IMAGE-EDITING SOFTWARE

Photo editing has evolved, with a growing selection of programs that can take you in many different directions...

- Rod Lawton

For a long time, Photoshop was considered the definitive professional photo editor, and it still is by many. These days, however, when it’s compared to other software, its specialist focus and limitations become apparent.

Photoshop may still be the best for in-depth photo editing, manipulation and compositing, but it’s really designed for working in-depth on individual images. Lightroom, for example, is better suited to a busy photography workflow, as it can be used to quickly display, organise and enhance whole batches of images.

While Photoshop might be the ‘best’ in some respects, other programs offer tools, presets and inspiration that Photoshop doesn’t. The fact that both Photoshop and Lightroom are included in Adobe’s Photography Plan makes them a great double act, but that doesn’t make the best for everyone.

Subscriptions are unpopular with some, but that’s the way things are heading. A few of the programs in our list are available as single-fee licenses, but more and more publishers favour subscriptions; Capture One looks to be adopting the model, and Skylum has practically completed the transition. 

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A PHOTO EDITOR Everyone has different editing needs. Here are some things to consider…