MacOS photo editing alternative to Adobe

[phl92]

I am a long term Windows user but I am slowly switching to Apple (iPhone 11 user for 1 week and getting a new M1 MBP soon).
On my Windows Desktop at home I use older versions of Lightroom and Photoshop CC 2015 (both non subscription) and even though both programm can do much more than I need I am wondering what alternatives I will have on my new MBP:

I am not willing to pay 10€ a month for the subscription model of Adobe, because I use these programms not constantly (I have 2-3 months I don't open them at all, and then months I use them 10-15 hours a week; in average maybe less than 5 hours a week).

On my iPhone I played around yesterday with Snapseed, VSCO, Darkroom and for a mobile version that's quite impressive, but I for a more detailed work I need other programms to edit my photos and webwork (maybe these programms have Desktop versions which can do more)

What would you recommend me? I am willing to pay something once, like I probably will with Final Cut Pro, but a subscription based payment model is really not paying off for the reasons I mentioned above.

Thank You!

 

[Ruggy]

To kick off, did you realise that the native 'photos' app will probably do most of what you want?
If you are using icloud all you photos will open in it automatically otherwise you have to import them and top right find the 'edit' function. You might have to enable some of the tools first time as I think it starts with a simplified view but you can do most things in photos. Definitely have a look there and you can do a surprising number of things in 'preview' too if you dig in the tools menu
Otherwise, without hesitation have a look at Affinity photo. No subscription, very reasonably priced and a really excellent program.

Best Photo Editing Software | Black Friday 50% Off

The first-choice photo editor of millions of photographers, artists, and other professionals around the world - 50% off

affinity.serif.com

Sorry, you haven't got the mac yet so the photos advice won't mean much to you until you do.

 

[phl92]

Yes my Mac is not here yet. But I saw this installed editing on Macs before and unless it really developed over the last 3 years it won’t be enough. On my iPhone I also can edit quite a lot but I cannot really do some brushing in specific areas of the picture and so on. Affinity though I will have a look! Sounds very promising!

btw: is Luminar anything useful? How does it compete compared to Affinity?
I read an revieew about Affinity, which claimed it's lack of multiple image editing like in Lightroom? This would be important for me, sometime to edit from one day all photos in the same way not all singely

 

[mj_]

You can't really compare Lightroom and Affinity Photo as those are two different tools serving two different purposes. Lightroom is a software to organize and, most importantly, develop RAW photos. Affinity Photo is like Photoshop, and you use it to manipulate photos. Granted, Lightroom does have some photo editing capabilities built-in but they are nowhere near Photoshop or Affinity Photo.

FYI, if you get a new M1 Mac you might be able to simply run your familiar iOS/iPadOS apps, such as Darkroom, on macOS as well.

 

[firedept]

Another vote for Affinity Photo.

 

[phl92]

I read a lot of comparisons and I think I will need Luminar more, in case I can do easy editing with fonts... I dont really need 90% of the functions of Photoshop, but I need "a lot" of the functions of Lightroom instead.
At the end you gave me good suggestions and both programms have a free trial.. so I will figure it out what fits me best.

 

[Dockland]

Found this thread when searching for Adobe PS alternatives. I'm curious in Affinity Photo, nut there's no trial to try it out.
I would gladly use another photo edit application. Been using Photoshop since 1996 (think it was version 3 back then) but Photoshop has become a monster, with a bit too much footprints in my system (the Creative cloud stuff and all the services that comes along)
In Affinity Photo, are there a equivalent to "Content aware replacement tool" and the "Color lookup tool" where I can add a layer with custom LUT's to my image?
Those are a deal breakers for me, so will Affinity Photo do?

 

[triptolemus]

Found this thread when searching for Adobe PS alternatives. I'm curious in Affinity Photo, nut there's no trial to try it out.
I would gladly use another photo edit application. Been using Photoshop since 1996 (think it was version 3 back then) but Photoshop has become a monster, with a bit too much footprints in my system (the Creative cloud stuff and all the services that comes along)
In Affinity Photo, are there a equivalent to "Content aware replacement tool" and the "Color lookup tool" where I can add a layer with custom LUT's to my image?
Those are a deal breakers for me, so will Affinity Photo do?

Affinity does offer a trial demo period. Fully functional. 90 days (!).

Affinity – Professional Creative Software

From the smoothest, fastest photo editing and graphic design software to the most powerful publishing software, Affinity apps are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with creative technology.

affinity.serif.com

Content aware:

Content Aware

When using edit/fill for a selection in Photoshop there is a facility called content aware - does it exist in Affinity, maybe under some other name or different menu.

forum.affinity.serif.com

 

[Dockland]

Affinity does offer a trial demo period. Fully functional. 90 days (!).

Affinity – Professional Creative Software

From the smoothest, fastest photo editing and graphic design software to the most powerful publishing software, Affinity apps are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with creative technology.

affinity.serif.com

Content aware:

Content Aware

When using edit/fill for a selection in Photoshop there is a facility called content aware - does it exist in Affinity, maybe under some other name or different menu.

forum.affinity.serif.com

Oh, that's great news. Affinity Photo in App store is only buy, no try.
Will Affintiy Photo update it self if I download it from their web page? And can I pay with my Apple account some how? I have a lot saved there. (New to Mac obviously )

 

[Bruninho]

I have a vote for Pixelmator. Has a steep learning curve, but IMO is the closest thing to Photoshop that has.

Affinity Photo is also good.

 

[ian87w]

I have a vote for Pixelmator. Has an steep learning curve, but IMO is the closest thing to Photoshop that has.

Affinity Photo is also good.

I tried Pixelmator, and imo for most people, it will do the job. It still lacks some advance features from Photoshop, but for majority of people, it can be a great alternative.

 

[ian87w]

I am not willing to pay 10€ a month for the subscription model of Adobe, because I use these programms not constantly (I have 2-3 months I don't open them at all, and then months I use them 10-15 hours a week; in average maybe less than 5 hours a week).

If that's the case, then simply just pay for the months you are using the software. Pay monthly, and once you don't need the software, stop paying for it. It might sound inconvenient, but it might be a solution if you are already comfortable with Adobe apps, meaning less learning curve.

 

[Dockland]

I have a vote for Pixelmator. Has a steep learning curve, but IMO is the closest thing to Photoshop that has.

Affinity Photo is also good.

I will check that out too. My workflow today is: Adobe Bridge -> Adobe Camera RAW -> Adobe Photoshop. Does Affinity and Pixelmator have an equivalent work flow? I only shoot RAW.

 

[chrfr]

If that's the case, then simply just pay for the months you are using the software. Pay monthly, and once you don't need the software, stop paying for it. It might sound inconvenient, but it might be a solution if you are already comfortable with Adobe apps, meaning less learning curve.

Photoshop when on a month to month plan costs $31.49/month. The Adobe Photography plan that gives both Lightroom and Photoshop access is $120/year.

 

[Bruninho]

I will check that out too. My workflow today is: Adobe Bridge -> Adobe Camera RAW -> Adobe Photoshop. Does Affinity and Pixelmator have an equivalent work flow? I only shoot RAW.

I think the stock Pixelmator does that well, I've used it before, but you can also try Pixelmator Pro. Checkout their website for what they can do with RAW images.

Not sure about the workflow. I am an UI/UX Web Designer and I do most of my work on Adobe XD and Vectornator (Vectornator is free, can also edit photos, and is available for both macOS and iOS on App Store).

 

[Rich B22]

Oh, that's great news. Affinity Photo in App store is only buy, no try.
Will Affintiy Photo update it self if I download it from their web page? And can I pay with my Apple account some how? I have a lot saved there. (New to Mac obviously )

I also will not be extorted by Adobe.

If you buy directly from Affinity (Serif) you can't use your Apple account, but they currently have a special on and you can purchase for $24.99 on a credit card. I thought I got a great deal last year at $39, but this is super.

Don't know if the trial will update, however, in the almost 2 years I've had it, there have not been a lot. I think I started on v. 1.8 (maybe 1.7) and they're on v. 1.9 today. I switched from Photoshop 5.5 looking towards when Mac's would no longer run 32 bit apps and am very happy with it, although I'm not a professional.

 

[fisherking]

i moved from photoshop to affinity photo, and not a moment of regret (worth noting that AP can import/export psd files). it's a great app, and easy to move to...

 

[panjandrum]

I switched to Pixelmator and later Pixelmator Pro for similar reasons. I need a good app like this, but no where near frequently enough to justify subscribing to Adobe. They have been excellent and if you are already familiar with Photoshop you'll find them easy enough to use. The price is low enough so that if you end up not liking it it's not a big deal.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Pixelmator Pro.

 

[qoop]

Affinity Photo and Pixelmator are really good. I've been using Photoshop since 1991 but I'm slowly moving away to alternatives. Corel Painter is pretty good if you like real media effects.

 

[Dockland]

Affinity Photo and Pixelmator are really good. I've been using Photoshop since 1991 but I'm slowly moving away to alternatives. Corel Painter is pretty good if you like real media effects.

I've been checking those out as well. Do they come with the equivalent to Adobe Bridge/Camera RAW?

 

[qoop]

I've been checking those out as well. Do they come with the equivalent to Adobe Bridge/Camera RAW?

File browsers are a weak spot in these newer products :/

 

[Tagbert]

FYI if you are wondering about features in Affinity Photo, you can check out their user forums

Affinity | Forum

forum.affinity.serif.com

 

[samotivad]

I was a longtime user of Adobe products, particularly Photoshop. I switched to Affinity Photo in 2019 on Windows and now I use it on Mac too. It is different to Photoshop but you can do all the important stuff you can do in Photoshop in Affinity. Some things take a tiny (I mean tiny) bit longer in Affinity too. Overall though I'm not looking back. Adobe's pricing model is far too expensive for my taste and now I do things in Affinity more or less as quick as I used to in Photoshop.

 

[Dockland]

I was a longtime user of Adobe products, particularly Photoshop. I switched to Affinity Photo in 2019 on Windows and now I use it on Mac too. It is different to Photoshop but you can do all the important stuff you can do in Photoshop in Affinity. Some things take a tiny (I mean tiny) bit longer in Affinity too. Overall though I'm not looking back. Adobe's pricing model is far too expensive for my taste and now I do things in Affinity more or less as quick as I used to in Photoshop.

I'm looking for a workflow replacement my self. Like Adobe Bridge -> Camera RAW -> Adobe Photoshop but I haven't found any replacement "eco system" yet.