cochese

Wrong. Get GIMP. It is open source, it is 100% free and there are no fees to bet updates and stay current

jhh Loc: Lacey, WA

I am definitely an amateur, and don’t want to really get into photo editing to any big extent. I’ve just used my Mac’s Photos program to crop and do minimal other edits such as adjustIng the brightness a bit. But Photos won’t let me get rid of things such as unwanted power lines. Can I do that with On1? I use a Sony A7Riv (which is a lot of camera for an amateur!) and just shoot in JPEG.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

All raw file editors leave the raw original unaltered. That's a very basic understanding of nondestructive. The term nondestructive is used relative to photo processing with some subtle variations. Another common use of the term is applied to the work that you do. A nondestructive workflow should not force you to re-do work previously done if you decide to make an unrelated adjustment to the image. In this context Luminar's workflow is destructive.

I just downloaded the trial for Luminar 4 this week (holiday) and it didn't take too long before I ran into this glitch. I posted a question at the Skylum community forum and got an answer from a Skylum rep: https://community.skylum.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/360006732000-Layers-question-I-m-missing-something-?page=1#community_comment_360001020120

Far as I'm concerned that's a confirmation that Luminar's workflow is destructive. Add an Erase or Clone layer and you're basically placing a lock on everything done previously. Getting into the habit of doing Erase and Cloning first is not an acceptable solution; every edit in a raw workflow should be non-linearly accessible and adjustable.

Joe

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

Yes, but, BIG BUT. On1 is a parametric editor and although parametric editors have been getting better at job like cloning and erasing they still can't really compete with raster editors in this area. To have the best chance of succeeding with a task like power line removal you want software like Photoshop, Affinity Photo, GIMP, Photoshop Elements; raster or pixel-level editors.

Joe

rochephoto

There are a lot greater tutorials for CaptureOne and it is much easier to use than LR. It’s what advertising photography pros use. It’s well worth the buy. I have never heard of anyone looking for an alternative once they’ve used it. I’ve used it for 15 years in large studio in Berkeley Ca.

dasgeiss

I originally had Photoshop but dropped it after I got On1. On1 does everything I can think of in the photo editing business. I have the new On1 2020 but still use the Perfect Photo Suite 9 of several versions ago for it's simplicity of use on minor photos. All of the people I have personally dealt with there (two) have been very nice; very helpful; and just a pleasure of which to speak. (wow, crappy English...sorry about that!) Anyway, I don't see how anyone could go wrong with it's use.

dasgeiss

Using On1 I have erased everything from power lines, telephone poles, people, fire hydrants and you name it. Worked for me. Didn't know there was a pixel program eraser but does make sense.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

I do. I want my raw workflow to be 100% nondestructive and 100% non-linearly re-editable. Try this with On1 2020:

Open a raw file to edit.
Set WB and basic tone adjustments.
Access On1 cloning and erasing tools. Find five items in the image to erase and/or clone over.
Continue editing the image -- whatever, but make some local changes like add a vignette, darken the sky with a gradient, etc.
Close On1 and go eat lunch.

Open On1 and re-open the previously edited raw file.
Delete the 2nd and only the 2nd clone/erase edit you preformed earlier leaving the other 4 in place.

If I'm correct you can't do that and that breaks the goal of 100% non-linearly re-editable.

I can do that using Capture One or LR.

Joe

Photo One Loc: Clearwater Florida

Try ON1 Photo Raw 2020. I have used ON1 for years. I wouldn't change for anything.




https://www.on1.com

jhh Loc: Lacey, WA

Thank you!

jsfphotos Loc: New York, NY

There are plenty of programs outside of Lightroom. Personally I like On1 Photo RAW 2020 and Luminar 4. On1 is quite robust. It can do all your basic raw processing, has lots of special effects, can handle layers and is a wonderful asset management system. Luminar has great tools for creating special effects, has a shorter learning curve than On1, but not sure about the image management/filing system. But if you’ve used LR, either one of these should be easy for you.

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

As much as I like Lr CC Classic, the moment something better comes along it's bye-bye Lr. It would have to have a robust catalog feature, the ability to import my Lightroom catalog, offer plugin support, not cost more than $50/year (assuming the initial cost and price of an annual upgrade), and provide support for my cameras and lenses. Capture One actually ticks off almost all those boxes, and I find it to be a better raw converter than Lr, but no plugin support, no serious commitment to cataloging/importing Lr catalogs. The output from C1 is very good, producing nearly finished images, better than Lr can, and it is faster. It was the second raw converter I started using in 2006, after a brief affair with Raw Shooter.

rebride

Try Cyberlink PhotoDirector. Lightroom clone, so minimal learning curve
Usually on sale, both subscription and stand alone. Don't buy at full price, but even that is cheaper than Adobe.
Has Layers which lightroom doesn't.
They keep adding a ton of presets (styles) which can be fun if you're in to that sort of thing.
Here is a little review - https://www.pcmag.com/review/268050/cyberlink-photodirector
Check it out.

dasgeiss

Joe,

My car can't fly but I don't need it to. I don't do Raw and so far have never had the need to do what you suggested. Also not sure what you mean by "delete." Far as I know there is no "delete" in On1 but I could be wrong. I don't pretend to be an expert with On1, just a user of it. So far it has met all of my needs. To each his own I guess.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

My version of On1 is similar to your car in that it won't sing Pucinni for me but I don't think that's what we're concerned about.

I'm glad you're happy with On1, but you made a public endorsement of On1 for someone who is looking for an LR replacement and you said, "Anyway, I don't see how anyone could go wrong with it's use."

LR is a parametric image editor and it's workflow is 100% non-destructive and 100% non-linearly re-editable. On1 is likewise a parametric image editor and the folks at On1 claim it is likewise non-destructive. They make that claim because they know it's an important feature to a lot of us. On1 is mostly a non-destructive editor but it has a glitch which LR doesn't have and that of course goes to the OP's question about an LR replacement.

When we use the term non-destructive relative to image editing there are a couple subtle distinctions in meaning. We want the software to not overwrite the original image and that's the most obvious meaning. But we also want the editing process to allow us full access to all past adjustments and allow us to re-edit or tweak what we've already done without forcing us to re-do any of our previous work. In other words we should be able to re-consider an edit a couple months later and if we decide we want to make a change the software should allow us to do that without penalty.

On1's glitch concerns the erase/cloning tools. Unlike LR which the OP wants to replace, On1 won't allow you to go back to previous erase/cloning work that you did and tweak it. Instead On1 forces you to mass delete all of the previous erase/cloning work and then do it over again -- and that's a partially destructive workflow. And so to respond again to your comment: "Anyway, I don't see how anyone could go wrong with it's use." An LR user who switches to On1 could be pissed when they realize that unlike LR which would allow them to perform half a dozen erase/cloning jobs and then return later to tweak only the second of those operations, On1 would make you delete all half dozen and re-do them all if you wanted to change just one of them. That sucks and that's poor software design.

Joe