Hacking Photography - one Picture at a time
To Adobe or not to Adobe. That is the question many photographers are asking with the spate of new image processing programs vying to “kill Photoshop.”
I tested more than ten contenders as alternatives to Adobe’s image processing software, evaluating them for the specialized task of editing demanding nightscape images taken under the Milky Way, both for single still images and for time-lapses of the moving sky.
Affinity Photo for iPad has rapidly become the hot favourite for editing images on the go. It’s a fantastic piece of software that’s extremely powerful. It contains the same processing engine as the popular Mac and Windows versions, but it’s optimised for the iPad hardware. Now, Affinity Photo for iPad has been updated for the new iOS11 release.
One of the new capabilities Apple added to iOS 11 is the new Files app. The new Affinity Photo update allows you to drag and drop files from the Files app into the app itself. It means that multiple files can be dragged at once for focus stacking, HDR or making panoramas. And you can drag files straight in from emails, including PSDs, with all layers intact.
It’s been a long time coming, but Affinity Photo has finally been released for the iPad. Mac users have had Affinity Photo for a good while now, and Windows users finally got their hands on it last year. And Affinity Photo for iPad uses the exact same backend as the desktop versions. But fully optimised to take advantage of the iPad’s hardware and touch capabilities.
If the trailer’s anything to go by, Affinity Photo’s debut onto the iPad looks like it’s one heck of an app.
The wait is over, Affinity Photo for Windows is here. Now Windows users can enjoy the benefits Mac users have taken advantage of for over a year. Not only is it now multi-platform, but it comes with a v1.5 update for the Mac, too. This adds a whole host of new and updated features to the software.
For Mac users, one of the big additions is support for the new MacBook Pro TouchBar. Along with HDR, 360° image editing, batch processing, focus merge, and a whole bunch more, Affinity Photo now has Macro support. Photoshop actions are hugely useful for serious Photoshop users, so it’s nice to finally see their equivalent implemented in Affinity Photo.
How does one begin to give a first glance on the supposed Photoshop Killer that is Affinity Photo? I’m a windows guy, and wanted to test it ever since it was announced. Finally, there is a windows beta out there that I could download for free and take it for a spin. I’ve decided to keep this as focused as possible in order to be both useful and friendly to your time.
Initially announced a few months ago, Affinity Photo for Windows has been anxiously awaited. Today, it’s finally here in the form of a completely free public beta. Hailed as the only real potential competitor to Photoshop, Affinity Photo’s Windows debut opens it up to a much wider audience. With the current cost of “free” lasting throughout the public beta period, it will be interesting to see how many are won over.
Affinity Photo for the Mac has received many favourable reviews, and it was chosen as Apple’s “App of the Year” in 2015. So, it already has a pretty strong following. Having had a brief play with the beta myself, it does take some getting used to if you’ve been using Photoshop for a couple of decades. But, it’s fairly easy to get used to the differences in layout and workflow.
I am currently in the market for a Lightroom replacement. It’s a story involving a dead laptop and Adobe’s business practices, which are simultaneously too mundane and too incendiary to address, so I shall not indulge you with the details. But a Lightroom replacement is a tall order. First, and most obviously because Lightroom’s reputation precedes it. Second, because I have an extensive history with Lightroom. Still, the plunge must be taken.
One of the students at the Photocritic Photography School mentioned Affinity Photo a little while back, and now seemed as good a moment as any to take it for a spin using its 14 day free trial. Affinity Photo has had a few mentions here on DIYP, but no in depth review since it came out of beta for Mac in July last year, so it also seemed reasonable to share my findings with you, lovely readers. (Please be aware, I’m coming at this from the perspective of a Lightroom user. I don’t tend to use Photoshop all that much.)
Photoshop contender, Affinity Photo, made a big splash about two weeks ago when they announced that they are rolling out a windows Beta, effectively more than doubling their potential market.
We caught up with Affinity managing director Ashley Hewson at the UK Photography show (full TPS report here) to talk about Affinity’s future plans, their Windows Beta and how they will integrate with the iPad Pro. Hit the jump for a quick summary and some of my thoughts.
Mac owners have had the opportunity to make use of applications Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer for almost a year now, but that the software has only been available for the Mac has been a frustration for Windows based photographers stuck in the Adobe world with no real viable alternative.
Now, that’s all about to change, with Serif’s announcement today that Affinity Photo and Designer applications are coming to Windows.
If you don’t like the Adobe licensing model, or if you are just craving for an alternative, Affinity Photo just went live today. Affinity photo is a complete photo editing software similar to photoshop in features but redesigned completely. If you recall, we took Affinity Photo for a test drive and while the overall impressions were pretty good, it still needed some polishing. Hopefully, now that it’s out of beta (still mac only), all the small issues have been ironed out.
As far as costs go, Affinity really sticks it to Adobe with a $49.99 price tag ($39.99 for the next two weeks) and one of the most prominent bullets on their launch video is No Subscription (but you still get free updates). Hit the jump for the full feature list and kick off video.
You can find out more about John on his website or follow him on Facebook and YouTube.
can change a lens mid-rappel, swap a memory card while treading water, or use a camel as a light stand.
To see more of his work please visit his studio website blurMEDIAphotography, or follow him on Twitter, 500px, Google Plus or YouTube.
JP’s photography is available for licensing at Stocksy United.
Find my work on My website or follow me on Facebook or My page
