those looking to get into post processing, there are other fine choices, some of which are absolutely free and absolutely capable of use in producing stunning results.

If you were to check out Raw Therapee or Darktable, I think you would be impressed. Lightzone is no slouch, either.

My photography is adequate for my needs, computer skills about the same (my wife thinks I'm a genius, and that's good enough for me), and my familiarity with various applications also about the same.

I don't intend to imply that you are simply plugging that to which you are accustomed, but I feel that, whenever this subject comes up on a forum, plenty of respondents simply plug whatever it is that they use (which can be informative, but far from being objective).

I do grow weary over the seemingly endless tendency to recommend Adobe because it is the "industry standard" or it is "what the pros use" or all other applications strive to reach Adobe levels.

Those looking to get into post processing are urged to buy something when equally capable no cost alternatives are equally capable and not any more difficult to learn. One hasn't, by definition, lost part of his/her life because he/she learned GIMP before PS. It's no harder to switch GIMP-->PS than the other way around. Given that most of these sort of questions come from enthusiasts hoping to become competent amateurs rather than career pros, the "insurance" of going with "the gold standard" is overkill (IMO).

I, in no way, intend this post as a personal put-down. For years, I dismissed LR as unnecessary. I had PS4 and GiMP/Lightzone on the Linux side. "What's the big deal over this Lightroom," I would say to myself.

When Adobe went to the subscription model, I could not resist the temptation to try the latest version of "the gold standard," LOL. When Lightroom came bundled with PS, I decided that I would take a good, long look at this unnecessary piece of software. Not surprisingly, I was quite impressed, and quickly developed an understanding as to why many photographers can get by with LR only, never having to use PS.

The same thing happened to me with respect to darktable, only to a much greater degree.

Having been given access to Capture One by Phase One as a Sony camera shooter, I became aware of C1 11. Now, I have paid for the perpetual license for C1 12, and loving it.

Some suffer from GAS, I suppose I suffer from "SAS", but I love it.

Your opinion (and your post) is certainly as valid as mine. Please don't take my comments personally.

Regards,

Caruso

Carusoswi

You can get quite precise masks in C1 12. More importantly, you are working from the RAW file data. PS cannot work from the RAW file. You have to convert (likely to TIFF). LR, as PS's RAW file front end, is not nearly as robust a RAW file editor as C1.

My eyes (for sure) and likely yours will not discern the difference, but it is, nonetheless, more desirable to make your precise localized edits from the RAW data rather than a converted file.

Respectfully,

Caruso

Carusoswi

htbrown Loc: San Francisco Bay Area

Some of us have more disposable income than others. $120 a year is a significant percentage of my photography budget. My camera is eleven years old, my computer even older. I'll never upgrade either if I'm forking out that much money for a subscription.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

That's a cheap shot.

I use C1 for my personal work and I switched before the whole subscription kerfuffle so that wasn't my motivation. I switched to software that better supported my goal of a 100% non-destructive, non-linearly re-editable raw workflow.

I get paid to teach LR/PS and so have to use them regularly. As such I am very familiar with the dog I left behind and it most certainly has no bite.

Joe

Paul Buckhiester Loc: Columbus, GA USA

Given the cost and value if PS/LR subscription coupled with their integration with the Adobe mobile apps and constant updates, I can’t imagine a tighter solution.
Even if the charge inches up, as does everything, the CC package really has no competitors, given all it includes.

David Taylor

Linda, have you ever outlined your PSE workflow on the forum, or would you consider doing so? I'm sure I'm not the only one who would benefit from your experience with it.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Because I save money every month I use gimp and other "open source" software.

When my wife retires on Friday, we will officially be "fixed income" - every dollar I don't spend on software can be used elsewhere.