Affinity Photo opinions?

[randolin]

Yours is an interesting combination to me because I use (or plan to):
- Affinity Photo - used occasionally,
- DxO PhotoLab (PL) - switched to from Apple's Photos+DxO-Extension,
- and then Lr 6 - under consideration (but I do not want to sign up to a subscription while learning the Lr-ropes).

I meant to use Lr (and 6 for the time being) primarily as the DAM together with PL but I wonder what I get myself into wrt Lr's ways of doing it. Might I be better off with something like JRiver Media Center (never used, no idea about complexity, but interesting as a media DB including video, audio) if all I want is a DAM for Dxo's PL?

Tho' I recognize the maintenance aspect of going Adobe CC, I'm leary of subscriptions, moreover, I don't want to use a cloud. Of course, updates of non-subscription software may cost when calculated as monthly expense similar amounts as a subscription, but maybe I get the more versatile DAM with JRiver (it manages images, video, audio).

Lastly, I wasn't unhappy with Apple's Photos but some limitations made me look for other options. These include C1 (with it's DAM) but it seems to me a pro's program, I felt a bit overwhelmed.

…ought I to start a separate discussion thread? But then other people may use Affinity and possibly with DxO PL with a DAM other than e.g. Lr.

 

[Bobthearch]

Yours is an interesting combination to me because I use (or plan to):
- Affinity Photo - used occasionally,
- DxO PhotoLab (PL) - switched to from Apple's Photos+DxO-Extension,
- and then Lr 6 - under consideration (but I do not want to sign up to a subscription while learning the Lr-ropes).

I meant to use Lr (and 6 for the time being) primarily as the DAM together with PL but I wonder what I get myself into wrt Lr's ways of doing it. Might I be better off with something like JRiver Media Center (never used, no idea about complexity, but interesting as a media DB including video, audio) if all I want is a DAM for Dxo's PL?

Tho' I recognize the maintenance aspect of going Adobe CC, I'm leary of subscriptions, moreover, I don't want to use a cloud. Of course, updates of non-subscription software may cost when calculated as monthly expense similar amounts as a subscription, but maybe I get the more versatile DAM with JRiver (it manages images, video, audio).

Lastly, I wasn't unhappy with Apple's Photos but some limitations made me look for other options. These include C1 (with it's DAM) but it seems to me a pro's program, I felt a bit overwhelmed.

…ought I to start a separate discussion thread? But then other people may use Affinity and possibly with DxO PL with a DAM other than e.g. Lr.

Most casual photographers, like myself, don't need any more DAM than Windows Explorer or the free program that came with the camera.

Catalogs, databases, sidecar files, adding tags to individual photos... all gross overkill for someone like myself. Expensive, complicated, time consuming, and unnecessary.

 

[Toermalijn]

I have only began my journey into the world of post-processing, and started to use GIMP. It’s a huge task in itself trying to figure what everything means! And then trying to navigate the labyrinth of menus and options!

is AP easier to use than GIMP? I want to get near to ‘magazine’ like effect for certain types of photos e.g. that Dragan effect for portraits, and GIMP isn’t really helping me, unless it’s the YT vids I’m using!

i am thinking about AP, just wondering whether it’s worth me sticking with gimp for my Sony a7iii pics....

Just FYI, Paintshop Pro Ultimate has a lot more to offer for specialized graphics than AP.

For specialised graphics they have Affinity Designer and now in beta Affinity Publisher for pre-press.

All 3 together are a very strong competitor to Adobe software.

 

[Toermalijn]

I have only began my journey into the world of post-processing, and started to use GIMP. It’s a huge task in itself trying to figure what everything means! And then trying to navigate the labyrinth of menus and options!

is AP easier to use than GIMP? I want to get near to ‘magazine’ like effect for certain types of photos e.g. that Dragan effect for portraits, and GIMP isn’t really helping me, unless it’s the YT vids I’m using!

i am thinking about AP, just wondering whether it’s worth me sticking with gimp for my Sony a7iii pics....

I don't have a lot of experience with GIMP. I have tried it a few times, and it is missing a lot of stuff I am used to using. It does not have ANY of the adjustment layers, that is non-destructive, options. Also, until this latest release (2.10), it was only 8-bit processing, which meant you were throwing away a huge amount of data before you even started. IIRC, very slow and clunky to use.

IMPO, the only reason to use GIMP is that it is free, and if you use Linux, it is the only option for photo editing, AFAIK. Personally, I really hate it, and would just not even do photo editing if that was my only option. It is one of reasons I don't use Linux.

OTOH, there are people who love GIMP and swear by it. You probably will hear from them in response to your post or to this one, lol.

Probably it's the way GIMP UI works. If you're used to photoshop then the UI of GIMP makes not much sense, Affinity Photo is much like Photoshop so if you're comming from those two applications then GIMP is hard to grasp UI wise. but it still has it's merrits.

 

[Jonsi]

I have only began my journey into the world of post-processing, and started to use GIMP. It’s a huge task in itself trying to figure what everything means! And then trying to navigate the labyrinth of menus and options!

is AP easier to use than GIMP? I want to get near to ‘magazine’ like effect for certain types of photos e.g. that Dragan effect for portraits, and GIMP isn’t really helping me, unless it’s the YT vids I’m using!

i am thinking about AP, just wondering whether it’s worth me sticking with gimp for my Sony a7iii pics....

Just FYI, Paintshop Pro Ultimate has a lot more to offer for specialized graphics than AP.

For specialised graphics they have Affinity Designer and now in beta Affinity Publisher for pre-press.

All 3 together are a very strong competitor to Adobe software.

For a guy who's been using a free program until now, I didn't think recommending he buy 3 others was the right idea.

Just letting him know what he was looking for in AP, he won't find.....and where he could.

 

[phil from seattle]

I fall in that category - minimal DAM needed. Windows explorer is good enough for most use. However, some things would be good to have. Like rating and tags flowing to and from PP software. I'd also like to be able to automatically group raw and jpeg versions together for faster selection/culling. Eventually, I toss most of the jpegs but keep them during the processing phase. I admit I shoot rather promiscuously but 5K photos (10K files) from a vacation can be pretty daunting.

If nothing else, I'd like to see DxO's rating actually flow through to the windows file explorer rating so I could group them by DxO rating in explorer. Tags too. And would like DxO to pick up the explorer rating as well. Can't believe that's a terribly hard feature to add. Of course if DxO's file management was a lot faster I might use it more.

 

[randolin]

TNX.

Olympus Viewer is rather marginal an option and while I can find date+location or event named folders on the Mac, these two options do not all that I want.

 

[randolin]

And TNX to you too, Phil. I'm on a Mac, don't want to (also it's entirely possible) to install Win. I can imagine DxO PL being developed in directions we'd like wrt a basic classification system (stars, colour tags).

 

[phil from seattle]

And TNX to you too, Phil. I'm on a Mac, don't want to (also it's entirely possible) to install Win. I can imagine DxO PL being developed in directions we'd like wrt a basic classification system (stars, colour tags).

I'd presume a similar thing for Mac. Again, it CAN'T be that hard for them to do.

 

[Bobthearch]

TNX.

Olympus Viewer is rather marginal an option and while I can find date+location or event named folders on the Mac, these two options do not all that I want.

I have no idea about Olympus software - never used it.

The free Nikon viewer has some basic sorting tools like stars and color tags. I've never used those features either.

 

[Jonsi]

If nothing else, I'd like to see DxO's rating actually flow through to the windows file explorer rating so I could group them by DxO rating in explorer. Tags too. And would like DxO to pick up the explorer rating as well. Can't believe that's a terribly hard feature to add.

Maybe not hard, but probably not worth it.

Since it would be totally dependent on the OS, it would be just another feature they'd have to maintain every time Windows throws out another update.

 

[Toermalijn]

I have only began my journey into the world of post-processing, and started to use GIMP. It’s a huge task in itself trying to figure what everything means! And then trying to navigate the labyrinth of menus and options!

is AP easier to use than GIMP? I want to get near to ‘magazine’ like effect for certain types of photos e.g. that Dragan effect for portraits, and GIMP isn’t really helping me, unless it’s the YT vids I’m using!

i am thinking about AP, just wondering whether it’s worth me sticking with gimp for my Sony a7iii pics....

Just FYI, Paintshop Pro Ultimate has a lot more to offer for specialized graphics than AP.

For specialised graphics they have Affinity Designer and now in beta Affinity Publisher for pre-press.

All 3 together are a very strong competitor to Adobe software.

For a guy who's been using a free program until now, I didn't think recommending he buy 3 others was the right idea.

Just letting him know what he was looking for in AP, he won't find.....and where he could.

If he's looking for a free program he shouldn't look at all at Photoshop, Affinity Photo or any other paid options. Most of the time, paid options are better, have more benefits then free software. Mostly better UI and workflow.,.

 

[Carol T]

I have only began my journey into the world of post-processing, and started to use GIMP. It’s a huge task in itself trying to figure what everything means! And then trying to navigate the labyrinth of menus and options!

is AP easier to use than GIMP?

The only program less intuitive than GIMP is Photoshop itself. :-D

I want to get near to ‘magazine’ like effect for certain types of photos e.g. that Dragan effect for portraits, and GIMP isn’t really helping me, unless it’s the YT vids I’m using!

i am thinking about AP, just wondering whether it’s worth me sticking with gimp for my Sony a7iii pics....

You might try On1 for visual effects. It has some annoyances but it's rather easy to use. It edits photos using a philosophy of 'filters'. Want to convert to black and white, for example, you add the Black and White filter. The filters are stackable and adjustable. Groups of stacked and customized filters can be saved as Presets. And On1 offers layered editing and very nice masking tools.

Unlike Photoshop, GIMP, and some others, On1 has always had the capability of working directly with RAW files. The new On1 RAW software does pretty well with raw developing, and you can go back into the Develop module at any time.

You can download a free trial if On1 RAW.

On1 Effects is a free download. Same filters and presets but it lacks layers and the specialized raw developing.

Funny, just bought ON1 last night, am moving to it from Lr. I evaluated several raw converters, and finally chose that one. Like it in a lot of ways, but concerned that perhaps it is not the best at pulling out information like some of the more traditional converters do.

 

[ATP62]

I didn't know that PS was so much better with this tool. The Serif staff listen to your request in their forum , so I guess they are aware of this "problem"

No, they don't. People have been asking for this for years in their forum.

Do you know about a Youtube video showing what Photoshop can do ?

 

[Bobthearch]

I have only began my journey into the world of post-processing, and started to use GIMP. It’s a huge task in itself trying to figure what everything means! And then trying to navigate the labyrinth of menus and options!

is AP easier to use than GIMP?

The only program less intuitive than GIMP is Photoshop itself. :-D

I want to get near to ‘magazine’ like effect for certain types of photos e.g. that Dragan effect for portraits, and GIMP isn’t really helping me, unless it’s the YT vids I’m using!

i am thinking about AP, just wondering whether it’s worth me sticking with gimp for my Sony a7iii pics....

You might try On1 for visual effects. It has some annoyances but it's rather easy to use. It edits photos using a philosophy of 'filters'. Want to convert to black and white, for example, you add the Black and White filter. The filters are stackable and adjustable. Groups of stacked and customized filters can be saved as Presets. And On1 offers layered editing and very nice masking tools.

Unlike Photoshop, GIMP, and some others, On1 has always had the capability of working directly with RAW files. The new On1 RAW software does pretty well with raw developing, and you can go back into the Develop module at any time.

You can download a free trial if On1 RAW.

On1 Effects is a free download. Same filters and presets but it lacks layers and the specialized raw developing.

Funny, just bought ON1 last night, am moving to it from Lr. I evaluated several raw converters, and finally chose that one. Like it in a lot of ways, but concerned that perhaps it is not the best at pulling out information like some of the more traditional converters do.

I know what you mean. Their raw developing has greatly improved since it was first released. Affinity wasn't very good at all in the beginning either.

You can always use a dedicated raw developer, even the free one from your camera manufacturer, and then go into On1 for the effects-type editing.

Personally, most of my photos end up only being used for low-resolution stuff, Facebook or websites, or smaller prints. So the convenience of On1 being able to work directly with RAW files (unlike Photoshop or Paintshop Pro or GIMP) over-rides whatever limitations the raw developer may have.

It depends on what sort of camera as well. I think On1 does plenty well enough with my Nikon files, not so different from Nikon's own software that anyone would notice.

 

[Carol T]

I didn't know that PS was so much better with this tool. The Serif staff listen to your request in their forum , so I guess they are aware of this "problem"

No, they don't. People have been asking for this for years in their forum.

Do you know about a Youtube video showing what Photoshop can do ?

That is one of the great things about Adobe products, there are loads of videos out there. Just do some searches and you will be able to find anything you want, including Intro To things. The Adobe website has a ton of stuff like that for each of their products.

 

[Carol T]

I have only began my journey into the world of post-processing, and started to use GIMP. It’s a huge task in itself trying to figure what everything means! And then trying to navigate the labyrinth of menus and options!

is AP easier to use than GIMP?

The only program less intuitive than GIMP is Photoshop itself. :-D

I want to get near to ‘magazine’ like effect for certain types of photos e.g. that Dragan effect for portraits, and GIMP isn’t really helping me, unless it’s the YT vids I’m using!

i am thinking about AP, just wondering whether it’s worth me sticking with gimp for my Sony a7iii pics....

You might try On1 for visual effects. It has some annoyances but it's rather easy to use. It edits photos using a philosophy of 'filters'. Want to convert to black and white, for example, you add the Black and White filter. The filters are stackable and adjustable. Groups of stacked and customized filters can be saved as Presets. And On1 offers layered editing and very nice masking tools.

Unlike Photoshop, GIMP, and some others, On1 has always had the capability of working directly with RAW files. The new On1 RAW software does pretty well with raw developing, and you can go back into the Develop module at any time.

You can download a free trial if On1 RAW.

On1 Effects is a free download. Same filters and presets but it lacks layers and the specialized raw developing.

Funny, just bought ON1 last night, am moving to it from Lr. I evaluated several raw converters, and finally chose that one. Like it in a lot of ways, but concerned that perhaps it is not the best at pulling out information like some of the more traditional converters do.

I know what you mean. Their raw developing has greatly improved since it was first released. Affinity wasn't very good at all in the beginning either.

You can always use a dedicated raw developer, even the free one from your camera manufacturer, and then go into On1 for the effects-type editing.

Personally, most of my photos end up only being used for low-resolution stuff, Facebook or websites, or smaller prints. So the convenience of On1 being able to work directly with RAW files (unlike Photoshop or Paintshop Pro or GIMP) over-rides whatever limitations the raw developer may have.

It depends on what sort of camera as well. I think On1 does plenty well enough with my Nikon files, not so different from Nikon's own software that anyone would notice.

I am currently watching a lot of ON1 vids, and wow, I think it can replace a photo editor for me to a very large degree. I was thinking everything but frequency separation, but honestly I think ON1 can probably do something similar just in a different way. I am very impressed and excited!!

I do agree about the improvements. I tried ON1 a year one in this same sort of activity, and it was slow and buggy and crashed constantly. It was horrible. I have had it crash a few times this time around, but mostly it is working well enough.

 

[Bobthearch]

I have only began my journey into the world of post-processing, and started to use GIMP. It’s a huge task in itself trying to figure what everything means! And then trying to navigate the labyrinth of menus and options!

is AP easier to use than GIMP?

The only program less intuitive than GIMP is Photoshop itself. :-D

I want to get near to ‘magazine’ like effect for certain types of photos e.g. that Dragan effect for portraits, and GIMP isn’t really helping me, unless it’s the YT vids I’m using!

i am thinking about AP, just wondering whether it’s worth me sticking with gimp for my Sony a7iii pics....

You might try On1 for visual effects. It has some annoyances but it's rather easy to use. It edits photos using a philosophy of 'filters'. Want to convert to black and white, for example, you add the Black and White filter. The filters are stackable and adjustable. Groups of stacked and customized filters can be saved as Presets. And On1 offers layered editing and very nice masking tools.

Unlike Photoshop, GIMP, and some others, On1 has always had the capability of working directly with RAW files. The new On1 RAW software does pretty well with raw developing, and you can go back into the Develop module at any time.

You can download a free trial if On1 RAW.

On1 Effects is a free download. Same filters and presets but it lacks layers and the specialized raw developing.

Funny, just bought ON1 last night, am moving to it from Lr. I evaluated several raw converters, and finally chose that one. Like it in a lot of ways, but concerned that perhaps it is not the best at pulling out information like some of the more traditional converters do.

I know what you mean. Their raw developing has greatly improved since it was first released. Affinity wasn't very good at all in the beginning either.

You can always use a dedicated raw developer, even the free one from your camera manufacturer, and then go into On1 for the effects-type editing.

Personally, most of my photos end up only being used for low-resolution stuff, Facebook or websites, or smaller prints. So the convenience of On1 being able to work directly with RAW files (unlike Photoshop or Paintshop Pro or GIMP) over-rides whatever limitations the raw developer may have.

It depends on what sort of camera as well. I think On1 does plenty well enough with my Nikon files, not so different from Nikon's own software that anyone would notice.

I am currently watching a lot of ON1 vids, and wow, I think it can replace a photo editor for me to a very large degree. I was thinking everything but frequency separation, but honestly I think ON1 can probably do something similar just in a different way. I am very impressed and excited!!

I do agree about the improvements. I tried ON1 a year one in this same sort of activity, and it was slow and buggy and crashed constantly. It was horrible. I have had it crash a few times this time around, but mostly it is working well enough.

My gripes with On1 RAW, I hated that it opened raw files in Layers instead of Develop, and in some circumstances it created massive PSD files without asking or prompting.

I didn't pay for the 2018 upgrade, and it's been a while since I've downloaded a demo.

 

[Carol T]

I have only began my journey into the world of post-processing, and started to use GIMP. It’s a huge task in itself trying to figure what everything means! And then trying to navigate the labyrinth of menus and options!

is AP easier to use than GIMP?

The only program less intuitive than GIMP is Photoshop itself. :-D

I want to get near to ‘magazine’ like effect for certain types of photos e.g. that Dragan effect for portraits, and GIMP isn’t really helping me, unless it’s the YT vids I’m using!

i am thinking about AP, just wondering whether it’s worth me sticking with gimp for my Sony a7iii pics....

You might try On1 for visual effects. It has some annoyances but it's rather easy to use. It edits photos using a philosophy of 'filters'. Want to convert to black and white, for example, you add the Black and White filter. The filters are stackable and adjustable. Groups of stacked and customized filters can be saved as Presets. And On1 offers layered editing and very nice masking tools.

Unlike Photoshop, GIMP, and some others, On1 has always had the capability of working directly with RAW files. The new On1 RAW software does pretty well with raw developing, and you can go back into the Develop module at any time.

You can download a free trial if On1 RAW.

On1 Effects is a free download. Same filters and presets but it lacks layers and the specialized raw developing.

Funny, just bought ON1 last night, am moving to it from Lr. I evaluated several raw converters, and finally chose that one. Like it in a lot of ways, but concerned that perhaps it is not the best at pulling out information like some of the more traditional converters do.

I know what you mean. Their raw developing has greatly improved since it was first released. Affinity wasn't very good at all in the beginning either.

You can always use a dedicated raw developer, even the free one from your camera manufacturer, and then go into On1 for the effects-type editing.

Personally, most of my photos end up only being used for low-resolution stuff, Facebook or websites, or smaller prints. So the convenience of On1 being able to work directly with RAW files (unlike Photoshop or Paintshop Pro or GIMP) over-rides whatever limitations the raw developer may have.

It depends on what sort of camera as well. I think On1 does plenty well enough with my Nikon files, not so different from Nikon's own software that anyone would notice.

I am currently watching a lot of ON1 vids, and wow, I think it can replace a photo editor for me to a very large degree. I was thinking everything but frequency separation, but honestly I think ON1 can probably do something similar just in a different way. I am very impressed and excited!!

I do agree about the improvements. I tried ON1 a year one in this same sort of activity, and it was slow and buggy and crashed constantly. It was horrible. I have had it crash a few times this time around, but mostly it is working well enough.

My gripes with On1 RAW, I hated that it opened raw files in Layers instead of Develop, and in some circumstances it created massive PSD files without asking or prompting.

I didn't pay for the 2018 upgrade, and it's been a while since I've downloaded a demo.

It now seems to open in Browse, and then you go from there. They recommend starting with Develop, then on to Effects, and Layers last, lol.

 

[Ericthered007]

I have only began my journey into the world of post-processing, and started to use GIMP. It’s a huge task in itself trying to figure what everything means! And then trying to navigate the labyrinth of menus and options!

is AP easier to use than GIMP? I want to get near to ‘magazine’ like effect for certain types of photos e.g. that Dragan effect for portraits, and GIMP isn’t really helping me, unless it’s the YT vids I’m using!

i am thinking about AP, just wondering whether it’s worth me sticking with gimp for my Sony a7iii pics....

Just FYI, Paintshop Pro Ultimate has a lot more to offer for specialized graphics than AP.

For specialised graphics they have Affinity Designer and now in beta Affinity Publisher for pre-press.

All 3 together are a very strong competitor to Adobe software.

For a guy who's been using a free program until now, I didn't think recommending he buy 3 others was the right idea.

Just letting him know what he was looking for in AP, he won't find.....and where he could.

If he's looking for a free program he shouldn't look at all at Photoshop, Affinity Photo or any other paid options. Most of the time, paid options are better, have more benefits then free software. Mostly better UI and workflow.,.

Ok, I need to learn to walk before I can run... is AP far superior to Gimp in terms of ease of use, tools, help support for camera etc.? I know I said I want magazine look, but realistically speaking, as a beginner I am leaning towards to AP...