What replaces Photoshop?

CasperMarly · Jan 17, 2021

Have and use Photoshop CS6 and it works well. One of these days it may not.

When that day comes I'll need something to replace it - a program I can buy and use, not rent or lease.

What is out there that will give me what Photoshop can do?

Am looking at Photo editing and finessing images. Don't use Lightroom or any other programs for images. Just Photoshop since version 2.

markjwyatt · Jan 17, 2021

FIlm and darkroom are one option to people on this site. I am using film + ON1 or digital + ON1.

juan · Jan 17, 2021

Capture One. Available to buy or on subscription.

Tom Kershaw · Jan 17, 2021

PhotoLine is worth looking at: www.pl32.com

rick shaw · Jan 17, 2021

What OS?

If macOS, Pixelmator is a good option in the Mac App Store.

removed account4 · Jan 17, 2021

hey caspermarley
I was in your shoes about 3 or 4 years ago, I looked around and looked around ... ( like you I have been using it for a long long time )
--- just ended up using PS .. good luck with your quest.
john

Auer · Jan 17, 2021

I've been with Photoshop since the 90's and have never found anything that can match it.
Lightroom is much easier to replace, but since you can have both and Adobe RAW for $10 a month I see little point in doing anything else.

Photoshop has no real competitor IMO.

Edit: For strict photo editing maybe Exposure 6 could be of interest.
I tried it and found nothing really wrong with it but just too used to Adobe's solutions at this stage to seriously switch.

https://exposure.software/blog/2014/whats-new-in-exposure-6/

RalphLambrecht · Jan 17, 2021

CasperMarly said:
Have and use Photoshop CS6 and it works well. One of these days it may not.

When that day comes I'll need something to replace it - a program I can buy and use, not rent or lease.

What is out there that will give me what Photoshop can do?

Am looking at Photo editing and finessing images. Don't use Lightroom or any other programs for images. Just Photoshop since version 2.

I'd stick to Photoshop; It has such a huge user base That's a vacuum of no longer having Photoshop will be filled quickly by several software developers. I don't think there is a need to worry.

Pieter12 · Jan 17, 2021

I agree. Why learn a new program, when Photoshop is extremely versatile. You will have to subscribe for $10/month but you also get Lightroom and you can install both on 2 computers. So if you really wanted to, you could split the subscription, making it even less expensive. And if something comes along in a year that you can buy outright and you're happier with that, you haven't spent the big bucks on Photoshop that it would have cost you in the past to buy the software.

wiltw · Jan 17, 2021

Photshop currently does all of these very different functions

Convert RAW files to JPG, TIFF, etc. and adjust exposure, contrast, shadow and highlight control, etc, both universally and locally
Edit BMP, JPG, TIFF, etc at the individual pixel level inserting and editing graphics or alterations to photos
Print all photos at different resolutions and sizes of final print
Database management: Catalog and retrieve photos by keyword, by lens, etc.

Originally Photoshop could only do #2 and #3. ACR added #1, Bridge added #4 as capabilities building on base Photoshop.
WHICH of the above are you needing to do? Only with your answers can anyone else tell you accurately what alternatives you can use!

The other issue is that more and more the software is on 'recurring cost' contract, and is available for 'buy and use' only for older versions (if you can find them) but these may not support RAW files of recent cameras.

Valerie · Jan 17, 2021

Affinity https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/photo/

MattKing · Jan 17, 2021

Corel Paintshop Pro in its various flavours.
Corel also sells Aftershot Pro, which has similarities to Lightroom, and is usable on Windows, Mac and Linux.

winger · Jan 17, 2021

I use On1 mostly, but sometimes PS Elements (from 2018).

zanxion72 · Jan 18, 2021

The best if you can afford it is Photoshop CS, because you are long into it and hence there is not much new to learn.
Otherwise, Capture One Pro is an excellent alternative with a very good workflow, or if your system is on par with the requirements for it, Luminar.

removed account4 · Jan 18, 2021

Valerie said:
Affinity https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/photo/

I tried that when I was in the OP's shoes. They have mindbogglingly poor customer service. it is sooo-baaad Its surprising to me they are still in business.
I won't pollute the thread with my story, feel free to PM me if you are interested...

YMMV

ps. HI VAL !!!!
john

Paul Howell · Jan 18, 2021

I started with Corel and have stuck with the updates including Aftershot, and have a very old copy of PS Express, and had PS and light room on the monthly plan which I canceled. All work fine, for my needs Paintshop and Aftershot work really well, it's not that PS is bad, just different and I didn't want to take time to learn a new program.

Peltigera · Jan 18, 2021

I am a big fan of Affinity Photo. It works well, is easy to use, saves the full history when you save an image so you can go back to step one and change anything - it is entirely non-destructive.

grat · Jan 18, 2021

I second Affinity Photo. I have no idea what issues jnantz encountered-- my personal experience is that the forums are active, the developers participate, and they frequently adopt suggestions from forum members.

neeksgeek · Jan 18, 2021

I’ve used every version of Photoshop since 3, and while I like the program, especially versions 6 and CS4, over the last few iterations it seems to have gotten very buggy. At least in my experience; “very buggy” is when software prevents me from working.

“What do you mean, I’m not helping?”

“I mean, you’re not helping.”

(Obligatory quote from Blade Runner.)

A few years ago I tried Affinity Photo, and liked it so much that I eventually unsubscribed from Adobe, and I also bought the Affinity Designer (Illustrator equivalent) and Publisher (InDesign) apps.

I also think Photoshop has gotten to a point where it has too many tools a photographer doesn’t need, like 3D editing. If I want to do that, I’ll use Blender.

warden · Jan 18, 2021

Old Gregg said:
Curve and levels tools are microscopic! Why can't I resize them?!

No kidding. Photoshop is an amazingly capable and precise software tool so there is no excuse for small curve and levels tools.

CasperMarly · Jan 19, 2021

I ask for two reasons. One is that the stand alone version of CS6 will probably stop working one of these days as newer versions of computer running programs come out. Have run into this with some older programs I really like that are now useless.

Second is I am not where Internet is available for months at a time and Adobe tells me if I don't have Internet connection to check in every so often their subscription program will stop working. Per their folks - no exceptions. Adobe also does not like one paying by check or money order for some reason, another sticking point.

I do use Sigma Merrill cameras for some images and the Sigma RAW conversion program works well - Photoshop does not do their image files. But it is not a program for a finished image.

Pieter12 · Jan 19, 2021

CasperMarly said:
I ask for two reasons. One is that the stand alone version of CS6 will probably stop working one of these days as newer versions of computer running programs come out. Have run into this with some older programs I really like that are now useless.

Second is I am not where Internet is available for months at a time and Adobe tells me if I don't have Internet connection to check in every so often their subscription program will stop working. Per their folks - no exceptions. Adobe also does not like one paying by check or money order for some reason, another sticking point.

I do use Sigma Merrill cameras for some images and the Sigma RAW conversion program works well - Photoshop does not do their image files. But it is not a program for a finished image.

Just keep your existing computer up and running. I know someone who keeps a G4 to run a SCSI scanner.

guangong · Jan 20, 2021

From my limited experience, Windows 10 is very forgiving for running older programs designed for previous versions. For me, the one exception as been that my old Chinese character program, which permitted me to create characters no longer worked, so forced to use another program, limited by its choices.
So I feel that CS6 should continue to work for some time. I took advantage of Education price on eve of my retirement from university and bought video set and added indesign. Subscription would not work for me because of sporadic work habits.
However, APUG comes through again. Glad to be made of alternative programs that are available. May try to give several of them a try. Always amazed by the knowledge pool available.

RalphLambrecht · Jan 22, 2021

Valerie said:
Affinity https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/photo/

IMO affinity doesn't even doesn't even come close to Photoshop Despite the claims.

wiltw · Jan 22, 2021

CasperMarly said:
I ask for two reasons. One is that the stand alone version of CS6 will probably stop working one of these days as newer versions of computer running programs come out. Have run into this with some older programs I really like that are now useless.

Second is I am not where Internet is available for months at a time and Adobe tells me if I don't have Internet connection to check in every so often their subscription program will stop working. Per their folks - no exceptions. Adobe also does not like one paying by check or money order for some reason, another sticking point.

I do use Sigma Merrill cameras for some images and the Sigma RAW conversion program works well - Photoshop does not do their image files. But it is not a program for a finished image.

I still see no response to my questions about your NEEDED FUNCTIONALITY in Post 10.
Your question is similar to asking, "What vehicle should I buy to replace the one I have?"...it depends upon your NEEDS!
Some need a 2.5 ton pickup, some need a van, some need an electric with 200 mile range.

What replaces Photoshop?

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