If everywhere you look, you find only references to Adobe products for photo editing and are wondering “what else is there?”, then this post is for you. I break down the top major alternatives.
Capture One is a professional-grade photo editing software favored by many commercial, portrait, and fashion photographers. It offers advanced color grading tools, precise adjustment controls, and tethered shooting capabilities. However, its learning curve can be steep for beginners, and it may not have as many third-party plugins as some other programs.
DxO PhotoLab is known for its excellent noise reduction and optical correction features, making it a top choice for landscape, architecture, and travel photographers. Its interface is user-friendly, and it also includes a library management system. However, it lacks some of the more advanced retouching tools found in other software.
ON1 Photo RAW is an all-in-one photo editing software that includes both basic and advanced features, such as layer support, HDR merging, and masking tools. It’s popular among hybrid shooters who want to streamline their workflow, as it also includes a browser and cataloging system. However, its performance may be slower compared to other programs.
Affinity Photo is a relatively new player in the market but has gained a loyal following among graphic designers, illustrators, and photographers who want a powerful, affordable alternative to Photoshop. It includes advanced retouching tools, layer blending modes, and non-destructive editing capabilities. However, its workflow may not be as intuitive as other software, and it may not have as many third-party resources.
Luminar Neo is a photo editing software that uses artificial intelligence to automate common editing tasks, such as sky replacement, portrait retouching, and object removal. It’s geared towards photographers who want to speed up their workflow and don’t want to spend as much time manually editing. However, its AI-based tools may not always produce the most realistic results, and it may not have as many advanced features as some other programs.
ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate is a comprehensive photo editing software that includes features for photo management, RAW processing, and retouching. It’s popular among professional photographers who want an all-in-one solution that doesn’t require them to switch between different programs. However, its interface may be overwhelming for beginners, and its performance may be slower compared to some other software.
Corel PaintShop Pro is a photo editing software that offers basic and advanced features for photo editing, graphic design, and illustration. It’s popular among hobbyists and enthusiasts who want a comprehensive yet affordable software that includes many of the same features as Photoshop. However, its performance may be slower compared to some other software, and it may not have as many advanced features as some other programs.
Don’t get me wrong, Adobe makes some of the best software for photographers in the world, but it’s always good to have insight into everything that is available and find the editing tool that fit you best.
