Choice of Editing Software ?

[Robbie_B]

I had a long exchange with Skylum support and after several deletions and reloads of an updated package and sorties into the unknown regions of the laptop 'Here be Dragon' areas of its memory we are back in business with Luminar AI. When it is working it is an excellent tool for rapid edits. I will be treating it with care and constantly backing up work for now, so fingers crossed.
Windows 10 Intel i7 Norman. HP 17" Laptop with only 8gb RAM. Guess I should be looking to increase to its 16gb max memory

 

[brianh]

I subscribe to the Adobe Photographers package. It gives my Lightroom and Photoshop plus a host of other apps that I don't use. Photoshop has a steep learning curve but there are many online tuorials out there to get you going. Since I have been in lock-down for quite a while I used the time to acquiant myself with the ins and outs of the program. Well worth the money and the time invested.

 

[Olar]

I've subscribed to the Lightroom Classic/Photoshop duo for a few years now and do all my editing at home on my desktop. I've since added additional apps to my collection all of which are plug-ins to LR & PS. I'm using Luminar Ai quite often as well as a few from Topaz. Denoise Ai and Sharpen Ai get used regularly.

 

[JayAy]

Does anyone else miss the old Jasc Paintshop Pro? Before it was taken over by Corel? I had to give it up when I moved back from Windows to Mac. I knew that software up, down and sideways. I feel like Photoshop changes too fast for me to keep up. I must be getting old.

Yes, but that's going back quite a few years now.

 

[Hanley]

I use Lightroom for cataloguing and basic colour correction / editing, any heavy stuff I then carry it over to Affinity Photo.
I prefer Affinity to Photoshop, I just find it easier to use.

 

[Robbie_B]

Like you Hanley I use Affinity Photo for the heavy processing. David Straker who does the You Tube training videos as InAffinity, is a friend (even if he shoots Sony) so I can always get a tip if needed.

 

[billsmut]

Photoshop and Lightroom for me, Used to use photoshop to make website layouts and gig poster

 

[LaurieAndersonPhotography]

I use LR for importing and cataloging and PS for editing. Lisa Langell has fantastic PS online classes...you will be amazed at how easy it is to learn PS!

 

[SteveK]

Started off in Lightroom, but moved to Capture one a few years ago and haven't looked back since.

Have a few add-ons (Nik Collection, Topaz Denoise), but barely use them.
Capture One is a superb piece of kit, and I can get everything done that I need to with it.
Bit of a learning curve, but once you're in, it's all gold!

 

[Critshotstudio]

If you gonna get your beginner on, I would say start with luminar, I really like it cause the sliders are great and isnt too complicated.

 

[Copterdoc]

As most say,I like Adobe Photoshop. Photoshop was my go-to for experimenting with light painting and I have stayed with it. I also have begun tethered shooting so I can assess the shots on the much larger screen of my laptop. I'm experimenting with both Cable tethering and Wireless tethering using the Tether Tools products. I use Capture One for this process and it is quite a robust editing tool itself.

 

[Copterdoc]

I do occasionally use it, mostly for focus stacking. Since it isn't a wonderful interface, I prefer doing most of my routine post-processing in other tools.

I have used the Canon software and find it actually quite good if batch processing is not needed, and the price is right. It also seems to be the first software available that works with each of Canon's new format releases (seeing that Canon makes it). If you have not yet purchased software give the Canon app a try.

 

[Mantis55]

I have used the Canon software and find it actually quite good if batch processing is not needed, and the price is right. It also seems to be the first software available that works with each of Canon's new format releases (seeing that Canon makes it). If you have not yet purchased software give the Canon app a try.

I actually use Canon DPP for batch processing as it's dead easy and I've never figured out how to do it with Abobe. Also Canon DPP is absolutely free. If only it had a catalogue I would dump Lightroom and use it instead.

 

[Trev4]

Like many here, I subscribe to Adobe LR and PS, plus I use Topaz plugins. I have been reading a few reports about the colour rendering in PS and LR not being really suitable for CR3, its suggested that Canons DPP is the best RAW conversion software to gain the best colour images from CR3. Has anyone else come across this? I'm not sure exactly how you would go about this other than load all the images into DPP then batch convert the files into DNG or JPEG or similar, perhaps TIFF. JPEG isn't sensible in my mind as you lose the ability to have complete control over your editing. Any thoughts?

 

[Copterdoc]

Like many here, I subscribe to Adobe LR and PS, plus I use Topaz plugins. I have been reading a few reports about the colour rendering in PS and LR not being really suitable for CR3, its suggested that Canons DPP is the best RAW conversion software to gain the best colour images from CR3. Has anyone else come across this? I'm not sure exactly how you would go about this other than load all the images into DPP then batch convert the files into DNG or JPEG or similar, perhaps TIFF. JPEG isn't sensible in my mind as you lose the ability to have complete control over your editing. Any thoughts?

I have viewed several online seminars where the presenters indicated that the Canon DPP was more accurate in processing the color. That being said, When I process in Adobe LR or PS, I'm changing the color a bit anyway so I'm not sure this matters much. For me, the color is what I decide. Color is such a subjective attribute anyways it is commonly affected by your monitor or printer calibration so If you are not using monitor or printer calibration (might be required for commercial shoots) although any of the photos I've had published took my representation without issue. There are some qualities that are determined by the manufacturer of the camera (canon is Warm and Sony is cool) but since I primarily shoot raw, the issue is not significant for me. When post-processing though, using the Adobe color space setting in LR or PS gives you a slightly expanded color space, or so I've been told.

Many people purchase LUTs (or looks) to apply across a set of images to get the color grade they desire so this again is changing the base colors. These can be created in LR by you and then used as a standard recipe for your color grading. For the most part, I find it a nonissue. But hey, that's me.

 

[Hali]

Like so many of you I use the Adobe photography plan. I do my basic edits (straightening, white and black points, temperature) in Lightroom then pop over to PS for most of my work. I use the Nik plugins as well as Topaz and lately have started using DxO Pure Raw (when I can get it to work right) for my high ISO images, it works magic. I own luminar 4 and AI but never use them.

 

[jimglasgow]

I have adobe photography package but also had Capture 21 in my Sony days and to be honest I preferred Capture as it loaded pictures quicker and editing was faster and more responsive that Lightroom. Lightroom could take almost 10 times to import before you could edit without any lag. However since moving to Canon I have ditched Capture 21 as the subscription is almost an extra £10 for Canon platform although not sure why. Anyway would be good to know if others use capture 21 with their Canons

 

[Mantis55]

I have adobe photography package but also had Capture 21 in my Sony days and to be honest I preferred Capture as it loaded pictures quicker and editing was faster and more responsive that Lightroom. Lightroom could take almost 10 times to import before you could edit without any lag. However since moving to Canon I have ditched Capture 21 as the subscription is almost an extra £10 for Canon platform although not sure why. Anyway would be good to know if others use capture 21 with their Canons

Can't really say I've noticed any lag with LR. Imported about 600 RAWs last week on my 2019 iMac running Catalina and never really gave it a thought. Grudged the monthly cost at the beginning as I always preferred to 'own' the software but I've got over that.

The big thing that prevents me using Canon DPP is that it has no catalogue. That's one area where Adobe has got you tied in. So I can revisit the history of the file even years later. It lets me see how my processing skills have moved on.
Did Capture have a catalogue? Also recently bought Affinity but can't really see me using it atm for the same reason.

 

[jimglasgow]

Can't really say I've noticed any lag with LR. Imported about 600 RAWs last week on my 2019 iMac running Catalina and never really gave it a thought. Grudged the monthly cost at the beginning as I always preferred to 'own' the software but I've got over that.

The big thing that prevents me using Canon DPP is that it has no catalogue. That's one area where Adobe has got you tied in. So I can revisit the history of the file even years later. It lets me see how my processing skills have moved on.
Did Capture have a catalogue? Also recently bought Affinity but can't really see me using it atm for the same reason.

I have a MacBook Pro 2019 model and it can take about 15mins to load images( around 100 images) I’m going to try and lget and solid state drive see if that improves things. Yes capture has catalogues u should have a look and try free ... only downside if you want to tweak you will still need photoshop

 

[JayAy]

I have a MacBook Pro 2019 model and it can take about 15mins to load images( around 100 images) I’m going to try and lget and solid state drive see if that improves things. Yes capture has catalogues u should have a look and try free ... only downside if you want to tweak you will still need photoshop

An SSD will make a significant difference. It's also worth checking your cache sizes in LR as this can have an impact on performance too.

 

[Mantis55]

I have a MacBook Pro 2019 model and it can take about 15mins to load images( around 100 images) I’m going to try and lget and solid state drive see if that improves things.

I wouldn't accept that tbh. Sure an ssd will help but I would be trying other things first. Probably Adobe support first then Apple, using chat. I've found them both pretty decent. Also stating the obvious, but extra RAM?

 

[jimglasgow]

An SSD will make a significant difference. It's also worth checking your cache sizes in LR as this can have an impact on performance too.

what cache size would u recommend for the cache

 

[JayAy]

what cache size would u recommend for the cache

That will depend on what's available on your PC, so not easy to give a single number. Take a look at this article that suggests several things that can help LR performance including cache. https://digital-photography-school....-and-performance-without-additional-hardware/

 

[jimglasgow]

That will depend on what's available on your PC, so not easy to give a single number. Take a look at this article that suggests several things that can help LR performance including cache. https://digital-photography-school....-and-performance-without-additional-hardware/

I have SDD coming today so will see how performance goes!

 

[Charvelj]

Lightroom and Pixelmator Pro works for me.

 

[Genessi]

I always found the Canon software clunky and made for a slow workflow. Never really got on with it except perhaps the remote shooting app.

I was wondering about using canon software. Just purchased the R5

 

[cecilcopeland]

I've worked in and with Photoshop since ... well, since before it was Photoshop !! I use Lightroom now for the majority of my processing with Photoshop now being used for specialty projects like banners, posters, overlays, layering, masking ... that type of thing.
I also have the ON1 Photo RAW processing software, which I like and am still learning !!
I am interested, though, in the Topaz software ....

 

[Hutch]

Bridge, Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop along with some Topaz filters. Getting terrible results focus stacking R5 images in Photoshop that are turning out great using DPP. Would much rather use Photoshop for the benefit of more editing options and layers though. Any thoughts or ideas?

 

[Copterdoc]

I was wondering about using canon software. Just purchased the R5

I find the stacking in DPP works very well, as with most of the other normal editing and enhancing tasks. It was made by the manufacturer of the camera so it handles the files with ease. Also, you cannot beat the price (free, well you probably paid for it as part of the camera price). Lots of good software out there, not all are good at everything. DPP is a good place to start your exploration.

 

[DBeach]

Interesting to see no one seems to be using canon proprietary software?

With my initial transition away from film some 10 years ago, I found the Canon DPP software easy enough to use for the simpler edits needed most of the time. I still use it but find that my PC chokes on the CR3 files from my R6 even though they aren't any larger in file size than the CR2 files from my 6D. I'll be looking for a new platform (HW & SW). I do use an older copy of Photoshop for more complex edits so the Adobe suite is a leading candidate. But I'll certainly look into the alternatives suggested in these comments.