Photo Editing Options Mac OS Catalina

Timmyjoe

Timmyjoe

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Good Morning,

I'm a bit of a luddite when it comes to computers, I want something that works and I don't want to have to think about it. Unfortunately, the computer I use every day is from 2009 and is past being long in the tooth. So I'm looking at possibly an iMac which means running OS Catalina (I've been using Macs since 1996 and am too old to switch brands).

What is anyone running on OS Catalina for editing/library software that isn't a subscription model? Currently my work flow is Apple's Aperture 3 and Photoshop CS6, neither of which will work on OS Catalina. I'm not interested in buying into the monthly Adobe system.

Any thoughts or experiences anyone would like to share?

Thanks in advance.

Best,
-Tim
 
I use Capture one for raw editing and On1 for things I cannot do in Capture one. I also still use the free Nik plugins that are now offered for a fee from DXO.

These all work fine on the latest MacOS.
 
I use a Mac mini and Catalina. Bought Affinity Photo for processing images. Does fine with raw files and will do most anything photoshop does. The Photos for Mac that comes with the OS is not too shabby for quick fixes. Raw Power was made by the folks that wrote Aperture.
It may be worth a look for you also.

BTW, OS Catalina only runs at 64 bit. None of your old apps will run. OS Mojave will run 32 and 64 bit apps.
 
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I use AlienSkin Exposure X4 in place of Lightroom for the majority of my editing and Affinity Photo for 'Photoshop' tasks. I don't really do any heavy editing and there was no way I was paying for Adobe for the rest of my life. I haven't noticed any downsides since moving from Lightroom 5 and Photoshop CS6 for my workflow (when Apple moved to 64bit).

I also (because of the 32/64bit thing) moved from Epson Scan to Silverfast for my flat bed scanner as I already had a good experience using it with my Plustek if that helps :)
 
Pixelmator 3.9 is $29.99 in the OS X App Store. It is not subscription but there is fee for major updates . There is a free trial version on the Pixelmator web site.

Pixelmator is similar to Photoshop Elements. Your experience with PS CS6 should prove useful. I have used Pixelmator only a few times since I prefer LightRoom CC Classic (subscription).
 
Timmyjoe said:
Good Morning,

I'm a bit of a luddite when it comes to computers, I want something that works and I don't want to have to think about it. Unfortunately, the computer I use every day is from 2009 and is past being long in the tooth. So I'm looking at possibly an iMac which means running OS Catalina (I've been using Macs since 1996 and am too old to switch brands).

What is anyone running on OS Catalina for editing/library software that isn't a subscription model? Currently my work flow is Apple's Aperture 3 and Photoshop CS6, neither of which will work on OS Catalina. I'm not interested in buying into the monthly Adobe system.

Any thoughts or experiences anyone would like to share?
Click to expand...

Photos provided with macOS works pretty well for image management just as it is. It can also do some good editing, but isn't really best for that. However, add RAW Power to it and you have an expanded suite of editing capabilities that are quite nice, and RAW Power is also implemented for iOS and iPadOS devices so you have just one application suite on all three platforms, if that's important to you. RAW Power is implemented by Gentlemen Coders.

Affinity Photo also runs on macOS/iOS/iPadOS and provides a very good PhotoShop alternative. There's a good workbook on using Affinity Photo as well. Affinity Photo is implemented by Serif. I have used this for two/three years on the iPad Pro and it works very well for raw conversion and editing, albeit that it has more features than I personally use much (just like Photoshop...).

I've tried On1 and DarkTable on macOS. They work, but I found them a bit clunky in use, and at least on my systems both tended to surface a lot of errors.

Luminar by Skylum is another contender on macOS ... I find it pretty interesting but have only just looked at it so far.

Lately I'm exploring Phocus by Hasselblad (because I have a new Hasselblad). It is free to download and use for raw conversion and editing, handles a lot of different raw files beyond Hasselblad raw files, and is available for both macOS and iPadOS. There are several different versions that address different Hasselblad cameras ... I use Phocus on macOS and Phocus Mobile 2 on iPadOS. Of course, it is optimized for the Hasselblad cameras with lens profiles and tethering features for them, but works well as a general purpose editor for most of my image files.

I've tried to use Capture One several times and find it complex and difficult even to just get started with. I'm sure it works well judging from how many people like it, but it's expensive and doesn't handle Hasselblad files so I have little interest in going further with it.

For my personal needs to bring forward 14 years of Lightroom catalogs, for the moment I'm using Lightroom Classic. It works well on Catalina although I have found various errors and am unhappy with paying a $10/month tithe. For the moment, it was a practical way forward from LR v6.14 onto Catalina and does work. I'll migrate to another solution soon. To me, the Photos + RAW Power solution and the Hasselblad Phocus solution are running neck and neck in that evaluation.

Lots of options. Good luck!

G
 
Aperture will work on Catalina, look up the "retroactive" app.

I use Photoshop CS3 (!) under a virtual machine (can be done for free), Capture One, and Aperture, all under Catalina.
 
I bought a refurb iMac a few months ago and it shipped with Mojave. I suppose not the best long term solution, but that gives a wealth of legacy software that will still run.

I need to look up the retroactive app. I haven't heard of that. Right now I intend to try to install my ancient CS5. Adobe has directions for installing it on Mojave. No guarantee it will work though.

And as said here, Apple Photos is surprisingly adequate for most needs and will hopefully keep being updated if you go with Catalina. Having curves really helps, now it needs perspective correction.
 
I have a current Mac Mini running Catalina. I went through the same search about six months ago. After trying several free programs, and Apple Photo, and demoing some fee programs, I settled on Exposure X5 (about $100). Very satisfied with it so far.
 
This is a great resource, thank you to everyone who has contributed. It also makes me less concerned about updating to a new computer.

Best,
-Tim
 
A few posters have mentioned RAW Power by Gentlemen Coders. It works well as both a stand alone or as a plug in for Photos. It's non-destructive and can easily reset your image to the original import. It offers quite a bit and the price is about forty dollars through the Apple App store.
 
If you prefer the Adobe software and find it hard to agree to pay 10 bucks a month to use it, you could think about it this way. Buy two less beers, or two less coffees a month and your expenses are balanced ;)


I tried Affinity, and while it is surely capable, I found that using Bridge + CR + PS for the past 15 years is a workflow I just couldn't shake. Once I got over the fact that I have to pay $10 bucks I am happy to be able to use the same workflow I am used to...
 
using LR with Catalina (although its possible only because of OS upgrade).

am planning to get home Windows laptop and continue using LR, after my Mac someday gets upgraded or I change job (yes am using work laptop for personal use :eek: ).
 
I've also ditched Adobe and now use Darktable and Gimp which are both free. I have to say that Darktable is a worthy replacement for Lightroom. There is a learning curve, as there is with all software, but if I can get on top of it anyone can. Gimp is also much improved. I previously used it about 15 years ago and found it very 'clunky', but now find it's come a long way. I also have the original version of Pixelmator for Mac and find it useful but dated. There is a more sophisticated version, Pixelmator Pro, which is very capable I believe, but I've not tried it. So as far as I'm concerned, among the free software for Mac, Darktable and Gimp are the way to go, and if you need to stitch images I've found Hugin very good.
 
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