10 Photo Editing Programs (that aren't Photoshop): Digital Photography Review

Just wanted DPReview to know that I like the idea of this article, it's a good idea but you screwed-up big-time for missing out Serif PhotoPlus X6, which basically, is far superior in both features and performance to anything else you mentioned in the post, and that includes the Adobe stuff.

Complete CYMK workflow, automation, batch-processing, superb interface, hardware acceleration, an insane amount of features and all for around £50.

My mouth literally fell open in amazement that it didn't get listed.

1 upvote

Personally, I only use a few plug-ins from Topaz, and they work fine in Paint Shop Pro, though I did have to do some digging to find out how to properly install them.

Corel's only real issue was one that I think a lot of developers made over the years - they just at some point threw their hands up and surrendered to Adobe, knowing they had the monopoly on the game, and weren't quite as innovative with their updates as they COULD have been. Corel for example probably has one of the better alternatives, but they did not continue to mature some of their built-in filters like the CA/Frings filter, noise reduction, etc, and just kept adding a few fluff features with each update.

Adobe's recent booboo will HOPEFULLY cause Corel (and others) to snap out of the coma they've all been in for the last few years, and start cranking the wheels of innovation out again - it's the perfect opportunity to do it. Let's hope they do.

3 upvotes

Hmm, Corel Paint Shop Pro is now in version X5 and counting..
You are a tad out of date.
I wouldn't use Adobe Photoshop is someone gave it to me.
You can't customize it, a big NO for me.
PSP is an excellent program, which I have used intensively for 10 years.
A shame that people are so snobbish and think that if something isn't Adobe it isn't worth having :-(
You bet Adobe's latest trick is a ploy to get people to buy the last boxed version and then they will change their mind!
Grenou

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

Actually PS is highly customizable.

4 upvotes

corel paint shop does NOT support plug-ins like onone and alienskin and some other !

2 upvotes

@frank200

Yep. When you consider all the compatible plugins and the highly customizable user interface you can change for different types of projects and even save as a workspace for future use, Photoshop is one of the most customizable programs ever made.

3 upvotes

An Australian newspaper's report on Adobe CC. The conclusion: "As an amateur photographer, are you ready to sign up for a year's subscription at $600 to use Photoshop? We thought not."

http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/cameras/monopoly-money-20130522-2jzmi.html

3 upvotes

The only thing is the article is wrong. The cost for Photoshop on it's own is $240 AU a year, ex GST. $600 is for the full package of all their software for photography, video editing and website construction etc.

https://store1.adobe.com/cfusion/store/html/index.cfm?store=OLS-AU&event=displayProduct&categoryPath=/Applications/Photoshop

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1 upvote

Stu-

Well yes that's the cost per year for PhotoShop, however there's a bigger cost that Adobe refuses to acknowledge, the software shuts down if you don't pay up, and I believe one can't simply sign up for it for individual 30 day periods separated say by 45 days without incurring additional costs beyond the $20 for 30 days.

Adobe has inflicted a couple of dumb headaches on many potential users with this stupidity. That in and of itself is additional cost.

It would be best if Adobe went back to the perpetual license, and then if they want they can do subscriptions too.

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2 upvotes

G1Houston:

Not without the Private folder from the Camera. Really now, I've made this point repeatedly. And you think I haven't tried iMovie.

So no iMovie can't open AVCHD files, without the contents of the entire private folder.

Now if I give you an AVCHD file on a card, and that's the only file, Windows Media Player, etc can play it on a Windows computer. Then there's the more serious failing of FinalCut.

0 upvotes

G1Houston:

Not without the Private folder from the Camera. Really now, I've made this point repeatedly. And you think I haven't tried iMovie.

So no iMovie can't open AVCHD files, without the contents of the entire private folder.

Now if I give you an AVCHD file on a card, and that's the only file, Windows Media Player, etc can play it on a Windows computer. Then there's the more serious failing of FinalCut.

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G1Houston:

Not without the Private folder from the Camera. Really now, I've made this point repeatedly. And you think I haven't tried iMovie.

So no iMovie can't open AVCHD files, without the contents of the entire private folder.

Now if I give you an AVCHD file on a card, and that's the only file, Windows Media Player, etc can play it on a Windows computer. Then there's the more serious failing of FinalCut.

0 upvotes

As one other user posted, ononesoftware provides a good alternative to adobe. I use both CS6 and ononesoftware. I am another very long time adobe photoshop user that will be saying good-bye to photoshop if they go through with cloud only membership usage.

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2 upvotes

COREL NOW OFFERING MASSIVE DISCOUNT TO ADOBE USERS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2013/05/20/corel-woos-customers-unhappy-adobe-subscription-only-creative-cloud-plan

2 upvotes

Great. Now let them develop Paintshop Pro for OSX and we are talking.

6 upvotes

PSP is only $69.00... even without the discount is a no-brainer. I just wish they port it to 64 bit and make it plug in compatible to Nik, OnONe and others.

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5 upvotes

cool tutorial for Gimp. on how to use some photo$hop stuff on Gimp

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/04/03/8-handy-tweaks-to-make-gimp-replace-photoshop/

http://akvis.com/en/graphic-tips/gimp-add-plugins.php

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3 upvotes

I need my plugins to work with some alternative editing software!!!! I have onone, nik, topaz (works with gimp), alienskin.

1 upvote

Take a look at this review as well:
http://photo-editing-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

6 upvotes

Thanks ...this is very good

1 upvote

Nice timing! Am definitely looking at alternatives to Photoshop since they only want high end professional photographers / image editors as customers.

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3 upvotes

Do any of these Photoshop alternatives have a tabbed interface? I have become totally reliant on Photoshop's tabbed interface and do not want to give it up.

1 upvote

Gimp 2.8 has the option for a tabbed interface, I believe. You can configure it several ways. However, it doesn't appear to have all of the functionality of Photoshop tabs. http://arstechnica.com/business/2012/05/hands-on-testing-the-gimp-28-and-its-new-single-window-interface/

It doesn't sound like you would like Gimp's default mode (what I use), which is multiple windows.

0 upvotes

PSP X5 does

0 upvotes

What about Capture NX2 as an editing tool?

3 upvotes

It's excellent. I use it all the time and only use Photo$hop CS4 for its letteraset facilities. NX2 is even better if you install the NIK filters.

2 upvotes

Capture NX2 is for Nikon. Nikon raws only.

0 upvotes

Nikon raws only? Are you saying that there are... OTHER cameras out there?

2 upvotes

I've been using Capture NX2 + Nik Color Efex for long time. They are the best for Nikon Raw files. Of course, it can edit JPG and TIFF as well.

This combination is way more effective than PhotoShop. You don't have struggle selecting the area you want to apply your changes. Check it out you will be surprised by it.

4 upvotes

It is not only for Nikon cameras HowaboutRAW, it can edit Tiff and Jpeg as well. There is quite a few non Nikon people that use it, the same as quite a lot of non Raw users use Lightroom or Aperture.

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1 upvote

99% of my edits are in CaptureNX2. Strongly advise Nikon users to move to it...

0 upvotes

Stu 5+ Vincent He:

All well and good, it will edit a tiff or jpeg, so will DXO or Aftershot. However those two programs also extract raws from cameras that aren't Nikon.

Now, I'm not going to claim to be completely familiar with Capture NX2's editing capacity, but somehow I bet it's not up to Photohop CS6. (I'd install the trialware and try Capture NX2, but I already let the trialware expire on my laptop, so have to wait for say v3.)

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One of NX2's main strengths is its Selection Tool which is far more accurate and faster to use than CS3's pathetic lasso tool (I'm not familiar with later CS versions). This tool allows you to select multiple regions and apply any effect or filter with auto-blending. The effect can be selectively removed if you overdo it. NX2 also has D-lighting which is similar to CS3's shadow-hilight tool (except that it doesn't mangle the colours) and has all the usual curves and histogram tools. Edits can be turned on of off using NX2's equivalent of layers.

1 upvote

Be careful with the Gimp product. It throws much spam at you during the install process.

1 upvote

Just downloaded Gimp for Windows. Absolutely no problems with either the download, installation or spam.

3 upvotes

@stratplaya

Do you work for adobe??

There is NO spam in Gimp!!!

1 upvote

Gimp is open source software, what are you talking!

1 upvote

He used a spamming download service...too bad for him

7 upvotes

Dpreview do you have something against Nikon's brilliant tool CaptureNX?

1 upvote

Most people would not be that aware it can be used for other cameras. The future for this program is currently uncertain though.

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The future of Photoshop is as uncertain Mr. Stu
(or should we call you Mr Adobe?) Those who will subscribe to the cloud will soon feel the agony of the rising prices of their rented software.

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5 upvotes

Just a Photographer CaptureNX future is uncertain compared to Adobe or any other photo software for the simple reason it's manufacturer has been sold to Google. Google nor Nikon have given any news what is happening with it.

As far as monthly cost go it is very simple, if Adobe increase the prices a lot as soon as people get to the end of their 12 month subscriptions they will go elsewhere so that is a good enough reason for Adobe to be careful with any price increase. If your a pro photographer you will claim it back in full as a business expense anyway so it is not costing you anyway.

1 upvote

What a ridiculous statement about claiming it back as a business expense. In the end I will have to raise my prices and the consumer will be the one left in the cold.

If I increase my prices with nearly 200 percent (like adobe just did), then no customer would buy any pictures of me anymore -guaranteed!

3 upvotes

If you are a pro photographer Just a Photographer you might want to talk to your accountant as they will explain how it works.

1 upvote

"Claim it back in full as a business expense"?

Stu, with no due respect...you're full of it. You don't get "all" of your money back from a business expense, that's just not how it works!

Depending on what you might make in a year, you'll recover only 15-30%. So maybe you are the one who needs to talk to an accountant. Or maybe just do your own taxes for once. Or at least read your own damned tax return from Turbo Tax before you file it.

3 upvotes

Alternative Energy Photography not everyone lives in America. Also already read about some American photographers claiming it all back without a problem, saying it is easier to claim it all back than compared to where they can not always claim the whole cost of the upgrade back.

1 upvote

Stu 'Guess What'!
I just talked to my accountant. You know what he said?

In the end you will pay more and get less from Adobe.
The only one that gets better from this construction is Adobe...

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3 upvotes

Just a Photographer how would an accountant know what you get from Adobe? After all he is an accountant not a photographer or does your accountant do both? If he is not a photographer he will not be able to comment on the material worth of any product as he does not know about it. So he will not know if someone will 'get less from Adobe' or for that matter more.

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

Stu, you are wrong. Nik software was sold to Google. CaptureNX still belongs to Nikon and its updated whenever a new camera comes out.

4 upvotes

@Stu

He knows about the financial side and you clearly have in total no idea what you are talking about. What others already said. You're just a troll.

2 upvotes

Just a Photographer try reading my comment again as you are clearly missing my point, which is this... You said the accountant told you:

'In the end you will pay more and get less from Adobe.
The only one that gets better from this construction is Adobe...'

Or was that your comment? If it was it is not clear from your wording.

Also how it is other American based photographers are able to claim the full amount as a business expense and have been since the renting option came out?

1 upvote

madeinlisboa adding Raw support is another thing. The program as many are aware is developed by Nik for Nikon. There has been no news yet on it's future development.

Actually you might want to read this:

http://nikonrumors.com/2013/04/03/google-will-not-support-capture-nx.aspx/

1 upvote

" if Adobe increase the prices a lot as soon as people get to the end of their 12 month subscriptions they will go elsewhere so that is a good enough reason for Adobe to be careful with any price increase." Dream on Stu. If a 200% increase does not result in a 50% loss in user base, then it is a bargain for Adobe. And results in less strain on the servers. And subscribers are locked in.

2 upvotes

GaryJP so you now think CC will be a success and so much a success that Adobe will want to increase the premiums by 200% to reduce their client base so it does not put such a strain on their servers. Interesting...

1 upvote

Man some of you guys in the U.S. need to read this:

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p334/ch08.html#en_US_2012_publink100025336

and this:

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p535/ch01.html

In fact their are many publications on the IRS website you should thoroughly study if you are in business, even if you have an accountant. Go here to find them:

http://www.irs.gov/publications/

I recommend starting with Publication 334 (2012), Tax Guide for Small Business.

Yes I know it is kind of dry reading but owning a business isn't always fun or glamorous, in fact most of the time it's just WORK.

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0 upvotes

I'm pretty confident Adobe is getting the underlaying message in this article.

Cudos to DPR for making such a statement :)

8 upvotes

With so few comments it could also be read that the majority of people are fine.

1 upvote

Didn't know you were such a masochist mr. Stu...
As soon as people will have to start voting with their wallets we will know the future of Adobe...

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10 upvotes

Just a Photographer with anything like this you will get a lot of angry people that say they will do this or that. A lot of the time an awful lot don't follow through. On top of that you have all the ones who say they are angry but then you discover they don't even use the software in the first place. Then you have the ones who are angry leave a comment of Adobe's Facebook page and then a day later post that they illegally downloaded the software anyway and have never paid for it. (There has been a few of those) Then you have the ones that discover when they investigate the competition it won't do all the things they need anyway. In the end of that you have the ones who remain that do actually switch to something else. That number will always be a lot lower than the original number who were not happy.

Where are all those angry posters that were on the original two threads because they are not on here discussing their options? Something like an 80% drop off already.

2 upvotes

I think you are plain stupid to think that these people have accepted Adobe's choice. You must be really crazy to think that all those angry people who honestly bought their software in the past will just bite into a renting model.

Anyway I am not further going to discuss this issue with you anymore as you just like to suck and make people angry. You will soon find out anyway when your business model does not meet your expectations. That will be the point in time that your stock prices will really start to fall.

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3 upvotes

Just a Photographer, my business model, what are you going on about?

0 upvotes

Stu is right this time. The anger is fading fast. You guys didn't really mean it when you said you'd leave your adobe huts.

Compliance is soon to come, and after that, full genuflection.

And then Stu will get his pay raise and he will be content in his righteousness and he will dwell in the house of the mud and he will live happily ever after.

So it will be.

2 upvotes

OMG another Adobe employee tries to mingle into this discussion...
Have you ever taken a look at Facebook.com/adobe?

No such thing as people accepting Adobe's new policy and also your stock holders start to think different. Stock is down by some percentages since this 'great' idea came out of your CEO's hat.

1 upvote

Jiust Ignore the ADOPE drones!
PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS
Is there a way to vote out these "people" ???
Darn!
Do I really have to go to another camera site ???
AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHH

3 upvotes

Yet the share price is still up from the beginning of the year and and even higher than last year.

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2 upvotes

CyberAngel just because a lot of people do not see moving to Creative Cloud as a negative does not make them trolls. If just means they have a different opinion to yours which they are entitled to.

Comment edited 7 minutes after posting

4 upvotes

I am no troll and I am no Adobe shill or employee (but I think Stu might be).

I despise all subscription models, and I despise rental software.

But I must call it like I see it. This community cannot and will not maintain its anger long enough for Adobe to feel pain , and certainly will not cause Adobe to reconsider their policy for any meaningful length of time.

Prove me wrong. Please do! I will be happy to be wrong on this. But I'm not, and stock prices are not a good guage of this.

It's quite simple. The anger is not strong enough, not wide enough, and not deep enough to matter a whit. What we need here is anger on an ORDER OF MAGNITUDE of what it currently is. Right now this is merely a toddler's spat.

Own the anger. Make me FEEL it. If, as a bystander, I can start to feel widespread anger and firm resolve, then I will say Stu is wrong (he is of course, wrong in his thinking that Adobe's policy is a good thing).

I have just thrown down my gauntlet. Show me!

1 upvote

What you assume is anger is a rational business decision.

2 upvotes

"Stu is right this time. The anger is fading fast." You are both wrong. Many have taken it to other venues, such as Adobe's own Facebook page and Forums. Some are now deciding that WHATEVER Adobe does it has screwed the pooch regarding trust. Others are already paying for and downloading alternatives to try. Once one has stated one will NOT rent software, it's time to wait and see what happens to Adobe and meanwhile make other plans. I have just bought three Adobe alternatives and the total bill does not amount to seven months of hiring Photoshop. I am also glad to put my money to supporting anyone BUT Adobe. Stu meanwhile seems to have his life savings in Adobe stock.

And with regard to MarcLee's point, I can tell you that even many large companies will look for alternatives to open-ended, unilaterally-changeable, subscription services that leave an entire company's files vulnerable at the whim of Adobe. Even if the art department wants it, the accounts department often will not.

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2 upvotes

Zen masters occasionally used to swat students with a wooden paddle at the appropriate time in the hope that the shock would provoke enlightenment. Regard Adobe's subscription model as that wooden paddle. This is what Adobe is. And the distrust spreads to ALL their products.

Comment edited 47 seconds after posting

1 upvote

To GaryJP: I hope you are right.

But human will is weak. People still go to Rent-a-Center.

I hope you are right. But I'm still not planning to short ADBE stock just yet because I don't see earnings being hurt by the current spat.

We shall see, and it will be an interesting ride, I'm sure.

1 upvote

I doubt you can read anything into the response to this article.

First, these are the same alternatives that were available before Adobe made its Big Announcement. It's not a bad article but it's hardly a complete list. And as noted, it still includes 2 Adobe products.

Second, the people here are a fraction of Adobe's full customer base and primarily fixated on Photoshop/Lightroom. The full creative suite obviously includes many more products and a much broader base of customers.

Third, everyone finished venting. So, it's time to get on with things. Some will buy CS6 now. Others may sign up for CC. But for most people, I suspect that really means doing nothing different. Existing software still works. So people can delay a decision until they *must* decide. And that may be years in the future.

Consequently, it may be a while before we see any real change in Adobe's fortunes; and for all we know, Adobe's gambit may pay off for them.

0 upvotes

Good article for all readers, timely!

4 upvotes

I'm fed up with Adobe's greed and so I'm looking to switch. I used PaintShop many years ago before I used Photoshop and perhaps I'll go back to PaintShop. One thing, I will not pay Adobe's outrageous prices from now one.

9 upvotes

A good starting point for photo-editing software review. And timely!

Once my CS6 "matures" I am sure I will look for alternatives......

4 upvotes

Such a timely article.

6 upvotes

What about the faststone editor? (www.faststone.org) OK, it's not a nuclear overkill photo editor, but, bear in mind the usual 90/10 software tools rule: 90% of the time we only use 10% of what there is, and this editor does it all. Curves, raw, PSD compatibility, re-sizing, cropping, level etc.... Adobe software has always been far too expensive, and this latest move has certainly alienated me and many others. I am STILL using PS-7 and find it does all I need or want. I also use Corel PS Pro, but for 90% of my editing jobs that only need a little 'tweak', faststone suffices - and, it's free!

3 upvotes

I have been using this product for ages too.

However, I definitely would NOT recommend it for raw workflows as it lacks, last I looked and downloaded an update, satisfactory white balance tools.

But as a browser and quick edit toold for TIFF and JPEG it is absolutely wonderful; and I love it's lossless editing of JPEG and sophisticated JPEG compression tools and it's nice interface.

It doesn't have any useful DAM (digital asset management) features like the free Google Picassa does.

0 upvotes

So which is the closest alternative to photoshop?

2 upvotes

Its clearly not Photoshop Elements although it bares its name its not even close when you take all pro features that are left out of Photoshop.

2 upvotes

Adding Elements+ for $12 brings a lot of those features back though:

http://elementsplus.net

You will see a list on their website of all the features it adds and the list is long and for $12 cheap.

Adding the Elemental plugin for Lightroom which is donation software gives you similar integration with Ps Elements to what you would get with full Ps.

http://thephotogeek.com/lightroom/elemental/

You won't get 16 bit editing with all the features in Ps E but in the expert mode with these two plugins you get a lot more control.

3 upvotes

I think the GIMP is the closest to Photoshop and if you are using Linux, far superior because under Linux you get plugins you don't get for the Windows version (from all you could want for photography to animation and video effects) and also you get the added benefit of speed. The problem with the GIMP is interface which is not that user friendly.

4 upvotes

There's also PhotoLine and Serif Photo Plus

2 upvotes

Can you install Linux and Windows on the same computer?

0 upvotes

vickylou

Yes, you can install Windows and Linux on the same computer, even on the same hard drive. Or you can have one hard drive for Linux and one for Windows. When you start your computer, you get a splash screen asking you which you want to start up, Linux or Windows. In Linux, you can access your image files in Windows directly and modify them.

If you already have Windows, pick up another hard drive and install Linux on it. The Linux CD will ask you which hard drive you want to use. Make sure you pick the right one, not your Windows HD! One way to be sure is to buy a hard drive for Linux that is a different size than your current one.

At the end of the Linux install, you are given a list of other operating systems found in your computer's hard drives, and the choice to add them to the boot menu.

EDIT: It's failsafe (as long as you pick the right hard drive to install Linux on), because you can always just disconnect the Linux HD and you are right back where you started.

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0 upvotes

You can put Ubuntu on the same drive as Windows with no problem. Ubuntu simply sets itself up in its own directory and modifies startup such that you get a dual boot option which times out after10 secs. The default is to Windows but that can be altered if you wish. Ubuntu even reads your Internet connection details and automatically sets everything up for you. Excellent OS.
Putting another OS on your system might seem a bit daunting but is now very easy and can be done in a few minutes.

1 upvote

OR you could use virtualization and have you huge RAM (4x8GB) and Quad Core CPU divided by two Operating Systems at the same time!!

1 upvote

Thank you very for your replies. So which benefits do you gain with GIMP using Linux/ubuntu over Windows?

0 upvotes

Stu 5: I love Elements 11. Thanks for giving me a way to love it even more! XD

0 upvotes

Review the software pls!!!!!

11 upvotes

Yes! Yes! Yes!!

Agree 1,000,000%

2 upvotes

Photoline is an interesting alternative.
Comes from Germany and is priced at 59 euros.
Seems to have a lot of features, is 64 bit and has RAW support.

As the UI is different it will take a bit of time to see if it measures up.

3 upvotes

And it is bad at raw extraction, compared to serious extraction programs like ACR, Aftershot, PhotoNinja, and CaptureOne.

0 upvotes

Noticed that the RAW was poor. It also crashed on me and was slow.
That is a huge advantage of LR where the files are imported with a great starting point dialed in.

0 upvotes

@HowaboutRAW

Does it really matter?

For if one uses a good "raw extracter" (horses for courses as they say), one can export to DNG and continue one's edits in Photoline, no?

And just as Photoline may not be a good "raw extractor", the products you mention aren't really that good at image manipulation are they?

So just get one of each; one good raw extractor and one good image manipulator, no?

Regards,
plevyadophy

3 upvotes

Agree, pair photoline with photo ninja and you're golden. ACR is not the best tool in the filed.

0 upvotes

plevyadophy if you have made adjustments to the Raw files in another brand of Raw converter for example Lightroom or Aperture etc etc and then export the file as a .dng Photoline will not recognise any of those adjustments at all. You would need to do the Raw conversion in the other program and then export the file as a Tiff or PSD file and open those up in Photoline.

1 upvote

Toermalijn Photo Ninja is far from the best. It lacks a huge amount of features found in ACR and Lightroom.

2 upvotes

@Stu 5,

Oops!! Sorry, yes you are correct.

Silly me!!! :o(

I had in my mind the notion of a universal file format, and DNG came to my mind when what should have come to my mind is TIFF (as that is actually what I meant to say.......but unfornately, one can't edit after 14 minutes have elapsed).

So thanks for spotting the silly error.

Regards,
plevyadophy

1 upvote

plevyadophy:

You have to get the good extraction to tiff from somewhere and that's not going to be PhotoLine. That's all.

Right, none of the programs that I mentioned are great editing software. All I was saying about PhotoLine is that it is a nothing raw converter, a point that still stands.

0 upvotes

@HowaboutRAW

OK. Point taken.

0 upvotes

Photoshop cs5,5.5 and 6 will work fine for many years,ACR is not worth worrying about,just use a good raw converter to output tiff's or even DNG's for use in photoshop... Capture one pro,DXO,iridient developer,photoninja etc will do an equal or better job of raw conversion,,,

3 upvotes

Okay, but those aren't new points to this comments forum. And PhotoNinja is a resource hog and slower, much slower than C1 or ACR. And DXO skipped things like the Leica Ms for years.

2 upvotes

If more people contacted DXO about adding support they may respond,their customer service is responsive .. I use Capture one pro myself and occasionally DXO,My point is that there is no need to panic about adobe's selfish behaviour,I know working pro's still using old versions of photoshop,incidentally Capture one pro could do with some improvement in terms of support for more lense's,the tool for removing C.A's is very limited compared to LR,if your lenses is not supported your out of luck... we as consumer's should pressure the various developers for the improvement's we require/want to see...

0 upvotes

Scorpius1:

I specifically asked DXO for Samsung NX raw support more than a year ago.

NX raw wasn't on the list of suggestions one could pull down to select as a suggestion. So I emailed them, let me say the response wasn't really encouraging. They behaved like they only support "pro" cameras. Whatever that term means.

Aftershot/Bibble supported DNGs from the Leica Ms years before DXO discovered that an M body is a "pro" body.

And that still doesn't explain why something like the P+S Canon S95 is then supported by DXO.

PhotoNinja (don't own) and Aftershot (own) both extract Samsung NX raws.

0 upvotes

@HowaboutRAW

DXO does support NX cameras now, with some of the remaining auto adjustments due in July. So maybe their actions are better than their tone.

2 upvotes

increments:

That's very very recent then. And the request was made more than a year ago.

I'll give it a try, the latest trialware of V8.

0 upvotes

HowaboutRAW, I'd wait until they have the auto optical corrections ready (they estimate July) if time is not too critical. That's the most impressive feature of DXO IMO.

1 upvote

increments:

So I downloaded and installed the trialware of DXO 8.16 on my Windows computer. It does not even see, let alone extract, Samsung NX camera raws from: The NX20, the NX100, and the NX300. I don't have raws from the NX200, N10, or NX210. But opening those seems unlikely given that I've covered all NX camera sensors in my testing.

Nor does DX0 8 see/extract Samsung EX2 raws.

Ironically, DXO can see, but not extract, Fuji RAF files from the XPro1.

So I'm not awaiting lens tweaks. Aftershot started some NX support something like 12 months ago.

0 upvotes

All I can tell you is that the NX cameras are listed http://www.dxo.com/uk/photo/dxo_optics_pro/for_your_equipment

That includes your NX20 and the EX2F (don't know if that's the same as yours).

I'd check with their support to see what's up.

0 upvotes

increments:

I go by what the software does not what the DXO website claims. I figure if I can open Nikon raws that I have with DXO but can't open any Samsung raws then DXO 8.16 doesn't support Samsung. (It's not some confusion of mine about the software.)

The support may be coming. But ACR 7.x and Aftershot open Samsung NX raws (Aftershot not all variations.)

Yes EX2 means EX2F here. (Non NX system though.)

Once I had a very good exchange about a different camera with DXO's support, and then when I asked about Samsung NX files I got the aforementioned less than helpful response.

I'm perfectly happy to try the next variation of DXO that is released as trialware, but this one can't even see Samsung raws.

I'd thought that you'd actually used DXO to extract Samsung NX raws, that's why I went to the trouble of getting the trialware of 8.16.

Comment edited 3 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Ok so you're having a problem, but won't do anything about trying to solve it.

If DXO claim to support your camera, I'd have thought it was worth 30secs to send them an email asking what the problem is, my mistake.

Best of luck anyway.

0 upvotes

increments:

I'm not having a problem; the software doesn't open Samsung NX raws. It opens other raws just fine. If I were having a problem then DXO would not open other raws either.

Okay, I looked at the link above and Samsung NXs aren't supported yet--that's supposed to release in July 2013.

Great!

(The first time I looked, I was at home using dialup and suppressing all the extra Google javascript, and even using a browser not set to suppress javascript, that page didn't load fully.)

0 upvotes

Adobe's decision may very well provide competitors with the business they need to develop their products into complete/superior alternatives. For many years I used JASC (now Corel) Paintshop and switched to CS a few years ago only because I needed support for 48 bit images. Corel then announced support for 48/16 bit and I was happy being able to go back to Paintshop a couple of years ago. For me, it is the technically superior product with a similar (but better) interface to Photoshop, accepts the same plugins and is 10% the cost. The scripting is more flexible and easier to do than Photoshop "Actions". A single license lets you install to 3 machines ... my main unit, backup and portable. I'd have to buy 2 licenses from Adobe to use Photoshop that way. I realize you can transfer a Photoshop license but it's a nuisance. Unfortunately, no Paintshop Apple version but the way Corel has ramped up support and been promoting Paintshop suggests that may come.

12 upvotes

I also started out on the Jasc product and it was very user friendly. Only issue I have with it is that the RAW engine is nothing like as good for some cameras as ACR or LR, and it takes longer to get new cameras on board. It's also not as responsive as the newer versions of PS which matters if you have a D800!

This may of course change if their sales take off and they can get more staff. In the meantime you can use it as an editor with LR.

But I agree it's an excellent product and with all the free plug ins its a great deal.

2 upvotes

Fact is dat Corel still refuses to properly support Mac OS X and they are looking into the cloud thingy too. Corel even has a subscription model too!

Be aware of how they can all of a sudden make the same shameless decision as Adobe did. Adobe nor Corel are to be trusted when it comes down to customer support.

2 upvotes

@Just a Photographer

I think many software publishers are closely fallowing what Adobe did and depending on Adobe's success they will also implement a subscription pricing model. However at first it will be other companies like Adobe that have such a high market share that it amounts to a de facto monopoly/duopoly. It will be the ones that can leverage peoples dependency on their software in order to make the transition without loosing too many customers that make the move to subscription pricing first and get people to accept it as normal. My guess is the next software to go subscription only if Adobe has a fair amount of success will be the MS office suite that so many businesses, students, schools and individuals depend on daily for the ability to make a document and know it will be readable by whoever it is for. MS is already market testing it with their office 360.

2 upvotes

@ Just. Even if Corel followed suit with with Adobe-style payment, it's so cheap it's not as if one is actually buying into Corel in a deep way; dump them, go onto Serif or something else, no big deal.

The shock/horror factor is for people who are paying and upgrading $$$$$$$$$$$ for years into Adobe then faced with the creative cloud fiasco.

I purchased Corel PSP X5 a few days ago and haven't been disappointed. Lightroom 5 or Elements 11 would have been my only consideration a month ago.

Comment edited 28 seconds after posting

1 upvote

@NiallM

I think if Adboe made the price of just PS only $5-$10 a month there would have been a lot less outcry from long time customers and amateurs not making money with the software.

1 upvote

@By Josh152

Your analysis of where the market may head with regard to subscription services is a good one.

I note with particular interest your comments re MS Office.

I think far too many people, and Thom Hogan warns of this in his recent blog posts at ByThom.com, have relied on proprietory file formats that they have become prisoners to one vender. Thom Hogan, advises against having a workflow reliant upon Adobe Lightroom's cataloging feature (I never have) and I have never, and have always advised friends not to, had my word processing documents saved in a proprietory format since I moved from WordPerfect in the days of MS-DOS. My docs are always saved in the universal RTF (Rich Text Format) even if I get dire warnings from MS Word that saving in a non-Word format may lead to incompatibility with certain document features and the world may come to end. :o)

Corporations relying on a proprietory format. where a non-proprietory one exists, are plain silly.

2 upvotes

@By Josh152 that is not what he said. Thom Hogan said on his blog:

A number of folk have questioned my workflow. I always save and rename raw files into a file structure heirarchy first. Then and only then do I import into Lightroom or Aperture. Why? Because I can find any file in my structure without relying upon a software product with a proprietary database that some day may no longer make it through a tech transition.

So basically what he is saying is he is using Lightroom but he knows how to find each file outside of Lightroom.

That is actually only common sense. It is quite simple. Import a shoot into a folder for that shoot. Then open up Lightoom and import the images without moving them. It is a good idea to get Lightoom to save .xmp files back into the same folder. That way you can open the Raws up with another Adobe product and see the changes or open the Raws in another brand of software and start from fresh with changes.

1 upvote

@Stu 5

That's just a long winded way of saying what I SUMMARIZED him as having said. :o)

In essense, as I said, he is NOT RELIANT on Lightroom's proprietary database; he uses it as an adjunct to his own system. So if Lightroom goes bust tomorrow, he won't be adversely affected because he can fall back on the underlying file structure which is of his own making.

1 upvote

Klindar:

You realize of course that Corel's Aftershot (coupled together with Noise Ninja) is powerful raw extraction software. It's formerly Bibble. Runs on Mac/Win/Linux. Sometimes they take too long to do updates for newish cameras. But it's worth trying the trialware out. Not sure if NoiseNinja has trialware. NoiseNinja (by PictureCode) runs within Aftershot and adds to it, so that's why you'd want it too.

0 upvotes

What I see is a War....it is between the ones who bootleg, and the companies who try to curb it. But in that process they see away to sure up the bottom line. They use the excuse of what Adobe is doing, and it will slightly hamper the bootleggers and hackers for a while, but will not work. And they found out a way to increase their profits under this blackmail. So their Greed is one of the biggest driving forces behind their changing things around. Instead of making a smaller profit and selling oodles more of this software, make it more cost 'friendly', they would in turn sell a lot of products, and in affect curb the bootlegging and hacking some. But it is human nature to unlock the lock...

1 upvote

Quit with the "piracy" myth. Adobe have admitted this will do nothing to curb piracy. In fact, it will not only boost it, it will make the pirates look like Robin Hood.

3 upvotes

Hell I bet adobe Knows full well that the people they have priced out of the market will just use pirate copies and is in fact counting on it to keep their dominate market share. Unlike the public rhetoric used to justify lower than expected profits to share holders and sneak probable spyware like SecuRom into their customers computers, behind closed doors software publishers know full well most pirates were NEVER going to buy the software anyway even if they couldn't get it for free.

Besides the phone home DRM scheme has been tried before with other software and was cracked extremely fast. This new system from adobe will at most only make it take slightly longer to crack the software.

1 upvote

Thank you for giving us alternatives... I'll check these out!

2 upvotes

Also missing nama5 raw converter, simple but fast and portable (possible to copy it to your usb-key and use it anywhere). Has only basic editing functions, so its better to think of it as a digital dark-room than a full-featured Photoshop, but still handy and reliable when in dire need :)

3 upvotes

And isn't that Linux only?

0 upvotes

Why not put Linux on your computer? You can split a hard drive and put Linux on half, Windows on half, or use a second hard drive for Linux. Linux is smart enough to mount Windows file systems while it is running, so you can access all of your Windows files (images!), modify them, etc. during a Linux session. At startup you get a splash screen, so you can choose what operating system you want to use. It looks like this: http://static.screencasts.ubuntu.com/videos/20061204_installing_dual_boot.jpeg

Edit: I can't understand why more people don't do this, if only for the free software (without pirating or stealing--it's really free!). There are sophisticated applications for sound editing, statistical analysis, etc. etc., not just photo editing.

Comment edited 3 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

I'm very impressed by Ubuntu - easy to install as a dual-boot and even has drivers for my ageing Epson 7600, something that Epson couldn't manage for Win 7 or 8.

1 upvote

To be fair Epson could have managed to make win 7/ win 8 drivers for the 7600 but just wanted people to buy a new printer instead. The same thing happened when Vista was released. In fact one of the reasons Vista was so poorly received was due to problems caused by poor third party driver support coupled with places like Walmart and Dell selling computers the just barely or sometimes didn't even meet the minimum specs to run Vista. On a good spec computer with good drivers Vista is actually a very stable OS. I know I have been running it without problems for like 5 years.

0 upvotes

bobbarber + gsum:

Ubuntu can't run my laptop's screen, perhaps this will change.

1 upvote

ubuntu is horrible :( if you want to try linux there is :

http://www.pclinuxos.com/

http://www.opensuse.org/en/

http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=mageia

0 upvotes

frank200

I vote for Debian. I've used it more than 10 years.

I have to admit, though, I'm a little jealous of the Ubuntu user community. Debian is more of a self-help distribution. But I've always been able to make my hardware work on Debian.

0 upvotes

frank:

Maybe I'll try Open Suse, that first link isn't exactly a link to a specific version of Linux.

0 upvotes

I just love the title of the article! Hats off to DPReview!

8 upvotes

I couldn't get UFRaw to work in Gimp. I gave up with the program because of this.

0 upvotes

Windows user?

Because typing this at the command line in Debian Linux:

apt-get install gimp-ufraw

installs both ufraw and the gimp plugin perfectly, every time.

1 upvote

Well, clicking the check box, in Software manager, is pretty simple too; but let's not be assumptive. Perhaps he didn't understand, ufraw stands in the place of Camera Raw component; before Photoshop. 16-bit never was a problem for Gimp, with ufraw before it. I think ufraw is absolutely the best tool, for Raw, once you honestly read it's web page, and set to your camera(s). You see, it's different, and does not jump out at you, and its not for using it, without simply setting a camera profile. Many ufraw camera profiles are already down-loadable, and you can easily switch cameras, if you have several. You have to take a moment to read what all the sliders do. It's not like you need them all. Once you do that, and just the one time you then discover the REAL power, of ufraw. Click your Raw file, and it develops it to your chosen JPEG matching perfection, and/or better. It other words, it can be used to give weak colors, a Nikon, or Canon color look! In fact, you can effect ANY look.

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

I should point out, that the new Debian 7 (stable) is out, and that's what you should get. It has Gimp 2.8. This is the start of a 2 year (or when it ready) run, of easy stability. It's THE most comprehensive, and total system, one click upgrade system; within it's (free) tier release. You don't mix Debian "testing", and "unstable" release tiers, with "stable". You only use "stable" back-ports; if you really need a newer version, of a given app. That is, unless you are just testing; which is NOT to be your main production system. You can do a separate install.

Only with the initial Debian install; might you need assistance. It's easiest to use a spare hard drive, or better yet computer. Dual booting is slightly more complicated. Just DO NOT use your worse computer. Use your best; even if you have only one, and feel you must dual boot. You only need hard drive space. The point is, there is ZERO reason not to also run Debian....

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 13 minutes after posting

1 upvote

Except, if you are not open minded, and trying to prove something negative. Really, if you are not willing to wade through the thick myths, and propaganda, and for like a year; then don't even bother. This is not trying to clone Windows, it's honestly much better. Sure, everything has it's pros, and cons; but the advantages far outweigh. I only state: It's the LEAST of evils. It's not like it isn't extremely (foundational design) complex; but Debian is the king, of taming all, total software system, complexities. It's better, faster, freer, more dynamically improving, and easier to upgrade, than anything. It runs on more stuff, and it scales forward, or backward to older hardware. But old hardware has it's limits, on anything. Debian frees up your funds to get faster hardware. People say they don't have time for change; but that's dumb. You really do not have the time; not to use Debian. However, you can start with Linux Mint, if you just want to see it. Mint requires less to do.

Comment edited 7 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

@Neodp

Can Linus Debian run all of my existing Windows programs?

And what of hardware compatibility (i.e. driver library) for older laptops etc?

These two issues would be what would hold me back from moving over to Linux

0 upvotes

@ plevyadophy

hi yes and no. you can use many of your windows programs on linux directly wit wine or crossover office or just install virtualbox (free) and you can have windows inside linux it runbs great supports 3d acceleration. linux comes with millions of drivers insede the kernel don't forget that mac os is base on unix same as linux. the best waty to know if it works for you would be to run the live dvd or cd you do not even need to install it but of course it will be slow because you are running it from the dvd. I would sugest saty away from debian is not for beginners, try pclinuxOs.

1 upvote

plevyadophy

Try a dual boot system at first. Then you will see what you use more, Linux or Windows, and you can design your work flow around that system. I still have Windows installed on my computer, but these days I only use it every three months or so, if that.

You can partition a single hard drive and install Linux on one half, Windows on the other. This is especially feasible today with hard drives having so much storage space. You can also install Windows on one hard drive, Linux on another. It doesn't really matter.

Install Linux second. One of the last steps will be the installation searching for other installed operating systems. It will create a boot menu for you with all of your choices. You see this menu at startup and can choose Windows or Linux for a particular session.

Partition your current hard drive, if you're comfortable doing that, or buy a second hard drive. There will be a learning curve, but if you get through it, you'll be glad you did.

1 upvote

plevyadophy

Re old hardware,

I have a laptop that I bought used in 2001 that Linux still runs fine on. Modern kernels, however, often don't support (really) old hardware, because the components are not in general use anymore. An example would be support for PCMCIA cards. I'm not sure that's in the Linux kernel anymore, to save space. But you can always get an older version of Linux if you have hardware like that. They are still available for download.

In general, Linux runs really good hardware without any trouble at all, but may struggle with cheap, Window's-only hardware. This is true despite the newness or oldness of the hardware. An example would be my old Lexmark Z22 printer, a Windows cheapie that I got to run on Linux more than 10 years ago, but it was a struggle. Had I chosen a decent IBM or Epson printer, support would have been almost automatic. Linux runs Epson photo printers, for example, to perfection.

0 upvotes

You can just run Gimp on Windows(or Mac).

It's better to run it on Debian 7 stable. Beginners, start better, with Linux Mint, and set to Mate. There are many other sets, of basically the same programs, and with different goals. I say, start with Mint; for simplicity. The Live CD offers a free trial run; before installing.

A GNU/Linux system is not necessarily made to just be a Windows clone, and to just run Windows apps. It's not necessarily trying to replace, what you think Windows is. It's better than that.

I do not recommend WINE based methods (Like playonlinux); except for running old version Windows programs, like Quicken, just for historical purposes. It can actually run many Windows programs better, and faster; but better than that, are native program replacements. You can also network Windows, vitalize Windows, and more; but it's largely waste of time/and or resources(with mal-ware). Why do that; when there's no lack of better, open app replacements? File compatibility too.

0 upvotes

Corrections:

You can just run Gimp on Windows(or Mac).

Beginners, start better, with Linux Mint, and set to Mate. There are many other sets of basically the same open programs, and with different goals. Start with Mint; for simplicity. Free live; before installing.

A GNU/Linux system is not necessarily made to be a Windows clone, and to just run Windows apps. It's not necessarily trying to replace Windows. It's easier.

I do not recommend WINE, except for running old version Windows programs, like Quicken(use playonlinux), just for historical purposes, or Windows Games(like HL2, Terreria). It can actually run many Windows programs better, and faster; but better than that, are native program replacements(Gimp, LibreOffice, KMyMoney, Firefox, Chrome, Games etc...). You can also network Windows, virtual box Windows, and more; but it's largely waste of time/and or resources(with mal-ware). Why do that; when there's no lack of better, open app replacements?... File compatibility too.

0 upvotes

Gimp is currently being upgraded to handle 16bit and Hdr, we should see these features in version 3.0. http://www.gimp.org/docs/userfaq.html#c16bit

4 upvotes

The development version of Gimp, 2.9, is ALREADY 16-bit, and available to download and compile from the Gimp website. The next stable version of Gimp, 2.10 (the current version is 2.8), will be based on Gimp 2.9, and 16-bit. I believe that originally the goal was 16-bit in Gimp 3.0, but that goal has been moved up to Gimp 2.10.

Comment edited 17 seconds after posting

4 upvotes

definitely i will be sending some money to GIMP project !!

2 upvotes

Gimp is working towards using Gegl and Gegl used Babl image formats. (http://gegl.org/babl/). Its both 8, 16, 32 and floating point formats. Its extremely competent. Gimp has been working for a long time for this and I surely hope they will reach their goal soon.

2 upvotes

Hooray, it's why I wouldn't touch it. Finally I can revisit it after 10 years

0 upvotes

Asked for 16bit 10 years ago. Instead, I got all sorts of other geekery. Not worth my time going back...

0 upvotes

The main issue I have with GIMP is the lack of 16 bit support, adjustment layers, and smart objects. If they can get 16 bit support and node based editing it will be a real alternative to Photoshop.

Unfortunately both these things have been planned for a long time, so I won't be holding my breath.

0 upvotes

if we all would give GIMP halve the money we gave to adobe I bet they would have made a better progress. i guess is time to start giving and not complaining after all It is free why not help them a little :)

3 upvotes

It is a shame dpreview had to write this article, but Adobe will get what it deserves. Thanks dpreview for putting this together.

10 upvotes

It is not a shame at all.

Rather, it's a disgrace that such an article wasn't written YEARS AGO. This is probably the world's largest English "speaking" webiste dedicated to photography, yet it has failed miserably in documenting the tools that it's members and readers use or could use; rather, for the vast majority of its existence, certainly since I have been a member (Jan 2005), it has, it appears to me, given the impression that the world begins and ends at the doors of Adobe and Apple.

It should not have taken Adobe's recent change of licensing policy for such an article to have been written.

Many of the tools out there that are every bit as good as, and sometimes better than, Adobe's stuff are unkown to many photograpbers simply because the photographic media simply ignore them.

Maybe, it would be a good idea if from now on DPReview used the camera manufacter's raw converter, Adobe Camera Raw and an Open Source product in it's camera reviews' raw conversion section.

12 upvotes

plevyadophy

I agree. One thing I've been surprised at on this thread is the number of people that use Photoshop.

3 upvotes

@bobbarber

Hi,

It doesn't surprise me at all. Folks will use only what they are aware of; if the photographic media give the impression that there ain't anything out there worth bothering with except Apple Aperture, Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop then those three products are what folks are going to aspire to.

The market is warped in favour of those three products partly because the photographic media has been woefully negligent over the years in highlighting alternative tools. Take for example "digital asset management (DAM)", I for one fail to understand why the free Google Picassa doesn't get more of a mention; the impression one gets from the photographic media is that one must use Lightroom for DAM and if one is not using Lightroom then one must be using a program that isn't really up to the job. So more people buy Lightroom and it then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy that "serious photographers will use Lightroom for DAM".

6 upvotes

I'm glad that digital photography review is NOT ADOPE addict drone and has now made this article!
GOOOOOD !!!

2 upvotes

I just need new Mac OS or Win OS to continue to support CS6. I just need to pay upgrade for RAW converter (Aperture or LR or ....). Long life my CS6......

2 upvotes

Also hope the new improve plug-in continue support CS6.

1 upvote

Adobe does not keep the RAW plug in compatible with older Photoshop versions. Thats a way of forcing you to upgrade. Maybe OK before CC. But now? ...

5 upvotes

Roland Karlsson it is only an issue if you get a new camera in the future that is not supported. Even then it is simple, you download the FREE dng converter.

KW Phua this is what Adobe said to DPR:

What support can CS6 users expect?

Barring something unforeseen from Apple and Microsoft, we plan to update Photoshop CS6 for the next Mac and Windows operating system releases. Once Camera Raw 8 is completed for Photoshop CC, we are going to release a version of it for CS6 that includes any new camera support but without any of the new CC tools and features.

2 upvotes

@Stu

How many apps support DNG for editing? Also, is DNG a standard format - meaning even if a camera is brand new, you can still edit it in any pogram (including photoshop) that doesn't know your new camera type?

0 upvotes

InTheMist:

For the longest time DXO (serious raw extraction software) wouldn't open DNGs from Leica, you see despite claims DNGs shot by cameras aren't exactly universal.

And then if you get the DNG by turning a raw into DNG with Adobe Digital Negative Converter, then you still have to have good raw extraction software for that DNG, though yes, it can be extraction software from say 2 years ago.

0 upvotes

Great to you DPReview. Very interesting article about 10 other alternatives.

6 upvotes

Highly recommend Sagelight. At least try it. It is a 48 bit (16bit per channel) program. It's amazing what it can do, and it does everything very fast. It does not have layers or batch processing as of yet, but image manipulations and enhancements are amazing and as I said very fast.
Sagelight supports the following color spaces in the Power Curves and other modes:
•RGB
•XYZ
•C*I*E LAB
•Hunter LAB
•HSL
•HSB/HSV
•YCrCb
•C*I*E LCH
•C*I*E YXY
•C*I*E RGB
•C*I*E Hunter Lab
•C*I*E YCrCb

Comment edited 4 minutes after posting

7 upvotes

Wow this look very interesting. Thank you for posting it.

0 upvotes

I forgot to mention that all Topaz plugins work perfectly but some of the Nik/Google plugins don't. Not Mac compatible.

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

1 upvote

+1 for Sagelight. Its Bokeh function is nothing short of miraculous.

1 upvote

Thanks for the tip dblues will check it out.
Also don't forget to try out Photo Ninja; bit quirky at first but has potential.

1 upvote

no color management though...

0 upvotes

I just noticed this on the bottom of their product page. Seems Corel are the not the only ones trying to take advantage. Or maybe this was there before??

Special Promotion
Get a lifetime version of Sagelight for just $39.95
Buy now and get a lifetime version for no additional cost. As new versions come out, you can upgrade for free.
Regular Price: $79.95. Sale Ends Soon

0 upvotes

@ newe, they mention having ICC profile support. I know there's more to color mgmt than that though.

0 upvotes

I could find no way to embed a specific colour profile. I was wondering if it's the trial being an old version 4.0 and whether 4.4 supports it, or if it's coming in v5. Big oversight though. Very tempting, but not intuitive like LR to use and mine keeps adding a black border around 3/4 image.

0 upvotes

Serif Photoplus seems interesting, however that program is not Mac Compatible.
Too bad some companies are still not investing into Apple Mac's while this is the only brand that is still growing strong.

Comment edited 33 seconds after posting

3 upvotes

Not so sure that Mac is a really big part of Apple's growth in sales over the late 5 or 10 years.

I like Macs well enough, but Apple shoots itself in the foot by making the laptops harder and harder to repair. Also the so called Retina displays, while they have high resolution, can't touch the greater bit depth of the better laptop screens sold by HP under the name DreamColor. And good color monitors beat Apples iMacs.

Macs still don't natively play back AVCHD files, (yes there's a trick but only if one has the Private folder from the camera).

And FinalCut can't important AVCHD files without conversion first and that conversion doesn't simply take say 30 seconds.

If Apple chose to fix these problems Apple could increase Mac sales. But Apple has grown a bit distracted with the iOS stuff. And playing the same repetitive sound track day in and day out in the retail stores.

There also remain big problems with the sound quality of the iTunes software--even version 11.

2 upvotes

HowaboutRAW what Just a Photographer was talking about was that Apple's computer range is the only computer brand on the market still showing real growth. Other brands such as Dell etc etc, are either static or in decline. He was not talking about how it made up Apple's total sales figures.

Lenovo in America is the other brand that in the most recent quarter results for shipments is showing growth. Although shipment figures don't give the full story.

Comment edited 7 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

Stu--

Not sure that's the case, that Just A Photo was claiming that Macs continue to increase in sales, and not sure that's true of Macs either. Perhaps a bit.

0 upvotes

HowabotRAW

Its clear that you are not into Apple. That on itself doesn't matter. Apple's Mac Computer growth over the last 6 years has been from about a userbase of 6 million people to over 60 million people using Macs in 2012.

Sure, thats still only a small fraction compared to the total PC industry, but you then forget that many (professional) creatives prefer Macs over Windows.

With that in mind it is still ridiculous that many companies refuses to create software for a growing platform that is prefered by so many creatives.

Comment edited 56 seconds after posting

3 upvotes

Aperture does import AVCHD and VLC can play isolated AVCHD files (no folder structure required)

0 upvotes

Just a Photographer:

Growth in sales, not user base.

0 upvotes

Roxburgh:

That's only if you have the camera card. I can't simply move an AVHD file to a Mac's hard drive and open it with anything, including Aperture or iPhoto on the Mac. It's a minor silly head ache that Apple inflicts on itself.

0 upvotes

Roxburgh:

I tried to import an AVCHD file with Aperture 3.44. And Aperture does not see the file. So my point a stands, however as long as indeed has access to the camera's card then one should be able to play AVCHD files on a Mac.

It's the editing problem that's a bigger problem.

0 upvotes

Just a Photographer:
I would love to see many, oh so many Windows applications on a Mac
BUT
how about porting all those iOS6 Apps into the WP8 ???
no? NO???
There you go..."this quartal, the next quarta"l -thinking is the king thing...

1 upvote

The iMovie free with iMac can open AVCHD files with no problem.

0 upvotes

G1Houston:

Not without the Private folder from the Camera. Really now, I've made this point repeatedly. And you think I haven't tried iMovie.

So no iMovie can't open AVCHD files, without the contents of the entire private folder.

Now if I give you an AVCHD file on a card, and that's the only file, Windows Media Player, etc can play it on a Windows computer. Then there's the more serious failing of FinalCut.

0 upvotes

Glad as I am to see this article, -of course- nothing in life can ever be all roses!

It would have been nice if the2nd AND the last of the items on your list of '11 alternatives' here were NOT both Adobe products, but ok, I will limit my complaints to just that, and also give you a pass on it this time, dpreview ;)

4 upvotes

I think for most folks like me and millions of others, photography is a serious hobby. PS is really not necessary. I am so glad I learned on PS. Now I am finding I can switch much easier.
So! Really thanks PS
But! No thanks PS.

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

4 upvotes

Good point about the skills being transferable from one program to another. As a beginner, I found I could watch tutorials on PS and apply them to PSPx5.

Not ever having used imaging software before, I tried Paint.net. But trying to learn from Youtube tutorials is spotty -- there isn't a good basic overview, or what's available isn't what you need, or the quality varies. Same with the forums -- info is cursory at best. So I bought PaintShopProx5 and a good book to learn step by step, building on skills as I acquire them. I love AfterShot Pro the best. It really is intuitive enough that a beginner can just get on it and go. It's speedy too.

1 upvote

Very useful piece and very timely, as people leave Adobe products in droves (me included). Thank you.

5 upvotes

Thank you DPReview, Now it is up to us to avoid the Adobe products if at all possible.

9 upvotes

Why not Darktable ?

it is free !

http://www.darktable.org/

5 upvotes

And Linux only, right? Or is it Mac only?

Comment edited 9 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Interesting. I did try it as a test on some new cameras. The .DNG (exported from Adobe) as well as the equivalent .NEF (Nikon Raw) worked well from a D800, but neither the Fuji X100s native Raw format nor a .DNG (also from Adobe converter) were working well.

I expect it's on the roadmap, but a quick google didn't find anything.

Edit: It seems they're very fast with support. The D7100 is already supported, but it looks like they're struggling with XTrans - they're not the only one of course.

@HowaboutRaw Looks like Mac OSX and Linux

Comment edited 3 times, last edit 10 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Thanks DP. :)

4 upvotes

I was hoping for a story -just like this- .. and as also mentioned by numerous others below, dpreview came through with the goods!
Glad to see it, thanks.

Comment edited 9 minutes after posting

8 upvotes

Very intersting article. Can we have more regarding alternatives to Creative Suite in general please?

8 upvotes

People asked and DPreview delivered. Thanks for the article.

13 upvotes

Agreed! This article is welcomed.

3 upvotes

One thing not mentioned is that ACDSEe will open PSE as a photo editor.
It is opened as a chosen 'external editor'. So for things that you want to do in elements it isn't be necessary to close ACDSee to open Elements.

0 upvotes


ACD Systems launches ACDSee Pro 2 editing and workflow tool for Mac Jun 19, 2012	Corel releases Service Pack 2 for PaintShop Pro X4 Jun 4, 2012	Corel releases Service Pack 1.0.1 for AfterShot Pro Apr 17, 2012	Software technique: Photoshop Gradient Tool: Part 2 - Adjusting Images May 27, 2013

	Pentax Efina Jun 3, 2013
	Olympus PEN E-P5 May 10, 2013
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	Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1 Apr 24, 2013
	Ricoh GR Apr 17, 2013
	Samsung NX1100 Apr 11, 2013
	Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6 Apr 9, 2013
	Fujifilm FinePix S8400W Mar 22, 2013
	Fujifilm FinePix XP200 Mar 22, 2013

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10 Photo Editing Programs (that aren't Photoshop)

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