www.john-hardiman.com Pixel editing Software Your imagination is the limit once you learn how to use them. Typically best for heavy file editing. April 2018 Images are directly edited, unlike 'non destructive' editors & raw converters which save edits as a set of instructions. Software Adobe Photoshop Gimp Serif Affinity Photo Corel Paintshop Pro Adobe Photoshop Elements Version 2.8.22 CC2018 (version 2.10 will add 16bit 1.6.4.104 2018 2018 processing) Overview Industry leading, features well Free Photoshop alternative, lots of Excellent photoshop alternative Combines image management Photoshop elements has many developed. Lots of tutorials and tutorials available. Less refined with most of the features you're with a photoshop like editing photoshop features and makes basic support. Well supported by other features can feel a bit old but it's likely to use for photography. suite. Feels a little slower and editing easier for beginners. It adds software to extend functionality. good enough for many. Some features aren't as refined more clunky than Photoshop some organisational features, but Subscription cost model now means as Photoshop and some are with less refined features. lacks many of the more advanced you have to 'rent' it but can't own a better. Many shortcuts and Affinity seems like a better non- photo editing features needed for copy. commands common with photoshop choice. maximum quality. photoshop makes an easy switch between. Johns recommendation The go-to software if you don't mind Worth trying since it's free. The go-to software if you don't Based on my trials I wouldn't Has some good points, but I find it the subscription model. like the adobe subscription recommend Paintshop Pro over hard to generally recommend. Its It does not support 16 bit files model and want to save some Affinity, it's a bit slow and akward speciality is being a simplified all-in- which is an issue for anyone $$ and doesn't have as many useful one package for people wanting a shooting raw to maximise image photography features. simpler road to photo editing, but this quality. compromises your ability to take images further if you become more It should be better soon when 16 bit advanced. It may be an OK choice if processing is released. you're happy with simple editing tools and if you don't shoot raw since PSE has no 16 bit editing. Who's it suited to Pro's Enthusiasts Pro's Enthusiasts Those who prioritise a bit of Enthusiasts Students Enthusiasts Students automation and a 'photoshop for Students Beginners willing to learn Students Beginners willing to learn dummies' entry point over image Beginners willing to learn Beginners willing to learn quality. Best at Has a well refined feature set and is Being free Versatile, fully featured, no Interface may be a little simpler Some automated features for well supported by the industry and subscription, works well, and to get into than Photoshop or beginners, and an overall well rounded other software. well priced. Affinity, and the image package. management may be useful for some. Platform Windows, Mac Windows, Mac Windows, Mac Windows, Mac Windows, Mac Cost AU$14.30 per month, Free AU$80 once off AU $70-100 or AU$145 or $171 per year AU $116-130 with aftershot 3 Bit depth supported 16, 8 bit 8 bit (reads 16 bit, but only edits in 16, 8 bit 16, 8 bit 8 bit (reads 16 bit, but only edits in 8 8 bit) bits) Output Options Save to file & Printing Save to file & Printing Save to file & Printing Save to file & Printing Save to file & Printing Print colour management and print Print colour management and size Print color can be managed in Facebook, flicker, google+, Facebook, flicker, twitter, email, size settings available but basic can be properly controlled. The the dialog box, but the size smugmug, email vimeo, youtube, dvd, pdf slideshow, print profile is set via a seprate settings are lacking a bit, and slideshow, photobook template, menu in Gimps preferences which is may be best done by resizing the Print size is easily set but the calendar template, and more. akward and slow. image itself first which is akward colour profile seems to be and should be un-necessary if selected in the 'manage' tab Print options similar to Photoshop the settings were better. which is akward and slow which is better than the others, but still basic Colour managed workflow Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes But I experienced some unexpected colour conversions even though 'use existing profiles' was selected Type of editor Pixel editing Pixel editing Pixel editing Pixel editing Pixel editing File types supported All common image file types All common image file types All common image file types All common image file types All common image file types including including raw (via Adobe camera including raw, need to install the including raw support built in including raw. raw (via Adobe camera raw) raw) raw converters separately Organisation features Good image Organisation available None, require separate software None, require separate Includes a simple little manager Elements has a built in basic photo through Bridge which installs with software for organising files by star organiser capable of star rating, Photoshop. Allows sorting by Stars, ratings or tags (keywords) and keywords and viewing on a map. Colours, Keywords, etc can also display the location on Keywords and ratings can be saved to These settings are attached to the a map for geotaged images. The file which makes them visible to other image files and can referenced by star ratings and keywords are software. But it doesn't seem able to other software. attached to the image file and read keywords already applied from can be referenced by other other software. softwawre. The organiser is similar to Paintshop Pro's except that it uses a catalog system to import images you want to show. Editing features Just about everything you could Everything you would have wanted Just about everything you could Just about everything you could A good range but no powerhouse want. 10 years ago. want. want but less refined and sometimes a little clunky. Layers Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes local adjustments Yes via layers and masks Yes via layers and masks Yes via layers and masks Yes via layers and masks Yes via layers and masks Chromatic aberration and colour Yes None Yes Yes No fringing correction Basic Colour, tone, and curves, etc Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Advanced selections and corrections Good selection options and ability Average selection tools and ability Good selection options and Selections OK, but channels Selections maybe OK, but channels to select channels to select channels ability to select channels (once again) not very user not possible in the same way as friendly photoshop. Clone and heal Yes pretty good Yes (heal not as effective as Yes pretty good Yes but primitive from the Yes good photoshop or affinity) dinosaur age Sharpening Yes several options Basic sharpening available, and the Yes, several options Yes several options Yes several options preview isn't very helpful Warp Yes, pretty good OK basic function Yes, pretty good Basic functions Good Merging photos: Panoramas, Yes all 3 No but there may be some plugins Yes all 3 HDR but haven't bothered trying Panorama and exposure I think Exposure or Focus it.