Lightroom has some new compettion

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PKR

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I don't know this product. But, it seems they see the Adobe LR model lacking. Maybe it's the subscription requirement?

From Photo Rumors

Luminar 2018
https://photorumors.com/2017/11/01/...vailable-for-pre-order-lightroom-alternative/

From Peta Pixel
https://petapixel.com/2017/11/01/macphun-unveils-luminar-2018-take-adobe-lightroom/

PR:

"The new Luminar 2018 takes on Adobe Lightroom

New Luminar 2018 delivers a breakthrough photo editing experience for photographers on Mac & Windows with new filters, tools, non-destructive editing, major speed boosts, and a digital asset management platform that will arrive in 2018.

San Diego, CA - November 1, 2017 — Macphun, the California-based software developer today announced Luminar 2018. New users will be able to purchase Luminar 2018 for $59, and current users of Luminar may upgrade at a special price of $39. Preorders start November 1 here.

Luminar 2018 offers everything a modern photographer needs for photo editing, including new filters powered by artificial intelligence, major speed improvements, a dedicated RAW develop module and a forthcoming in 2018 digital asset management platform. Users will also benefit from the new intelligent Sun Rays filter, LUT support, and real-time noise removal. With adaptive workspaces that match styles of shooting, Luminar adapts to deliver a complete experience that avoids clutter and complexity."
 
I'll be following this with great interest. Adobe's announcement that they are going full-subscription has lost me as a customer - I update every two versions, currently on LR5 and was waiting for standalone LR7, but can't do that now so I'm looking at alternatives.

I've never been able to get along with Capture One Pro (though it's been a little while since my last attempt), plus the Affinity Photo digital asset management seems like it's a fair way off from their recent posts on the subject.

Very interested to test out this new option and see how it goes!
 
I do not understand why more people do not simply use Corel Paintshop Pro (PSP) for photo editing. Perhaps it is because 20 years ago it was a pretty basic piece of software and people are still a bit prejudiced against it for this reason.

But PSP has been upgraded regularly and now is a product that for photographers at least is every bit as functional as Photoshop. Not quite as powerful perhaps for graphic designers but certainly it does an effective job in post processing photos. And as for Lightroom, that product is OK for basic post processing but is lacking in its ability to do some things I need of it hence my support for PSP. To add to this, it is dirt cheap by comparison with Adobe products and still operates on a stand alone one-off license.

I bought a copy of Lightroom a year or so back because it is fine for quick basic editing. But I still use PSP and Nik Plugins as programs which run in conjunction with Lightroom.

When I get to a point in my editing where I need something done that Lightroom cannot readily handle all I need to do is click on one a link to one of the other programs from within Lightroom and it exports the image I am working on to that program for further editing just as it would with any plugin.

When I save the changes made in that other program it automatically re-imports the image complete with the changes back into Lightroom again. For me that arrangement works well though I realize that eventually I may not be able to do this if I need to upgrade Lightroom at some future date and do not wish to change to a monthly subscription. I will worry about that another day.
 
ACDSee Pro's latest incarnation 'Ultimate 2018' has just been released and is getting some very good reviews. This is for windows platforms and sadly what they offer for Mac users is a joke by comparison. I always used their software going back to Pro 6 and earlier prior to switching to a Mac ... and preferred it to LR.
 
KarlG said:
but can't do that now so I'm looking at alternatives.
Click to expand...

Have you tried Gimp?

That's what I've been using for the past couple of years, in lieu of Adobe, and about the only thing I do outside of it is Neat Image for the shots that need it.
 
dmr said:
Have you tried Gimp?

That's what I've been using for the past couple of years, in lieu of Adobe, and about the only thing I do outside of it is Neat Image for the shots that need it.
Click to expand...

I have tried Gimp, but it's not really what I need - I don't tend to do too much editing to my images other than basic exposure/colour/contrast.

All I really need is a solid digital asset management software with features like collections, keywords, ratings, tags etc combined with basic non-destructive editing.

If Affinity ever gets their DAM module sorted out, it may be a decent option. Really, I would be happy with just standalone Lightroom 7 (though I'll probably just keep using LR 5 for a while until I figure out what works!)
 
peterm1 said:
I do not understand why more people do not simply use Corel Paintshop Pro (PSP) for photo editing....
Click to expand...

I used PSP years ago when it was JASC PSP. I loved it.

But, as far as I can determine, it's only available for Windows. I use a Mac. Am I wrong about this?
 
Dogman said:
I used PSP years ago when it was JASC PSP. I loved it.

But, as far as I can determine, it's only available for Windows. I use a Mac. Am I wrong about this?
Click to expand...

I have never checked. You may be right.

I would add for those using the Windows platform that the 64 bit version (latest version PSP 2018) is enormously faster than the older 32 bit version I was using before which was about 3 versions older. It loads faster, the edits refresh faster and it seems more stable. Not that the older version was bad unredeemably bad. But this one is just better.
 
There are a variety of "asset management" programs, and there are lots of editing programs. What LR does very well, and any competition to LR needs to do is combine the two seamlessly.
There aren't too many competitors in that space, and more the merrier. I'm done with LR once I need to upgrade, I'm not down for subscribing to software for a hobby.
 
Luminar 2018 is OS X only.

OS X users exploring LR alternatives should also investigate Pixelmator. Pixelmator is an excellent rendering platform. It has one disadvantage. Pixelmator uses OS X's raw-rendering engine. Apple typically lags behind Adobe in supporting new camera raw files. Before LR CC was born, I used LR and Pixelmator (for layers) instead of LR and PS. Pixelmator will open DNG files.

Pixelmator has an iOS iPad app.

Also, Pixelmator Pro will be released this fall. It seems Pixelmator Pro combines Pixelmators raw rendering functionality with the ability to create layouts. Pixelmator Pro uses a non-destructive workflow.

I'm a satisfied LR Classic CC user, so I haven't spent time looking into any details about Luminar 2018. I wonder if it also uses the OS X rendering engine?
 
dmr said:
Have you tried Gimp?

That's what I've been using for the past couple of years, in lieu of Adobe, and about the only thing I do outside of it is Neat Image for the shots that need it.
Click to expand...

In ancient times, GIMP had a bit-depth limitation. Has this changed?
 
Let me preface by saying I don’t use Lightroom.

Thought I would provide this link to B & H where Lightroom 6 is still available either DVD or download:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=lightroom&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=

I won’t use an off site server, so called “cloud,” as I keep my stuff in house.

Thinking, if and when I upgrade my computer On One has some interesting software. When I do upgrade it would be for the internet as my current equipment works just fine for processing my photographs.

Check On One out here:

https://www.on1.com

I do use an On One plug in with my CS4 on my iMac.
 
I own it on the Mac, and sine my move back to Windows am running the beta there. The versions are equivalent. The progress has been steady on improvements and the customer service very responsive. I am looking forward to the DAM module and the ability to use my lightroom plugins.

I have heard said that several of the former Nik developers are involved, which would explain a lot. No verification though.
 
I use LR6 and Capture One for tethered shooting and my Sony.
DXO Bought the Nik suite from Google and just incorporated Nik's U-point technology in their latest offering: DxO PhotoLab.
I didn't try this, but it looks promising and I will be following their integration with NIK and/or their new Nik collection in 2018
I will remain using LR6 until it is no longer feasible or the ultimate 'killer app' arrives.
Don't intend to lease SW or worse, store my pictures in the cloud (which is nothing more than somebody else's computer)
 
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