Easy software for photo management / light editing (no subscription)?

[Ezra]

Hello -- longtime lurker, first time poster.

I am coming back to digital photography after about 8 years. I used to have Lightroom 4, and I purchased the upgrade to 6 before it went subscription only. I think I also bought some plugins back then. I tried to install it on my current computer, but after much work it appears that it does not want to run. (In case anyone has any tips: I found the link to 6.14, I signed on, found the serial numbers, registration confirmed and files installed, but when it tries to run for the first time, I sign on again, and ... nothing happens. All I can get is the sign on window. Windows 11 home.)

I am resigned to giving up on Lightroom 6. I don't really need fancy photo editing tools and it seems foolish to pay a subscription to LR for my level of use. There are a bunch of free programs that seem more than sufficient for my needs -- mainly photo management, some light editing. However, like LR, they all seem to have steep learning curves.

I wonder if anyone has a recommendation for something relatively simple that will get me back behind the lens without too much headache?

I wouldn't mind RAW support but not a dealbreaker. Life's too short, I'm learning.

Thanks in advance

 

[Freakscene]

Do NOT install the Creative Cloud Desktop App to install.
Download and run the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner App CLEANER TOOL
Restart, cold boot, the computer.
Re-install a fresh version of Lr6.14 from- Lightroom 6 End of Support

Some parts of LR6 may not work.

 

[Bolo Kukus]

Check out Faststone Image Viewer. I discovered it in 2012 and I've never looked back.

The 'image viewer' part is somewhat misleading. It's actually a complete post processing package with many options. Not fancy, user friendly, visually easy to navigate. It looks to have been originally designed by talented visual programmers who were/are actual photographers and believe in the KISS principle.

It has most of the bits we mostly all use to improve our images. Without necessitating a seemingly endless sequence of commands/controls or leafing thru multiple paragraphs of complex instructions and pressing more buttons than we have fingers for, and as I ofttimes think, toes as well. It does what it does well, and it should satisfy at least 90% of your needs. It does 99% of mine.

Faststone.org also offer several other free packages - Maxview, Screen Capture and Photo Resizer, also useful, tho' I've not made great use of those, I can see how they would serve other users well.

It's regularly updated with useful improvements. And best of all, it's free = zero dollar investments for a perfectly adequate basic package. What's not to like about it?

 

[Godfrey]

Lightroom/Lightroom Classic has just about the simplest mix of photographic editing tools I can think of, and has the image management database stuff nicely in hand. At $10/month, with ongoing updates, it's about as good as it gets.

But I know little about Windows systems, what is or isn't compatible. I run Apple systems (macOS, iOS, iPadOS) ...

G

 

[Ezra]

Do NOT install the Creative Cloud Desktop App to install.

Thank you for the tip! However, I have never used any CC on this computer, or any other Adobe product. I used the LR 6.14 installer from the Internet Archive.

Lightroom/Lightroom Classic has just about the simplest mix of photographic editing tools I can think of, and has the image management database stuff nicely in hand. At $10/month, with ongoing updates, it's about as good as it gets.

I can certainly appreciate how it makes a lot of sense for many people. If I was more of an active photo bug I'd consider it. I confess I resent the business model, but I know there's another thread about that.

Check out Faststone. I discovered it in 2012 and I've never looked back.

Thanks for the recommendation! I will take a look.

 

[Joao]

I have been using the Photofiltre ( photofiltre-studio.com ) software for more than 15 years .

"...PhotoFiltre 11 is shareware and is limited to a 30-day trial period.
At the end of the 30-day trial period, if you want to continue using it you will need to purchase a registration key. ..."

It is certainly worth a try. The registration key allowed me to use of this software in several different computers. Their costumer support was excellent - and fast.

They have a freeware version ("Photofiltre 7 ") that may be enough for what you want.

Joao

 

[peterm1]

In addition to Lightroom 5.7 which was one of those last stand alone versions - obviously a bit older than your version 6.1. I also use Corel Paintshop Pro. The latter is very similar to the old Photoshop Elements though perhaps these days is less sophisticated than any Adobe offerings but I stick with it because it is stand alone and it does much of what I need and want. I tend to use LR for management and cataloguing of the files plus for basic processing of these files, then drop into Corel (which can run directly from an exe file off the desktop or as a plugin to LR) for some of its specific capabilities. For example, if I need to use Layers, Corel can do this and there are various other tools I like as well.

 

[Freakscene]

Thank you for the tip! However, I have never used any CC on this computer, or any other Adobe product. I used the LR 6.14 installer from the Internet Archive.

If you have tried unsuccessfully to install LR, irrespective of where from, you need to actively clean it off before you try again. The Internet Archive version of LR6 will not work on Windows 11. You need to install the last version from Adobe. I got it to work on my son’s PC using Windows 11 after a lot of failed attempts.

 

[Sanug]

You can get a simple but very usable viewer/editor for multi platforms for free: XnView MP.

More refined and free as well: GIMP.

 

[Ezra]

If you have tried unsuccessfully to install LR, irrespective of where from, you need to actively clean it off before you try again. The Internet Archive version of LR6 will not work on Windows 11. You need to install the last version from Adobe. I got it to work on my son’s PC using Windows 11 after a lot of failed attempts.

Hm - do you know which version you got to work? The link you provided states that Adobe no longer offers a download as of 12/31/2023.

 

[Ezra]

If you have tried unsuccessfully to install LR, irrespective of where from, you need to actively clean it off before you try again. The Internet Archive version of LR6 will not work on Windows 11. You need to install the last version from Adobe. I got it to work on my son’s PC using Windows 11 after a lot of failed attempts.

Thanks to your encouragement, I gave it another go, and I figured out the trick I needed.

In case anyone else finds this thread, try Offline Activation. Turn off the internet and start the program, then click on "Having trouble with your internet connection." Instructions here.

Thank you to everyone else who suggested alternative software. I may come back to these if and when LR 6 fails...

 

[BernardL]

Check out Faststone. I discovered it in 2012 and I've never looked back.

+1

 

[NLSparks]

+1

+2
I use C1 for my RAW files, but Faststone for simple jpg edits and, as another recommendation, my wife uses Faststone as wel

 

[santino]

and there is Affinity (photo) by Canva. It is a bundle that is now available for free.

 

[Michalm]

DxO Lab is my favourite for pleasing color and tonality and best optical lens correction , bonus it is very easy to use as well + image can be expported to Lightroom if required as tiff or dng file. I do use lightroom 6 on win11 no issues , i like it for making final touches , soft proofing and printing.

 

[Freakscene]

Hm - do you know which version you got to work? The link you provided states that Adobe no longer offers a download as of 12/31/2023.

Sorry, my son’s school has a download file from before support ended. There is something ip with the Internet Archive file that stops it working.