Photoshop Alternatives (Page 2): If you don't use Adobe, "you are ok with accepting lower quality images" I do of course agree with you regarding Adobe. I just don't understand the...

Collhar Loc: New York City.

Gene51 wrote:

If you want the most comprehensive photo editing s... (show quote)

If you don't use Adobe, "you are ok with accepting lower quality images" I do of course agree with you regarding Adobe. I just don't understand the harsh response.

AirWalter Loc: Tipp City, Ohio

shotgunner wrote:

In order to avoid paying an eternal subscription fee to Adobe, I'm researching alternatives to Photoshop. I'm hearing good things about Corel Paintshop Pro and Affinity Photo, but I have not used either one. If you have experience with either of these programs , or other Photoshop alternatives, I'm eager to hear what you have to say. FYI, my interest in photography is strictly as a hobby.

Find software that you might be interested in, download trials to see how you like them. If you need suggestions for pp software instead of trying what might appeal to you take a look at ON1, or DxO.

Nddave01 Loc: Bismarck, ND

I recently switched from the Lightroom/PS subscription to Luminar 3 and have not been disappointed. There is definitely a learning curve but quite a but a instruction is available. They do offer a free trial. But I am an amateur and do not depend on my photos to provide my income. YMMV

Collhar Loc: New York City.

Nddave01 wrote:

I recently switched from the Lightroom/PS subscription to Luminar 3 and have not been disappointed. There is definitely a learning curve but quite a but a instruction is available. They do offer a free trial. But I am an amateur and do not depend on my photos to provide my income. YMMV

Income and Photographers. Would that be an example of an Oxymoron??

Jim70 Loc: Delaware

I've just started using Affinity so I can't offer much guidance but I will say that it seems pretty easy to use and the help function is very handy.

DaveJ Loc: NE Missouri

Photoshop Elements is on sale often for $69.99. For me, so far, it is a robust program that has way more than I have been able to learn in about 1 year. From what I have read and observed, it is maybe 85-90% of what the 9.99 subscription PS has. Most, not all , that PS has Elements has. I would guess if I need to move "up" to full scale PS, the learning curve will be less. If you want no cost at all, look at Faststone Image Viewer, as it has some post processing features that might satisfy you until you need more.

anotherview Loc: California

Ditto: "Amateurs can and do work to their own high standards."

G Brown wrote:

Come on Gene....The world moves on and there are a... (show quote)

Woodworm65 Loc: Lombard, IL

I have been using Affinity photo there is a learning curve but there are many You tube videos that help also a hardcover book written by Affinity photo that is a. Great reference tool. I to got tired of the monthly fee and am not looking back.

ngrea Loc: Sandy Spring, Maryland

I find that GIMP does a good job of everything I need. It is free. You do need a raw converter, but there are several available free.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

shotgunner wrote:

In order to avoid paying an eternal subscription fee to Adobe, I'm researching alternatives to Photoshop. I'm hearing good things about Corel Paintshop Pro and Affinity Photo, but I have not used either one. If you have experience with either of these programs , or other Photoshop alternatives, I'm eager to hear what you have to say. FYI, my interest in photography is strictly as a hobby.

My Vote Go PSP, that's what I use.

khorinek

shotgunner wrote:

In order to avoid paying an eternal subscription fee to Adobe, I'm researching alternatives to Photoshop. I'm hearing good things about Corel Paintshop Pro and Affinity Photo, but I have not used either one. If you have experience with either of these programs , or other Photoshop alternatives, I'm eager to hear what you have to say. FYI, my interest in photography is strictly as a hobby.

I use Corel Paintshop Pro 2018 and Lightroom. I prefer Paintshop Pro over Lightroom. Adobe uses the import/export dialog, which takes a while to get used to. Corel acts and works like a Windows program, you have a file tree to work with and you just drag and drop photos into the work desk and it is very customizable.

Metis407 Loc: Canada

Luminar by Skylum. Excellent app with many you tube videos, particularly by Jim Nix.

Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains

shotgunner wrote:

In order to avoid paying an eternal subscription fee to Adobe, I'm researching alternatives to Photoshop. I'm hearing good things about Corel Paintshop Pro and Affinity Photo, but I have not used either one. If you have experience with either of these programs , or other Photoshop alternatives, I'm eager to hear what you have to say. FYI, my interest in photography is strictly as a hobby.

I'm an old guy mired in film era thinking and find the more advanced features of photo editing difficult to learn. I've tried about 6 different programs and have found Affinity Photo to have the easiest learning curve. As other's have said, it's also very capable. It's a bargain at a one time fee of $50 and there is a free trial available, for two weeks ABIR.

khorinek

Gene51 wrote:

If you want the most comprehensive photo editing s... (show quote)

I don't agree that "hobbyist" photographers "accept" lower quality images. I know of a lot of hobbyist photographers that produce excellent images. The only difference between a professional photographer and a hobbyist is the amount of pressure the professional is under to get that "shot" and the size of the paycheck at the end of the day. Don't sell hobbyist photographers short.

johnst1001a Loc: West Chester, Ohio

most of these cost money, and suck you in with upgrades. i had one, wont say which paid $99 then the had an upgrade for $69, and the a third, o course they promise new features. well I have photoshop, pay the $9.99 as i don't need their cloud storage. I don't have to upgrade, upgrades come occasionally and automatically. I get Lightroom as well, but rarely use it.
I get way more enjoyment out of Photoshop than Netflix which I dropped. The next thing I will drop is MS Office 360, I will get one of the free Office programs out there. i am no longer connected to any work network, which banned open source products. Or then theres amazon music which I never use, or spotify which I dumped a while ago. I for one am ver happy with photoshop and gladly pay $10/month