Adobe alternatives?

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rockfordstone
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Adobe alternatives?

Post by rockfordstone »

I've been a long term user of lightroom and photoshop and have an adobe subscription but I am looking to move onto something new.

I've been thinking about this a while, and my reasons for moving are basically that I would rather not pay monthly, and I am not a massive fan of the cloud-based model. lightroom classic which I use primarily just feels to be getting bloated and less optimised and even though my computer is powerful it runs like a dog dragging its arse on the carpet.

I am looking for something to replace the photo editing element of lightroom, and the ability to clone stamp/heal/content fill in photoshop (that's what I use it for mainly). What is everyone else using? is there something worth moving to, or should I suck up the adobe model?

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boff180
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Re: Adobe alternatives?

Post by boff180 »

Adobe as a complete package is still the best there is out there.

Until Adobe rolled out properly on iPad Pro I was using Affinity for photo editing (including RAW) on there. There is a PC version available and it is a cracking piece of kit.

Paint Shop Pro is still supposed to be excellent but I’ve never used it. Then you get into the realm of specialist software such as DXO and the Topaz suite.

I use Topaz noise reduction software in my photoshop/Lightroom editing process and it is truly superb - far out performing anything else.

Hope that helps.

Berf
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Re: Adobe alternatives?

Post by Berf »

Have a look at Luminar

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Pen Pusher
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Re: Adobe alternatives?

Post by Pen Pusher »

I use Lightroom 6/Elements 15 but two I keep dipping into from time to time to get away from Adobe

https://www.on1.com/products/photo-raw/

https://skylum.com/luminar-4

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GeorgeP
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Re: Adobe alternatives?

Post by GeorgeP »

I'm a Canon user and shoot RAW.

When Adobe was rumoured to be moving to subscription, I purchased Photoshop CS6 outright and downloaded the free Canon Digital Photo Professional (DPP). I use the DPP programme to process the RAW files and then convert them to TIF. I then use PS CS6 to process the TIF before saving as a JPEG.

I don't know whether any of the other major manufacturers offer a RAW processing programme.
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rockfordstone
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Re: Adobe alternatives?

Post by rockfordstone »

Berf wrote:Have a look at Luminar

Luminar looks like the one that is most likely to suit my needs I think.

it's a tough one, i think i either need to change completely or fully embrace the cloud model of adobe and the cost that comes with it

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Re: Adobe alternatives?

Post by Pen Pusher »

GeorgeP wrote:I don't know whether any of the other major manufacturers offer a RAW processing programme.


Sony have Image Edge https://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/ap ... ngedge/en/ but it's very clunky to use but Sony also have a tie-in with Capture 1 https://www.captureone.com/en/products/sony

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Re: Adobe alternatives?

Post by Airwolfhound »

I've always ever used Corel's Paintshop Pro for my editing, currently using their latest 2020 update.

I shoot RAW, and so edit with Canon DPP, save as a TIF, fiddle around with the image in Paintshop Pro until I am happy with it, and then save as a jpeg.

Paintshop Pro has far more to it than I use, or feel I need personally, but it works fine. I am now shooting with a Canon 90D and whilst the files are huge, the imagery is good enough for me once tarted around with in DPP and PsP.
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Jones1991
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Re: Adobe alternatives?

Post by Jones1991 »

Now a lot of services that give a good alternative to Adobe, but it is worth paying attention to those that work with neural networks and artificial intelligence, it is a real power! For example, I do sharpening through this service https://skylum.com/luminar/supersharp-ai Since I take photos on a budget cropping and not always enough light matrix, there may be noise and artifacts and skylum skillfully makes the photo better.

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helired3
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Re: Adobe alternatives?

Post by helired3 »

I had an old stand alone version of lightroom i believe it was the last before they went subscription. I've had a go with capture one didn't like it much but still have it. i have Corel paintshop pro i really don't like that at all. Had a try with Affinity photo and can't get what i want out of that so ended up with a lightroom classic subscription which im very impressed with.
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HeyfordDave111
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Re: Adobe alternatives?

Post by HeyfordDave111 »

Initially i use Lightroom 5.6 to rid myself of dust spots etc, cropping, and gently sharpening etc.

I then use Afinity 2, which is really dirt cheap for the tool it is, to adjust, and adjust some more. (1 payment, free updates)

Then it's on to Topaz sharpen, which hits the final spot perfectly.

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