Substitute for Adobe Creative Cloud Photo: I have been using the $9.99/month Adobe Creative Cloud subscription but am considering going with an ownership purchase to replace PS and...

Prof M Loc: Corvallis. OR

I have been using the $9.99/month Adobe Creative Cloud subscription but am considering going with an ownership purchase to replace PS and LRC. I am looking at ON1 because it seems to offer both PS and LRC features in one package. Does anyone have experience with ON1 or some other editor that adequately serves as a replacement for Adobe?

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Following

Don

waltnetto Loc: LaVerne, CA

Following as well

Cheapshot Loc: California.

Ditto!

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

Prof M wrote:

I have been using the $9.99/month Adobe Creative Cloud subscription but am considering going with an ownership purchase to replace PS and LRC. I am looking at ON1 because it seems to offer both PS and LRC features in one package. Does anyone have experience with ON1 or some other editor that adequately serves as a replacement for Adobe?

ON1 would be a good alternative to consider. It is fundamentally a parametric editor like LRC but lacking LR's extensive DAM capabilities. ON1 has an above average file browser and can create collections of photos but it doesn't compete with LR. ON1 is designed primarily as a raw file processor. As a parametric editor it does not replace the raster editing abilities of PS. If you often rely on PS then you'll want a replacement for it. (Or learn to do without it). That would be Affinity Photo which is available without subscription and inexpensive.

ON1 often goes on sale as does AP and you should be able to save over what you pay now for Adobe. ON1 has a 14 day free trial so you can have a look no cost.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

"...or some other editor that adequately serves as a replacement for Adobe?"

In other words, and your own words, you are looking for whatever might be second best?

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

For those who commented in order to "follow," next time just use the WATCH button located at top of opening post

PS Elements is a stripped down version of LR/PS combined, if you (the OP) has some knowledge already that you would like to take advantage of. There's a free trial. Even though they come out with a "new" model annually, older models are often serviceable for years. I've had one version or another since 2013.

However, I don't believe you will have access to Creative Cloud.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The best subscriptions are to those things you cannot buy.

CliffMcKenzie Loc: Lake Athens Texas

I see a common and repeating error of UHH (everywhere else included), but I like how you worded it, "ownership purchase". You may rent software (license right) monthly, annually or one time rental, but you cannot purchase it. My point is we may only rent software. When I see people sticking with LR 5 or 6, they are just cheating themselves. The LR & PS monthly subscription is a bargain for the serious photographer.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

CliffMcKenzie wrote:

I see a common and repeating error of UHH (everywhere else included), but I like how you worded it, "ownership purchase". You may rent software (license right) monthly, annually or one time rental, but you cannot purchase it. My point is we may only rent software. When I see people sticking with LR 5 or 6, they are just cheating themselves. The LR & PS monthly subscription is a bargain for the serious photographer.

Who cares about the words?

If you pay once ever or every year or every month, that's the issue, not the words.

I paid $100 for LR5 in 2014 and another $90 in 2018 to update to LR6. Compare that to $120 per year from 2018 to today, a cumulative $560. Every year I don't update my cameras and don't update my software, my savings get more substantial.

dsnoke Loc: North Georgia, USA

There a quite a few alternatives to consider. Topaz, ON1, Luminar NEO, Affinity Photo are a few of the packages you buy for a one-time cost. The free alternatives include the GIMP, darktable, and lightzone. Each of these has its own strengths and weaknesses, and each has a learning curve. I think your best bet is to try the free trial version of each to see which you prefer.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Capture One. Especially if you shoot Fuji w/ XTrans sensors.

CliffMcKenzie Loc: Lake Athens Texas

CHG_CANON wrote:

Who cares about the words?

If you pay once ever or every year or every month, that's the issue, not the words.

I paid $100 for LR5 in 2014 and another $90 in 2018 to update to LR6. Compare that to $120 per year from 2018 to today, a cumulative $560. Every year I don't update my cameras and don't update my software, my savings get more substantial.

Paul, interesting response, but first, the words are important. You are renting software in all cases, unless you are buying source code which is above this conversation.

You state on one hand LR5 and LR6 “purchase” but then acknowledge the need to constantly stay upgraded. You have in previous writings supported the need to stay upgraded in Adobe product as you continue your monthly subscription. In the end, no one is hung up on words if the party understands it is a rental in all cases.

What is really at stake is far greater. We are long past the days of shooting film and dropping it off at Eckerd’s (playing on your Dallas past). Today, photography is a balance between the shot and the processing.

photoman43

Prof M wrote:

I have been using the $9.99/month Adobe Creative Cloud subscription but am considering going with an ownership purchase to replace PS and LRC. I am looking at ON1 because it seems to offer both PS and LRC features in one package. Does anyone have experience with ON1 or some other editor that adequately serves as a replacement for Adobe?

I suggest you check out DXO PL5 Essential version. It costs more than the Elite version, but Essenetial gives you the most advanced noise reduction.

Download the free trial version and see if you like it. It works on windows and Macs.

Machinedoc Loc: Yorktown Heights, NY

If you decide to move from Adobe to another platform, please check to make sure that any editing you have made will be available if you move to other applications. Also, your moniker suggests that you might be an educator. If that is true are you aware that Adobe offers a discount to educators? Good luck in your decision. Personally, I stay with Adobe because I really like the feature set their applications offer.