ON1 has released the latest version of its Raw processing and image editing and organization application Photo RAW. Photo RAW 2020 comes with new AI features, new filters, SmugMug sharing, X-Rite integration and more improvements.
The list of improvements is very long and includes the following:
AI Match automatically detects when you shoot in black and white or custom film looks in your camera and matches the look of your Raw output files..
AI Auto Tone uses a machine learning trained algorithm for improved results over the previous version.
Overall performance has been improved, including faster file opening and brush action.
Decoding of Fujifilm X-Trans Raw files has been improved to reduce scalloping and other artifacts.
There are more than 100 new looks and styles available as well as a series of new skies, backgrounds, and textures.
SmugMug Integration lets you select photos and videos and publish them to your SmugMug galleries.
Custom camera profiles can be created by photographing an X-Rite target with your camera, then import it into ON1 Photo RAW, then send it to the X-Rite Camera Profiler software to build a custom camera profile.
Noise reduction can now reduce noise, both color and luminance independently and maintain better detail than the previous version.
Additional features, including Raw editing on the new ON1 Photo Mobile 2020 app, syncing across devices, more AI-powered functions and video integration are in the development pipeline and will be released to users in the nearer future.
ON1 Photo RAW 2020 is available for download from the ON1 website from today. The full version will set you back $99.99, previous ON1 users will be able to purchase an update version for $79.99. A free 30-day trial is available for those who are interested in trying the software out.
I can't even get the previous version to open. Whenever I try, I end up wasting time in correspondence with On1, being told it's all my fault and have I checked my proxy settings and firewall. Sorry On1 - till this stops, I certainly won't consider buying any more updates
I switched back to LR and Luminar 3 from ON1 2019 because the RAW conversion of Z6 .nef files was horrible. It left very significant halos and dark fringes along the top of things like mountains against a bright blue sky.
Has this been fixed in the latest upgrade? I tried the trial version a month or so ago and the fringing was still an issue. ON1 is a great product but that issue makes it a non-starter for me.
Hi I’ve used it with a Z7 and really pleased with the results. I also use an XT3 and that is also much improved. Just debating now if I should finally make the move from Adobe ? Finding a RAW editor that does justice to both these sensors can be quite a challenge.
At last it works. And pretty fine indeed. My main complaint is about the raw engine. ON1 is still weak on its ability recovering highlights, they are often washed out, with significant less latitude to work on them than others softwares. The contrast slider is typical: it lowers shadows but is ineffective with highlights. Regarding LR and C1, my advice is to give C1 a real try: real better capabilities on RAWs than LR (not speaking of the DAM). But rather expensive indeed.
I have no problem recovering higlights its actually pretty impressive. And C1 is one atrocious piece of software to use no matter how good it may perform :/
All this use of “AI” in marketing has to stop! It is NOT artificial intelligence! It is programmed functions. Artificial intelligence is machines able to learn something that it is NOT programmed to do! Auto adjustments to photos is NOT artificial intelligence! 🙄🤦♂️
Another program with "AI"... the big software BUZZword of 2019/2020.... marketing hype! Programmers used to call these "new algorithms"... but I suppose AI is much more headline catching!
Yes, when does a formula become an algorithm become intelligence? I mean if it says if this, this and that, do this and that, how is that intelligence or am I missing something?
An algorithm is a static formula and does not learn anything new from past performance. AI can adjust itself using past performance and become smarter. In math terms it can have a recursive structure.
@My... I disagree - even the AI "learning" is just an algorithm - code that someone came up with to "auto set" some stuff and write it out to a table or database. Wait for the user to tweak it and compare between "what did I do" and "what did the user tweak" for "this set of photo variables". Then, next time you hit similar variables, you use the adjusted tweaks in addition to the programmed variety.
This isn't true "machine learning"... its just algorithmic adjustments.
@fuego6 I agree. In any case, I don't like things learning from the user. I hate it when one accidentally misspells a word while texting then the dictionary thereafter offers the misspelling as an alternative. Likewise, in photography, we try different things, some we like, most we don't, some we like now but may not later. I don't want the system second guessing me buy offering up alternatives based on my past fumblings. I'd rather the system offer just full control plus "best practice" auto. BTW, doesn't it kind of irk to say Al Gore in algorithm? :)
@fuego6 - You just described a simplistic AI. All machine learning is algorithm adjustments, because a machine can only think discretely. It is not capable of anything else . In the future, if someone figures out how to create a hybrid by attaching neurons and DNA to a machine, than AI will become more continuous and less discrete. In a recursive AI program, the program learns by not using mistakes. In the case mentioned above by Bob, a spell checker would be part of the program. It is not perfect, but the more it is used, the better it becomes.
@RedFox88 That's why we call it *Artificial* Intelligence instead of just calling it "intelligence." The "A" stands for *artificial*, as in not really what it appears to the user to be.
I must say I am rather impressed with this new version. I tried ON1 Photo Raw in the past, really liked the concept, but often it was too buggy for me.
During the limited testing I have done so far, I find it to be quite stable, and the image quality of my Fuji raw files has certainly improved.
I ditched LR when my subscription ended a few weeks ago, and was hoping that ON1 could be the replacement. I am happy to say that it seems like ON1 Photo Raw has matured a lot, so it'll be replacing LR for me.
P.S.: One bad thing are the utterly useless and awful translations. They offer it in several languages since this version, but it is an utter joke. Machine translations that are often really laughable. LIke the "Close" butten which then translated into Dutch as "close" as in "close to home", not as in "close this dialog box". But I can just use it in English, no prob.
Thanks for the mini-review, Peter. If you have any further thoughts in the coming days and weeks after more testing, I'd be happy to read them here. (e.g. have you tried pano stitching and focus stacking? How good are the results?)
Compared to LR, do you know if it easily translate the file handing structure and keeps the metadata plus keyword hierarchy? My greatest fear is that I would risk loosing years of categorizing and key wording. I guess you didn't have a problem with it or you would have said but then you may not have such an extensive file and metadata structure as I have so perhaps it wasn't a concern. Anyway, I'd appreciate a comment.
I don't do focus stacking and only occasionally I try pano stitching. If you want to know how it works for you, you can always download the trial and find out for yourself...
Hello. I have tried On1 two versions back but abandoned it precisely because I had a number of issues with Panos. I have downloaded the Beta and employed my PayPal reserves for this version because: 1. The Merge to Pano and Focus Stacking do work, and quite well. Perhaps others give more control, but the output is what matters and I am impressed. Test for yourself. 2. My Keywords all came over from a Lr export. I have not tried to import at Lr catalog, but I have no reason to suspect it won't work. 3. I was bugged by the inability to use the Metadata filtering, and this is one thing I believe could be improved if you care about such things. That said, when I want to search my cataloged photos for say "15mm" well, all my 15 mm lens images show up. 5. As one who loves DxO for it's noise reduction, lens correction and local adjustments, so far, On1 2020 has not let me down. All these features work quite well. I don't think anything will yet match PRIME noise reduction.
Even the Adobe programs have some totally wrong translations into Spanish, after all these years. You'd think it'd be much easier for big companies to get this right.
In my various attempts to escape LR's unfortunate move, I tried ON1 but, as I shoot real estate professionnally, I had to give up, not being able to rely on the app (speed, RAW engine, poor DAM features...) I got a refund very easily ; they're a great team to work with in that respect. I might have another go ...
Speed is probably still an issue. I have a good pc with ssd, and, startup is slow, raw processing is lethargic despite their claims of improvement. DxO still gives better light and color processing out of the box, but On1 remains a good option for DAM. Perhaps best alternate DAM. One thing I did not realize is that in order to "import" a Lr Catalog, you must have Lr running and the plug in installed to EXPORT it... This seems a bit counter intuitive. Never the less, my Lr subscription ends one way or another in 3 months.
@Dennis Linden Thanks for that. One question, after exporting the LR catalogue to ON1, is one then left with only the new ON1 catalogue or do you then have both a LR catalogue and a duplicate ON1 catalogue?
I see one features section that lists support for dng files, and another that doesn't. My question is does it support dng files natively? Can't even try it if it doesn't.
I've tried most photo sharing sites over the years. But, once I found Smugmug, I've never thought of changing. IMHO: they are the best. Great LR integration, good annual rate, and fast responsive help. Try out their free trial and I bet you'll be impressed? I don't think Smugmug is going out of business any time soon.
I second the comment by jjandj: tried a bunch of them (after Google lost interest in photo sharing), and for me, too, Smugmug has been the best of them. I like the app they have available for the iPad; I set up a copy for my mom so she can easily view a family album. I do wish all RAW editors / media libraries were well-integrated with Smugmug!
My mistake, must have been some other online photo service. They all make me a bit nervous about closing down and letting our photos go to somewhere we don't want. But mostly just because you put effort into something and then it ends. Like all these ads for "Lifetime VPN, or Lifetime license to this wizzy software, etc." What they don't mention is it's their lifetime, not ours.
A new trend I'm seeing in moderately priced software like this and Luminar where the update pricing is 80-90% of the new price. In general, update pricing used to be a lot lower.
I upgrade every 3rd version for these and then it's reasonable. It's then 80% of the cost distributed over 3 years. I am Ok not having the latest version every time.
I've noticed that as well. Seems like it isn't the best thing for fostering customer loyalty or by guaranteeing a revenue stream by giving customers the incentive to upgrade every year even when they may not need it.
Skipping the annual upgrade is an option, however, I don't find that to be a viable solution for things like On1 and Luminar since they are immature and/or very buggy.
Another trend I'm seeing is preordering the app or the annual update. I have no desire to buy any SW before I test-drive it. I know some give a money back guarantee, but I'd rather not deal with that. Downloading a free trial is painless. In fact, I downloaded the trial of Pixelmator today since I needed something better than Mac Photos repair tool and Luminar 3 & Flex are currently broken as extensions. Pixelmator may very well get the funds that I had earmarked for Luminar 4.
I've upgrade ON1 for the last couple of years because they were making changes that mattered to me, but this year I don't really see a compelling reason so far. The 2019 version is pretty stable and serving me well, plus it seems with every update they shuffle and redeal all the existing features and I have to relearn a lot of stuff. A bit more speed would be great, but I can deal with things the way they are, even if local adjustments are laggy for me.
@Matt Random You can install the free 30-day trial of newer versions of On1 next to an installation of an older version without affecting the older version.
Same here, been trying several different options and while I dislike a lot of things about LR, nothing seems to come close as a all-in-one. And yeah, subscription might be something you dislike, but LR+PS costs me about 120 euro/year, if I upgrade or buy a newer version of other software each year, price is even pretty good for Adobe.
I hate Adobe for their subscription-only model, but I bit the bullet and finally upgraded to the latest version. For me personally, LR just works the best. If I find something better, I'll be happy to switch =)
Capture One is like $300, which is almost 3 years worth of a LR subscription. Seems like no matter what, I'm still paying out a similar amount of cash.
I echo @Hans vdC. I've trialed all the competitors and nothing is a perfect replacement for LR. However, LR's lagginess and system loading is starting to become a real problem for me so I'm doing a lot of thinking about what alternatives may be good enough.
If I'm still going to need to do an annual paid upgrade I might as well just stick with Adobe. That makes things like C1, DxO, Luminar, On1, The-Company-Previously-Known-As-Alien-Skin, etc. less appealing to me. I'm starting to take a more serious look at the stuff that doesn't do the annual paid upgrade and see if I can put together a good-enough solution.
I like it better in many ways, personally, and best of all, I don't have to deal with Adobe or a subscription plan. Even with buying the new version every year, it is still cheaper than Adobe, and I don't have to deal with Abode, and I can just stop with what I have at any point and it keeps working (I have an old camera and no plans to add another, so I don't need the latest versions anyhow).
It's horses for courses, I've not found anything that rivals the flexibility of LR and for the occasions where I do need Photoshop it's good to have it as part of the subscription. I've only found two raw devs to come close - C1 and DXO. I've tried every iteration of On1 raw development software, and, while it is getting there, still no competition for LR.....(imho!)
It really depends on how you use LR - do you just use it for asset management or do you do the majority of your post processing using it, perhaps have a large investment in presets or add-ons and how dependent are you on PS for any additional processing. As a subscription hold-out I'm replacing PS with ON1 but I'll keep LR for asset management until that move is complete, probably 6 months from now.
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