Technology is improving and changing in leaps and strides. Today's smartphones are so advanced and powerful, that they can perform operations that even point-and-shoot cameras from long ago couldn't perform. Whether you are taking photos using a smartphone or using a more sophisticated DSLR camera, software for organizing and editing these photos is a must-have. Photoshopping is no longer exclusive to professionals and graphic designers with formal training. With a convenient, user-friendly photo editing software, users of all ages and from different backgrounds are given equal chances to edit photos and import them to your PC, so that you can organize and pick the best ones.
The following photo editing software programs have varying features that suit the needs of different types of photographers. Their efficiency and ease of use are also at varying levels. In choosing a photo editing software, you should make sure that it has the features that you need, and above all, if it can give you the comfort and ease while you are creatively tweaking and improving your photos.
This software gets a 5 in the Editor's Choice List. Through the years, Adobe Photoshop is proud to be the world's best imaging and photo editing software. It enables you to create and enhance your photos, images and designs.
It has a Layers Editing feature that allows its users to focus more on the detail rather than editing image pixels directly. It also has Lens Profile Corrections and Content-Aware Edits. It does not have a Keyword Tagging or a Face Recognition feature.
The Adobe Photoshop CC has multiple photo corrections and manipulation tools, tools for mobile and web design, drawing and typography tools to help the user achieve his/her design capability.
The disadvantage of using it is that it has no perpetual-license option. The premium plan is not also cheap.
The Adobe Lightroom Classic CC is another top-rated editing software. It is for Pro Photographers and Designers. It has remarkable features such as Keyword Tagging, Face Recognition and Lens Profile Corrections. It does not have features such as Layers Editing and Content-Aware Edits.
Some good reasons to use the Adobe Lightroom Classic CC are as follows: It has an excellent workflow as well as clear, attractive interface design. It is also a winner in photo management/organization. It facilitates camera and lens-based corrections, easy online sharing, map integration, brush adjustments, integrated book creation among other features.
It may not perform well in terms of importing files and photos. Its raw conversion may also be less detailed than that of Capture One.
The Adobe Photoshop Elements is excellent for hobbyists. It has features such as Keyword Tagging, Face Recognition, Layer Editing and Content-Aware Edits. It does not contain the Lens Profile Corrections feature.
Adobe Photoshop Elements' strengths lie on its wide array of powerful image-manipulation tools, strong face and geo-tagging capabilities, excellent output options, auto-tagging and powerful search options. It also has helpful guidance for advanced techniques.
Its weaknesses may include having a large disk footprint, the absence of a HEIF support on Windows, the absence of chromatic aberration correction r lens geometry profiles among others.
The DxO PhotoLab is a Pro Photographers' choice. It has features such as the Lens Profile Corrections and Content-Aware Edits. It does not contain features such as Keyword Tagging, Face Recognition and Layer Editing.
This software received an Excellent mark from the Editors. It is known for features like having a clear interface, having the best-in-class noise reduction, excellent autocorrection based on camera and lens characteristics, having a haze remover, geometry corrections and for its powerful local adjustments.
Its weaknesses lie in its few workflow tools and highest noise-reduction setting that can require long waits.
The Corel PaintShop Pro received an Excellent editor rating. It is designed specifically for budget-conscious Image Editors. It has the most number of features compared to the earlier mentioned editing software programs. It has Keyword Tagging, Face Recognition, Layer Editing, Lens Profile Correction, and Content-Aware Edits feature.
This software's strong points include having Photoshop-like features at a lower price and may include important features such as power effects and editing tools, face recognition, tutorials, along with a good assortment of vector drawing tools.
However, some of its operations may still be slow. Its interface can also get cluttered and it may also have an ineffective chromatic aberration removal.
The CyberLink PhotoDirector received an Excellent Editor's Rating. It is designed for photography enthusiasts. It includes features such as Keyword Tagging, Face Recognition, Layer Editing, Lens Profile Corrections and Content-Aware Edits.
It is lauded for having a friendly yet powerful interface, an effective noise reduction feature, cool multiple-exposure, faux HDR effects, having a body shaper with other powerful editing tools, layer support, a cool AI styles and tethered shooting support.
Its weaknesses include insufficient lens-profile corrections, inadequate chromatic aberration correction and no geotag maps.
Phase One Capture One Pro
The Phase One Capture One Pro is also for Pro Photographers and has been given an Excellent Editor's Rating.
It has features like Keyword Tagging and Lens Profile Corrections. But it lacks the Face Recognition feature, Layer Editing and the Content-Aware Edits feature.
The ACDSee Photo Studio Professional is perfect for budget-conscious photographers. It has features like Keyword Tagging, Face Recognition, Lens Profile Corrections and Content-Aware Edits. It does not have the Layer Editing feature. It received a Good Editor's Rating.
Alien Skin Exposure
The Alien Skin Exposure photo editing software is perfect for people who love effects. It received a 3.5 or Goo Editor Rating. It has features like Keyword Tagging, Layer Editing and Lens Profile Corrections. It does not have Face Recognition or the Content-Aware Edits feature.
Skylum Luminar
The Skylum Luminar is for Pro Photographers and Enthusiasts. It received a 3.5 Good Editor Rating. It has a Layer Editing and Lens Profile Corrections feature. Meanwhile, it lacks the Keyword Tagging, Face Recognition and Content-Aware Edits feature.