Affinity Photo opinions?

Ericthered007 said:

Toermalijn said:

Jonsi said:

Toermalijn said:

Jonsi said:

Ericthered007 said:

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....

Click to expand...

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

Click to expand...

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.

Click to expand...

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.

Click to expand...

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.,.

Click to expand...

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.?

Click to expand...

Ericthered007 said:

I know I said I want magazine look, but realistically speaking, as a beginner I am leaning towards to AP...

Click to expand...

Carol T said:

Bobthearch said:

Carol T said:

Bobthearch said:

Carol T said:

Bobthearch said:

Ericthered007 said:

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?

Click to expand...

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

Carol T said:

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....

Click to expand...

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.

Click to expand...

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.

Click to expand...

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.

Click to expand...

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.

Click to expand...

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.

Click to expand...

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.

Click to expand...

Bobthearch said:

Ericthered007 said:

Toermalijn said:

Jonsi said:

Toermalijn said:

Jonsi said:

Ericthered007 said:

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....

Click to expand...

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

Click to expand...

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.

Click to expand...

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.

Click to expand...

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.,.

Click to expand...

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.?

Click to expand...

Yes.

Bobthearch said:

I know I said I want magazine look, but realistically speaking, as a beginner I am leaning towards to AP...

Click to expand...

Consider complimenting it with Effects 10.5, free software from On1, for creating and applying stylized effects.

Click to expand...

Toermalijn said:

Jonsi said:

Toermalijn said:

Jonsi said:

Ericthered007 said:

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....

Click to expand...

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

Click to expand...

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.

Click to expand...

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.

Click to expand...

If he's looking for a free program

Click to expand...

Toermalijn said:

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.,.

Click to expand...

Ericthered007 said:

Bobthearch said:

Consider complimenting it with Effects 10.5, free software from On1, for creating and applying stylized effects.

Click to expand...

Thanks bob, will look into that also!

Click to expand...

Ericthered007 said:

Carol T said:

Bobthearch said:

Carol T said:

Bobthearch said:

Carol T said:

Bobthearch said:

Ericthered007 said:

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?

Click to expand...

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

Ericthered007 said:

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....

Click to expand...

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.

Click to expand...

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.

Click to expand...

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.

Click to expand...

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.

Click to expand...

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.

Click to expand...

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.

Click to expand...

Thank u all for tips! Will persevere with Gimp until Xmas sale on AP!

Click to expand...

phil from seattle said:

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.

Click to expand...