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Lightroom replacement.
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Nov 29, 2019 14:03:21   #
dasgeiss
 
BTW On1 also adds text to a photo and prints too I think. Have not used the print as yet so can't confirm on it.

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Nov 29, 2019 14:26:26   #
Ednsb Loc: Santa Barbara
 
On1 - a great app with both LightRoom and PhotoShop features. Plus the most honest developer. Under promises and over provides. Unlike other apps like Luminar 4 and Topaz Studio 2 and of course Adobe.

I'm a software guy. There are pluses and minuses for both SaaS (Software as a Service - what you call subscription) and perpetual licensing. When I buy On1 Raw 2020 I own the license forever for a cost of $99 at list (I paid less because it was a upgrade). They give me updates and bug fixes but probably no new features until their next major release which happens about every year. Then I have the decision in my hands if I want to upgrade or not. The downside is I don't see new features until the new version.

With a SaaS license, I pay every month pretty much forever unless I drop the software. I'm not quite sure but if I drop the subscription I can no longer use LightRoom or PhotoShop. The pro is I get new features as they are released (looks like about every 6 months).

So the only way a perpetual license if cheaper is if you Don’t upgrade every year. With the old LightRoom perpetual license up to 6 they didn’t have upgrades every year (more like 18 to 24 months). If I don’t upgrade to On1 2021 when it comes out then my cost is about 1/2 of the LightRoom/PhotoShop subscription. I left Adobe for a number of reasons with cost being a minor one. First the last version of LightRoom I purchased (6) was a bloated poor performing software. I didn’t use PhotoShop for the same reason plus it had a huge learning curve. It is also my prime example of a software so nonintuitive UI the phrase use it or lose it applied. Then Adobe lied - said they would always have a perpetual license of LightRoom. Then they bundled it with PhotoShop. If they had offered a SaaS license for LightRoom only at $5 a month I would have never left.

Sorry end of rant. Look at On1. Great app and FAST even on 8 yr old iMac

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Nov 29, 2019 14:36:41   #
Ysarex Loc: St. Louis
 
Ednsb wrote:
On1 - a great app with both LightRoom and PhotoShop features. Plus the most honest developer. Under promises and over provides. Unlike other apps like Luminar 4 and Topaz Studio 2 and of course Adobe.

I'm a software guy. There are pluses and minuses for both SaaS (Software as a Service - what you call subscription) and perpetual licensing. When I buy On1 Raw 2020 I own the license forever for a cost of $99 at list (I paid less because it was a upgrade). They give me updates and bug fixes but probably no new features until their next major release which happens about every year. Then I have the decision in my hands if I want to upgrade or not. The downside is I don't see new features until the new version.

With a SaaS license, I pay every month pretty much forever unless I drop the software. I'm not quite sure but if I drop the subscription I can no longer use LightRoom or PhotoShop. The pro is I get new features as they are released (looks like about every 6 months).

So the only way a perpetual license if cheaper is if you Don’t upgrade every year. With the old LightRoom perpetual license up to 6 they didn’t have upgrades every year (more like 18 to 24 months). If I don’t upgrade to On1 2021 when it comes out then my cost is about 1/2 of the LightRoom/PhotoShop subscription. I left Adobe for a number of reasons with cost being a minor one. First the last version of LightRoom I purchased (6) was a bloated poor performing software. I didn’t use PhotoShop for the same reason plus it had a huge learning curve. It is also my prime example of a software so nonintuitive UI the phrase use it or lose it applied. Then Adobe lied - said they would always have a perpetual license of LightRoom. Then they bundled it with PhotoShop. If they had offered a SaaS license for LightRoom only at $5 a month I would have never left.

Sorry end of rant. Look at On1. Great app and FAST even on 8 yr old iMac
On1 - a great app with both LightRoom and PhotoSho... (show quote)


My problem with On1 is that it's not a 100% non-destructive raw workflow. I really want my raw processing software to provide a 100% non-destructive and non-linearly re-editable workflow. That's my show-stopper overall requirement -- On1 gets real close but 99% isn't 100%.

Joe

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Nov 29, 2019 15:00:28   #
ralf Loc: NJ
 
I use DxO Photolab, Luminar, and Affiinity Photo. None of these programs are "pay for infinity" and they get the job done. Can these products do every last little thing that PS and Lightroom can do? Not everything, but everything that matters. Luminar can be surprisingly effective when u r in a hurry. All of these products work with raw files and are non-destructive.
The downside to not using Lightroom is that it is harder to find training and advice -- since nearly everyone you meet will be a Lightroom user... This does not bother me so much, as I've always been self-learner.

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Nov 29, 2019 15:15:06   #
Ysarex Loc: St. Louis
 
ralf wrote:
I use DxO Photolab, Luminar, and Affiinity Photo. None of these programs are "pay for infinity" and they get the job done. Can these products do every last little thing that PS and Lightroom can do? Not everything, but everything that matters. Luminar can be surprisingly effective when u r in a hurry. All of these products work with raw files and are non-destructive.


Not so sure about Luminar and non-destructive. I've been looking at the trial version of Luminar 4 and I'm sure coming up with what appears to be a destructive workflow using Luminar's layers. I can't add an Erase Layer to an image that will in any way update to additional changes made to the original image. That's a destructive workflow unless I'm missing something.

Joe

ralf wrote:
The downside to not using Lightroom is that it is harder to find training and advice -- since nearly everyone you meet will be a Lightroom user... This does not bother me so much, as I've always been self-learner.

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Nov 29, 2019 15:20:32   #
jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania
 
bittermelon wrote:
I have been an amature using Lightroom standalone version several years ago. Then I had a serious illness and had major surgery. For several years I stopped taking photographs. Now I am much better (although several years older) and am considering taking photographs again.

But of course there is no longer a standalone version of Lightroom. I am now looking for photo editing software that does not require a subscription. Prefer something that can edit raw files (mainly Canon but others too), something similar to Lightroom in look and feel if possible, does not have to be free, but not on a subscription basis.

Any suggestions?
I have been an amature using Lightroom standalone ... (show quote)


----------
darktable is a free program and very similar to Lightroom. You can also try the 30 day free trial of On1 Photo RAW 2020. It works well as a replacement for Lightroom and Photoshop.

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Nov 29, 2019 15:36:27   #
Jackie_Thomas
 
I have used Lightroom but I was looking for something else. I’m not 60 years old anymore and as easy as Lightroom is I was looking for something with less challenges. I found it in Luminar and I highly recommend it. Luminar 4 is the newest version and is fun to work with. Check out utube Specifically Jim Nix.

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Nov 29, 2019 15:44:04   #
ralf Loc: NJ
 
I shoot only raw files. In Luminar you can undo all adjustments at almost any time (right-click, Adjustments, Reset Adjustments), and your raw file is back to square one. To me that's nondestructive.
When I have something ready to take out of Luminar, I save it as TIFF (if more work is needed in other software), or else as JPG (if I'm 100% done editing the image).
You are right about the fact that Luminar layers are a pain to work with, but I don't mind starting over from the original raw file if I get stuck in a bad place layer-wise (which has happened a couple of times).
I am self-taught and fairly new to Luminar, so I do not know all of the ins and outs, but I can get really great results in Luminar surprisingly often. I also use Affinity and DxO, which are more "serious" pieces of photo-editing software. Mostly, I use Luminar for quick and dirty editing of raw into JPG.

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Nov 29, 2019 15:50:52   #
aellman Loc: Boston MA
 
Gene51 wrote:
All software requires a subscription - that is if you desire to remain current. At least Adobe and others are a little more transparent in calling it a subscription. In an industry driven by innovation, there is no such thing as a "permanent license" if you really think about it. It's only $10/month. not a lot of $$ for getting access to the best software out there - all things considered. Lightroom is not photo finishing software, in any case. you still need to use a raster editor if you truly want to produce finished images. $120 a year is a great deal for that.
All software requires a subscription - that is if ... (show quote)


Software companies offering subscriptions have been a great benefit to me. I don't have the $ to make big dollar purchases. Hard to believe anyone has a legitimate problem with $10 a month or even a little more for a cutting-edge tool.

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Nov 29, 2019 15:51:27   #
RADiPilla
 
Snapseed

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Nov 29, 2019 16:13:39   #
tdozier3 Loc: Northern Illinois
 
bittermelon wrote:
I have been an amature using Lightroom standalone version several years ago. Then I had a serious illness and had major surgery. For several years I stopped taking photographs. Now I am much better (although several years older) and am considering taking photographs again.

But of course there is no longer a standalone version of Lightroom. I am now looking for photo editing software that does not require a subscription. Prefer something that can edit raw files (mainly Canon but others too), something similar to Lightroom in look and feel if possible, does not have to be free, but not on a subscription basis.

Any suggestions?
I have been an amature using Lightroom standalone ... (show quote)

Check out Corel Aftershot Pro, or Corel Paintshop Pro Ultimate, which comes with Aftershot Pro. Both are very affordable and require no subscription. If you go to the Corel website they have a free 30 day trial you can download. I'm very happy with mine.

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Nov 29, 2019 17:51:39   #
jburlinson Loc: Austin, TX
 
bittermelon wrote:


Any suggestions?


Take 35 minutes and watch this video from Anthony Morganti.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jTuqbGSikE

Compares 5 of the major paid photo processing programs: Lightroom, On1 2019, Capture One, Luminar, Affinity Photo and Alien Skin Exposure 4. Pros and cons for each.

Keep us posted on what you decide.

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Nov 29, 2019 18:34:54   #
CaptainBobBrown
 
Also ON1's Photo Raw 2020. Cumbersome name but impressive functionality. I'm reprocessing many of my LR processed images and getting much more out of them with PR2020. One time license fee and lots of online how-to's. It combines many features of both LR and PS in that it enables layers so you can do things like mask out everything except the subject in one layer, fix its exposure, and in another layer independently mask out the subject and independently modify exposure of the background to make a subject really pop. Also enables several other ways to accomplish the same but if you need layers and other advanced techniques PR seems to work well for a one time charge. Of course, as others have noted, if you want the next major release you'll have to pay separately for that so maybe not such a bargain compared to subscriptions but at least you have a choice to continue using the current version without "upgrading".

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Nov 29, 2019 18:45:42   #
hassighedgehog Loc: Corona, CA
 
I've been using Photoshop Elements from the beginning. Usually available for less than $100. It is stand alone. I only get the newer version every few years (when get a new camera). It has the Organizer section and the Editing section that has lots of edits from Photoshop.

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Nov 29, 2019 18:46:48   #
amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
 
bittermelon wrote:
I have been an amature using Lightroom standalone version several years ago. Then I had a serious illness and had major surgery. For several years I stopped taking photographs. Now I am much better (although several years older) and am considering taking photographs again.

But of course there is no longer a standalone version of Lightroom. I am now looking for photo editing software that does not require a subscription. Prefer something that can edit raw files (mainly Canon but others too), something similar to Lightroom in look and feel if possible, does not have to be free, but not on a subscription basis.

Any suggestions?
I have been an amature using Lightroom standalone ... (show quote)


I agree with a previous response... if you still have Lightroom 6, use that. Unless you have a new camera that it doesn't support, it can still work well. If your copy is old, you can update it as far as version 6.14.

However, if you need a replacement, I've been looking into the possibilities....

- Capture One is the "gold standard", but it's also pricey at $300. It's highly recommended for commercial studios and pros.

Two other very good alternatives, much more affordable at about $100 each, are:

- Alien Skin Exposure X
- On1 Photo Raw

If you don't need to work with large numbers of images, you also might consider Adobe Elements 2020. It can do much of what Lightroom can... as well as some things that Lightroom can't. Elements can more completely "finish" images, than LR can.

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