Three Software Titles For your Consideration

MikeGunter

While I will eventually miss Adobe, I'd offer three titles that in total are much less than CC's yearly subscription, and I think likely an annual LR cost, even a Photoshop Elements box.

1. Corel After Shot Pro just added 1.2.0.7 which added RAW support for Nikon 1 J2, 1 J3, 1 S1, 1 V2, D5200, D600, D7100 (it already supported the other Nikons). It has a full feature set for plugins and works great.

2. Corel's Paint Shop Pro as many already know is a full-featured editor, but lacks, IMHO, a great RAW editor, (hence my recommendation for the After Shot Pro - the two mesh nicely and will be a terrific pair to replace any software package.

3.Cyberlink's PhotoDirector 4 is an inexpensive 'Manager' that does some cataloging, albeit that can be done with other Corel tools, that I like a bit better, and I do run simultaneously will editing.

What tools would you use should you decide you don't go the Creative Cloud?

My best,

Mike

JJ_SO

As RAW converters I use Aperture and CaptureOne, depending on cam.
For editing (on a Mac) I use Photoline32 (good performer, but no great UI), GraphicConverter (rarely) and Pixelmator. Because I didn't recall the name of Pixelmator instantly, I made a search and tripped over this article (in german) for free alternatives to Photoshop.
In short, the author lists (as freeware!)
GIMP
TheCinePaintProject: http://www.cinepaint.org/
Krita: http://www.koffice.org/
Artweaver: http://www.artweaver.de/
Paint.net: http://www.getpaint.net/
Photoscape: http://www.photoscape.org/ps/main/index.php
Chocoflop: http://www.chocoflop.com/
Splashup: http://www.splashup.com/
Active Pixsels: http://idea-systems.net/
PaintStar: http://wang.zhenzhou.googlepages.com/

I didn't realize, there are so many... Have no idea on any of them, but obviously it's not only photoshop in this world

As a RAW-tool, there's also ACDSee Pro

And for Corel my sympathy died long ago. That might be a shame and I might miss something but so far...

sevencrossing

I own my versions of LR and CS5, so no annual cost
The thought of learning new editing software , fills me with dread
Future software upgrade needs?? who knows ??
There is no guarantee any program is going to remain future proof
So for the time being, I will stick with the industry standard

[Deleted User]

Lightroom 5 and / or Phase One - Capture one.

heartyfisher

I use Free software.

DigiKam
Gimp
RawTherapee
viewNX that came with the camera.

BTW for the Banding issue with some cameras (D7100 ? D70, Canon ) Rawtherapee has some correction tools that does a good job fixing it.

PaRealtor

Is Lightroom still the best for Apple/MAC to use with my D7100 or should I consider another one?

Rx4Photo

Hello Mike, thanks for the info on the Corel products and those as well JJ_SO.
I'm interested in doing more compositing work a'la Joel Grimes. Do you know if I can do that type of work with the Corel products? Also, do you know if they feature a warp and/or liquify tool? Thanks.

Msmoto

I just downloaded Perfect Effects 8
http://www.ononesoftware.com/products/effects8/
Have not played much with it yet.

DenverShooter

Is Lightroom still the best for Apple/MAC to use with my D7100 or should I consider another one?

I use Aperture and its fast and powerful.

Denver Shooter

proudgeek

Agree with Denver. Aperture plus the NIK plug ins. Very pleased.

henrik1963

Agree with DenverShooter and proudgeek - I´m using Aperture and it works for me. Considering Nik plug ins.

ben_dmb

Aperture and I have just downloaded Perfect Effects 8. I've tried LS 5 a couple of times but it is so different from Aperture that I gave up.

No_Orchestra

I just switched from years of Photoshop Elements over to Lightroom 5 and I am in love. It is so much more intuitive and useful. It has sped up my workflow a tremendous amount. Plus, the nice thing about being a student is getting the education-pricing discount.

MikeGunter

Hello Mike, thanks for the info on the Corel products and those as well JJ_SO.
I'm interested in doing more compositing work a'la Joel Grimes. Do you know if I can do that type of work with the Corel products? Also, do you know if they feature a warp and/or liquify tool? Thanks.

Hi,

If you're accustom to PS for these effects, you'll find PSP clumsy at best. It can be done, but it would be backward and ineffectual for these tools.

OTOH, if you're just getting started, doing this sort of thing can be done, it just done by a different process.

My best,

Mike

PaRealtor

Aperture it is.
From the reviews, it works well with Perfect Effects 8 Msmoto.
Now that was easy!!! Thanks all for your excellent advise (as always).

tganiats

I have D800, wife D7100. We love Aperture + Nik software. I also use Perfect Photo Suite 8. Very happy.

richiero

I've used Aperture since it was first introduced (yes, I paid a huge amount of money, $200+, for that first version). I think its great. Very powerful , but easy to use. But I decided to take advantage of the $9.99 a month deal Adobe is offering for its LightRoom and Photoshop CC. The learning curve is a little steeper Apertures, but Adobe does provide great videos for LR and Ps. When the year end, I will have to make decision as what to do.

PB_PM

Agree with Denver. Aperture plus the NIK plug ins. Very pleased.

I also use this combo, never felt the need for anything else. Been using Aperture since version 2.1, and other than the early 3.0 days I haven't regretted picking Aperture over Lightroom. I do have Pixelmator for any layer based editing I need to do, but it gets used rarely.

paulr

I think we all have our favourite softwares,and once used to them find it difficult to change, I am Mac based and have always used Photoshop from CS2 to the now monthly payment of CC/Lightroom 5 .I have the Mac Aperture but rarely use it, Plug-ins bring a opportunity to make your images different, I use Nik Suite, Topaz and OnOne 8 and some less know ones Akvis and the Plug-in Suit{4 different Effects}. I find that some softwares work better with certain images and there is no rule of thumb for all, As always a little, is better than a lot in usage. The one software I enjoy the most is Topaz ReStyle, It's a tint based software which until it digests the image you do not know what you are going to get, and it works in reverse when you actually take off the effect to suit the image.Again it does not work for all images and you have to play around to suit your choice.

scoobysmak

If I ever get a Mac I might have to try Aperture, Apple seems to make products a cave man like me could use.