As a commercial fashion photographer, post-processing is a huge part of my work: color grading, retouching, sometimes compositing, what have you. And as such, I’ve spent a great deal of time researching the best photo editing software out there, looking for the best tools to do what I do.
This article is a sum of my research over the years.
Be it for professional work or just your hobby, commercial high-end software or free, open-source community projects, you’ll find the right software for your photo editing needs in this article.
1. Affinity Photo [Win/macOS/iPad]
Affinity Photo has claimed its place in the race for best photo editing software by going straight after Photoshop’s user base.
It has a similar interface to Photoshop, but a few unique features – like the “Personas” concept for different panels for specific editing tools – and a full array of powerful editing and retouching tools.
Because of this, Affinity Photo has become a favorite of professionals all over. And the affordable one-time price has something to do with it, too!
Notable features:
Pro-grade editing and retouching tools
Neat interface
Interesting workflow with the “Personas” interface
32-bit image support for HDR or 3D renders
Available on iPad!
Price – 59.99$
2. Adobe Photoshop [Win/macOS]
Adobe Photoshop needs no introduction. It has been the golden standard of photo editing software for almost 30 years – and its extensive set of powerful tools now gets constantly updated thanks to Adobe Creative Cloud subscription model.
The most notable recent additions are AI-powered tools for automatic subject selection and content-aware retouching, which put once difficult edits one click away from anybody.
Since I’m also a Lightroom user, Photoshop just makes sense, as it comes in the same bundled subscription. And it’s the best, anyways.
Notable features:
The most advanced, powerful photo editing software
AI-powered retouching tools
Layered, non-destructive workflow
Constant updates via Adobe Creative Cloud
Integration with cloud-based assets (Adobe Stock, Typekit and more)
Price: 9.99$/mo
3. Capture One Pro [Win/macOS]
Capture One Pro is the RAW editing solution from high-end camera manufacturer Phase One. It has long received praise for its great rendition of dynamic range and its accurate color rendering, and it’s a staple for studio photography thanks to its advanced tethering functions.
While many seem to find its interface a bit less intuitive than Adobe Lightroom’s, it isn’t excessively hard to get into – and the results generally pay off. I normally use Capture One instead of Lightroom for those jobs where color accuracy is paramount.
Notable features:
Much lighter to run than other similar programs
Customizable interface/panels
Powerful noise reduction
Correction and Adjustment layer functions
Native compatibility with high-end medium format cameras
Price: 299$
4. Adobe Lightroom Classic [Win/macOS]
Lightroom is the other side of Adobe’s approach to photo editing. While lacking the many precise tools or the layer workflow of Photoshop, Lightroom has a built-in asset manager allowing photographers to neatly arrange their catalogs by date, add tags, geolocation data, or even use AI to identify and group subjects’ faces.
It is my go-to for managing my extensive photo collection and doing basic editing on most of my works.
All this, paired with a solid RAW developer based on Adobe Camera Raw, and other functions for printing and web publishing, have made Lightroom a favorite amongst pros and amateurs alike.
Notable features:
Pro-grade asset manager
Adobe Creative Cloud storage for photos and presets
Advanced printing and publishing features
Plenty of plug-ins and add-ons from Adobe Exchange
Constant updates via cloud subscription
Price: From 9.99$/month
5. GIMP [Win/macOS/Linux]
GIMP is the best option for those photographers who can’t justify spending money on commercial software but still want some advanced editing on their photos.
With the GIMP project tracing back to 1995, it is one of the most established programs on this list. Over the years, more and more features found their way into the core of the program – and the recent updates to color management, masking, image warping, and interface are bringing it even closer to the standards one would expect from serious professional software. And it’s all free!
Notable features:
Clean interface with support for high DPI displays
Advanced color management
Subpixel selections for masking/compositing
Advanced warping tools
Free and open-source!
Price: Free
Conclusion
I tried to be as comprehensive as I could in describing all the important features of each photo editing software so you can have an idea of what features they offer. However, most of the paid photo editing software offers a free trial period that you should take advantage of.
Install the free trial and start editing a few photos to see if you like the workflow, user interface, and edit features. Also, make sure your computer can handle the CPU intensive workflows of these photo editing software. We recommend specialized photo editing pcs for professionals.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments if you think there are some programs we may have overlooked, and what your experience with our recommendations.
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