The others are better described as Adobe Lightroom competitors – programs that can catalog image libraries and develop raw image files, with some offering adjustment layers for correcting color, contrast, etc. However, a number of contenders offer excellent features and might replace at least one member of Adobe’s image processing suite.įor example, only four of these programs can truly serve as a layer-based editing program replacing Photoshop.
If you are hoping there’s a clear winner in the battle against Adobe, one program I can say does it all and for less cost and commitment, I didn’t find one. This review expands upon and updates mini-reviews I included in my Nightscapes and Time-Lapses eBook, shown at right. Even so, I think you will find there’s plenty to pick from! So sorry, fans of Paintshop Pro (though see my note at the end), Photoline, Picture Window Pro, or Xara Photo & Graphic Designer. I’ve indicated these.īut I did not test any Windows-only programs. I did not test these programs for other more “normal” types of images.Īlso, please keep in mind, I am a Mac user and tested only programs available for MacOS, though many are also available for Windows. I tested more than ten contenders as alternatives to Adobe’s image processing software, evaluating them ONLY for the specialized task of editing demanding nightscape images taken under the Milky Way, both for single still images and for time-lapses of the moving sky. That is the question many photographers are asking with the spate of new image processing programs vying to “kill Photoshop.” We particularly liked the Refine Brush tool which made it incredibly easy to create complex selections.To Adobe or not to Adobe. It hasn’t got all the features that Photoshop enjoys, but then again, it doesn't cost nearly as much, and the tools it does have, especially the ones in this update are most impressive. Final verdictĪll in all, Corel Paintshop Pro 2020 is a solid piece of software, which allows you to improve photographs and create complex composites with ease. This isn’t a complaint specific to Corel, but to any publisher who does this. It’s just hard to swallow, having paid good money for an app, to be confronted with a pay wall to gain access to more content.
Sadly there are precious few add ons that are free, but the brushes are mostly cheap enough to give them a try. New brushes and palettes have also been introduced, but not all are bundled into the app by default - in order to get them, you need to access Corel’s online store (which you can do from Paintshop Pro’s welcome screen), and see everything that’s available - for a price. The built-in online store gives you access to additional content - for a price (Image credit: Corel)
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