scg3

A friend of mine who's a real studio-photographer techie was raving about ON1 Photo RAW 2018, saying it solved many problems for him. Unfortunately, he didn't explain which problems he was talking about. I'm a stringer for the Los Angeles Times, have been using Photoshop for many years, and don't see any particular reason to switch but I'm always willing to listen to new suggestions. How does anyone feel about ON1 RAW versus PS? Is there a reason to think it will speed up my turnaround or improve my visual quality? I got the 30-day free trial but it mentions "hundreds" of video tutorials! I'm thoroughly intimidated and incline to the proverbial path of least resistance, i.e. stick with PS. Thanks in advance, everyone. -- Spencer

Bill_de Loc: US

First thing I would do is go back and ask your friend. Then let us know what he was talking about.

PS is much more mature than On 1 and may have more features. For example, if you do focus stacking On1 announced it will be added in the soon to be released 2019 version. PS has had it for some time.

Each program has more features than any one person will use, but everyone has different needs. You need to compare features and see which program does what you want in a way that is more intuitive to you. Then take advantage of the free trials.

It should also be noted that for many there is not one best program. They use multiple programs, often on the same image.

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rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

In the past, I used Lightroom v5.7 - altho it worked fine, Adobe no longer supported it and v5.7 stopped recognizing many more-recent cameras and Raw/Jpeg camera files. Since On1 Photo Raw seemed to be staying more current with new camera models, I started using it especially for Raw files. When On1 2018 came along, I installed it and continued using it in the same fashion. I confess that I have not made an effort to learn its advanced features, but there are plenty of YouTube videos from Morganti and others which I can use to do so when I get around to that. In the meantime, however, I recently - at long last - subscribed to the Lightroom Classic CC/Photoshop CC bundle which may resolve many of my file recognition and conversion obstacles. On1 is a fine, full-featured photo editing tool whose developers work very hard to keep it up to date and relevant. In my experience, On1’s developers provide better Customer Service than other apps. That said, I believe Adobe has gotten a lot better at training and Customer Service than it was in the past.

scg3

Thanks folks...think I'll stick with PS!

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

The Adobe subscription for LR and PS is about as complete an editing program as you could want! And it is regularly updated, including new features. On1 is a fine program, and apparently does a few things "better", but not enough to warrant a complete switch. Many use it like other plug-ins - "as needed".

Wilderness Images Loc: Apache Junction, AZ.

When Lightroom/Photoshop graduated to the subscription program, I went shopping. I tried most of the popular photo editors and settled on the On1 Photo RAW 2017. My computer of choice is the PC with quad-core processor and all the gigs I could squeeze into my HP laptop. There was lots of growing problems with On1 at that time because they were in the midst of a complete re-write of the entire program to make it more compatible with the current high-power processors that were now on the market.

The program crashed frequently and I requested assistance from Customer Service... and they replied (I NEVER received a reply from Adobe). With each release of updated programs, it became more stable and I kept up with the latest version as it became available. Some of my photo editing techniques caused Lightroom to crash and I think I have finally worked through those same kind of crashes with On1 so I intend to keep on using it. Soon the 2019 version will be released and I'll be standing in line for my upgrade.

The tools available to On1 are less (fewer) than the tools in Photoshop, but I've found that these ON1 tools work so efficiently that I don't need the full compliment offered by Photoshop to accomplish the same editing feats. There are lots of high quality video tutorials available for ON1 to get you initially acquainted with the program and many more as you progress into the advanced features. One of the things that sold me from the start was that there is no importing photos from your camera into a Lightroom directory, you just download your latest photos into your computer, locate them in On1 and start editing. The 2019 version of ON1 will allow Lightroom users to transfer their edited photos into ON1 and keep the edits that had been used in Lightroom.

Haven't missed Lightroom/Photoshop in the least.... Jack

Nikon1201

I bought ON1Photo Raw and tried using it . It does a lot of neat stuff with the many filters but always gravitated back to LR and PS . LR and PS does everything for me that ON1 does. If you a LR user , save your money .

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The 2019 version has been announced, so whatever 2018 has to offer, 2019 should offer more.

https://www.on1.com/blog/an-all-new-photo-editing-experience-on1-photo-raw-2019/

Bike guy Loc: Atlanta

You should know that ON1 charges for each update. I am done with that.

philz Loc: Rockaway Township NJ

People who are long-time users of Photoshop, that is those who have invested the time and effort to learn how to use this powerful but complex program, tend to stay with it. Those who like me who were predominantly Lightroom users who went to PS for only a few things like content-aware and compositing in layers are the prime ON1 Raw customers. Why? Because On1 Raw combines the digital asset management and raw editing capability of Lightroom with most of the useful capability of Photoshop and adds a lot of the styling capability of Topaz and NIK filters in a non-destructive workflow. That is, no need to bake in edits into a humongous new PSD file to accomplish the editing you want to do. Therefore, everything is re-editable while still in a raw format. And fast.

With On1 Raw 2019 adding text, focus stacking, layers in raw editing, and portrait mode, my need to use Photoshop is gone. Did I mention the masking tools are awesome and much easier to use than with PS?

randave2001 Loc: Richmond

Right now I subscribe to Adobe's PS and LR bundle at the cost of $10.71/mo making it $128.52/yr (at its present cost). I also have an ON1 Plus Pro account at the cost of $129.99/yr. I will test out ON1 Photo RAW 2019 when it releases in November and then make a decision which of these bundles I will keep. The upgrade fees are covered with the ON1 Plus Pro membership and in addition you get excellent support along with many live events and other tutorials. So the annual cost is a wash to those subscribing to the Adobe package. Having dealt with both Adobe and ON1 for many years I find it refreshing to have a company that gives such great support place a challenge to the Adobe solution. Don't get me wrong, I truly like the Adobe SW, I just like the idea of having choices.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

After importing into Lightroom, I use ON1 more than I use Photoshop. This is a strictly a personal preference based on what I am most comfortable with, and limited post-processing experience.

philz Loc: Rockaway Township NJ

Note that as of now On1 Raw does not include some pixel editing capability like Liquefy, expanding canvas, and severe perspective changes. However, for a one-time fee of $40 I bought Affinity Photo to handle these functions and almost all that PS does, and until On1 Raw 2019 comes out, adding text.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

ON1 Photo RAW 2018 isn't a replacement for Photoshop as much as a replacement for Lightroom. It works much like LR with its own particular added features. Of course, you don't have to have one or the other program, you can have them both. I use Lightroom, Photoshop, ON1 and Paintshop Pro. I have preferred features in all of them.

philz Loc: Rockaway Township NJ

On1 Raw is a total replacement for Lightroom but it is so much more as it includes a lot of capability one has to go into Photoshop to do. Like layers and content aware and greater masking. Plus all the styling features not available in either LR or PS. A total replacement for PS, no, but for most image editing yes.