Lightroom alternative
Discussion
Having upgraded from the last fully paid version of Lightroom to a subscription I now find myself not using it as much so have let my subscription lapse.
I would probably still use it if Adobe let us subscribe monthly but that’s another story.
Is there a decent alternative ? I’m not really bothered about Photoshop type tools.
I would probably still use it if Adobe let us subscribe monthly but that’s another story.
Is there a decent alternative ? I’m not really bothered about Photoshop type tools.
There is Darktable. It is open source and free, but a bit crashy I've read. I've not used it.
Affinity Photo is supposed to be excellent, but it is more Photoshop-like than LR-like.
If you're on a Mac then the Photos app has quite a lot more editing functionality than many realise, and is all non-destructive like LR. It also organises and manages your image library of course.
Affinity Photo is supposed to be excellent, but it is more Photoshop-like than LR-like.
If you're on a Mac then the Photos app has quite a lot more editing functionality than many realise, and is all non-destructive like LR. It also organises and manages your image library of course.
What camera do you use and what do you want to do with the files?
https://www.captureone.com/en/capture-one-express might be worth a look - there's a Nikon version though you'd never guess it from that page.
https://www.captureone.com/en/capture-one-express might be worth a look - there's a Nikon version though you'd never guess it from that page.
I was going to suggest Capture One too as it is a superb RAW editor and enables you to get through loads of files quickly.
There is only the Pro version now which covers all cameras, the brand specific versions were stopped a while back.
The Express version is cut down but the RAW processing is fully functional and not limited, key features around sessions, advanced colour and skin tone tools, and other tools, are disabled though.
C1 licence is more expensive than the Adobe package but at least you can chose when or if to upgrade it.
As an alternative you could go for Affinity Photo which has a RAW processing part too…. Exceptionally good value and permanent licence (with the photoshop bits there if you want to use them in the future).
There is only the Pro version now which covers all cameras, the brand specific versions were stopped a while back.
The Express version is cut down but the RAW processing is fully functional and not limited, key features around sessions, advanced colour and skin tone tools, and other tools, are disabled though.
C1 licence is more expensive than the Adobe package but at least you can chose when or if to upgrade it.
As an alternative you could go for Affinity Photo which has a RAW processing part too…. Exceptionally good value and permanent licence (with the photoshop bits there if you want to use them in the future).
paulrockliffe said:
Last time I was using lightroom it was a pain because it didn't play well with hosting the library or the files on my server. Had that been sorted out or is there an alternative that likes networked files?
I think Lightroom (well they call it Lightroom Classic now) might be ok working on networked image files now, but still doesn't let you have the catalog file on a network to share it between different computers.When I looked up their help info on the question recently (wondering how easy it was to jump editing between desktop at home and laptop while away) it recommended putting images and catalog file on an external hard drive and swapping that between computers if you want to work on the same edits with different computers.
Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 20th April 23:34
Turtle Shed said:
Take a look at Exposure X7.
Also, you are aware that regardless of what technical issues you might be having with Lightroom, are you aware that the monthly fee for Lightroom and Photoshop combined is £9.98? That's very fair value IMHO.
Also, you are aware that regardless of what technical issues you might be having with Lightroom, are you aware that the monthly fee for Lightroom and Photoshop combined is £9.98? That's very fair value IMHO.
People who jib at that fee should consider the cost of virtually any other hobby.
singlecoil said:
People who jib at that fee should consider the cost of virtually any other hobby.
I don’t use photoshop only Lightroom.
Like I said paying the monthly fee would not be a problem if I could just drop in and out like most other subscription services as I don’t use it that much.
Do your research on cancellation fees.
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Turtle Shed said:
Take a look at Exposure X7.
Also, you are aware that regardless of what technical issues you might be having with Lightroom, are you aware that the monthly fee for Lightroom and Photoshop combined is £9.98? That's very fair value IMHO.
I’m not having any technical issues with LightroomAlso, you are aware that regardless of what technical issues you might be having with Lightroom, are you aware that the monthly fee for Lightroom and Photoshop combined is £9.98? That's very fair value IMHO.
singlecoil said:
Turtle Shed said:
Take a look at Exposure X7.
Also, you are aware that regardless of what technical issues you might be having with Lightroom, are you aware that the monthly fee for Lightroom and Photoshop combined is £9.98? That's very fair value IMHO.
Also, you are aware that regardless of what technical issues you might be having with Lightroom, are you aware that the monthly fee for Lightroom and Photoshop combined is £9.98? That's very fair value IMHO.
People who jib at that fee should consider the cost of virtually any other hobby.
PH and Lr is £120pa. Five years makes it about twelve times as much. Of course, there's no guarantee that they'll keep AP2 for five years.
I also have designer, at the same price. I can flick between each without having to leave the one I'm working on. I don't use it much, but when I do, it's not only a time-saver, but allows me to carry on working without interruption.
I agree that £120pa is not particularly extortionate, but Affinity is cheaper and, in some ways, and ways that are effective for me, better. I see no reason to pay so much more for something that I'd find not quite so good. But it's horses for courses. If you prefer Adobe, I can understand why. In fact, I use Adobe Bridge. But I like Affinity, and their way of supplying software. And especially the way they join two software programmes.
I don't expect to convince anyone, but it should be admitted that Adobe isn't in a league of its own, apart from high cost of course.
I have Affinity Photo 2 (and Publisher 2 and Designer 2) so naturally I've compared them in order to decide whether or not to keep the Photoshop subscription.
My findings are that Affinity is a very good product and many people will find that it's all they need, but Photoshop is better. It's often the case that the more expensive product is better than the less expensive, so no surprises there.
My findings are that Affinity is a very good product and many people will find that it's all they need, but Photoshop is better. It's often the case that the more expensive product is better than the less expensive, so no surprises there.
singlecoil said:
I have Affinity Photo 2 (and Publisher 2 and Designer 2) so naturally I've compared them in order to decide whether or not to keep the Photoshop subscription.
My findings are that Affinity is a very good product and many people will find that it's all they need, but Photoshop is better. It's often the case that the more expensive product is better than the less expensive, so no surprises there.
Better in what way please? Im assuming if you do 3D, Videos or use lots of actions/presets maybe? Genuine question, I'm not starting a mine is better than yours discussion... I use AP as my pixel editor to Capture One, a few years ago I was having to round trip every shoot and was never let down by AP, nowadays the vast bulk of my work is done in C1, I only round trip now for composites or maybe extending the background if its been tight in the studio, or the rare occasion somebody wants a print and frequency separation is needed. AP excels at all of these, as does PS of course. My findings are that Affinity is a very good product and many people will find that it's all they need, but Photoshop is better. It's often the case that the more expensive product is better than the less expensive, so no surprises there.
But I Never found anything PS could do that AP could not - I dare say the AI selection is a boon and AP definite needs to start down that journey.
steveatesh said:
I was going to suggest Capture One too as it is a superb RAW editor and enables you to get through loads of files quickly.
There is only the Pro version now which covers all cameras, the brand specific versions were stopped a while back.
I downloaded the Nikon one a few weeks ago, but you can't find it from the website, I had to google for it.There is only the Pro version now which covers all cameras, the brand specific versions were stopped a while back.
https://www.captureone.com/en/account/download/cap...
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