For all the camera editing apps for phones that now exist, serious photographers still need look no further than Snapseed (for iOS and Android). Its huge variety of tools and tricks remains as apt and useful today as ever. If you’re investing in one of the best smart phones for photography, or shopping for a budget camera phone Snapseed is the editing app for you.

Far beyond one-click filters and fakery, it’s a serious photo editor with striking creative effects and powerful editing tools. These range from the familiar edits like crop and rotate to more in-depth techniques like curves adjustment. Snapseed is also very straightforward and well designed for touch control. Better still, Snapseed is free, with no strings.

Note that, although it’s a Google app, it integrates perfectly well with Apple Photos (simply launch Snapseed and choose the photo to edit from your Library). You can apply a single effect or many, and save your favourite looks as preset effects to be used over and again.

Where to start with Snapseed

A deeper dig into Snapseed reveals amazing editing potential. Let’s begin with curves editing before considering other smart editing features. Curves adjustments can be off-putting to some as they are typically found in more advanced desktop photo editing apps; yet is actually very simple to use. Give it a try and you will soon have a feel for it.  For more in-depth tips, see my book Smart Phone, Smart Photo Editing, available from all good bookstores.

Image: Jo Bradford

Snapseed curves: the basics

The Curves tool is used to adjust hue, brightness, contrast, highlights and shadows in your photos. Essentially, this is done by dragging blue dots, known as nodes, on a line: down to decrease, up to increase. This very precise way of editing enables much greater adjustment control than when using the contrast slider in the Tune image tool. Curves will be familiar to anyone used to editing photos on a computer, but for the sake of smartphone users still learning the jargon, we’ll start from the basics.

Opening the tool, rather than finding a curve as the name suggests, there is instead a straight diagonal line from bottom left to top right laid out in a square box. This line, often referred to as the contrast curve, represents the range of brightness and shadow in images. Below it is the histogram graph, which tells us how the light information is distributed in the photo.

The core elements are:

• The existing node at the bottom left of the line represents the black point.
• The existing node at the top right represents the white point.
• The bottom half of the line represents the shadows.
• The middle section of the line represents the midtones.
• The top half of the line represents the highlights.

Nodes can be added to curves adjustments to change the shape of the curve; and the contrast and brightness of the photo.

Image: Jo Bradford

Snapseed offers a selection of preset curves adjustments. Explore these to get an idea of what each does and when you might want to use it. Other nodes may be added by touching anywhere on the line to manipulate the presets further.

As well as the presets, curves can be adjusted manually by tapping the circular icon at the bottom left. This reveals the different curve adjustments options: RGB, Red, Green, Blue, Luminance. The RGB curve is the default selection. Raising or lowering this curve brightens or darkens all the colours in an image simultaneously. Choose to increase the lightness or darkness of each colour individually by using the Red, Green and Blue icon options:

• Raise the red curve above the diagonal median line to increase the red hues.
• Drag the red curve down below the diagonal median line to increase the cyan (blue/green) hues.
• Raise the green curve above the diagonal median to increase the green hues.
• Drag the green curve below the diagonal median line to increase the magenta (purple/pink) hues.
• Raise the blue curve above the diagonal median line to increase the blue hues.
• Drag the blue curve down below the diagonal median line to increase the yellow hues.
• Luminance affects the brightness of all the colours at the same time; RGB affects the black and white points individually for each of the colours. Raising the luminance curve increases the hues’ lightness.
• Dragging the luminance curve down increases the darkness of the hues.

In practice, you may not need of all of the above. Best to start by altering the Luminance curve alone and then experiment with the individual RGB channels as you gain experience, and use the list for reference.

Image: Jo Bradford

Snapseed Curves editing

1. Tap the eye icon on the bottom menu to hide the curve line and bottom menu ribbon, and see the effects on the image.
2. The curve is also known as an S curve, because when used correctly, the shape created looks like the letter S.
3. Avoid dragging the nodes to any extremes (such as straight lines, right angles, shelved or stepped patterns) and avoid touching the ceiling or floor of the curves box. To work best, a curve should be soft and rounded.

Snapseed: Vignettes

Vignettes darken the corners of an image to focus attention on the main subject. As with many effects in Snapseed it’s easy to ‘overcook’ this. You can reduce or increase the strength of the different vignette effects by sliding your finger up and down to access various options, and then left or right to change the strength.

Image: Jo Bradford (before edit)

If you want to try something different, then the Curves tool provides a more sophisticated method for creating a vignette than the Vignette tool itself. The latter is limited to a uniform circle whereas our Curves tool protects the highlights in the image and produces the light and dark areas in any bespoke shape.

Image: Jo Bradford (after edit)

In this picture of a jackdaw, I wanted to use a vignette effect to increase the focus on the bird. I created a new RGB curves layer and placed a node on the RGB line just below the first intersection but snuggled into the corner. By dragging this node down, I increased the shadows in the image. Then I placed a node in the top intersection to hold the highlights in place and protect them in the image.

Image: Jo Bradford

Finally, I masked in the layer in the edit stack, brushing the outside edge at 25. Then moving in towards the centre graduating the steps by 25 at a time, i.e. 50, 75, all the way to 100. This prevented it from being a hard effect and made it look more natural.

This very subtle change is all about creating mood and atmosphere using the lightest of touches.

Image: Jo Bradford. Masking in the layer in the edit stack

Vignettes are very effective for enhancing composition and mood, and you can start with the basic vignette tool and move on to more advanced curve and masking techniques.

Snapseed: Composite images

Another handy tool is Double Exposure. My book, Smart Phone Smart Photo Editing, includes two edits using it. One shows how to overlay two different images of the same subject to create an image that is more than the sum of its parts. The second shows how to create a stylised image that will make the most of your new curves skills. Be sure to choose two images that sit well together, however. Image preparation is essential to clean them up and expand the backgrounds so they can be resized to overlay each other.

Image: Jo Bradford

How to create a composite image in Snapseed

The original images I used here were in colour so the first job was to convert them, one at a time, to black & white (use the Saturation slider within the Tune image tool, but check highlights, shadows and contrast – again, see my book for more). Once the first image was b&w I opened the White Balance tool.

The Temperature and Tint were both turned up to +100 to make the image redder, before I opened a curves layer and activated the red curve. I dragged this up to make it redder still, then selected hard contrast from the Curves presets to make sure I had strong shadows to work with when the images were blended. Finally, using the Rotate tool I flipped the image to put the subject’s head on the left of the frame. Then I saved and exported it for later.

First image. Image: Jo Bradford

Now the second image. Once converted to black & white, I opened the curves layer again. This time I dragged the green curve up and the red down to remove the red and enhance the cyan which created the turquoise colour.

After using the Expand tool to increase the frame, and the Healing tool to remove background anomalies caused by doing that, I saved and exported this second image too. With the red image reopened I tapped the Double Exposure icon on the bottom screen menu to open the turquoise image, creating an instant overlay ready for further editing.

The Swatch icon in the Double Exposure tool opens the blend method which allows you to explore ways in which the two images are blended.

The Liquid Drop icon lets you raise or lower opacity so you can control the visibility of both images. You can also use your finger pinch to resize the second image, move it around the frame or change its orientation.

Image: Jo Bradford

Note that you can reposition only the second image. The first will be static; so make sure you open them in the right order for the image you want to create.

Create your own Looks: Styles in Snapseed

Snapseed’s preset Looks (iOS) or Styles (Android) are ‘ready-made’ combinations of various edit stages that you can use to quickly alter the style of photos. However, you can also create your own Looks/Styles, saving huge amounts of time. Especially if you’re editing multiple images from the same shoot and using the more sophisticated tools such as Curves. Creating your own Looks/Styles means you can rapidly apply the same edits to a whole set of images. This makes it easier to select the best of the bunch, and can also help establish your own style.

Image: Jo Bradford

Once you’ve finished editing a photo, select the Looks/Style menu. Swipe through the presets until you reach the Add (+) icon at the end. Tap on this, give your new Look/Style a new name and then select Save. It is as easy as that! Then, next time you open a new photo you can go straight to the Looks/Style menu and select your own one without having to do the work!

You can manage your Looks/Style by simply clicking on the three small dots that are bottom left after the +. You can view them all, rename them, or delete any that you no longer use.

Image: Jo Bradford

See more:

• How to edit black and white photos in Snapseed
• 10 ways smartphones can help your photography
• 11 best smartphone photography apps
• Best camera phones for photography
• Plus, read our smartphone reviews here

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Adobe offers three Lightroom and/or Photoshop plans

1. What’s in a name?

Long-term users and beginners alike may be confused about the Lightroom options. It now exists in two main forms: Classic and CC. Lightroom Classic (previously LR CC) is the same app many LR users have been enjoying for years. By contrast, the new Lightroom CC departs from the traditional method of storing photos on a local drive. Instead, original photos are uploaded to online cloud storage so they can be accessed, edited and synced across your desktop, tablet and phone.

2. Picking a plan

Adobe offers three Lightroom and/or Photoshop plans. At $9.99 a month, the Photography Plan gets you both versions of Lightroom – Classic vs CC – plus Photoshop CC. However, this only comes with 20GB of cloud storage, which is unlikely to be enough if you want to embrace the LR CC workflow fully. The second option, which is also $9.99 a month, gets you LR CC with a healthy 1TB cloud storage, but no Photoshop CC or LR Classic. Alternatively, you can get all three apps plus the 1TB cloud storage for $19.99 a month.

Lightroom CC develop

3. Important similarities

Both versions share a range of useful features. The Develop controls are mostly the same: there are near-identical tonal sliders, selective adjustments, tone curve, split toning, HSL controls, black & white tools, presets, profiles, spot removal and more. Both also let you organise photos with flags and stars. However, there are fundamental differences. The question is, which version is right for you?

4. Cloud or local storage?

Do you want to store all your photos on the cloud or locally on a hard drive? This decision goes to the heart of the Classic vs CC debate. The cloud offers ease of use across devices and is arguably safer than local storage (unless you’ve adopted a rigorous backup routine). But even with Adobe’s 1TB of cloud storage, space will be more limited on the cloud and uploading photos may take time.

5. Integration with mobile

Lightroom CC has been designed to work seamlessly across all your devices. All changes sync and update, so you can begin editing on your desktop, then switch to your tablet or phone – and everything is synced. For those who edit on the go, the seamless workflow offered by CC is the better option.

Lightroom CC import

6. Import dialog

The Import dialog is one of the cherished features of LR Classic (when Adobe tried to ‘simplify’ it a couple of years ago the uproar caused an immediate U-turn). Among the comprehensive options, you can apply presets on import, convert to DNG, add keywords, create collections and much more. By contrast, other than an ‘Add to an album’ option the CC import dialog is completely bare.

Lightroom Classic import

7. Albums or Collections?

Experienced Lightroom Classic users will be aware of the power of Collections. They let you create groups and categories of images without shifting around files or making copies. LR CC doesn’t have Collections, but it does have Albums, which work in the same way. However LR Classic’s Collections are more advanced, with options to create Smart Collections based on parameters like camera data or star ratings.

Lightroom search

8. Clever searches

One of the stand-out features in LR CC that isn’t available in LR Classic is the Search bar – for searching your image library. The clever thing is that it can recognise subjects and types of scene – like the search for trees here – even if there are no keywords or tags attached to the images. Powered by machine learning, this is the future of image cataloguing – and great news for those tired of keywording.

9. Dual monitor support

Using dual monitors is essential to many photographers. It means we can place all our panels and tools on our secondary screen, leaving our main display free to display the image as large as possible. Unfortunately, it’s only an option with LR Classic – LR CC’s single window interface doesn’t work across dual monitor set-ups.

10. Slider locations

Many of the tools and settings found in LR Classic (and Photoshop’s Camera Raw plugin) are also present in LR CC, although in some cases they are grouped together differently. For example, the sliders found within the Classic Basic Panel are laid out in terms of Light, which includes Exposure, Shadows, Highlights, and then in terms of Color, which includes white balance and saturation.

LR Classic enables you to create virtual copies that won’t take up additional space on your hard drive

11. Workflow tricks

Lightroom edits images by changing their appearance within the program rather than altering the pixels in an open-edit-save workflow that Photoshop employs. As such, the approach brings several workflow benefits such as Virtual Copies, which let you make several versions of an image without creating memory-sapping copies on your drive. It’s another useful workflow feature that isn’t on offer in LR CC.

12. History panel

Found on the left side of LR Classic’s Develop Module, the History panel remembers every single edit you make to an image, so it’s useful if you need to retrace your steps or restore a previous version of your image. LR CC lacks this helpful feature.

13. How do they sync?

If you adopt the LR CC cloud-based workflow then your original photos are stored in the cloud and any edits are synced to your library instantly. LR Classic works differently – you can still edit synced photos on mobile devices using LR Mobile, but rather than the originals you work on Smart Previews, which are then synced back to your main image library the next time you open LR Classic on your desktop.

14. Syncing in LR Classic

With Classic, you have to manually choose which collections you’d like to sync by clicking the double arrow sync icon to the left of the collection within the Collections panel. When using LR CC all images are synced automatically across your devices for a seamless workflow. As such, LR CC’s synced workflow is much slicker.

Lightroom range masking

15. Range Masking

One of the best recent additions in LR Classic are the Range Mask controls. These let you create precise local adjustments by zeroing in on parts of an image based on their tonal or colour values, making it easy to isolate and adjust objects or areas of a photo in seconds. Unfortunately, the feature has yet to make it into LR CC.

16. Classic modules

The LR CC interface is akin to a mixture of LR Classic’s Library and Develop Modules (the two most-used modules), but none of the other modules get a look in. So if you like to geotag photos, create photobooks, slideshows and print, you still need to use Classic.

Lightroom face recognition

17. Face recognition

LR Classic can’t match CC’s intelligent search bar, but it does offer one clever library-searching benefit that CC lacks: facial recognition. This works by searching your image library for similar faces, letting you quickly group photos on the basis of who appears in them. Click the face icon in the Library Module to switch it on, then start naming faces to begin compiling.

18. HDRs and panoramas

Creating HDRs or panoramas in Lightroom Classic is quick and easy with the Merge controls found under the Photo menu. Simply choose a set of photos, start the command, work through the simple options, and at the end, Lightroom creates a detail-rich DNG file of the HDR or panoramic image. Unfortunately, both features are not on offer in Lightroom CC.

19. Export options

Like almost everything in LR CC, the Export options are very minimal: you can either save as a JPEG or as ‘original + settings’. There’s no option to export as a TIFF or PSD, but you’ll find these in LR Classic’s more advanced Export dialog. With Classic, you can also set up export presets.

Lightroom Classic vs Lightroom CC: verdict

For organising an image library, Lightroom Classic wins hands down. Besides the Albums feature, Lightroom CC offers minimal control and you can’t even rename your images; however CC does have it’s amazing Search bar. When it comes to editing images, both Classic and CC are equally good: Classic offers more advanced workflow options, but CC is slicker, and you can edit video. Of course, CC is designed for a different audience than those of us who’ve been using Lightroom for years. The features that aren’t there, aren’t there for a reason – things like Smart Collections, Import options, Range Masking, Soft Proofing, which are tools that the casual user doesn’t need.

As such, for professional and advanced photographers and those familiar with Lightroom already, Classic is still the best choice. For beginners, smartphone shooters, casual enthusiasts and anyone who wants to edit on-the-go, Lightroom CC is the friendlier, slicker option.

James Paterons is as skilled a photo editor as he is a photographer. His work has appeared in countless magazines and books, and in 2014, he was appointed editor of Practical Photoshop. His subjects range from portraits to landscapes, architecture and underwater scenes. For James, Photoshop is more than just a work tool. Visit www.patersonphotos.com.

Related reading:

• Best photo editing packaged – subscription free
• Best photo editing apps for your smartphone
• Adobe Photoshop Review

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The post Lightroom Classic vs Lightroom CC – which is best? appeared first on Amateur Photographer.

With 15 years spent in the magazine industry working as an editor for various magazines and as a professional photographer and videographer, specialising in landscape and automotive imagery I use a range of smartphone apps to aid me on shoots and edit on the go. But as smartphone app stores are awash with photo editing apps, I know it can be a real headache to find the ones that are worth downloading.

Photography apps can be powerful tools, enabling you to make the most out of your images whether captured on your smartphone or transferred from your camera to your device via Bluetooth. But how do these mobile photo editing apps compare with the feature-packed desktop versions?

I’ve tried and tested every app on this list, and regularly update it to ensure that the recommended iOS and Android apps do as they’re supposed to.

However, there is no point clogging up your smartphone with apps that just don’t cut it. I have rounded up the best photo editing apps that are worth adding to your phone. Some on this list will unlock the door to creative editing, whilst others will help you capture images in a new and fun way. All are worth hitting the download button for…

Best Photo Editing Apps for your smartphone:

Photoshop Express

• Free to download from www.adobe.com, but premium features require a Creative Cloud Subscription
• Available for both Android and iOS

With “Photoshop” in its name, it comes as no surprise that this photo editor has it all. Features include layer editing, core exposure and colour adjustments as well as healing. However, if you want to ramp up the editing then Photoshop Express has you covered with advanced technology such as Auto Object Selection and Face Contouring.

That said, I liked all the advanced tech, but there are also more fun features too, with an emphasis on creating tools for social media use. From text and graphics to easy-to-use collage tools, so you can merge multiple images together.

There are also hundreds of effects and themes to choose from if you are looking for an express edit.

One further set of noteworthy features is Quick Actions, where complex jobs can be completed in one click. Jobs such as adding Denoise to a grainy image, Smoothing out skin or even adding digital make-up to our subject. Almost all of Photoshop’s power, compressed into a smartphone app – Amazing!

Pros:

• Good all-rounder
• Lots of features
• Based on desktop software
• Works with other Adobe apps

Cons:

• Premium features require a subscription

Photoshop Lightroom

• Free to download from www.adobe.com, but premium features require a Creative Cloud Subscription
• Available for both Android and iOS

Photographers know what Lightroom can do and how it works, so the smartphone version will be instantly familiar to those who have used the software on a desktop. The combination of one-click Presets and easy-to-use sliders makes this a great editing app for photographers who need to quickly edit images on the go.

I dug a little deeper and was able to access more advanced features such as being able to quickly remove Chromatic Aberration or enable Lens Corrections. This is particularly useful if you want to correct the effect of wide-angle lenses.

Remember, you can edit RAWs as well as JPEGs and there are also plenty of sharing options available, such as the ability to choose the file type you export the image as (JPEG, TIFF, DNG) or the option of uploading straight onto your social media channels such as Facebook or Instagram.

Photoshop Lightroom is available for Android and iOS, you can also further edit your images in Photoshop Express.

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Quick presets
• Raw and JPEG editing

Cons:

• Premium features require a subscription

Snapseed

• Free: GooglePlay / Apple App Store

Whisper it quietly, but Snapseed (now owned by Google) has actually been around for over a decade. Think of it as a one-stop-shop for editing your images because this app really does have it all.

Available for both Android and iOS, Snapseed tools range from basic exposure/colour adjustments to more advanced HDR and Mono conversion features. The Head Pose option offers a Liquify-style solution to change the direction of gazes in your portraits while the Selective options will allow for precise adjustments to both JPEG and RAW files.

Perspectives can be altered and distractions can be quickly banished with the Healing tool option. For those feeling more creative, Double Exposures can be created in seconds, and vignettes and borders can be accessed to add the final touches to your images.

With the latest update edited photos are saved in the gallery next to the original images, instead of a new folder. This makes locating your edits a little complicated.

Photos can be exported as new files or you can overwrite your original photo to save space on your smartphone. I think you’ll struggle to find a better free photo app, full stop.

Pros:

• Free
• Feature packed, advanced presets
• Precise adjustments
• RAW editing
• Ad-free

Cons:

• Photos are saved next to originals
• Can be too complicated for an absolute beginner

Read our guide to editing photos in Snapseed, or have a look at how to edit black and white photos in Snapseed.

Instagram

• Free: Google Play / Apple App Store

Yes, Instagram has lost its way a little over the years, and now there’s a shift on the platform towards Reels and adverts. That said, I simply can’t deny the ‘Grams’ power for getting your photos in front of a massive audience. The simple-to-use filter function does allow for a big change and very stylised effects, but obviously, there are more advanced features to correct exposure, enhance colours and ramp up contrast.

Detail can be improved via Structure and Sharpening sliders and finishing touches such as vignettes can be added. Of course, it’s worth remembering that Instagram is also a great app for inspiration too.

I particularly like the facility, when off to a landscape location, to view what other photographers have captured at the scene. Tap in #LocationName and you can explore compositional options before you even reach the place. Yes, this app is used by far too many for silly selfies, but at its heart, it’s a fantastic photography resource.

Pros:

• Free
• Easy to use
• Inspirational
• Instant sharing

Cons:

• Lack of advanced features

Google Photos

• Free: GooglePlay / AppleAppStore (with in-app purchases)

It’s no surprise that Google Photos is a thoroughly comprehensive photo app. Essentially, you get 15GB of storage for free, more if you pay. I like to think of the app as a home for your photos as there are also a lot of options for storing and quickly finding your imagery.

That’s not to say that the app neglects the editing features. Photos can be quickly enhanced with a high degree of precision. Thanks to sliders that allow you to increase or decrease values such as Saturation, Exposure, Highlights and more. If you have a Google Pixel smartphone, you also benefit from a range of additional features, such as Magic Eraser, allowing removal of unwanted objects from your photos.

There are additional ‘wizzard’ style features such as Auto Enhance Lighting which work well and will save you a fair amount of time. Lastly, the app makes it very easy to complete the job and forward on edited images to contacts in your phone, which will appeal to those working in creative teams.

Google Photos often comes pre-installed to Android phones but it is also available to download from Google Play. For iPad and iOS users it can be downloaded from the Apple App Store.

Pros:

• Free
• 15 GB storage
• Ad free interface

Cons:

• No step-by-step undo when editing
• No blemish or red eye removal tools

Lensa – AI photo editor

• Free: Google Play / Apple App Store (in-app purchases for some of the main features like Magic Avatars)

This photo editing app is available for iOS and Android, and is known for creating amazing looking avatars (profile pictures) which it calls “Magic Avatars“, and you’ll have probably seen them on social media. You can even make avatars for you, your dog or cat!

However, it can also be used for a number of other cool effects, and photo edits, including Magic Retouch – for portrait enhancement, with one touch. You can use it to separate your subject and background, as well as carry out all the other photo edits (like brightness, contrast, saturation) as expected.

Lensa app in use, on Android. Image JW/AP

When I was loading it for the first time, it recommended a free trial and purchasing the app. However, this can be skipped so that you can try the app for free. In use, the app is easy to use, with no account needed, and you simply import your favourite images to start editing. It can seem a little slow at times, but this may vary depending on your phone and internet speeds.

To use the main AI features like Magic Avatars will cost money, which is a real shame, as you can’t just try this feature out without payment.

For general editing, it does have some really useful features, like being able to adjust the exposure in the sky separately from the foreground. The foreground and background can also be adjusted separately for people and other subjects like pets. As mentioned the usual adjust saturation, sharpness and general editing options are available, but it’s the Effects and Art Styles that can really make your images stand out, with lots of different options available.

Pros:

• Easy to use
• No account needed
• Many editing features

Cons:

• Some advanced features require a paid subscription

Pixlr

• Free: Google Play / Apple AppStore (with in-app purchases)

Available for iOS and Android, (and Windows), this free app is packed with easy-to-use features that can completely transform a photo and allow you to add a creative stamp on the frame. From the more conventional exposure and colour adjustments. Pixlr also offers a highly effective Autofix option, which does a great job at enhancing the image and even balancing the exposure of skies in landscape scenes.

There’s also a camera function that adds ‘Picture Style’ filters so I was able to get an idea of how my final image will look. The Collage feature showcases multiple images at the same time. One of the coolest features Pixlr offers however is the huge range of creative borders that can be added around the frame with just one click. From grungy looks to modern and clean borders – there is something for everyone.

Another advantage is that I didn’t have to create an account to use this app, after downloading it was ready to go.

Pros:

• Free
• No account needed
• Autofix option
• Easy-to-use features

Cons:

• Advertising in the free version

Best for the vintage film look: 1998 Cam

• Free: Google Play / Apple Store (paid upgrade available)

1998 Cam is, as the title suggests, designed to give you the look of a camera from 1998. In 1998, disposable film cameras were popular, and with this app, you can re-create that retro, nostalgic look without the expense of having to use a film camera.

This app lets you edit your existing photos, or take new photos with it. You’ve got a variety of film choices including all the favourites from Kodak, Fujifilm and more. Plus you can add that all important film grain, and even light leaks. It works with still photos and video too.

If you are inspired to give your photos a vintage look, read our guide on how to get the film look.

Pros:

• Free
• Beautiful retro effects
• Video and stills editing
• Simple and intuitive

Cons:

• Limited control in editing
• Advertising in the free version

1998 Cam – screenshot: Joshua Waller

500px

• Free: GooglePlay / Apple App Store

Smartphone photography apps don’t always need to help you capture or edit images. Sometimes their job is just to provide inspiration. In this area, apps don’t come better than 500px. 500px has been around for over a decade and is the go-to place to scout out locations, research different portrait lighting techniques or just to be surprised and inspired by all the amazing imagery on the app.

Dig a little deeper though and you’ll also discover that there are plenty of resources on there for photographers. Although some need to be paid for, others are free. For example, there are videos on ‘how to build a photo set on a budget’ or ‘how to shoot fine art at home’. You can also drill down further and refine your search by typing in keywords or you can take in one of the curated galleries from the 500px staff.

500px is available for both Android and iOS.

Pros:

• Find inspiration
• Learn techniques and get advice

Cons:

• Some features require a subscription
• Likes – similarity to Instagram

Highest rated: Photo Editor Pro (by InShot Inc)

• Free –GooglePlay / Apple App Store (with adverts)

Now available for iOS too not just for Android users, Photo Editor Pro has some of the best reviews on the Google Play store and is a great option if you’re looking to edit photos and create collages on your phone. It’s easy to use, with lots of great examples, and has the ability to correct skin blemishes, give images a warmer look, remove backgrounds, or even produce an AI cartoon version of your subject.

Cropping tools come with a number of presets for major social media sites, including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Pinterest, so you know you’ve got the right settings for each one.

You’ll find a whole range of cool filters, including RGB Glitch, and more. In fact there’s so much packed into this photo editing app that we’d be here all day if we went into every feature available. Needless to say, it’s really comprehensive, and worthy of the high rating it has.

There are a range of templates available, great if you want to create something quickly, and the collages feature is so quick and easy to use. Some of the more advanced features, such as ToonTap, are actually adverts, and take you to other software from the same company, but apart from this, it’s difficult to find anything to complain about.

Pros:

• Free
• Great for collages
• Integrated cropping ratios for social media
• Wide range of filters

Cons:

• Includes adverts
• Advanced features take you to other app

INSTAX UP!

• Free: GooglePlay \ Apple App Store

When Fujifilm announced the Instax Mini 12 instant camera earlier this year, they also released their smartphone app Instax Up!, which is available to download for both Android and iOS devices. The app has been designed for instant photographers who want to quickly digitally scan and store their photos. The time and place a photo was taken can be added, as well as tags that can be used to organise your collection of images.

There are several basic editing options available, and you can adjust the photo’s contrast, brightness, saturation, and colour temperature. There’s also an option to share photos through messaging apps or posting directly to social media like Instagram and Twitter.

Pros:

• Free
• Scan and store your photos
• Time and place can be added
• Sharing to social media

Cons:

• Limited editing options

Screenshot of INSTAX UP! app. Credit: Isabella Ruffatti.

Colorize

• Free trial: GooglePlay / Apple App Store (paid upgrade available)

If you are curious how your old family photo album would look in full colour, this app transforms black and white and grayscale images into colourful photographs. Scan your B&W photo or upload one from your camera roll and with one tap the app automatically adds colour to your photo.

Colorize App

You can try out the app for free and colourize a few images but for unlimited use, you will need to upgrade to a paid plan that offers unlimited black and white colourization, unlimited saving and sharing also photo backup and access on other devices and online

Available via App Store for iOS and Google Store for Android.

Pros:

• Automatic colouring
• Easy to use

Cons:

• Unlimited use requires a paid plan

Other useful Photo apps for your phone:

Google PhotoScan

• Free: Google Play / Apple App Store

Available for both Android and iOS devices, this app is designed to make it possible to scan photos using your smartphone without the need for any additional software. The photo app will cleverly merge a number of photos, meaning that it can remove reflections and glare, for example when using the flash on your smartphone, or from other light sources.

If you need to quickly get a printed photo into digital form, then this is a great way of taking advantage of your smartphone, and using free software. If you wanted to move up to higher quality scans, then have a look at our guide to photographing film photos at home with a camera.

Pros:

• Free
• Quickly scan prints
• Merge photo option

Cons:

• Low resolution scans (1500 × 2000)

Google Photo Scan App for scanning printed photos.

PhotoPills

• Price: £9.49 / $10.99, GooglePlay / Apple App Store

Paid-for apps need to offer a huge amount of value to compete with the free alternatives. But Photopills really does deserve a place on your home screen. A must-have app for landscape and astrophotographers, the comprehensive app will help you plan and shoot your shots and it works like this. A map feature lets you pinpoint a location with great accuracy. Then, it will display both the direction of light throughout the day and also the times of golden hours or moonlight.

That’s not all though, because there’s also an exposure calculator with a feature to factor in an ND filter (and change the strength of the filter) so you can capture balanced exposures. Add in a Depth Of Field table, Hyperfocal table, a Star Trail feature and an amazing Night Augmented Reality feature and you’ll soon realise why this is one of the most highly regarded apps out there. If you shoot any photos outdoors, you must download this app. Photo Pills is available for both Android and iOS.

Pros:

• Feature packed
• Works offline
• Location data
• Direction of light
• Golden hour and moonlight
• Exposure calculator
• Astro photography must have

Cons:

• Paid
• No desktop app
• Requires learning

SkyView Lite

Free: GooglePlay / Apple App Store

Want to shoot some astrophotography but feeling a little lost? The free version of SkyView will help you find your bearings, as this clever app works with your phone’s camera and augmented reality technology to help you line up celestial targets that you can then choose to shoot with your phone or to swap in your DSLR and shoot with that instead.

SkyView Lite is available to download for Android and iOS.

Basically, this app takes all the guesswork out of astrophotography and I found the app to be hugely accurate. For a total investment of absolutely nothing, every photographer should be downloading this app; even if you only use it for the search function alongside using your camera, it’s an excellent piece of technology.

Pros:

• Free
• Easy to use
• Useful facts

Cons:

• Augmented reality screen is too static

Light Mate

• Free: Apple App Store

Smartphone apps can even come in handy for those shooting film. Even though available for iOS only Light Mate is a highly useful app that can be downloaded completely free. With variables such as shutter speed, aperture and ISO, you can dial in your settings, point your phone at a subject and the camera will read the light levels and suggest the appropriate exposure information.

It works with both the front and back camera on your smartphone (assuming your device has both). It could save you a fair amount of money on over or underexposing frames on pricey film. The whole app only measures 6MB in size so is definitely one to keep on your phone just in case and that won’t eat up the storage on your device.

Pros:

• Free
• Accurate
• Easy to use

Cons:

• iOS only

Lee Filters – Stopper Exposure

• Free: GooglePlay / Apple App Store

If you use Lee Filters out in the field then this app is a must-have that will take all the guesswork out of using the brand’s filters. All you have to do is select between the Little Stopper (6-stops), Big Stopper (10-stops) and Super Stopper (15-stops). Then, dial in what would be the balanced shutter speed without a ND filter.

The app will immediately display the recalculated shutter to use once you’ve swapped in the ND filter so you don’t have to mess about with trial and error. Better still, once you’ve dialled in the settings, the app even has a timer function. So, if you are using the Bulb function on your camera, you simply start the timer and end the exposure once it’s finished – easy!

Lee Filters – Stopper Exposure is available for both Android and iOS

Pros:

• Free
• Accurate and quick
• Timer function

Cons:

• missing 1/3 stop and 1/2 stop measurements

Other smartphone photography apps to try: ProCam X, Filca, VSCO Cam, and Prisma Art Effect Photo Editor.

Featured image credit: Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash 

Read our latest smartphone reviews, plus have a look at the best camera phones for photography.

Further reading:

• Using smartphones for street photography
• How to take amazing portraits on a smartphone
• How to take great macro photos on a smartphone
• How to edit black and white photos in Snapseed
• What is pixel binning? Smartphone sensor technology explained

Follow AP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

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When I first started using Photoshop seriously in 2005, Photoshop CS2 was the current version of the software which was launched that same year. It was a huge upgrade from Photoshop 7.

The CS2 version of Photoshop (and Creative Suite CS2) marked a turning point with the launch of Adobe Bridge, which as digital asset management software, provided a place where you could organise, view, rate and open raw files in Adobe Camera Raw, and other file types in Photoshop with ease.

It was essentially an early version of the Library Module in Lightroom. Adobe Camera Raw had been introduced with Photoshop CS1 back in 2003, and was finally complemented by a great way to view and manage photos – meaning Bridge was a huge and welcome upgrade.

Multiple images can be opened in ACR and settings can be synced

You may have noticed that I’ve talked about what Bridge can do in the past tense, and that’s not an accident: I don’t know any photographers who still use the software.

I also can’t recall any photographers in the last 10 years who have told me that they still use Adobe Camera Raw, whereas many amateur photographers I’ve met have told me that they only use Lightroom and have no need for Photoshop, despite subscribing to the Photography Plan, which includes Photoshop.

So, it’s this, alongside my own desertion of Bridge and Adobe Camera Raw that got me thinking, are Adobe Camera Raw and Bridge effectively dead and, ultimately, pointless these days?

There will, without a doubt, be some photographers out there using these software options, the law of averages dictates this. But I’m convinced that the numbers are already low in the grand scheme of things and continually dwindling.

Bridge allows you to view multiple images and view detail with a digital loupe rather than fully zooming in

Going back to my early Photoshop days, having Bridge and Adobe Camera Raw provided a great workflow at the time. And I have to confess that even when Lightroom 1.0 was released in 2007, I didn’t make the switch to Lightroom until the second version, where features improved a little and made it a more worthwhile alternative. That was back in 2008, and since then I, like most photographers, have enjoyed the fluid workflow provided by Lightroom and continually improved features delivered with software updates.

Lightroom provides multiple viewing options in the Library Module

This certainly doesn’t mean that Bridge and ACR were obsolete for photographers at this point; they remained useful up until the time when Photoshop and Lightroom became available subscription only.

Before the arrival of Creative Cloud (after CS6), Lightroom and Photoshop were available separately, so continuing to use Bridge and ACR made perfect financial sense because you essentially had all of the same tools available to you and the same image processing engine. The main difference is the workflow and the layout of controls in ACR compared to Lightroom.

It was only when Lightroom and Photoshop became available subscription only that everything changed because although you were still getting Bridge within the Photography Plan, and continue to do so, Lightroom is undoubtedly better than Bridge and ACR.

There’s no getting away from the fact that for photographers, Lightroom provides the most streamlined workflow, simply down to the fact that the Library and Develop Modules provide both image management of multiple file types and raw processing in a single interface.

You can even process other file types, such as JPEGs, TIFFs and PSDs in the Develop module. Processed raw files can be exported from Lightroom quickly and easily into other formats, with the ability to open them directly in Photoshop, and/or you can open processed raw files in Photoshop where they can then be saved in another format, or open several raw files as Layers among other options. You can do this between Bridge, ACR and Photoshop, but some processes can be clunky and far from intuitive.

With a single user interface, Lightroom provides a more fluid workflow than Bridge and Adobe Camera Raw although both approaches essentially do the same thing

From my point of view, it’s this streamlined workflow and that you’re already paying for Lightroom which make it the far superior option. Bridge and ACR once offered the only option, then an alternative money-saving option, but now they’re pretty much obsolete for the vast majority of photographers.

That doesn’t mean it’s completely dead in the water though, because for designers and even photographers working across multiple Adobe Creative Cloud apps such as InDesign and Illustrator etc., Bridge still provides a simple solution for managing image assets.

The views expressed in this column are not necessarily those of Amateur Photographer magazine or Kelsey Media Limited. If you have an opinion you’d like to share on this topic, or any other photography-related subject, email: ap.ed@kelsey.co.uk

Related reading:

• Best Free Adobe Lightroom Presets
• How to edit photos – guide to Adobe Photoshop Elements 2024
• Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Elements 2024 get more AI tools
• Best subscription-free photo editing software

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At AP, we’ve extensively used many different photo editing programs, and all of our writers and photographers have their preferred editing workflows. This piece is a run-through of the best photo-editing software we’ve used and tested, with options for different operating systems and budgets.

We’ve split this guide up into sections, covering the best subscription services, best subscription-free software, best free photo-editing software and the best photo editing apps for mobile – read on to get started.

Best subscription photo-editing software

Opinions are divided on the subscription model for software, but with more and more companies pivoting in this direction, it’s something you can’t ignore. Many of the top-tier, professional standard programs are subscription or nothing, and there are at least some pretty good deals for photographers that can soften the blow of monthly payments a little. Here are our picks of the best subscription services for photo editing.

Adobe Photoshop

A look at the default Photoshop Photography workspace. Image credit: Will Cheung.

Buy now

At a glance:

• Photo editing and graphics program
• Windows and Mac
• $9.99/£9.98 monthly with Lightroom (20GB storage), or $19.99/£19.97 monthly (1TB storage)
• adobe.com

Adobe Photoshop has been practically synonymous with photo editing for decades now, to the point where many people casually use ‘photoshopped’ as a generic term for an edited or retouched image. Adobe, somewhat hilariously, has a sniffy page on its website where it explains that you should be saying ‘The image was enhanced using Adobe® Photoshop® software’ instead of ‘The image was photoshopped’, which will assuredly catch on any day now.

But joking aside, Photoshop is a superb piece of photo editing software. Of course it is. Whether you need to clone out distractions, rescue blown-out highlights, convert an image to monochrome, process RAW files (via the Camera Raw plugin) or perform any of the other myriad tasks that might befall a photo editor, Photoshop will be well equipped. We reviewed the most recent version of Adobe Photoshop, and its ability to clean up and declutter images has been made faster than ever thanks to new AI-powered object selection tools.

These days it is impossible to talk about Adobe software without talking about AI, as the firm is going all-in on it. Newer versions of Photoshop have come loaded with powerful generative AI tools such as Generative Fill and Generative Expand, which allow you to radically transform images with generative content. If you’re someone who just wants to edit your photos and isn’t interested in all that – well, tough. Adobe is, in fact, very interested in all that.

The full version of Photoshop is subscription-only, as it has been for a long time. The popular Photography bundle, where you get it together with Lightroom for $9.99/£9.98 per month, is at least decent value – though be warned that cancellation is a more complex affair than you might think. Adobe is infamous for its sneaky ‘cancellation fees’ that hit users who have the temerity to not want to give them money anymore.

Bear in mind that if you do want Photoshop without a subscription, you can get it in the slimmed-down Photoshop Elements package, which is a one-time purchase. See our beginner’s guide to Adobe Photoshop Elements for more.

Pros:

• Powerful image editor equipped for basically any task
• Smart AI-powered selection tools
• Neural filters can restore old photos

Cons:

• AI emphasis won’t appeal to everyone
• Subscription only
• Cancellation fees

Read our full Adobe Photoshop review

Adobe Lightroom

A portrait being edited in Adobe Lightroom. Photo credit: Joshua Waller

Buy now

At a glance:

• Workflow, image management and editing program
• Windows and Mac
• $9.99/£9.98 monthly with Photoshop (20GB storage), or $19.99/£19.97 monthly (1TB storage)
• adobe.com

If you’re subscribed to Photoshop, chances are good that you’ve got Lightroom too, as the most cost-efficient subscription gives you access to both. While Adobe’s Photoshop and Lightroom programs share many features, the key appeal of Lightroom lies in its extensive cataloguing and image-management features. These allow you to use keywording and rating to organise your images and single-out the keepers. If you’re regularly sifting through large numbers of files, it is an enormous timesaver.

Lightroom is also no slouch when it comes to photo editing. While Photoshop is the more powerful program with a more comprehensive suite of options, Lightroom is still excellent, and many photographers use Lightroom exclusively. Its image-repair and enhancement tools are precise and intuitive, and the highly fine-tunable masking function can be immensely useful. You can also easily copy your changes to multiple images for speedy batch-editing.

Pros:

• Unmatched image-organisation features
• Powerful, efficient editing tools
• Excellent noise reduction from Denoise AI

Cons:

• Subscription only
• No Layers functionality

Read our guide to Lightroom vs Photoshop: which is right for you? And for more advice, check out our guide to the pros and cons of RAW vs JPEG.

Zoner Photo Studio X

It’s easy to catalogue and organise images in ZPS X. Photo credit: Zoner Photo Studio

Buy now

At a glance:

• Raw converter, image editor and organiser
• Windows
• $59 per year / $5.99 per month
• zoner.com

This Windows-only software is designed to be the complete package when it comes to photo editing – so it’s also a raw processor, an image organiser and even a photobook designer. It offers plenty of Photoshop-like tools, including Layer adjustments, and the interface is well designed. The program includes plenty of camera and lens correction profiles too, with the option to upload more if needed. This latest version also runs much better than previous iterations of the software, with plenty of bug fixes and performance enhancements having been introduced.

ZPS X doesn’t have Adobe’s ultra-advanced features like Neural Filters, and its corrections aren’t as good as those you’d find in the likes of Photoshop or DxO PhotoLab. However, as a start-to-finish photo editing program, it does a very good job indeed, and is definitely a credible option for those looking for a solid Photoshop alternative.

Pros:

• All-in-one software
• Useful modes for creating photobooks and calendars

Cons:

• Lacks some high-end modern features
• Windows only

Read our interview with photographer Kevin Bruseby on getting more from Zoner Photo Studio X.

Buy now

Best subscription-free software

We get it – not everyone wants to be on the hook to a digital landlord for the rest of their photo-taking life. Less than $10/£10 a month for Photoshop and Lightroom may feel like a really good deal, but if you’re planning on using the software for years on end, those monthly fees are going to add up, and you may be better off paying full-price up front for software that’s yours to own and keep.

For a more detailed round-up, check out our full guide to the best subscription-free photo editing software. Or read on to discover some of the best photo-editing software that’s available as a one-time purchase with no subscription required.

Affinity Photo 2

Working on an image in Affinity Photo 2. Photo credit: Rod Lawton.

At a glance:

• Photo editor and illustration program
• Windows, Mac and iPad
• $69.99 / £69.99
• affinity.serif.com

Affinity Photo 2 is probably the best Photoshop alternative for those who want a one-time purchase program for photo editing and other image work. Getting it to use forever is the same price as seven months of Photoshop and Lightroom on the Photography Bundle, and for that you get a sophisticated editor with non-destructive workflow, layer editing, masking controls, and plenty more of the kinds of features photographers expect.

The program isn’t the most immediately user-friendly for beginners, and you’ll likely experience a bit of a learning curve if you’re new to image editing. Once you get used to the way the program wants you to think, and swapping between its different ‘Personas’ depending on the task you’re performing, it does get much easier. One thing we particularly appreciated in our review was getting our heads around the adjustment presets, which let you save and re-use your favourite adjustments – a real time-saver for batch-editing.

Pros:

• Brilliant value for money
• Photoshop-like interface and tools

Cons:

• No Lightroom-like cataloguing tools
• Can be a steep learning curve

Read our full Affinity Photo 2 review.

DxO PhotoLab

DxO PhotoLab is arguably the best raw processor on the market. Photo credit: Will Cheung.

Buy now

At a glance:

• Raw workflow software
• Mac and Windows
• Elite edition $219 / £199; Essential edition $139/ £128
• dxo.com

This powerful software from DxO is especially potent for processing raw files. DxO’s de-noising technologies, DeepPRIME and DeepPRIME XD provide huge benefit in terms of rescuing detail in shots that are suffering from a significant amount of digital noise due to being shot at high ISOs. The process is fast and highly effective, able to turn shots you might have written off as irredeemably compromised into something you can make prints from.

If you’re using an older camera that gets noisy very quickly when the ISO is turned up, PhotoLab could be an excellent way to extend its lease on life. We reviewed PhotoLab 6 Elite and were hugely impressed – and in even better news, DxO has just brought out PhotoLab 7 Elite, a new version with improved colour calibration tools. We’ll be taking a closer look as soon as we can.

Pros:

• Extremely powerful noise-reduction tools
• Extensive correction profiles for cameras and lenses
• One-time purchase

Cons:

• Tricky interface

Read our full DxO PhotoLab Elite 6 review.

Buy now

Skylum Luminar NEO

Selecting a subject in Luminar NEO to blur the background using Portrait Bokeh. Image credit: Angela Nicholson.

Buy now

At a glance:

• Photo editing software with AI tools
• Mac and Windows (can also be used as a Photoshop/Lightroom plugin)
• From $79 / £79 or $275 / £275 one-off
• skylum.com

While Skylum Luminar does have a subscription model, it also offers the option of a one-time-only lifetime purchase of the software. This will ultimately save you money in the long-run, and there is a 30-day trial period in which you can get a refund if the software is not to your taste.

Skylum Luminar NEO is the latest iteration of a piece of software that’s been around for some time – originally, the developer was named Macphun, and made products exclusively for Apple operating systems. These days, Skylum Luminar NEO is a program aiming to fulfil the roles of both Photoshop and Lightroom, with a full suite of photo editing and photo organising tools. It’s stuffed with AI-powered tools like background removal and noise reduction, and also offers tons of presets for those who don’t mind letting the program make a few editing decisions for them.

Pros:

• Fast AI-powered sky replacement
• Lots of smart one-click adjustments
• Both subscription and one-time-purchase options

Cons:

• AI tools can be unpredictable
• Limited image-management functionality

Read our full Skylum Luminar NEO review.

Buy now

Best free photo-editing software

If both the monthly subscriptions and one-time costs look out of reach for you, don’t worry – there’s lots of excellent free software out there for editing photos. We have an entire guide dedicated to the best free photo editing software right now – but here are two of the applications we feel are the best.

GIMP

GIMP isn’t the most immediately intuitive program, but it’s powerful and completely free. Photo credit: Jon Stapley

At a glance:

• Photo editing and graphics software
• Windows, Mac and Linux
• Free and open-source
• gimp.org

The GNU Image Manipulation Program, or GIMP as it apparently must be known, is a free and open-source image editor that you can download, install and run in barely the time it would take to read this paragraph – no credit card required. GIMP has always been free, and is maintained by a devoted team of enthusiasts. It offers a powerful photo editing suite to rival Photoshop or Affinity Photo, and there are tons of community-developed plugins that allow you to make it your own. It’s infamously tricky to get to grips with – though recent updates have made it a lot more user-friendly than it once was.

Pros:

• Completely free and powerful
• Highly customisable
• Regular updates

Cons:

• Tricky to use at first
• Not many tutorials

RawTherapee

Raw Therapee is packed full of features, but this also makes it very complicated. Photo credit: Andy Westlake

At a glance:

• Raw conversion software
• Windows, Mac and Linux
• Free
• rawtherapee.com

When you first boot up RawTherapee, you might be a little overwhelmed at the complexity of what you’re looking at. We’ve found that this free raw conversion software is not blessed with the most intuitive of interfaces, with tons of tool panels and a huge array of features. Geeks will be in heaven; normies might feel a little overwhelmed. However, if you do want to wade into the ins and outs of raw processing and don’t have cash to spend, the amount of power you get for free here is absolutely incredible. Bear in mind that updates for the software have slowed in recent years, with the last one coming in November 2022 – so if you have a newer camera, the software won’t have specific profiles for it.

Pros:

• Completely free
• Tons of options for processing raws

Cons:

• Overwhelming interface
• Slow pace of updates

Best mobile editing software

Finally, we’re taking a quick look at the best apps for editing photos on the go. Most photographers likely snap plenty of pics on their phone as well as their camera, and there are plenty of apps out there to help you kick your smartphone photography game up a notch. We have a whole dedicated guide to the best photo apps for phones, including editing apps – but read on for our top recommendation.

Snapseed

Snapseed’s interface is brilliantly designed for use on touchscreen devices. Photo credit: Andy Westlake

At a glance:

• Image editing app
• iOS and Android
• Free
• Google Play / App Store

We regard Snapseed as one of the top choices for photo editors on mobile – while there are plenty of competitors out there, truthfully you’re unlikely to go wrong with Snapseed. It’s great. A completely free, Google-made app, available for both iPhones and Android devices, Snapseed puts a powerful and intuitive editor in the palm of your hand.

As well as standard tools like cropping and rotating images, Snapseed also enables Curves adjustments, with a range of presets available to make things easier. It’s perfect both for those who want a streamlined, automated process, and for those who like to dive in deep and get granular with their adjustments. And – need we remind you – it’s free!

Pros:

• Free to use, with no strings
• Advanced adjustment options
• Useful presets

Cons:

• Slightly complex interface (but you’ll get used to it)

Read our guide to how to edit your photos in Snapseed.

Related reading:

• Get the vintage film look with digital photos
• How to edit photos – guide to Adobe Photoshop Elements
• Best software for black & white editing

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The post Best photo editing software in 2024 appeared first on Amateur Photographer.

Affinity Photo 2 is one of the best image-editing packages, and a great alternative to paying to monthly subscription for Adobe software. Here’s how its Depth of Field filter in Tilt Shift mode can add a convincing ‘miniature’ look to overhead shots 

Using digital depth of field tools, you can create pretty convincing simulations of the real thing. Affinity Photo’s Depth of Field Live Filter does just that. What’s more, it can be used to create elliptical blur around a single subject or a tilt-shift blur to simulate a ‘miniature’ effect as if you’re looking down on a model rather than a real subject.

For all sorts of reasons, digital depth of field effects are not exact replicas of the optical depth of field effects from using wide-aperture lenses or photographing actual models. Nevertheless, they are close enough that you still get the broad effect and feel of shallow depth of field.

Recreating shallow of depth of field with Affinity Photo 2

The tilt-shift effect shown here is especially interesting because it uses a kind of optical illusion where we associate shallow depth of field and this kind of foreground/background blur with close-up photography – which reinforces the idea that we’re looking at a miniature model and not a real-world scene.

A fairly typical shot of a country town, but Affinity Photo 2 can do something much more special with it…

Get high with Affinity Photo 2’s Depth of Field filter

This works even better with subjects we’re used to seeing in model form, such as this street scenes viewed from above. A high viewpoint is actually an important part of the illusion because our brains are then more willing to accept a plane of sharp focus around the main subject and progressively increasing blur in the ‘foreground’ at the bottom of the picture and the ‘background’ at the top.

…thanks to the Depth of Field filter and other editing tools

Affinity Photo’s implementation is especially interesting because it allows for a sharp ‘strip’ in the centre of the image that allows for a bit more control over what appears sharp and what is starting to blur.

What’s also clever is that Affinity Photo can apply this as a Live Filter. This means that the blur effect is not baked into the image pixels, but exists on its own separate and re-editable Live Filter layer, so that you can go back at any point in the future to re-edit the effect.

Learn how to use Affinity Photo’s Live Depth of Field filter here

Further reading
Create stunning art – layer images with blend modes in Affinity Photo 2
Combine and mask image layers in Affinity Photo 2
Master adjustments and masks in Serif Affinity Photo 2
Master RAW editing with Affinity Photo 2
How to master Affinity Photo 2 for iPad
Create perfect panoramas with Serif Affinity Photo 2
Use Serif Affinity Photo 2 to remove distractions
Why Serif Affinity Photo’s 2 HDR Merge is a winner
How to master Serif Affinity Photo 2

The post Creative depth of field effects with Affinity Photo 2 appeared first on Amateur Photographer.

Affinity Photo is one of the best subscription-free editing tools out there, and its power features include the ability to turn your photographs into textured illustrations and artwork. Rod Lawton explores the power of blend modes

In this instalment we’re taking a look at some of the more advanced layer blending options in Affinity Photo 2. We’ll take the image we worked on in the previous instalment and turn it into a textured illustration using free-to-use images from the Stock panel in Affinity Photo and the magic of layer blend modes.

We want to add a female portrait to this image to create a kind of impressionistic collage, and rather than searching through all your own photos to find an example, there are plenty of choices right at your fingertips, thanks to Affinity Photo 2’s Stock panel. This displays free-to-use stock photos from two different sites – Pixabay and Pexels. You choose which one you want to use from the drop-down menu.

This ordinary image of a boat…

By default, the blend mode for new layers is set to ‘Normal’, which means the current layer simply covers up what’s below. But if you scroll down through the options on the blend mode menu on the Layers panel, you’ll see the blending effect changes with each option. See our video below for the full guide

…can be easily turned into something very special

Watch Rod’s in-depth video on Affinity Photo 2 blend modes now

Further reading

Combine and mask image layers in Affinity Photo 2
Master adjustments and masks in Serif Affinity Photo 2
Master RAW editing with Affinity Photo 2
How to master Affinity Photo 2 for iPad
Create perfect panoramas with Affinity Photo 2
Use Affinity Photo 2 to remove distractions
Why Affinity Photo 2’s HDR merge is a winner
Master Affinity Photo 2

The post Create stunning art – layer images with blend modes in Affinity Photo 2 appeared first on Amateur Photographer.

And indeed, you may not even need to buy anything at all. There are also some great photo editing programs out there that are absolutely free to download and keep. We’ve picked out a mix of the two in this guide, aiming to give you as many options as possible, based on the software our team has used, tested and enjoyed. We’ve included programs that offer a great deal of control, as well as some that are great for quick, simple edits. If you need help choosing, scroll to the bottom of the guide for a quick explainer of how to choose photo editing software.

We also have a useful guide to the best free photo editing software if you need even more no-cost options, as well as a guide to the best software for black & white editing for the monochrome lovers among you. For now though, let’s take a look at how to pick the best photo-editing software – subscription-free!

So, let’s take a look at some of the best photo-editing software out there – with no subscription required. Here’s our quick list of the best photo editing programs available:

• Best Photoshop alternative: Affinity Photo 2 – check price
• Best raw processor: DxO PhotoLab 7 Elite – check price
• Best raw processor for noise reduction: DxO PureRAW 3 – check price
• Best Lightroom alternative: Capture One 23 – check price
• Best AI photo editor: Skylum Luminar Neo – check price
• Best browser-based photo editor: Photoshop on the web (beta – currently limited to Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge) – use here
• Best smartphone photo editor: Pixlr Desktop app – download
• Best quick photo editor: Fotor – use here
• Most powerful free photo editor: GIMP – download

Read on for more details on each entry, including the opinions of our review team…

Best Photoshop alternative: Affinity Photo 2

affinity.serif.com, $69.99/ £67.99

Recently released as version 2, Affinity Photo is the best Photoshop alternative. It’s based strongly on the Photoshop mould, which is no bad thing considering that Photoshop is still the gold standard in image-editing. Anybody who is familiar with Photoshop will feel at home in moments, so those ex-Adobe Creative Cloud subscribers who are looking for a subscription-free alternative can jump straight in. Also, if you prefer editing on a tablet, the iPad version of this software works really well – see how to master Affinity Photo 2 for iPad.

Features such as Layers, Adjustment Layers, Masks and Filters are all here. What’s more, some features arguably surpass their Photoshop forebears, such as the powerful Brush tool that gives you a preview of your strokes, or the dedicated Frequency Separation tool for retouching portraits, the HDR tone-mapping tools and the extensive array of non-destructive Live Filter effects.

Affinity Photo’s real strength is in more involved photo edits, like compositing, making cut-outs, adding effects or exposure blending – the sort of things that a while back could only have been done in Photoshop. It’s a professional-level all-in-one photo editor and design tool, just like Photoshop.

Pros:

• Photoshop-level power without subscription
• Extensive retouching tools
• Excellent Tone Mapping tool

Cons:

• No browsing or cataloguing tools
• Tricky to learn at first

Read our Affinity Photo 2 review.

Best raw processor: DxO PhotoLab 7 Elite

A look at the interface for DxO PhotoLab 7. Photo credit: DxO

dxo.com, $229 (Elite) / from £209 – a free trial is available

The latest version of one of the best Raw processors in the biz, DxO PhotoLab 7 is a one-time purchase that gives you a huge amount of control over your Raw files. Using DxO’s AI DeepPrime and DeepPrime XD tools, it offers a level of noise reduction and detail recovery that’s significantly ahead of its rivals. Drawing on DxO’s well-established expertise in the field, the neural network can deliver as much as a 2.5-stop advantage compared to conventional Raw converters.

We reviewed the previous version of this software, DxO PhotoLab 6 Elite, and the features we liked have been kept in this update. With intuitive selective adjustment tools, a generous range of LUTs for creating specific looks, advanced colour management and, of course, DxO’s enormous database of optical corrections for a huge range of lenses, PhotoLab 7 gives you a generous toolkit.

Also available (for extra cost) are the FilmPacks, which allow you to download profiles to emulate old film stocks and give your images an irresistibly retro look. The up-front cost is fairly significant, and probably only worth it if you habitually shoot in Raw, but DxO PhotoLab 7 Elite is an undeniably impressive piece of software.

Pros:

• FilmPacks let you simulate old film stocks
• Powerful noise reduction
• Maximum quality from Raw files

Cons:

• Quite expensive upfront price

Best raw processor for noise reduction: DxO PureRAW 3

DxO PureRAW 3 review. Image credit: Andy Westlake

dxo.com, $129 / £115, 30-day free trial available

If you don’t need something as complex as DxO PhotoLab 6 Elite, then the cheaper DxO PureRAW 3 may be a better fit. A dedicated raw processor, DxO PureRAW 3 converts camera raw files into DNG raw files, while simultaneously applying DxO’s dedicated lens correction and noise reduction algorithms. The resulting 16-bit DNG raw files can be adjusted in all the exact same way the original files can, meaning that DxO PureRAW 3 can slot easily into any pre-existing workflow you may have established.

PureRAW 3 gains the same DeepPRIME XD processing algorithm that is otherwise reserved for the Elite edition of PhotoLab 6, at an upfront cost of almost $100/£100 less. This algorithm comes into its own when processing images shot at high ISOs, recovering unprecedented levels of detail – we tested it with an image shot at ISO 25,600, and DeepPRIME XD far outstripped the level of detail recovered by Adobe’s processing algorithm. In layman’s terms, our testing indicated that you could probably get away with using ISO settings two stops higher than you otherwise would if you commit to processing with PureRAW 3.

There is a trade-off naturally – processing times are significantly longer than other software, to the point where you’ll certainly want to cue up some batch-processing and then leave the program to its own devices (there is a new file queueing system to make this all a bit smoother). If you want a way to better process raw files but don’t want to have to learn a whole new system, PureRAW 3 is definitely worth adding to your workflow.

Pros:

• Exceptional high-ISO detail recovery
• Excellent lens correction options
• Works well with other programs

Cons:

• Long processing times

Read our DxO PureRAW 3 review.

Best Lightroom alternative: Capture One 23

captureone.com, $299 / £299 

At £299 / $299 for a standalone licence this is the priciest option, but it’s also the closest to Lightroom that you’ll get without signing up for the monthly subscription. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, it produces wonderful raw files.

You might think that a raw file would look the same no matter which editor it’s viewed in, but there can be marked changes in quality depending on the way the raw data is processed. Capture One gives you a level of detail and quality that often can’t be matched.

The workflow and tethering features are unsurpassed and it also offers advanced tonal tools that let you finesse your photos to a fine degree, with specialised tools for contrast and colour control, and layers-based local adjustments.

While the interface has recently been updated to make it more beginner-friendly, Capture One can still seem daunting. The learning curve and cost are steeper than most (for the cost of a licence you could get a Photoshop/Lightroom subscription for two and a half years).

But there’s a reason why many pros prefer Capture One. It’s a slick, high-end package that many consider the best you can buy both for its raw editing and workflow tools. The only cloud on the horizon for subscription-haters is that Capture One is pushing towards a subscription model. You can still get a ‘perpetual’ version, but this won’t get the regular free updates that the subscription version brings.

Pros:

• Superb workflow features
• Exceptional Raw processing
• Great for tonal fine-tuning

Cons:

• Significant price up front
• Hard to get to grips with

Best AI photo editor: Skylum Luminar Neo

Overlays in Luminar Neo. Skylum is continuing with its software updates

skylum.com/luminar, check website for latest prices

Originally one of the simplest photo editors, Luminar Neo has evolved into a much more sophisticated proposition. There’s still an emphasis on presets and beginner-friendly, one-click ‘looks’ that take seconds to apply. But with customisable panels, tons of tonal tools, selective edits and layer functionality, there’s still a good level of depth for those who want a finer degree of control over their images.

The reality-bending AI of Luminar has become the stuff of legend, starting with Skylum’s AI sky replacement (still arguably the best) and progressing to portrait enhancement, portrait bokeh, AI subject masking, sun rays, power line removal and more. The presets are useful to, though getting used to how they work can be a bit of an uphill climb, not as smooth as using one of the best Adobe Lightroom presets.

It’s all presented in a slick package with a gentle learning curve. If you want an editor that you can be up-and-running with in no time, but still has plenty of scope for those who want to explore further, then Luminar Neo is an excellent choice. Be aware, though, that Skylum is now pushing its subscription plans very hard, and while you can still get a ‘lifetime license’, it will not necessarily be the cheapest option. Luminar Neo is now part of an ecosystem of extensions and premium content, and unravelling the best deals from one week to the next can be a challenge.

Pros:

• Simple and enjoyable to use
• Lifetime licence option
• Very impressive AI tools

Cons:

• AI tools can sometimes be unpredictable in effect
• Preset editing is clunky
• Heavy push towards subscriptions

Read our full Skylum Luminar NEO review

Best browser-based photo editor: Photoshop on the web (beta)

photoshop.adobe.com, free (requires Adobe account)

Photoshop on the web was introduced in Adobe’s October 2021 update, and gives you a number of editing options, replacing Photoshop Express (web). While it doesn’t include anywhere near the same number of tools as full-fat Photoshop, it packs in enough to get quick jobs done, and is pitched toward the kinds of tasks you might expect someone to want on a web-based editor, such as background removal.

We’d recommend having a look at the Photoshop on the web FAQ to find out more. As it is still currently in beta status, we expect it to improve with future updates (though it’s been in beta for a while). However, you might be surprised by how easy it is to use to get simple (and not so simple) edits done. You will need to be using Google Chrome or the Microsoft Edge browser, though. Also, if you’re looking for more free resources from Adobe, check out our guide to the best free Adobe Lightroom presets.

Pros:

• Easy to make quick edits
• Quick to start up

Cons:

• Lacks automated enhancement tools
• Only works in certain browsers

Best smartphone photo editor: Pixlr Desktop app

pixlr.com/desktop, free

The impressive Pixlr app comes in two versions. There’s the beginner-friendly Pixlr X and the more advanced Pixlr E. Both apps are free, and the advanced version has support for layers. There are a range of good looking effects available, though a few features are restricted to the paid-for premium edition, such as one-click background removal and a larger font library for adding text. Pixar is essentially a somewhat limited free app with paid-for plans to extend its capabilities.

The interface is pretty easy to use, with clear icons and a generally sensible layout. It’s a particularly good option if you want to integrate your photos into designs, such as leaflets or brochures. This is helped by the selection of cutting tools in Pixlr X, which allow you to easily cut different parts of images together.

If you’re wondering, how can I edit photos on my phone like a professional, Pixlr is one of several photo editing software also available to download on your smartphone. For more, check out our picks of the best photo editing apps for phones.

Pros:

• Options for beginners and experts
• Free to use
• One-click background removal

Cons:

• Ads can be intrusive in free version
• Could use more resources for beginners

Best quick photo editor: Fotor

fotor.com, free

Another good option is Fotor, a beginner-friendly online photo editor that offers a useful array of tonal sliders, and even an HDR merge feature. It’s actually an online browser-based package, so while it may not be suitable for advanced users or those working with large, high-resolution files, it’s ideal for quick, fuss-free adjustments.

Fotor offers a few one-click adjustments that are designed to take the fuss out of portrait editing in particular. There’s a background remover, a skin-blemish tool, red-eye remover and more. The fact that it’s online and browser-based also makes it easy to access from anywhere, and any device. If you like, there are also Fotor apps for Android and iPhone, allowing you to continue your imaging edits on the go.

While the editor is free to use, something worth bearing in mind is that quite a few of the smart features are locked behind the premium edition. If all you want is to make simple adjustments to JPG files then the Basic version will be fine; otherwise, you’ll need to upgrade to Pro. The cheapest price you can get this version for is $39.99, billed annually.

Pros:

• No download required
• Useful one-click adjustments
• Good app integration

Cons:

• Several features require premium subscription
• Too-big files will likely crash your browser

Most powerful free photo editor: GIMP

gimp.org, free

With features such as Layers, Masks, retouching tools and advanced brushes, the ‘GNU Image Manipulation Program’ can be used for all kinds of amazing edits and effects, and all for nothing. But GIMP is not just a free Photoshop alternative; it also represents the work of a wide community of generous coders and developers, who’ve honed it over the years from its beginnings as a simplistic image editor into the slick package available today, one that can hold its own against any of the other choices mentioned here.

It’s not the easiest image editor to grasp, but the same could be said of Photoshop and Affinity Photo. What’s more, there’s a vast array of presets, helpful tutorials and plug-ins out there that will help you get up and running. This is due to the fact that GIMP is open-source. This means that anyone with enough programming knowledge can customise the software and make their own add-ons. As such, there is a rich community of enthusiasts who are dedicated to making the program better. Feature-rich, customisable and completely free, GIMP is unique, and could be worth the time needed to learn how to use it.

Pros:

• Completely free
• Powerful, always-improving editing tool

Cons:

• Can be quite difficult to learn
• No built-in tutorials

Manufacturers’ Free Software

If you’ve recently bought a new camera, then have a look in the box to see whether software is included. In most cases, you’ll find the camera comes with free photo editing software, or at least some raw conversion software, in the box, or available for download. In fact, most new cameras will come without the software on a CD, as many computers don’t have a CD drive anymore, so here you’ll find links where you can download the software, as well as what each manufacturer recommends.

Why would I use the manufacturer’s software?

The manufacturer’s software is a good choice if you’ve got a brand-new camera, as other raw software may not support raw conversion for the latest models straight away, (or without an update), and some software will never be updated to include raw support for new models, for example if you’ve got an older (non-cloud) version of Adobe Photoshop.

You’ll also find support for camera specific colour profiles, or film simulations with Fujifilm cameras. For Canon users, it’s possible to add new lens profiles to your DSLR, to add-in optical corrections when needed, but for this you’ll needs Canon’s photo editing software.

Canon – DPP – Digital Photo Professional

Available from Canon’s website, Digital Photo Professional can be downloaded once you enter your Canon camera’s serial number. It works with all of Canon’s digital cameras, from the old Canon EOS 300D, right up to the latest models. The app supports remote shooting with a wide range of Canon’s DSLRs and mirrorless cameras.

• To use your Canon camera as a webcam, you’ll need Canon’s webcam software, called “EOS webcam utility” and a supported Canon EOS camera – you’ll find a list of supported cameras on Canon’s site.

Nikon – NX Studio

Nikon has updated all of it’s different photo editing packages, into one neat program, called NX Studio, and best of all it’s completely free. You don’t need to enter any camera information and it supports all Nikon cameras, from the Nikon D1 released in 1999, all the way up to the latest Nikon mirrorless cameras.

• To use your Nikon camera as a webcam, you’ll need the Nikon Webcam Utility, and there is a list of supported cameras on the download page.

Nikon users can also use Capture One Express (for Nikon).

Sony – Sony Imaging Edge

Sony has a range of software for it’s cameras, meaning you end up with a range of different programs on your computer, starting with Imaging Edge Desktop, which then lets you launch Remote (for remote tether shooting using live view, and webcam use), Viewer (for rating raw images and applying batch edits made with the Edit part), and Edit (for raw development of images). It’s also needed to merge multi-shot images taken on Sony cameras that support high-res multi-shot shooting.

• You can download it for free from Sony’s website.

Sony users can also use Capture One Express (for Sony).

Fujifilm – Pick your poison

Fujifilm users have the choice of several different programs, and we’d recommend trying the “Fujifilm X” software packages first.

• Capture One Express (for Fujifilm).
• Raw File Converter EX 3.0 (powered by SilkyPix)
• Fujifilm X Raw studio

There’s also Fujifilm X Acquire software to let you get images processed by your camera’s own raw processing engine, and there’s X Webcam to use your camera as a webcam, plus Pixel Shift Combiner for GFX cameras with high-res multi-shot mode.

All of these are available for download from Fujifilm’s website.

Olympus / OM System – OM Workspace

Olympus, now OM Digital Solutions, offers free image editing software, called OM Workspace (previously Olympus Workspace), available for Mac and Windows machines, you’ll need to enter the serial number from your camera before you can download it.

OM Workspace image editing, image from OMDS

It also gives access to Olympus’ Art Filters, in-camera raw processing (with supported models), and advanced raw editing, with options to adjust Clarity and more. You can also update your camera and lens firmware using this program.

• Olympus offers webcam software, “OM-D Webcam” letting you use supported cameras as a webcam, the software is currently in beta status, and available here.

Olympus Workspare is available for download from the Olympus website.

Panasonic – Photo Editing Software

Panasonic offers PhotofunStudio, a raw editing package, there’s also a separate tether package called “Lumix Tether” available here.

• Panasonic’s webcam software, Lumix Webcam Software is currently in (Beta) status, and lets you use supported cameras as a webcam. It can be downloaded here.

Panasonic PhotofunStudio is available for download from Panasonic’s website.

Pentax / Ricoh Raw Software

Pentax and Ricoh cameras can capture AdobeDNG raw files, so you can use any raw editing software, and it will be able to open the DNG raw files. However, if you shoot .PEF raw files with Pentax DSLRs, then you might want to use the manufacturer’s software. Pentax provides “Digital Camera Utility” in the box, or on the camera’s memory on the K-3 III. You can also download the update from the Ricoh website.

How to choose the best photo-editing software

Before you make your choice, it’s worth considering what you really need out of your photo editor.

If your priority is for raw processing and basic tonal enhancements, then you may not necessarily need an editor with more advanced functions such as layers and selections. In fact, you might be able to get by with the free software bundled with your camera, and we’ve included a run-down of these programs at the bottom of this guide, to give you an idea of what your options are. This software is typically tuned to match your camera’s characteristics and lenses, and can offer surprising depth and control. If you are relatively inexperienced with photo editing, you may want to look at some of the tips in our beginner’s guide to Photoshop Elements, as these will likely also help you get to grips with these manufacturer-made programs.

However, if you want to add custom effects, blend exposures, or create HDRs and panoramas, then you’ll certainly need a more involved photo editor. This might be a paid-for option like Skylum’s Luminar or Affinity Photo, a free browser-based app like Fotor, or an open-source package like GIMP. We’ve included all these in our guide, along with plenty more.

It might also be that you have specific image-editing goals in mind, such as monochrome conversion. We have a dedicated guide to how to convert images to black and white in Lightroom, and many of the same principles can be applied to other programs.

Article by: Rod Lawton and AP Staff.

Further reading

• How to use Photoshop Actions for a faster workflow
• DxO vs Lightroom – which is best for noise reduction?
• Lightroom Classic vs Lightroom CC – which is best?
• 12 best photo apps and photography apps for phones

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The post Best subscription-free photo editing software in 2024 appeared first on Amateur Photographer.

Whether you’re working in Lightroom Classic or Lightroom (for Desktop, Mobile or Web) there are a huge variety of Presets to download and explore. Some of the higher-priced offerings from bigger studios work hard to keep on top of new features (i.e., Lightroom’s latest AI-assisted updates). But dig deep and you’ll find that there are plenty of free options available from photographers who are simply keen to share.

We found some of the best free Lightroom presets to get you started.

How do you get presets on Lightroom?

Adobe Lightroom Classic is a favourite for many photographers.

How to install your presets on Lightroom Classic

1. In the Presets Panel click on the ‘+’ and choose ‘Import Presets’
2. Locate your Preset and click ‘Import’.
3. You can tidy up and arrange your Presets at any time using the ‘Manage Presets’ option.

How to install your presets on Lightroom

There are two ways you can import Presets into Lightroom for Desktop.

• File>Import Profiles & Presets OR
• In the Presets panel, click the fly-out menu and select ‘Import Presets’.

Presets are commonly saved as a .xmp file. These files are very easy to share with others and allow non-destructive editing. You may also find many older Presets with the extension .lrtemplate. You can use these Presets in both Lightroom Classic and Lightroom.

If you’re importing Presets directly into Lightroom for Mobile this may be a DNG file type. But you can make use of your .xmp and .lrtemplate files also (though it’s much easier to do this via Lightroom for Desktop and the Presets will be ready for you to use when you launch Lightroom Mobile).

Tip: how to save Lightroom for Mobile Presets into Lightroom Classic

Managing to use your .xmp and .lrtemplate files in Lightroom (for Desktop and Mobile) is an intuitive process. But what if you have a great Preset in Lightroom and you really want to be able to make use of this in Lightroom Classic? The good news is this is possible, though it takes a bit of effort.

Here’s how you do it…

1. In Lightroom Classic make sure you’re in Library Mode.
2. You can Sync one catalog from Mobile to Classic at any one time. To do this click on the Cloud icon in the top bar and ‘start syncing’.
3. If you have applied a Preset to a synced image in Lightroom Mobile, it will now show in Lightroom Classic. You will see tweaked sliders in the Develop panel and it should show as a slider under your Navigator window. You can now turn this into a .xmp Preset by clicking on the + in the Presets panel and choosing ‘Create Preset’. You will have to assign it a name. You’ll now be able to apply this Preset to any other image in Lightroom Classic, regardless of it being in this Synced collection. It will save in ‘User Presets’.

Where can I find free Lightroom presets?

Now you know how to utilise Presets for both Adobe Lightroom Classic and Adobe Lightroom and get them working in either application, here are some ideas for where to look for some freebies…

Best Free Lightroom Presets from Adobe Creative Cloud

Enjoy the free stuff in Adobe’s Creative Cloud

Your first port of call for finding good quality, free Presets should be Adobe itself. Head to the Creative Cloud site and check out the free assets that are regularly uploaded. You can easily explore the back catalogue of these freebies. These are beautifully presented, make it easy to view before and after examples and come with well-written backstories and biographies of the photographers who have contributed.

For those interested in learning more about improving their image editing they also provide fantastic slideshow-like step-by-step, showing how the photographer processed their image and created the Preset. If you download these Presets they will open in Lightroom for Desktop and you’ll be able to watch a full edit before you save them.

You can return the favour by uploading your own edits. Other photographers will be able to see your original, all the edits you made and the final image. They can also save your editing settings as a Preset.

Remember the tip above to utilise your Creative Cloud-sourced Presets in Lightroom Classic.

Architectural Photography Presets by Kohki Yamaguchi

Image by Kohki Yamaguchi via Adobe Creative Cloud

Eight Lightroom plug-ins by Kohki Yamaguchi to personalise your urban photographs, with technique hints and tips to get the most out of them.

Faroesian Blues by Luke Stackpoole

Get mood into your scenics by Luke Stackpoole’s preset via Adobe Creative Cloud

Luke Stackpoole used to be an accountant based in London. Today, he is a Lightroom ambassador and an adventure photographer working for brands that include American Express, Aston Martin and The North Face. Check out his preset here.

Cinematic cityscape by Piyatat Primtongtrakul

Work your cityscapes harder with the free Lightroom preset from Piyatat Primtongtrakul via Adobe Creative Cloud

Add drama to your urban scenes with Piyatat Primtongtrakul’s free preset which exploits colour grading to give a cinematic mood. A dramatic low camera viewpoint helps this bold composition too.

Yesteryear Preset By Megan Loeks

Image by Megan Loeks via Adobe Creative Cloud.

There’s only one offering here from Lightroom Ambassador, Megan Loeks but it offers up a lovely, rich and painterly look that works well on deep colours with dark shadows.

Flower Photography Presets by Thais Varela

Image by Thais Varela via Adobe Creative Cloud.

There are two downloads available for free use; one for enhancing details with studio lighting with confident colour mixes, and the other a more general colour booster for naturally lit floral shots.

Midday sun shoot Preset by Pei Ketron

Image by Pei Ketron via Adobe Creative Cloud.

You know the best time to shoot for flattering portraits but sometimes the timing’s unavoidable, or you’ve shot in the spur of the moment. These Presets have a specific purpose – to even out shadows and highlights created by the harsh sunlight. These have been created for mobile phone images, but it’s worth trying as a quick fix on any squint-heavy image.

Best Free Lightroom Presets on other websites include:

Greater than Gatsby

There are 12 free Presets for you to download here and with a few clicks you’re provided with both .lrtemplate and .xmp files. There’s a wide range of Presets suiting various styles of photography, including dedicated ones for portraits and weddings. We found ‘Watercolor Film’ and ‘Darkroom Film’ particularly pleasant on sunny landscapes.

Best Free Lightroom Presets found on the Greater than Gatsby website

Tramp in Trip

Dedicated Presets for Lightroom Classic and Lightroom Mobile. There are some interesting styles available, and we particularly appreciated the cool, blue effects of the ‘London Presets’ for stylised building shots and landscapes with a city coolness.

Best Free Lightroom Presets from Tramp in Trip

Helene In Between

There are only three .lrtemplate Presets available from Helene but they have such a fantastic quality to them – classy and not over-styled. Simply called ‘Free1’, ‘Free2’ and ‘Free3’, we suggest you rename these with a more memorable name. Chances are you’ll come back to them often. ‘Free 3’ is our favourite as it turns mundane blues into dreamy, film-like turquoise. We found these worked better with landscapes and buildings.

Before and After the Lightroom Preset is applied

No Man Before

You need to subscribe to No Man Before’s newsletter before you’re given a download link to access these four .xmp Presets. The results are quite understated but take bright, warm photos up a notch. We found these worked better on brighter, sunnier landscapes. Less great for dingy Dorset beach scenes. Well, they are travel Presets after all!

No Man Before web page with the free lightroom presets

Weedit.Photos

A professional photo editing service for wedding and portrait photographers, Weedit.Photos also have a generous number of free .lrtemplate Lightroom Presets files available for download. There’s a real mix of handy sets covering a wide range of subjects from Interior/Exterior real estate to clubbing and food. Each set contains a few options and they’ve done a great job at explaining what each Preset does and the kind of images they recommend them being used on. No newsletter subscription is required.

Weedit has a variety of presets for both desktop and mobile versions of Lightroom

How to get the best results from your free Lightroom Presets

With all these free Lightroom Presets available, it’s very tempting to download as many as possible. However, a crowded Preset panel won’t help you speed up your workflow, especially if you spend so much time trying to find ‘The One’.

Make use of the ‘Manage Presets’ option to keep your collections tidy. In Lightroom Classic you can also right-click on a Preset you love and ‘Add to Favourites’ to save you from trawling through lists every time you want to use it.

Remember, Presets aren’t a one-click fix to achieving a perfect image. When you hover over a Preset to see a preview keep an eye out for how it affects the tone of your image. Does it suit the ambience of your photo? Is it adding atmosphere? Are you losing too many details? What is it doing to skin tones? Accept you’ll have a little bit of work to do to achieve a desirable look. It’s always a good idea to tweak with your Exposure and White Balance as a first step if things don’t quite look right.

Check to see whether the developer has given any tips on how to work with their Presets. The Creative Cloud free assets are excellent for this if you’re a newcomer to editing.

If you find you’ve tweaked a Preset’s settings too much you can always treat it as a primer and save your edits as your own Preset. Delete or hide the originals to keep your Lightroom workspace uncluttered.

Recommended articles:

• How to convert images to black and white in Lightroom
• Best Adobe Lightroom presets
• AI-powered tools for Photoshop and Lightroom
• Lightroom tips: Landscape photography editing

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Lightroom is one of the most popular programs for editing images and processing your raw files. Presets are a great way to add a particular look to images which save a lot of time.

Best Adobe Lightroom presets for photographers

Technically, your photo is sound, the exposure spot on, the composition is solid and you’ve worked hard to get the lighting just right. But something is amiss; it somehow lacks the punch you pictured when shooting it. Sounds familiar?

Working as a professional wedding photographer, the “wediting” churn throughout mid to late summer can be really overwhelming. The season always starts with the intention to keep on top of the workload, but before very long my left eye develops the over-tired floating blur and RSI sets in. No matter how many shortcuts are memorised, or workflow systems tweaked, the image-editing process never seems fast enough.

Plenty of places offer post-production services, and there’s no shame in enlisting these when your time needs to be spent in the field, shooting with clients. For me, it’s never felt appropriate. As well as eating into precious profits, it feels uncomfortable as a professional to relinquish control of the final appearance of my images, and how they’re presented to my clients.

It’s not unusual to have to edit 1,000+ images over the course of a week, maybe more when shooting back-to-back sessions. It’s do-able once you get into a rhythm and have your workflow perfected (I find setting myself much smaller chunks and scheduling mini breaks helps things feel a lot more achievable).

But with such a high volume of edits to get through week-by-week, the idea of working individually through each image from scratch, perfecting the white balance and exposure, and fine-tuning curves and levels, is unrealistic. After all, clients are waiting patiently and are often excited to see the results. That ‘Auto Sync’ button will only get you so far…

Here’s where having some really great Lightroom presets in your armoury can really help to achieve punchier shots and a stack of time.

Lightroom presets – what are they good for?

Now, let me reiterate that a good Lightroom preset is never going to be a one-click solution to achieving a perfect image. You will always need to do SOME work to make the images sing.

I like to think of them more as a ‘primer’ – a quick way to check out variations on your image you might not have thought of yourself (or simply don’t have time to do). With a lot of the groundwork done for you, a few quick adjustments can be made to suit your image and the overall look you’re going for. Most of the time, this means only have to concentrate on basic tweaks such as white balance or exposure and any spot adjustments, of course.

In Lightroom, you can fly through some options and check out the preset effects by glancing at the ‘Navigator’ preview and there’s very little lag.

Some will radically change the overall appearance of a shot; maybe give an image a vintage effect, apply a radical colour cast or quickly transform your monochrome shots into black and white. Or they could be really subtle; a quick way to tweak image curves or contrast.

Free Lightroom presets – why pay more?

Lightroom comes with a few presets as standard. A quick Google of ‘free lightroom presets’ will also throw up a load more. So why on earth would you ever consider paying out $100s for a set?

Freebies are great for getting your head around how Lightroom presets work, but the outcomes aren’t that exciting, and are often quite heavy-handed. You get what you pay for when it comes to presets. As well as technical support for photographers, many of these have been tried and tested with a particular genre of photography in mind. The more expensive presets also bundle in Lightroom profiles and make use of Adobe Look up Tables (LUTs) for more finely-tuned colour correction and grading.

Not only that, but some of the more expensive preset companies have a great community surrounding their products. You can share and get support from other photographers and learn at the same time. When working on your own, feedback from others who use exactly the same product can be invaluable and inspirational. If you can get more commissions because your work stands out, it’s not long before these presets pay for themselves.

It might take a while to find some presets that really click with you and how you want to showcase your work. Here are some recommendations for places to look.

Once you get the hang of what they do and how they enhance your work, you can set about making your own versions and tweaks for future use!

Top Adobe Lightroom preset developers

Archipelago Lightroom Presets & Profiles

Price | $98 (£78) per bundle

FourxFive preset before and after from Archipelago Presets. Photo credit: Liam Rimmington

Archipelago often refresh their presets to keep on top of the latest editing trends . Its selection is clearly split into four different looks; ‘Earthy’, ‘Modern’, ‘Moody’ and ‘Filmic’. Photographers are given extra control over the final look of their images with the addition of Creative Profiles that are offered which each bundle.

The Archipelago creative profiles allows image-editors to apply effects that are added on top of a profile. These can then be controlled with an “Amount” or intensity slider, in a similar way that you would be able to tweak an Adjustment Layer in Photoshop.

Support and guidance from Archipelago is excellent with plenty of tutorials and helpful articles to sink your teeth into. Choosing a preset is a bit like being in a sweet shop, but the handy before and after sliders make it quick to browse. The clear descriptions as to how each preset affects tone, shadows and highlights helps with the decision making too.

Works for:

• Lightroom Classic CC (v11+)
• Lightroom CC (V5+)
• Adobe Photoshop ACR (v14+)

Mastin Labs

Price | $99 (£79) per bundle

Mastin Labs Quiz for helps photographers choose the right Lightroom Preset for them

These presets are very popular with wedding photographers, particularly the Portra film emulations. As well as Desktop Lightroom, you can also purchase presets for Lightroom for Mobile, Capture One and Adobe Premiere for video editing through Mastin Labs.

Sometimes it can be difficult to see the wood for the trees when it comes to choose the most appropriate preset. Use your gut instinct to select images on its ‘preset quiz’ and it will present an option that best suits your needs without the need for much research.

All preset packs come with the Mastin Magic Toolkit available. These custom tools give you more control over common problems such as improved Auto White Balance, lens correction and orange reduction (good for skin tone issues shot in warm light). Tone profiles are also supplied, inspired by the original tones of the Fuji Frontier film scanner these promise to correct contrast while preserving the look of film.

Minimum requirements:

• Lightroom Classic 8.0
• Lightroom CC 3.0
• Adobe Camera RAW 10.3

Noble Presets

Price | $129-$248 (£103-£198) per bundle

‘Before’ and ‘After’ of the Noble Signature Adobe Lightroom preset. Photographers are recommended to shoot as wide open as possible (f/1.2-f/2.2) to achieve the bokeh and depth of field this preset was designed for. Photo credit: Lindsay Cotter

Specifically designed with wedding and portrait photographers in mind, Noble Presets are designed to give your images a clean, bright and airy finish.

The current offering consists of three desktop sets. ‘Noble Signature’ is designed to apply balanced to images with luminous skin tones. Images emulate the look of film with cool green and subtle contrast. ‘Noble X CHARD’ offers more warmer tones to echo the golden light of the Californian landscape. Meanwhile, ‘Noble Blk’ offers a dedicated black and white set of presets. Added grain effects can be added to give images a ‘shot on Medium format’ feel.

Photographers are invited to send in their own images to the Noble team before committing to purchasing a preset with a complimentary test edit.

Works for:

• Adobe Lightroom 4 or later
• Adobe Camera Raw CS6 or later
• Adobe Lightroom Classic & CC 1.4 or later

dvlop

Price | $125-$190 (£99-£151) per bundle

An exhaustive selection of Adobe Lightroom presets are offered through the dvlop with creations from some of the most respected photographers in the wedding industry, including Jose Villa, Jonas Peterson, Sam Hurd and The Kitcheners.

You could get lost for hours looking through all the presets here. But click on a photographer’s style that catches your eye and you can clearly see some before and after previews with good technical explanations as to how the preset will modify your image. You can even find some bundled video tutorials from the likes of Nirav Patel’s ‘Lotus’ collection.

Check out the ‘Tweaks and Leaks’ set for something a little bit different. Here, dvlop has made use of Adobe’s profile browser to apply non-destructive effects over raw files. These leaks are hand painted additions using the radial gradient tool. A leak’s opacity can be adjusted and its colour modified for a completely custom look.

‘Before’ (top) and ‘After’ (bottom) image processed using a Dvlop preset. Photo credit: © Two Mann Studios

Works for:

• Adobe Lightroom 4 or later (Classic)
• Adobe Camera Raw 10.3 or later
• Adobe Lightroom CC Desktop 11.4 or later and Mobile (Non-Classic)

Loox

Price | $9-29 (£7-£23) per package

‘Before’ and ‘After’ of the NORDIC Adobe Lightroom preset from Loox. Designed to enhance blue tones and create a contrasted, cold vibe.

At $29 per set (currently on sale for an even more affordable £8/$9), you can afford to get experimental with the selections from Loox. Styles are easy to view and range from the great, simple ‘WHT PRODUCT’ designed to create clean looks for e-commerce through to the cold, enchanced blue tones of ‘NORDIC’, with the travel and landscape photographer in mind.

Do you have a designated Instagram account for your pooch? The ‘PUPPY’ presets have been especially created to edit dog photos. We’ve only just scraped the service. With so many styles on offer here, there’s bound to be something to suit most photography styles.

Individual packages through Loox normally contain 8 presets, although there are also bundles available at discounted prices. As well as working for Adobe Lightroom, the Loox presets can also be used with Photoshop Camera Raw for Mac (.xmp).

‘Before’ and ‘After’ of the WHT PRODUCT Adobe Lightroom preset from Loox. Designed to give a simple, contrasted, clean look to products for e-commerce photography.

Works for:

• iOs, Mac & Windows
• Lightroom Classic / Lightroom CC (.xmp).
• Older versions of Lightroom Class (from LR6)
• Camera Raw on Mac and Desktop (.xmp)
• JPEG/RAW

Further reading

Lightroom’s new Denoise AI tool – how does it compare?

How to organise your photos with Lightroom

Best free photo editing software for computers and mobile 2023

Best Free Adobe Lightroom Presets

How to convert images to black and white in Lightroom

Best software for black and white editing

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