mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I use ON1. Can't say this is the best, it's simply what was recommended to me by an instructor during a 3 day workshop. There are different modules for different effects. I've been using the black and white one.

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

I don't get it either. Like buying a car but refusing to pay for gas, tires, brakes, etc - believing that the car companies are in a conspiracy with Big Oil to drain your wallet - once they get you to buy a car, they will raise the prices on petroleum products. Does not compute . . .

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Some folks, like me, just like to own their programs. I don’t see anything wrong with that.

thegrover Loc: Yorba Linda, CA

wds0410 Loc: Nunya

Some folks just have difficulty with those that don't see the world they way they do.

wolkodoff1

totally agree with Barry, I got Skylum for my mac, have never looked back. lots of controls, and 90% of the time, the pre-sets do the job. exporting back the first time takes a little work so it saves it in the format you want to use, not their format. one you get over that, away you go. PS is fine, this is just faster and a one time price.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Not to be too picky, but one doesn’t “own” software. If you read the license agreement, you’ll note that you are buying a license to use it under some specific conditions. And when a new version with enhanced features is introduced or the older version becomes obsolete or unsupportable, then you purchase another license to USE the new version, and so on. The truth is that you’re always “renting” SW, so it makes little difference whether you pay for it monthly or in lump sums periodically, except that so far, it is decidedly less expensive to subscribe to PS & LR at $9.95 per month than it was to purchase a license and purchase periodic upgrades.

don26812 Loc: South Bay of Los Angeles, CA

Good choice.

wds0410 Loc: Nunya

Doesn't that depend on how long you use that subscription? For example, for 10 years that cost runs up to $1200. As for upgrades, there is no implicit promise from Adobe that they will upgrade that software during that period nor is there a choice whether you want the upgrade or not. Lack of choice is one of the reasons I don't use LR/PS. But I understand that others may not feel the same. To each their own.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

PSE or Photoshop Elements 2018

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

If the only thing you want is a single piece of photo editing software, an Adobe subscription is probably not your best choice. If your procedure is shoot, process and print, there is no need for the subscription. If you are a SOC JPEG shooter, it is even more useless to have an Adobe $10/month subscription.

To Adobe's credit, they realized the rate of change in graphics software, internet capability and the expanding variety of photographers. The $10 plan starts with having both Photoshop and Lightroom Classic. It adds Lightroom CC (formally "mobile"). Add Portfolio and Bridge. There is even a connection to allow selling of images through Adobe Stock. It is an interconnected system of parts that would not work well under the old licensing system. Rental is better.

Bragging a bit, take a look at my portfolio link below. Then look at it on your phone, tablet or (even) TV. It works everywhere and it is managed from within Lightroom Classic through links to other parts in the system.

Back to the OP's question. Lightroom Classic is built so you can put links in it to any processing program you want.

sv3noKin51E

There's a lot to be said for Gimp; it has come a long way -I hear and understand the volume of objections). I've used most of the programs sold for manipulating photographs over the years then began using Gimp a few years ago, mainly to see what all hubbub and nay saying was about. No doubt Gimp is different but it's good if you invest time to learn and adapt yourself to achieve harmony with the software. Like most software, Gimp doesn't do well without sufficient memory; 32 GB is fine and more is always better; with an ssd, Gimp flies on our machine. Some one always objects to this or that; there are many who don't care for the way Nikon lays our the camera menus but they still love and use the camera to make great art. I try to look at this as apples and oranges for comparison; any program that helps you work with your photographs, is going to be complex. The philosophy of paying, vs open source and not paying monthly subscription fees seems to be the most common complaint, followed by ease of use, flow, etc. I use Gimp with darktable as a plug in. The learning curve that others object to is not as objectionable as some make it seem, there are forums and video tutorials, and the help file is there go guide you.

As long as one isn't adverse to investing the time to make the program you choose an extension of yourself, you can learn how to do amazing things with Gimp or any other program. Gimp has videos, tutorials and forums; it's never seemed daunting, even though Gimp is very deep program; the investment of time is to be expected with any advanced program if you want to master it. We've used many of the other programs mentioned; still have a copy of Photoshop 6 on an old offline XP machine that we loved back then. Digikam is another good free editor with a layout that's easy on the eyes, and Irfanview has a unique spot in our heart. Whether you pay per month or use any of the open source editors, use what you like after trying them for a few days. Finding the one that is harmonious with the way you want to work may take a while, but playing around with program features before you get serious can be lots of fun. sv

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I agree, but historically, if you purchased a stand alone PS and LR license and upgraded twice in the 10 years (to add the new features, functionality and camera support), you would have spent well more than $1200. Also historically, while they are not required to do so, updates to the monthly subscription have added new features and functionality, but perhaps most importantly, support for new cameras. Almost every week there’s a post by a previous purchaser of an earlier LR or PS version license that has purchased a new camera, and the raw format of his new camera isn’t supported. As you say, to each their own...

wds0410 Loc: Nunya

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Photoshop Elements.