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ACDSee Ultimate 9

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Jerry Gerber

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I've been using this software for about three weeks and am extremely happy with it. It's superior to Corel Paintshop Pro X7, nearly as good as Photoshop (probably better in some ways) and has all the editing tools I need. The ergonomics are great, it is very fast, thumbnails load fast, editing is smooth (after I upgraded my graphics card) and the raw editor (develop mode) is much better than After Shot Pro. I'm an advanced amateur, I don't make my living from photography although I did a long time ago..

I have finally found a photo editor I enjoy using that isn't overpriced...

Jerry

www.jerrygerber.com/photography/gallery.htm
 
Jerry Gerber said:
I've been using this software for about three weeks and am extremely happy with it. It's superior to Corel Paintshop Pro X7, nearly as good as Photoshop (probably better in some ways) and has all the editing tools I need. The ergonomics are great, it is very fast, thumbnails load fast, editing is smooth (after I upgraded my graphics card) and the raw editor (develop mode) is much better than After Shot Pro. I'm an advanced amateur, I don't make my living from photography although I did a long time ago..

I have finally found a photo editor I enjoy using that isn't overpriced...

Jerry

www.jerrygerber.com/photography/gallery.htm
Click to expand...
Does it have a clone tool?

Does it have lasso selection tools?

Can you use plug-ins like Topaz or Nik collection with it?
 
Sagittarius said:
Jerry Gerber said:
I've been using this software for about three weeks and am extremely happy with it. It's superior to Corel Paintshop Pro X7, nearly as good as Photoshop (probably better in some ways) and has all the editing tools I need. The ergonomics are great, it is very fast, thumbnails load fast, editing is smooth (after I upgraded my graphics card) and the raw editor (develop mode) is much better than After Shot Pro. I'm an advanced amateur, I don't make my living from photography although I did a long time ago..

I have finally found a photo editor I enjoy using that isn't overpriced...

Jerry

www.jerrygerber.com/photography/gallery.htm
Click to expand...
Does it have a clone tool?

Does it have lasso selection tools?

Can you use plug-ins like Topaz or Nik collection with it?

--
Best regards
Click to expand...
Yes, clone and healing tools work well.

Yes, it has a lasso selection tool.

I don't know about the plugins, but it comes with a lot of special effects and you can make your own too.

The editing features are deep.

Jerry
 
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I've been using ACDSee for some time now and recently moved up to Ultimate9 (from U8). I love just about everything about it except one feature it seems to be lacking - a good edge detection tool similar to the Smart Brush in PS Elements (and several other programs). I find it really frustrating to have to go into Elements to work on a sky, then back to U9 to do everything else. Am I missing something in U9 or is this the way it is?
 
dwightr8 said:
I've been using ACDSee for some time now and recently moved up to Ultimate9 (from U8). I love just about everything about it except one feature it seems to be lacking - a good edge detection tool similar to the Smart Brush in PS Elements (and several other programs). I find it really frustrating to have to go into Elements to work on a sky, then back to U9 to do everything else. Am I missing something in U9 or is this the way it is?

--
Dewey
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It depends upon what you're trying to do with the sky. I find it's crucial to hone in on the threshold and feathering when creating a selection in order to isolate a color to edit.

Also, the ability to use a gradient or a brush when applying filtering allows for subtle work.

Jerry
 
I've been using ACDSEE since version 3. It is an "all in one" solution... RAW development, editor and catalogue.

In answer to specific questions:

Does it have a clone tool? Yes in both Develop and Edit modes

Does it have lasso selection tools? Yes in Edit mode, but even better selection, masking and local adjustments in Develop mode.. Dwightr8... try those tools in the Develop mode to deal with skies. There are gradients, and local selections. Go to the ACDSee User forum to get tips... http://forum.acdsee.com/forum/main-category/acdsee-ultimate

Can you use plug-ins like Topaz or Nik collection with it?. I use all of the Topaz plugins, never tried Nik. Plugins work in the Edit mode, not in Develop

Does it have layers? Yes in Edit mode. Layers are not quite as sophisticated as what you get in Photoshop or Paintshop Pro but they got a LOT better from v8 to v9 so expect improvements in newer versions. You can easily create a layer, apply a Topaz plugin, blend it etc.

Since version 9 ultimate, I use Paintshop Pro for layers editing much less that before. I use the plugin functionality for layers and rarely have to use an "external editor"

--
Bob B
www.pbase.com/bbernstein
Olympus OMD EM-1, e30, e-510, 12~60, 50~200 ED, EC14, 18~180, 14~42, 40~150, 50mm macro, 9~18, fl36
 
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I played around with it, and it is interesting but it definitely is not a replacement for photoshop. It might replace the functionality you needed from photoshop but it is not a drop in replacement for photoshop.

The only thing that I've found which is close to photo shop is Affinity Photo. It's not quite there yet, but it is getting closer all the time and is very cheap for what it offers.

I have nothing against ACDSee, I just don't want someone to pick it up thinking it's a replacement for photoshop. It's a fine tool in its own right.
 
It says you can use PS Plugins on their website. This is their wording.

"Expand your creative scope with the ability to import and apply Photoshop™ plugins to your Edit mode adjustment workflow. Effectively create your own filters and use them in combination with best-in-class photo editing tools, special effects, and targeted repairs for limitless opportunities."
 
I wanted to try the software out but it makes you give all your information to it in order to try the software and then when you do and continue it says an error occured while processing. Try again later. What kind of software forces you to give all your information and create an account when all you want to do is try it out? It's not worth the hassle to call for help.
 
Bobbert said:
ACDSee in an alternative to Lightroom, and not intended to replace photoshop.

--
Bob B
www.pbase.com/bbernstein
Olympus OMD EM-1, e30, e-510, 12~60, 50~200 ED, EC14, 18~180, 14~42, 40~150, 50mm macro, 9~18, fl36
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Well, to each his own. ACDSee Ultimate 9 certainly has replaced Photoshop for me. Whatever PS can do that Ultimate 9 cannot, I just don't need. I'm not a pro photographer (used to be a long time ago). Sometimes name-brand recognition masks competitor's advances and other software catches up technologically and/or simply provides a much better value for the money. Photoshop is grossly overpriced. Some of the Ultimate 9 tools are really great, the light EQ and color EQ for example.

JG

Gallery
 
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I'm in Texas for Christmas and about 1000 miles from my digital datkroom. It never occurred to me to try. I will try this out when I get back and get back to you guys in about 2 weeks!
 
Glen Barrington said:
I'm in Texas for Christmas and about 1000 miles from my digital datkroom. It never occurred to me to try. I will try this out when I get back and get back to you guys in about 2 weeks!
Click to expand...
 
Bobbert said:
Jerry Gerber said:
Bobbert said:
ACDSee in an alternative to Lightroom, and not intended to replace photoshop.

--
Bob B
www.pbase.com/bbernstein
Olympus OMD EM-1, e30, e-510, 12~60, 50~200 ED, EC14, 18~180, 14~42, 40~150, 50mm macro, 9~18, fl36
Click to expand...
Well, to each his own. ACDSee Ultimate 9 certainly has replaced Photoshop for me. Whatever PS can do that Ultimate 9 cannot, I just don't need. I'm not a pro photographer (used to be a long time ago). Sometimes name-brand recognition masks competitor's advances and other software catches up technologically and/or simply provides a much better value for the money. Photoshop is grossly overpriced. Some of the Ultimate 9 tools are really great, the light EQ and color EQ for example.

JG

Gallery
Click to expand...
What I meant was that it does not have the same functionality as photoshop or PaintShop Pro. They are different aporoaches. It is not quite as good a layers editor, but a FAR better RAW developer and catalogue. ACD as far as I am concerned is superior to Lightroom, and certainly easier to use. When I started digital work 13 years ago, I used PSElements, then graduated to Paintshop Pro which is a Photoshop equivalent. I still use PSP but ACD has in a sense replaced it for almost all of what I do.

--
Bob B
www.pbase.com/bbernstein
Olympus OMD EM-1, e30, e-510, 12~60, 50~200 ED, EC14, 18~180, 14~42, 40~150, 50mm macro, 9~18, fl36
Click to expand...
I tested it myself. I have cs6 and a load of plug-ins replacing some photoshop functions or complimenting photoshop of functions it lacks.

ACDSEE is a good contender as a photoshop replacement. The only thing i really found lacking is that it still can't run all the plug-ins i have. But as the engine will evolve, this problem might be solved.

Defenately value for money.

But as a whole, the creative suite is unbeatable. Lots of power wich integrates just well into the different applications. Unfortunately, pro tools come at a price.
 
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