I use Affinity Photo for more heavy lifting, Apple Photos for catalog, key wording and simple adjustments and Pixelmator Pro for medium duty editing. I do use Topaz Photo AI (and the older sharpening and Denise) for those times when it is needed.
Capture One, Luminar Neo, DXO, Affinity,... which Adobe alternative do you use?
- Thread starter KevCan
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Long time LR and PS user. I have used Capture 1, but not really a fan, and have tried the free trials of DXO tools, didn't buy any. I do like Topaz denoise, and recently started using their Photo AI, and I'm really liking it so far. Not liking the added step of exporting the RAW image for processing, but I have a good work flow routine figured out for these.
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KevCan
Member
Thanks for sharing your experience. I will check them out.
@KevCan Yep, been there done that. I first replaced the bloated/costly Adobe suite with the Affinity suite b/c I do a lot of vector work also (Affinity Designer) and came to believe that Affinity Photo had "enough" of Photoshop in it for my photo work. This was 6 years ago and I am still solid with this direction. But I have tried them all and my workflow now includes this:
► Affinity Photo for majority of photo work, also selects and/or replaces objects extremely well.
► On1 Raw for RAW, best/easiest masking of any program out there, great with LUTs, and easiest built-in effects ever.
► Luminar Neo for fastest overall 0-100mph take-a-poor-image-and-make-it-look-great AI edits, Jim Nix best Youtuber pro for both Luminar & On1.
• I don't use LR at all.
• I let my Topaz & NIK licenses expire since the programs above now reasonably handle those specialties, IMHO.
• DXO and Capture 1 are both great but pricier and I chose the others above as they now pretty much include the features that were stand-out in DXO and Capture 1 (excellent at tethering BTW, but On1 at least tethers for Nikon, not Sony).
** Please understand, I'm absolutely NOT saying it takes 3 programs to replace Photoshop— it does not— I replaced Photoshop with Affinity Photo!
I'm just saying that as I tried all these other programs I found something so particularly good in them that it is worth it to me to keep them.
Disclaimer. This is just me, not at all the best editor in the land, not the best photo-maker in the land, probably evaluated these programs differently than you might, so, as usual YMMV, your mileage may vary.
✔Good luck with your decisions.
TRW
Member
I’ve been using C1 for the last 4 years to handle all my photo processing and editing. Picked this software on a recommendation from a local photographer and have been pleased with the results. There is definitely a learning curve to work through but found a lot of great content on YouTube and a major amount of trial and error. This was my first venture into a dedicated software for photograph, previously I was using the options on my Mac. The largest jump I had to make was the concept of not owning the software but using a subscription plan. Had the same issue moving from CD’s to Spotify on possessing music.
abc123brian
Well-known member
I’m using CaptureOne, but I don’t like their new perpetual license model. They have changed their model that you buy it at a point in time and that’s what you get. For the price, they should have offered you a period of time with free updates, whether that be 3 months, 1 year, or whatever, but $300 for no updates seems like a bad joke. Now that I have a Z8 on order, I am assuming I won’t have support for it and it will cost me $300 to get a one time update to be able to use the files in CaptureOne. I don’t want to convert them first using other software then import them just to be able to edit them. last year, I bought DXO 6 during Black Friday sale and played with it some. In the last few weeks I started playing with it more since I may opt to use it instead of sticking with CaptureOne and it seems pretty decent overall. Having switched from Apple’s Aperture to LightRoom, then to CaptureOne in the past, I can tell you there is a learning curve to learning the new program, where things are, how to do things in one that may not work as well or may not have a feature the previous did. There is always something the new software does better so feature wise it is probably a wash. If you decide to move to something different, be patient and prepare to spend time learning it.
JP Onstwedder
Well-known member
I’m in the same boat re: Capture One. A possible solution is to use PureRaw, using it to apply camera and lens corrections as well as noise reduction. Export a linear DNG file and the older version of C1 works just fine. Of course that shifts the ‘new camera support’ issue to DxO but they’re generally better, and PureRaw updates won’t cost $300 …
I've been using Lightroom since version 5 and switched over to the subscription program of LR and PS when I retired in 2018. Until then, I had the full Adobe Creative Cloud subscription while I was working. I have also been using PL since version 3, I think, and currently using PL6 Elite with an older NIK version, though I seldom use the NIK plug-ins.
For image review and culling, I use FastRaw Viewer and move images to my "working drive" from directly from within FRV. I hope that they'll add support for the HE format RAW files, but it's rare that I use that format...usually when I've been testing and forget to reset it!
Once done with that, I'll import into LR. For special cases (NR, etc.) I'll open some images in PL6. If I'm working on images as part of some of the paid work I do, I usually have to deliver a version with a transparent background or some that require focus stacking and I typically do that in PS. Other apps that I will use for casual resizing of jpgs or simple cropping might be FastStone Viewer, XNView, etc.
I tend to stick with things that get the job done as opposed to jumping around as someone adds a new feature...learning the ins and outs of a tool takes time and there is much to be said for muscle memory, whether it's software or a camera system. I know everyone likes to complain about the subscription models that most companies seem to be adopting, but personally, I think it's a very smart move, both for the companies in terms of having a much more stable and manageable cash flow and operating environment. How many of us would like to get our paycheck once a year instead of weekly, bi-weekly??? Also a plus for users, if you decide you don't like the product or want to try something else, you don't have a $200 software program you no longer use. Cancel your subscription and go for the new kid on the block, right? Now I wish DXO would get on the bandwagon!
Cheers!
For image review and culling, I use FastRaw Viewer and move images to my "working drive" from directly from within FRV. I hope that they'll add support for the HE format RAW files, but it's rare that I use that format...usually when I've been testing and forget to reset it!
Once done with that, I'll import into LR. For special cases (NR, etc.) I'll open some images in PL6. If I'm working on images as part of some of the paid work I do, I usually have to deliver a version with a transparent background or some that require focus stacking and I typically do that in PS. Other apps that I will use for casual resizing of jpgs or simple cropping might be FastStone Viewer, XNView, etc.
I tend to stick with things that get the job done as opposed to jumping around as someone adds a new feature...learning the ins and outs of a tool takes time and there is much to be said for muscle memory, whether it's software or a camera system. I know everyone likes to complain about the subscription models that most companies seem to be adopting, but personally, I think it's a very smart move, both for the companies in terms of having a much more stable and manageable cash flow and operating environment. How many of us would like to get our paycheck once a year instead of weekly, bi-weekly??? Also a plus for users, if you decide you don't like the product or want to try something else, you don't have a $200 software program you no longer use. Cancel your subscription and go for the new kid on the block, right? Now I wish DXO would get on the bandwagon!
Cheers!
Interesting - I fully understand the cash flow argument, but from a consumer's point of view, I wouldn't mind a subscription model that allowed the user to not only keep the software, but also be able to use it to make further edits; a fully working piece of software with no further updates. This I cannot have if I were to subscribe to Adobe and after a year or so, decide to try a different vendor's program - all I can keep are my edited photos. This doesn't seem fair to me.
added in edit - Topaz has the software model that I suggested, for example.
Cheers,
Alex
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A good point, though I don't see any reason you can't use the new vendor's program to edit your photos...that's assuming whatever you've been using is non-destructive.
If you're referring to Adobe, once you stop the subscription, here's what happens:
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
So no joy here, and possibly no joy if your wish for DxO comes true. I suppose that one could go from new vendor to new vendor, but eventually there'd be no new vendors......
Cheers,
Alex
I'm fully aware of what Adobe's policy is if you cancel your subscription and I'm fine with that...I'd expect the same from DXO. If I can't afford the $10/month that Adobe charges, then I've got bigger fish to fry, so to speak. I find the value in LR and PS for what I pay incredibly high and I'd say the market agrees. If that model doesn't work for you, I completely understand, but a model has to work for both the supplier and the consumer. What do you do when your OS gets upgraded and breaks something in your software that is 2, 5, 10 years old...should the vendor patch it for you? I just as soon pay for the service and have it kept up to date in a timely fashion and as cameras have become more software centric, it's going to be more challenging for software vendors to adapt to firmware/feature upgrades over the life of particular camera models.
Good points. I'm clearly longing for the past when I could pay for software and use it until I wanted either the latest version, or some other companies software. This is changing, and eventually, I will too. What I am hoping for is a subscription model software suite that remains viable - after a suitable subscription period, and I can keep it and use it unconditionally after stopping the subscription. This still seems fair to me.
Cheers...
Cheers...
Not sure I really understand the problem.
I have been a CP1 user since CP1 Release 8. While they did do minor updates for free; major updates with new features usually came with the new CP1 before the end of the year. One's choice to buy again or not--and usually good discounts available.
Now..I have CP1 23 since its release (full license) and have been receiving updates. I know that major AI and other updates will not be provided.
So, I can purchase a monthly subscription for $14.92 to $18.25/month. ($179 to $219/year) Adobe's subscription model is $19.99 to $20.99/month.
Certainly competitive.
So either I will stick with my current license or opt into a subscription model if I think if the features are worthwhile. I do know that whenever I upgraded to a new CP1, the cost was about $175 for the upgrade.
Actually, Adobe still has the $9.99/mo plan (requires one-year commitment) if you don't opt for the higher, 1TB online storage option, which I don't. The base plan is 20GB of storage.
$9.99 is for Creative Cloud. Inc LR only for Cloud..no desktop applications and storage on 'devices' for editing. Not apples to apples..but certainly much better if it works for you.
Calson
Well-known member
I was using Affinity for image files from my DSLR cameras, but with the Z9 and its HE* files I need to use Photoshop and ACR to open them. Last time I checked this was still a problem with Affinity.
Affinity is the only program I have found that can open my old PSD files with layers and not corrupt the image as with all other applications I have tried.
Affinity is the only program I have found that can open my old PSD files with layers and not corrupt the image as with all other applications I have tried.
That is false...I pay $9.99/month and that includes Lightroom Classic, PS, Bridge, Lightroom Cloud, Lightroom Mobile for your phone or iPad and a few other inconsequential apps. along with 20GB of Cloud storage.
Sorry to have to disagree with you. Just look at the chart that you posted. I wasn’t calling you just a minute. Photo shop not included either.
Disagree all you want, but you're still wrong. The second column, under "Photography (20GB)" $9.99/month, includes all the applications listed in the first column. Pricing hasn't really changed since the plan was first offered over 5 years ago. The "Lightroom (1TB)" plan does not Lightroom Classic or Photoshop, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'd hazard a guess that very few photographers opt for the Lightroom only, 1TB option...many of us use PS on a regular basis.
Sorry. You are right.
Appreciated...sometimes I'm wrong, sometimes I'm right...in the end, what's important is that we arrive at the right answer.
Cheers!
abc123brian
Well-known member
I think the issue is that you haven’t yet been impacted by the new model since you bought CP1 23 on release. You are getting updates like usual until September 2023 which I’d be ok with. I didn’t see a need to buy update to CP1 at the time, not enough value to me in the updated features as they had increased the upgrade cost by $50 over what I had been paying. Because I didn’t upgrade by February 2023 means if I upgrade now, I fall into the new terms of service. I can purchase a subscription as you stated or I can purchase a perpetual license. The perpetual license only includes bug fixes to the next 0.1 update (CP1 22 is version 15.0 and CP1 23 is version 16.0). So that means if I buy CP1 today for $299, I would be buying CP1 16.2.0 and I would get bug fixes until they release 16.3.0. Once that happens, what I have will have to do. The time between 16.1.0 and 16.2.0 was approximately 3 months according to their website. The support page says I will not receive support for new cameras. What I buy today is exactly what I will get for $299. What you bought on release was CP1 16.0.0 and since you have received 16.0.1, 16.0.2, 16.1.0, 16.1.1, 16.1.2, 16.1.3, and 16.2.0. Hopefully this makes sense as the entire thing along with the loyalty program is quite confusing on their website.
Add to this the subscription is more expensive than Adobe and it seems like they want people to switch to Adobe. with Adobe Photographer package, you get LightRoom and photoshop for desktop and iPad for $9.99/mo. Similar with CP1 is going to be $18.25 if you get the early bird special or $21.50 later. I only need the $14.92 plan, but still paying more for less.
clfitz
New member
Hi, everyone...New member just adding a vote for On1. Right now, I'm using the trial version and like it very much. Also, I just purchased Zoner Photo Lab, which is a fantastic program. However, they are fairly new and still adding lens profiles, and they don't have mine yet. I don't want to do without those, especially because I shoot a whole lot of stuff around the 20mm persepective.
Anyway, I hope that info helps someone. And now, I have to sign off and go to work.
Looking forward to reading more stuff later this evening, and maybe posting a couple photos if I can work up the nerve. (Just kidding!)
Anyway, I hope that info helps someone. And now, I have to sign off and go to work.
Looking forward to reading more stuff later this evening, and maybe posting a couple photos if I can work up the nerve. (Just kidding!)
Welcome new member on this forum! it is one of the best
I'm an old dog trying to keep up with new tricks. My standard workflow is LRC -> PS with Luminar NEO, Topaz Photo, DXO, and NIK plug-ins, as appropriate. So far, Topaz remains the leader in noise removal, Luminar Neo for fast processing, DXO for pre-processing noise removal, and PS for fine-tuning. If I have to use all that, the photo is not worth wasting time on. The fun one for finished photos is leonardo.ai. It does a great job converting your image into a cool graphic design.