janv70

I downloaded LR 5 a few years back, did an upgrade last year to LR 6 (paid $79) and I'm unable to access LR now. I was told at a camera shop the reason for this is I need to get the monthly version of LR for 9.99 per month since Adobe only offers it in that capacity. I realize it's a powerful program but since I am a hobbyist, I don't want to go this route so I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a useable alternative to LR program that is effective for post processing. Thank you in advance for your response.

Bill_de Loc: US

PhotoShop Elements has many of the 'elements' of PS. It is not a subscription.

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Gimp is free, open source.


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tramsey Loc: Texas

Gimp almost like p/s
I use Fast Stone Image

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Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Not sure how “expert” you camera shop guys are, but Lightroom 5 or 6 should still be useable for JPG editing and supported raw editing. Newer cameras shooting raw may not be supported in the unsupported standalone versions.

So use depends on your shooting situation.

BTW: 10.00 per month gets you both Lightroom and Photoshop full version, always current at no additional cost

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I use Elements and Photo Impact Pro in addition to the manufacturer's RAW editor.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

I teach in my photo classes, just using Windows 10 Photos program. Even better is Apple Photos on Apple computers. They are both free and easy to use. I find that the Apple Photos will do 95% of all the PP I need to do.

alby Loc: very eastern pa.

apple photos does it for me, but i don't need much

jrm21

a "free" alternative: If you are working on a Mac system, the "Photos" app (included/free) has some very good post-processing tools.

An "inexpensive" alternative to Photoshop is Serif's "Affinity Photo." Windows and Mac versions available ($50). There is also an iPad version ($20). The desktop version is very comparable to Photoshop with many of the same features. Neither version of Affinity Photo requires a subscription - all one-time purchase.

Bipod

If you want a package that is:
* proprietary
* based on secret algortihms
* doesn't tell you which digital filters are information-lossy
* doesn't keep track of how much information has been lost from your original photo
* doesn't display the image file as it will appear in the final image (e.g., paper dprint, or different monitor
type or size)

then you are in luck, because every commercial package meets those requirements.

Only the contractor who wrote a particular routine knows what it actually does to your
image. For example, different "sharpen" routines work differently, but as they are all
secret and no one is paid to compare them, no one knows which is best--or how much
damage it does to gradation or how many digitital "artifacts" it creates.

But hey, what you don't know can't hurt you, right? And if you can't trust software
vendors, who can you trust?

Some have more features than others, and some re easier to use than others, but all
assume that the monitor on which you are runnning the program is how you plan to
display the final print.

Of course, monitors differ widely in size, resolution and dynamic range, and and paper
prints can be any size and always have less dynamic range (even than an LCD/LED
monitor). But what--you-see determines what-you-get, even if you plan to print or
display on a different type of monitor.

But surprises are nice, right?

It's sad that photography is now full of secret camera firmware and secret processing
software, but that's the price we pay for bringing computers into the game, and letting
them make decisions for us.

Photography is inherently optical, but it is only chemical, electrical, electronic or
computerized if you want it to be. And its possibe to shoot film and print digitally
(by scanning the negative), or shoot digital and contact print (by computer printing
a transparency. There are many ways to skin a cat.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Do you have your license key for either the LR5 or LR6 software? You would have needed your LR5 key to purchase the LR6 update, so you should have both. You can install / reinstall and use this fully functional stand-alone software you've bought and paid for. You can access the Adobe site and re-download the software install files, if needed, as long as you have the license key(s). Open a chat session with Adobe on their site and they can help get you to the files for download, again assuming you have one or both the 5 or 6 license keys. There's no reason to buy more software and throwaway your investment in market-leading software appropriate for both professionals and hobbyists. Extensive LR training available, for free, from the Adobe site and / or videos on u-tube.

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mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

If you paid $79 for Lightroom 6 you had the standalone version which is different from the monthly subscription version for $9.99. It should still be working.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

an older version of Elements .....