So what photo editing programs do you have on your computer?

[Chris Summers]

I have too many! I have tended over the years to work with some consistently and also try others, sometimes I'm at a trade show and there is a deal on something or around Christmas they all have specials on upgrades and I am a sucker for them. So here is what I have:

Adobe LR, Bridge and PS. These are my standards that I have used for 20 years now.
On1 RAW 2022. I use it off and on and done some upgrades over the years. Won't get 2023 because my video card is older and not supported. Maybe if I upgrade that.
Luminar 4 as well as Luminar Neo. For my tastes Luminar is superior for some things like sky replacement and removing wires from shots.
Luminar Aurora and Photolemur. Aurora is pretty good for HDR, Photolemur was an early attempt at AI editing and can do some nice things.
Topaz AI products... I have Photo AI which I tend to use the most now but also Gigapixel AI, Sharpen AI and DeNoise!I PRetty soon I think PhotoAI will replace the others.
Topaz Studio, Simplicity and Glow. Studio is there main editing program, don't use it much. The others are for fun stuff like making an image look like a painting.
Photomatix. Good software for merging shots for HDR, lots more variables and choices than Adobe offers.
PortraitPro Body Studio. From a British software company. I think this is the best for retouching faces and bodies, better than Photoshop for quick retouches.
Adobe Premier Elements. I don't do a lot of video editing but this is a typical well made Adobe program.
GoPro Studio and Quik. If you shoot GoPro these are a must. Easy to use and fast for making videos to share.

FWIW, I was an early user of DXO Optics as well as Nik but at some point moved away and stopped upgrading. Might have to give them a try again.

Other stuff for editing:
I have a Wacom tablet but still don't feel comfortable with it. Need to practice more. I also have a Loupedeck which is kind of a nifty interface that lets you twist knobs to make fine adjustments in Photoshop or Lightroom which can be easier than the sliders within the programs.

 

[Photofarmer]

still a beginner in every facet of editing.
LR and Radiant Photo

Edit am i deemed a poor phtographer if your tad lazy and do little editing? Photos mostly for me only. And a few on here

 

[freddijay]

I started working with PS (and lots of other now defunct apps) in 1990 as a graphic artist so I've stayed with it over the years.
I didn't get a digital camera until 2002 which is when PS and Bridge became more essential. I have LR but have never really used it.
Dx0 PhotoLab 5 impressed me a couple of years ago so Dx0 PL 6 is part of my app list now.
Topaz didn't really impress me until the last year or so. I now use Photo AI, Denoise, Sharpen, and Gigapixel when an image seems to need a little different touch.
I used (and still have) Photomatix from about 2012 until Aurora 20** sort of became better for my process. I keep hearing that HDR Merge is where they are putting in all the improvements but I haven't really considered getting Luminar Neo just to get it. If HDR Merge gets enough better, I'll probably give it a test run.
I had a Wacom tablet for a while to try out but just never got the hang of it.
I looked at the LoupeDeck and even considered it in a moment of GAS but never bought one.

I almost forgot. I do have two stacking applications, ZereneStacker and Helicon Focus. Both work well but ZereneStacker seems to be slightly better for my work.

 

[Kamoshika]

DxO PL6 (w/FilmPack & Viewpoint) & Topaz Sharpen AI. That's all...well, Apple Photos.

 

[Bryan Conner]

My main most used app is DXO PhotoLab 6 Elite along with DXO FilmPack 6 and DX= Viewpoint 3. I still use Lightroom 6 and Photoshop CS5 for some things such as focus stacking, panoramas, and hdr. I sometimes use DPP4 for focus stacking just to compare results with Photoshop. Those are my main go-tos.

I also have Capture One 22 for my Sony RX-100, but basically never use it. I only open it after updates to see if it has improved. I have Photomatix Pro 5, but find that Lightroom and Photoshop do just as well for the little I use it.

I use Focus Magic a lot, it is a stand-alone app, but I use it mainly as a Photoshop plug-in for creative sharpening from time to time. I also still use Photokit sharpener from time to time, but DXO PhotoLab 6 is so good with the raw files that Photokit is almost un-used now.

 

[PKM-UK]

Lightroom Classic is my ‘photography hub’ and is also used for some processing Tasks. Photoshop is my ‘creative/ fixing’ hub.

DxO does the heavy lifting for my initial processing - colour rendering, lens profiles and noise reduction - sometimes much more, including perspective corrections/ creativity with ViewPoint. FilmPack and Nik Collection are creative apps used via Photoshop.

Topaz Labs was my ‘go to’ for noise reduction (then I found DeepPRIME), however I still use all the ‘Image Quality Bundle’ apps and have been testing Photo AI since the early pre-release betas. Studio 2 is a key part of my creative software, but sadly Topaz have ceased developing (and selling) this. (Adjust AI, Mask AI and jpg to raw AI have all fallen by the wayside for my purposes).

I added Tony Kuyper's TK8 Panel to Photoshop relatively recently and I am (very) slowly trying to get to grips with it and harness the full potential.

I use the GoPro apps, but also use iMovie with our (few) video files. I use Keynote with iMovie to produce any slideshows.

Phil

 

[RedCobra]

LrC
PS
DxO PL6
Nik Plug-ins
Topaz, PAI, Denoise, Sharpen, Gigapixel. Studio 2
OM Workspace
DaVinci Resolve (Video)
Luminar AI (hardly ever use)

 

[dmanthree]

Adobe PS, Bridge, LR. No incentive to change to anything else.

 

[KEN_A]

Adobe CC, LR, PS, Bridge, DNG Converter.
Topaz PAI, Gigapixel, DeNoise, Sharpen.
ON12023, and 2023 versions of HDR, Resize, No Noise AI, Effects, Portrate.
Lumina NEO,
Affinity Photo 2
DXO Nik Collection (not updated this year)

Trying these for a year with the idea of cutting a number of them down after a good trial and comparison of results.

 

[Tui]

View thumbnails in Adobe bridge, open ones I like in Adobe Camera Raw, do basic editing, export to Photoshop and after editing save some as TIFFS, convert to small jpeg for web, delete Raw files not used, back up the rest to external drives. Sometimes use DXOPure Raw if high ISO. Use an XP-pen tablet as I find Wacom tablets take up too much room

 

[MikeZ]

I used to be a heavy LR user (rarely touched PS), that is until Adobe went to the subscription model. While I understand the merits of that model (latest updates are always available, lower overhead on your home machine, etc.) I just balk at the business concept. It's just a personal peccadillo. When Adobe stopped supporting LR Classic on a PC I did my research and moved to DxO, and I've been completely happy with what it can do. I still occasionally us LR for stitching panoramas, but otherwise quite happy with DxO.

 

[GaryM]

Gosh, mine is pretty limited and simplistic. DPP, CC Lightroom and photoshop, and IPhoto.

I download my files to canon’s free DPP for initial viewing and culling.
Then I use CC Lightroom for some basic adjustments. My acceptables are moved to CC photoshop to be cleaned up a bit when needed (I am finding that with my R7 I am better exposing my initial images making for less processing time), and then exported. For some reason the latest version of DPP imports very clean Jpeg files (raw files still look the same and need work).

As ridiculous as it sounds with the R7 I often now just shoot jpeg (I used to always shoot raw on one card and jpeg on the other) download to DPP, import to Photos on my 27” IMac and then make a few adjustments. I know some of you are cringing right now, but it’s pretty fast, inexpensive, and seems to satisfy most people. This seems to work for wildlife and people, but not for landscapes when blown highlights and shadow recovery are necessary.

To me the $9.99 monthly for CC lightroom And photoshop is a bargain and I am not bothered by subscriptions.

 

[lostnomore]

I like to keep life simple whenever possible. I use Lightroom for 90% of my workflow and editing, only occasionally editing something in Photoshop. And - to potentially stir up a hornet's nest - whether you pay for a subscription or a one-time software purchase, I don't think the cost difference in the end would be a whole lot different, say, after 5 years. Any platform one goes with is an absolute pain to switch away from and so that's why I've stuck with Adobe despite reading up the odd time on the non-subscription alternatives.

 

[ACEkin]

I have been using Adobe Creative Cloud for many years. I do much of the work in Lightroom and push an image to Photoshop if it needs more refined work.

 

[Achim_65]

Photomator on iPad 11 Pro
DxO Photolab 5 on PC

Most of the time I use my iPad…but I'm also not good at photo editing

 

[JHG]

I have the old Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom on my own computer as well as the latest Adobe CC at my work computer (paid by my employer thankfully). It's just so happen that my job requires a lot of scientific image manipulations, hence they get to pay for my yearly subscription. Otherwise, I would use DPP for some basic adjustments such as lens corrections and file format conversions.

 

[cdgta]

I totally moved away from Adobe a couple of years ago and have dabbled in many different programs since then. Currently I start with DxO mainly for DeepPrime when needed then ON1 Photo Raw 2023 and Radiant Photo which is surprisingly good at taking an image you thought you were happy with and making it even more, well, 'radiant'! I also am trying out Cyberlink PhotoDirector and PowerDirector for videos.

I also keep my monitor calibrated with SpyderX Pro.

 

[Only RF]

As of last week. LrC, PS, Canon's DPP and Topaz Sharpen AI. I always use DPP's Quick Check - Full Screen to delete unwanted files before importing to LrC.

 

[Photofarmer]

See Dxo Photolab just won a award. Simpletons like me who are not super computer literate wants something thats easy and uncomplicated.
A mate up the road uses Dxo reckons it hands down better than lightroom which he has as well. My untrained eye cant tell the difference.
Was easier to import photos into it will give it that

 

[tpatana]

Basically everything but DxO and On1.

I use LR plenty, and occasionally PS. Even more occasionally Premiere Pro. Sometimes Topaz products.

Worst bad purchase was Luminar AI. Lot of great sales speech but the product is garbage. Well at least was when I tried it, haven't touched in long time so I don't know if they got it better. Pretty much the LR "auto" button did better job.

 

[ACEkin]

Basically everything but DxO and On1.

I use LR plenty, and occasionally PS. Even more occasionally Premiere Pro. Sometimes Topaz products.

Worst bad purchase was Luminar AI. Lot of great sales speech but the product is garbage. Well at least was when I tried it, haven't touched in long time so I don't know if they got it better. Pretty much the LR "auto" button did better job.

I fully agree with your thoughts on Luminar. I bought a copy when they first issued it as a potential Lightroom replacement. Far from it, they kept jumping from one idea to another and nothing worked as promised. At least for me. I even got a copy of Photo Lemure which was acquired by Luminar and dropped from the line.

 

[pcassel]

DxO PL6 (w/FilmPack & Viewpoint) & Topaz Sharpen AI. That's all...well, Apple Photos.

I regularly gets email from DxO offering me a free trial of its Pure Raw software. Years ago I used PL as my raw processor but gave it up about version 3 due to my acquisition of a camera system incompatible with that program.

I'm curious to hear from a user (as opposed to the company) as to if PL is a superset of Pure Raw today? Apparently my license from way back offers me an attractive bargain for PL today but not the Pure Raw. Thanks.

 

[RedCobra]

PL6 includes everything in PR3 plus a ton of other stuff. A really great program.

 

[MikeZ]

PL6 includes everything in PR3 plus a ton of other stuff. A really great program.

I absolutely agree and use little else, unless I need to stitch a panorama (LR Classic/non-subscription version installed on my PC). I really wish that DxO would include a stitching tool.

 

[Only RF]

As of last week. LrC, PS, Canon's DPP and Topaz Sharpen AI. I always use DPP's Quick Check - Full Screen to delete unwanted files before importing to LrC.

Actually I use DPP to view my final exported Jpeg. Mac's Preview is terrible at scaling. At one time I used PS but while it scales correctly it is half the size on a 27" 5K screen and is useless to judge anything.

 

[Only RF]

Gosh, mine is pretty limited and simplistic. DPP, CC Lightroom and photoshop, and IPhoto.

I download my files to canon’s free DPP for initial viewing and culling.
Then I use CC Lightroom for some basic adjustments. My acceptables are moved to CC photoshop to be cleaned up a bit when needed (I am finding that with my R7 I am better exposing my initial images making for less processing time), and then exported. For some reason the latest version of DPP imports very clean Jpeg files (raw files still look the same and need work).

As ridiculous as it sounds with the R7 I often now just shoot jpeg (I used to always shoot raw on one card and jpeg on the other) download to DPP, import to Photos on my 27” IMac and then make a few adjustments. I know some of you are cringing right now, but it’s pretty fast, inexpensive, and seems to satisfy most people. This seems to work for wildlife and people, but not for landscapes when blown highlights and shadow recovery are necessary.

To me the $9.99 monthly for CC lightroom And photoshop is a bargain and I am not bothered by subscriptions.

Nothing wrong with simple. Sometimes I find all that is out there overwhelming. I was so happy to dump a bunch of 3rd party NR apps recently. Don't forget to add for that price you get a personal website that is integrated with LrC.

Me neither. I pay annually and don't worry about. Before subscription I upgraded at every new release anyway. Even I was using perpetual licensing knowing myself I'd be upgrading every fall as well. There have been a few complaints about Adobe not releasing anything signification every fall even though the version number changes. However as we just seen Adobe has released major new feature mid year.

 

[AKVet]

I am a pretty simple guy so I use LR and Topaz Sharpen AI. LR's new Denoise AI is surprisingly good. Well, at least, for me.

 

[Only RF]

I am a pretty simple guy so I use LR and Topaz Sharpen AI. LR's new Denoise AI is surprisingly good. Well, at least, for me.

I like simple. That is exactly where I am now. I also use Canon’s DPP to cull files before importing to LrC and after export to view the final file. DPP’s scaling is very good.

Sharpen AI is the only 3rd party app I have now and I don’t use it very much. It would be nice if Adobe released Sharpen AI to make it complete.

 

[Photofarmer]

Gosh you can waste time looking at editing programmes during trial period. Im a rank beginner and not ultra computer savvy, but found DXO reasonably easy to use. Better than LR who knows as good as i reckon its but im a learner. Most of my photos are weather related lightning etc you guys reccomend one over another for my type of photography?

 

[pcassel]

IMO, it's more a matter of using one of the many excellent editing programs well than spending time and energy deciding which is best. It may not be possible to pick any winner because our needs/desires differ and the programs are regularly updated.

For example, I use Photoshop but do not recommend it. I withhold recommending it because I can't possibly know what's best for anybody aside from me. I was a beta tester for PS 3.0 which, IIRC, wasn't the first Windows version but was stable and had layers - which turned out to be a game changer. I just happened to be in a certain place at a certain time which led me to be an early adopter.

Curiously, I also used PaintShop during this period. I purchased a retail license and several upgrades until, IMO, JASC sold it and it lost its way. By then I'd grown so used to the often baffling UI of PS that I was more comfortable there than anything else.

I'll add that I was infuriated at Adobe's move to the subscription model and fought against it by purchasing licenses for several competitors but I always came back because it worked for me without me thinking less about 'how to' and more about 'what I wish to do'.

I will say that Adobe has, IMO, played fair with its users. I dutifully hand over my U$10/month and in return, it has regularly upgraded the program in ways that are meaningful to me. It did not, as I feared, rest having captured its audience failing to improve the program once it had so many of us hooked.

Based on *my* experience, if I was to give up PS, I'd likely move to DxO.