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Do you use Photoshop or something else?
- Thread starter GeoffRG
- Start date
John Zeman
Forum Enthusiast
I was a very satisfied licensed user of Photoshop from version 4 up until Adobe switched to subscription. At that time I dropped Photoshop and began looking at the alternatives.
I'm currently using ON1 Photo Raw 2025 as my raw processor and Affinity Photo 2 as my pixel editor and I'm very happy with both.
I'm currently using ON1 Photo Raw 2025 as my raw processor and Affinity Photo 2 as my pixel editor and I'm very happy with both.
NAwlins Contrarian
Forum Pro
IMO / IME the increasingly-powerful local controls / masking options in the better modern raw converters have greatly reduced the fraction of photos where I feel like I need or want to use a pixel editor like Photoshop or similar. DxO PhotoLab is my main / usual raw converter, but Adobe Lightroom, Capture One, and others also have powerful local control capabilities.
That said, I have and sometimes use Affinity Photo, which is a very good pixel editor. It's a great tool to have in your toolkit, even if you don't use it often. It's also a bargain.
I used to use GIMP as my pixel editor. I still use it for a few things, although not for any heavy-duty photo editing, for which Affinity Photo is far superior.
Regarding intuitive and needs, generally, the more capable something is, the less intuitive it will be for a newbie. In the past I might have recommended for you something like Photoshop Elements, but that's no longer available as a perpetual license.
I like that one. At work when we would troubleshoot I used to say the solution is always simple. Finding the cause of the problem is the hard part.
greenmanphoto
Senior Member
Geoff,
I seldom used Photoshop, though I have an old copy of it. I used Lightroom, v6.14 (the last standalone version of Lr) as it did pretty much all I needed it to do. However, when I bought my Nikon Z9, my older copy of Lr no longer read the NEF files from the Z9. It still works with my D500 and D850, but not the Z9.
I don't like subscription software, and I refused to go that route. Yes, I know all about how it's a great deal to get their Photography plan (or whatever they call it), but it's still subscription, and if you stop paying, you lose access to the app.
I bought DxO Photo Lab Elite (currently sitting at v6 on my iMac), and have been quite happy with it. It has many of the same shortcuts as Lr, and it works VERY well for what I need, with the lone exception of stitching panoramas: I convert to JPG and send them into Lr in order to create panoramas, though I'd like to find some other way to do that, and I'm hoping that DxO adds that capability soon, or someone tells me of another good tool for it.
Sam
I seldom used Photoshop, though I have an old copy of it. I used Lightroom, v6.14 (the last standalone version of Lr) as it did pretty much all I needed it to do. However, when I bought my Nikon Z9, my older copy of Lr no longer read the NEF files from the Z9. It still works with my D500 and D850, but not the Z9.
I don't like subscription software, and I refused to go that route. Yes, I know all about how it's a great deal to get their Photography plan (or whatever they call it), but it's still subscription, and if you stop paying, you lose access to the app.
I bought DxO Photo Lab Elite (currently sitting at v6 on my iMac), and have been quite happy with it. It has many of the same shortcuts as Lr, and it works VERY well for what I need, with the lone exception of stitching panoramas: I convert to JPG and send them into Lr in order to create panoramas, though I'd like to find some other way to do that, and I'm hoping that DxO adds that capability soon, or someone tells me of another good tool for it.
Sam
For many years I had been using PS elements, and then added lightroom. PS, at the time, was just too expensive for me. Fast forward to the subscription model. PS became affordable, but, I was perfectly content with elements and LR. When LR stand alone ended at 6.14, I didn't think much about it and continued on.
A few years ago I started with DXO pure raw. Eventually I ended up buying and updating the entire PL DXO suite. I know that if (when) I replace my computer, I will lose LR.
I have always updated elements every other year. With the announcement of elements going to a three year model I started looking around at other products. I downloaded a trial of Affinity and on black Friday bought it for $35.00.
I will continue to use elements ( and elements+) while taking the time to learn Affinity.
I have nothing against the subscription model. It has now made PS much more affordable than buying the stand alone. BUT, my current computer (now seven years old) cannot easily handle it, nor can it be updated to win 11.
A few years ago I started with DXO pure raw. Eventually I ended up buying and updating the entire PL DXO suite. I know that if (when) I replace my computer, I will lose LR.
I have always updated elements every other year. With the announcement of elements going to a three year model I started looking around at other products. I downloaded a trial of Affinity and on black Friday bought it for $35.00.
I will continue to use elements ( and elements+) while taking the time to learn Affinity.
I have nothing against the subscription model. It has now made PS much more affordable than buying the stand alone. BUT, my current computer (now seven years old) cannot easily handle it, nor can it be updated to win 11.
tomrandall86
Leading Member
I've generally always used Lightroom Classic, and watched it evolve over the years. It uses it's own integration of Camera Raw, which, if you open a RAW image format file in Photoshop, usually it would open and by default open up the normal version of Adobe Camera Raw. This part of it I always found intuitive; the develop tools within Camera Raw I've found straightforward. After you're done with the develop tools, the image would close and open as a layer in Photoshop - that's where my expertise ends really.
Having used Lightroom Classic for so long, I'll hop into Photoshop if some more selective advanced sharpening is needed, or if I won't to have a go an manual exposure blending.
I have used DxO Photolab before, and that too is very powerful. Fairly intuitive as well, sometimes the masks can be tricky at first. I gave Capture One a go and I had to actually read guides on how to perform actions in it, even just seeing a grid view of my photos. Couldn't get on with it.
Other than that, I use the proprietary software OM Workspace for my Olympus RAW files if I want a particular look.
Having used Lightroom Classic for so long, I'll hop into Photoshop if some more selective advanced sharpening is needed, or if I won't to have a go an manual exposure blending.
I have used DxO Photolab before, and that too is very powerful. Fairly intuitive as well, sometimes the masks can be tricky at first. I gave Capture One a go and I had to actually read guides on how to perform actions in it, even just seeing a grid view of my photos. Couldn't get on with it.
Other than that, I use the proprietary software OM Workspace for my Olympus RAW files if I want a particular look.
I go back a long way with Photoshop -- started teaching it to college/univ. students back in 1992 and used it myself.
Bottom line: Photoshop is a raster editor and as such partially destructive. I hate destructive editing, probably to an obsessive level but I hate it and when LR became available (100% non-destructive parametric editing) I made every effort to try keeping away from PS. As LR improved I made progress getting PS out of my life, but it was still there to a small degree. Back in 2012 I switched from LR to Capture 1 expecting to make still more progress using 100% non-destructive parametric editing. As C1 has improved and I retired from teaching, I've finally removed all things Adobe from my computer -- 2020 -- bye Adobe, no regrets.
I now use mostly C1 but I also like DXO PL and use that as well for a percentage of my processing needs. And once every few thousand photos now I need a raster editor. When that happens I have an old copy of PS CS6 on my laptop (still runs under WIN 11) and Affinity Photo and can use either one, albeit cussing all the way.
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IanYorke
Veteran Member
I used PS/LR up to V6, always horrified at what I paid for a pixel editor but in those days there wasn't much choice.
As raw converters improved I needed a pixel editor less and as alternatives to LR became available I switched to Capture One. I much preferred the work flow and UI of C1 and the relief of having a configurable UI means that I wouldn't consider moving back to LR.
C1 is my main editor but I also use DXO-Photolab V8 for noise reduction /lens corrections /demosaicing to yield an "optimised negative" for editing in C1.
I also have Affinity Photo for any pixel/creative edits and am looking at ON1 as a possible alternative to Affinity Photo to see if it has enough "layer" potential to replace AP. ON1 is like Affinity Photo very affordable, surprisingly useful and easy to include in your photo toolkit without breaking the bank
I use dedicated software for HDR (Photomatix) and panoramas (PtGui) even though C1, ON1 and AP can do these tasks, and Topaz Photo AI for improving old scans, phone images etc.
You have to find software that suits you and the way you work, so what works for others isn't that important.
Ian
I have been using LR for a long time and only used Photoshop occasionally. That changed a few months ago when I decided to spend a week or so of intense learning. Once I have learned the basic essential, the rest came relatively easy and intuitive. Nothing was easy until you take the first couple steps.
Like someone here already mentioned, the term professional does not mean they know everything; and, similarly, amateur does not mean their knowledge is skin deep. It is true, though, some professionals have different sets of requirements because they need fast processing; so, it is not unusual for them to rely on pre-sets. I don't use pre-sets because I have a diverse interest as well as an interest to learn the steps to achieve certain effects.
Barleyman
Senior Member
I use Lightroom as my main editor. When needed, I edit in Photoshop, then back into Lightroom for final edits and export.
I shoot events and travel so not only do I shoot a lot of images, I also edit and export a lot. I find the lightroom workflow to be more conducive to managing editing that type of shooting.
As some one said, most users utilize a fraction of the many features of Photoshop. It has a steep learning curve, but is more powerful than other tools you could use.
tbcass
Forum Pro
Former Photoshop/Lightroom user here. I used Photoshop 5.5 long ago because someone gave me a cracked version of it. I found that I used less than 50% of its capabilities. I switched to Lightroom and didn't like that. I settled on DXO PL5 (now PL8) because it was so much easier to get the results I wanted. I also use Topaz Photo AI 3.1.
--
Tom
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Tom
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contadorfan
Senior Member
I use Capture One & ACDSee. They used to be more popular in this forum than they are now. In the 4 years I was away from the forum, seems like members here have moved to DxO & Topaz.
I still like Paintshop Pro because the point to point selection tool is is great, as is the ability to change perspective of a selection by grabbing handles. I often use PSP for home decor mock ups, but the scratch removal tool is good for editing out power lines in photos. Trying to learn Affinity for layering mock ups, but it places more demands on my aging PC than does PSP.
For organizing, quick viewing, culling, rating & tagging: digiKam.
I still like Paintshop Pro because the point to point selection tool is is great, as is the ability to change perspective of a selection by grabbing handles. I often use PSP for home decor mock ups, but the scratch removal tool is good for editing out power lines in photos. Trying to learn Affinity for layering mock ups, but it places more demands on my aging PC than does PSP.
For organizing, quick viewing, culling, rating & tagging: digiKam.
Jim B (MSP)
Forum Pro
I am not a professional, but probably a serious hobbyist.
I use Lightroom Classic which can take me to completion on 90 - 95% of my photos, with some help from Topaz.
When I need better generative fill or generative expand, or better blending - I use Photoshop.
--
Jim
"It's all about the light"
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Ron Poelman
Veteran Member
and unlikely to upgrade with their current pricing regime.
Affinity for stacking, panorama and a very rare look at different initial render to C1.
FastRawViewer for initial cull. Bulk Rename Utility for renaming.
FastStone for finish crop and resize.
(Shuffling hamateur here).
Digital Nigel
Forum Pro
I think it’s very unlikely that DxO PL will get panorama stitching. PL is all about developing and editing single raw images, individually or in batch. It doesn’t perform any operations on multiple images together. So no compositing, HDR stacking or panorama stitching. Many other tools do those operations.
robflores
Active member
"Finding the cause of the problem is the hard part" - that's because most of the time it's human error!
The Point and Shoot Pro
Senior Member
Depending on what I am shooting I use two programs. None of which are adobe based.
For landscapes and sports, I use Luminar Neo.
For portrait work and wildlife I use Affinity photo 2.
For landscapes and sports, I use Luminar Neo.
For portrait work and wildlife I use Affinity photo 2.
My photos are usually so good out of the camera that very little editing is needed. :-D
With that said, I have been using ACDSee for a while since I got hooked on the asset management function. Keywords are easy to add and make it very easy to find what you are searching for. Changing directory/folder structure does not lose that info as long as it is done within ACDSee.
I have a subcription to the Ultimate version. It allows for sharing of photos via various methods, including an email link to the cloud folder.
I use Topaz AI for my initial RAW denoise and sharpening. I use the resultant file as input to ACDSee and that is it.
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