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Corel Aftershot Pro 3
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Feb 25, 2021 09:54:45   #
IDguy Loc: Idaho
 
I received this program free with a recent lens purchase from Adorama. Interested in comments from users; particularly those (like myself) with Lightroom experience.

My initial impression is favorable. Especially since it does not have ongoing cost. I see it sells for $63 so it is a better deal than I thought.

It seems to be easy to operate. I like that it uses the computer file structure and thus does not create a separate catalog to back up. The video says you can always restore your images to the original so I am not clear on how it is storing edits.

I am tempted to blow off my Adobe subscription. I don't use Photoshop often and have never become proficient with it. Aftershot enables a certain degree of layering.

Reply
Feb 25, 2021 10:27:11   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
I used Corel about 20 years ago. It's an adequate program.

Unfortunately, I'm almost married to Ps due to the amount of custom programming I've done with and to it over the last 20 years.
--Bob
IDguy wrote:
I received this program free with a recent lens purchase from Adorama. Interested in comments from users; particularly those (like myself) with Lightroom experience.

My initial impression is favorable. Especially since it does not have ongoing cost. I see it sells for $63 so it is a better deal than I thought.

It seems to be easy to operate. I like that it uses the computer file structure and thus does not create a separate catalog to back up. The video says you can always restore your images to the original so I am not clear on how it is storing edits.

I am tempted to blow off my Adobe subscription. I don't use Photoshop often and have never become proficient with it. Aftershot enables a certain degree of layering.
I received this program free with a recent lens pu... (show quote)

Reply
Feb 25, 2021 10:29:17   #
Ysarex Loc: St. Louis
 
IDguy wrote:
I received this program free with a recent lens purchase from Adorama. Interested in comments from users; particularly those (like myself) with Lightroom experience.

My initial impression is favorable. Especially since it does not have ongoing cost. I see it sells for $63 so it is a better deal than I thought.

It seems to be easy to operate. I like that it uses the computer file structure and thus does not create a separate catalog to back up. The video says you can always restore your images to the original so I am not clear on how it is storing edits.

I am tempted to blow off my Adobe subscription. I don't use Photoshop often and have never become proficient with it. Aftershot enables a certain degree of layering.
I received this program free with a recent lens pu... (show quote)


Aftershot is the current incarnation of Bibble -- Corel bought them out. Your edits are stored in side car .xmp files in the subdirectory with the raw files.

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Feb 25, 2021 13:10:12   #
DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area
 
IDguy wrote:
I received this program free with a recent lens purchase from Adorama. Interested in comments from users; particularly those (like myself) with Lightroom experience.

My initial impression is favorable. Especially since it does not have ongoing cost. I see it sells for $63 so it is a better deal than I thought.

It seems to be easy to operate. I like that it uses the computer file structure and thus does not create a separate catalog to back up. The video says you can always restore your images to the original so I am not clear on how it is storing edits.

I am tempted to blow off my Adobe subscription. I don't use Photoshop often and have never become proficient with it. Aftershot enables a certain degree of layering.
I received this program free with a recent lens pu... (show quote)


It's sort of a Lightroom wannabee. I tried it for a while a few years back. When I got a new camera, it took Corel a year to update so it would read its raw files. That did it for me, and I've been using LR ever since.

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Feb 25, 2021 18:38:26   #
IDguy Loc: Idaho
 
Ysarex wrote:
Aftershot is the current incarnation of Bibble -- Corel bought them out. Your edits are stored in side car .xmp files in the subdirectory with the raw files.


I suspected that about the xmp files. I didn’t see them in the folder, though. Maybe I didn’t relook in the folder after making some changes.

I like the ability to look at and work on images without importing. What I have done so far doesn’t appear to be as capable as Lightroom. More testing needed.

Reply
Feb 25, 2021 19:14:51   #
mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey
 
IDguy wrote:
I suspected that about the xmp files. I didn’t see them in the folder, though. Maybe I didn’t relook in the folder after making some changes.

I like the ability to look at and work on images without importing. What I have done so far doesn’t appear to be as capable as Lightroom. More testing needed.

While AfterShot may meet your needs It really can't be compared to Lightroom, or for that matter Capture One Pro, or DXO Photolab Elite. It simply is not in the same league.

Having similar sliders and some similar features does not make it equally good. The implementation of its tools and the quality of its output is mediocre in comparison to the best processors out there.

There is a reason why AfterShot Pro is rarely included in any serious comparisons of the top processors. Out of personal curiosity, I spent a month with the trial version around a year or so ago. I was very far from being impressed. It was very disappointing compared to everything else I've trialed.

However, If you're happy with it, especially for free, use it.

Reply
Feb 26, 2021 06:16:48   #
Red6
 
IDguy wrote:
I received this program free with a recent lens purchase from Adorama. Interested in comments from users; particularly those (like myself) with Lightroom experience.

My initial impression is favorable. Especially since it does not have ongoing cost. I see it sells for $63 so it is a better deal than I thought.

It seems to be easy to operate. I like that it uses the computer file structure and thus does not create a separate catalog to back up. The video says you can always restore your images to the original so I am not clear on how it is storing edits.

I am tempted to blow off my Adobe subscription. I don't use Photoshop often and have never become proficient with it. Aftershot enables a certain degree of layering.
I received this program free with a recent lens pu... (show quote)


Like you, I received a whole suite of Corel software free from Adorama. I started using After Shot and so far it seems adequate. I stopped using LR/PS a year or so ago because I was trying to reduce monthly subscriptions and eliminate LR catalog problems. I purchased Photoshop Elements 2020 but just was not happy with it. While it was advertised to be easy to use for the general hobby photographer, I found it clunky and non-intuitive. Adobe really pushes the Organizer and makes it a little more difficult if you do not want to use it. Even the version of Adobe Camera Raw seemed odd after the very nice interface in LR.

My main problem with LR, and it seems others have this issue also, is the catalog system. Do something wrong and the program goes off into left field somewhere. Sometimes it would take hours to discover that I had changed some setting somewhere that triggered the issue. I am pretty organized in my file structure so I decided that I needed something else that was not so picky. For a working pro or advanced hobbyist that deals with hundreds of images, I am sure it is great, but for me, it is overkill and too complex.

I received Aftershot Pro 3 and Corel Paintshop Pro 2020 and so far have been satisfied. After Shot allows you to just load your photos into any file on the computer, I use the Pictures folder in WIN10, and then point Aftershot to the photo or photos that you wish to process. The adjustments are kept in sidecar files, in a separate AFtershot folder that it creates in your Pictures folder. So far no problems and no catalog issues. I think it offers just about any adjustment that LR ACR offers and in my opinion is easier easy to use. So I think I will stick with it for now. It was free and does what I need.

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Feb 26, 2021 07:47:21   #
AGO
 
I got Aftershot from Adorama as part of a package with new camera. I haven't used it yet because it can't read the raw files from the camera it came with. I emailed Adorama about this problem but never got an answer. The Pro 3 is not the latest version so I think including it in the bundle was just a tease rather than a Bonus item.

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Feb 26, 2021 09:53:35   #
Red6
 
AGO wrote:
I got Aftershot from Adorama as part of a package with new camera. I haven't used it yet because it can't read the raw files from the camera it came with. I emailed Adorama about this problem but never got an answer. The Pro 3 is not the latest version so I think including it in the bundle was just a tease rather than a Bonus item.


Not sure what the issue would be. I have a Sony and once I installed AfterShot it immediately read in my raw files and presented them for processing much like LR. I also had Nikon and Canon raw files from previous cameras I owned and it read them as well.

I did not receive physical software but downloaded it from the Corel website so it was the latest version. Adorama sent me only the activation codes for AfterShot Pro3, Paintshop Pro 2020 and 3 other software packages including a video editor. I have loaded all of them and they are all the latest version that Corel offers.

I would call Corel with the problem. Possibly they can update your version.

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Feb 26, 2021 11:51:18   #
AGO
 
Red6 wrote:
Not sure what the issue would be. I have a Sony and once I installed AfterShot it immediately read in my raw files and presented them for processing much like LR. I also had Nikon and Canon raw files from previous cameras I owned and it read them as well.

I did not receive physical software but downloaded it from the Corel website so it was the latest version. Adorama sent me only the activation codes for AfterShot Pro3, Paintshop Pro 2020 and 3 other software packages including a video editor. I have loaded all of them and they are all the latest version that Corel offers.

I would call Corel with the problem. Possibly they can update your version.
Not sure what the issue would be. I have a Sony a... (show quote)


It reads NEF raw files from my old Nikons but does not read the newer NRW raw files. I tried to get an update but got a message that my version was the latest.

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Feb 26, 2021 11:58:15   #
tdozier3 Loc: Northern Illinois
 
IDguy wrote:
I received this program free with a recent lens purchase from Adorama. Interested in comments from users; particularly those (like myself) with Lightroom experience.

My initial impression is favorable. Especially since it does not have ongoing cost. I see it sells for $63 so it is a better deal than I thought.

It seems to be easy to operate. I like that it uses the computer file structure and thus does not create a separate catalog to back up. The video says you can always restore your images to the original so I am not clear on how it is storing edits.

I am tempted to blow off my Adobe subscription. I don't use Photoshop often and have never become proficient with it. Aftershot enables a certain degree of layering.
I received this program free with a recent lens pu... (show quote)
I love it and use it all the time. Consider purchasing the Grad Filter Pro add on. It's quite useful and well worth the money

Reply
 
 
Feb 26, 2021 15:29:14   #
Bill_de Loc: US
 
Red6 wrote:
Like you, I received a whole suite of Corel software free from Adorama. I started using After Shot and so far it seems adequate. I stopped using LR/PS a year or so ago because I was trying to reduce monthly subscriptions and eliminate LR catalog problems. I purchased Photoshop Elements 2020 but just was not happy with it. While it was advertised to be easy to use for the general hobby photographer, I found it clunky and non-intuitive. Adobe really pushes the Organizer and makes it a little more difficult if you do not want to use it. Even the version of Adobe Camera Raw seemed odd after the very nice interface in LR.

My main problem with LR, and it seems others have this issue also, is the catalog system. Do something wrong and the program goes off into left field somewhere. Sometimes it would take hours to discover that I had changed some setting somewhere that triggered the issue. I am pretty organized in my file structure so I decided that I needed something else that was not so picky. For a working pro or advanced hobbyist that deals with hundreds of images, I am sure it is great, but for me, it is overkill and too complex.

I received Aftershot Pro 3 and Corel Paintshop Pro 2020 and so far have been satisfied. After Shot allows you to just load your photos into any file on the computer, I use the Pictures folder in WIN10, and then point Aftershot to the photo or photos that you wish to process. The adjustments are kept in sidecar files, in a separate AFtershot folder that it creates in your Pictures folder. So far no problems and no catalog issues. I think it offers just about any adjustment that LR ACR offers and in my opinion is easier easy to use. So I think I will stick with it for now. It was free and does what I need.
Like you, I received a whole suite of Corel softwa... (show quote)


You can use a shortcut/icon to open Element's Editor and never even see the Organizer. You can also set your images files to open the editor directly.

---

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Feb 26, 2021 20:08:50   #
R426 User Loc: Southern California
 
New member. So happens I have AfterShot3 Pro. Capable program. Easy to use. I use it mostly for the watermark feature. However, a couple of caveats for you to consider:

1. If it doesn't open your new camera's raw files you may need to tell it what camera you are using. I got a new Sony A7Riv and it would not initially open raw files from that camera. On the settings window at the very bottom is a "more" button which use can use to tell it what camera you are using and if needed it will download an update for that specific camera and you should be good to go.

2. For Sony I have been using the free Capture One Express for Sony program as I find I like the quick edit setting easier to use, but still use AfterShot 3 Pro to add watermarks, but have come across one problem with that workflow. I also use Topaz De-Noise AI which I love, but using it before or after using AfterShot 3 Pro watermark feature, AfterShot 3 Pro quits displaying metadata, so if I export file from AfterShot 3 Pro, the exported file does not include this info and it also does not show up in Windows photo viewer. I contacted Topaz and they indicated it is their issue and are working on a fix. I have a workaround but it requires my initial raw file export be to a tiff file rather than JPEG, so even though AfterShot3 Pro still can't display the metadata, it does appear in Windows Photo Viewer. But dealing with 150mb+ tiff files does chew up storage space.

Sorry for the long winded response but hopefully it answers some of your question.

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Feb 26, 2021 21:09:17   #
photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA
 
I picked up AfterShot Pro a number of years ago. I use Corel's WordPerfect and they sent me an offer I couldn't refuse with AfterShot; it cost something like $10 at the time. I also use PhotoShop Elements (2014). I compared my RAW outputs using Adobe Camera RAW and AfterShot Pro and was more impressed with ACR. AfterShot is still on my laptop but I never use it anymore even though it exported files to PSE.

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Feb 26, 2021 23:17:48   #
Henlopen Loc: Lewes, Delaware
 
I'm so glad you brought up this topic. I had AfterShot 3 Standard installed but never did much with it, so I fired it up and tried it out on about 5 poorly done scans from 1998-1999 in pretty low resolution, and was amazed at how quick and easy it was to clean up the image and resave them as TIFF's to work on later with some other programs I use to enhance old photos. I also recently upgraded from PSP2019 to 2021, and was happily satisfied with the improvements that Corel had done with that program also. I was afraid when they bought the company from JASC that they would just milk it until it died, but hopefully that won't be the case. I still use LR for organizing, but am finding when I just need to do a few photos quickly, there are other ways of getting the job done well.

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