Unfortunately Adobe will hijack your intellectual property forever once you buy in. Final work product exported as TIFF or whatever will still be yours, but all the layers and intermediate steps you create belong to Adobe unless you continually pay to Adobe. Not acceptable.
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Revisiting switching to Affinity Photo
- Thread starter Ambrosia7177
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Affinity Designer is quite good and Affinity Publisher is the grandchild of the application from the 1980s, but still modern, and all three fit together.
I wouldn't go with a dSLR at this point. They're almost none being developed, except for Pentax. Mirrorless cameras allow you to go from stills to video easily. That's why I've been using them for ten years. I've used a lot of brands but I'm only using Panasonic right now with micro Four-Thirds and 135 Format bodies.
By all means turn off Adobe Creative Cloud and other Adobe options in your log in options. Then what is yours will be yours. At this point their online help menu is more or less useless, so if you lose that no big deal.
Anyways my thoughts on various editors. As always others may have different opinions.
Affinity Photo: Partly because it's been my second choice, I have found this one a bit difficult to learn. That said when I do encounter a problem there is almost always a youtube video that shows me the solution. Has Curves, white balance and Color Balance tools, which are not available in Elements. The Color Balance tool is 4 channels and can be set to highlights, midtones or shadows. Easier than curves for minor crossover issues.
Photoline: Now that I am getting used to this one I am beginning to like it, however the cloning/healing and selection tools have issues. If I need to use either, I find it easier to switch over to Affinity or Elements. May or may not purchase this one. Somewhat handicapped by very weak English documentation. If you can read German you probably should have no issues.
Preview: Basic built-in free editor does amazingly well for cropping, resizing, color, density, contrast, and sharpness tweaking. However there is no selective editing, horizon line correction, or flaw repair. My go to app for quick sorts and searches. I also use it almost exclusively when the image from the camera is already 'Close enough for government Work.' Be sure 'Auto Save' is disabled in system settings when you use this app.
PS Elements: Does almost everything well, however color crossover issues require selective editing. Versions as of Jan 15, 2025 'feature' Adobes non-subscription subscription plan. 3 years down the road you buy again if your system is still supported, or turn to some other photoeditor. Note; other apps will open .psd files but things like layer styles may be lost at that point. Obviously finished files saved as TIFF or jpeg can be opened by any app. A ton of built-in fonts can really clutter font selection when using the text tool. Otherwise a lot of clutter around the edges nibble away at available screen real-estate.
ON1: This was not stable enough in Sequoia for me to give it a true workout. May give it another try down the road.
Acorn8: Rather basic but very well documented. A good app to develop an approach to working with curves, as there is no Shadows/Highlight adjustment, and levels are density only with no separate color channels in levels. At the price no big loss if you don't like it. Easy to learn and sufficiently capable to get you going while you explore more expensive options.
Pixelmator: My last encounter was a long time ago, and it was not up to the chore. Many changes since then. If you can find a way to download a free trial it may be worth it.
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Uhm... No, your statement is untrue.
Any files created with Adobe software belong to you only, are copyrighted to you only, and you have full rights over those files. Adobe has no say over those files.
Unless:
- the entire file is created -as is- with Firefly and/or Photoshop's AI generation tools via their servers. As per EU and US law non-human generated images cannot be copyrighted. Compositions made by a human with those AI generated images are copyrightable. Just not the specific contents.
- users upload their files and work to the Adobe Cloud. At that point you do relinquish some of your file rights to Adobe (for example, they can use your files to train their Firefly AI models).
So, the answer here is to prevent using the Adobe Cloud to share/upload files, and to avoid any AI-based image generation tools in Photoshop and the other Adobe tools (After Effects, Illustrator, Premiere, etc).
I assume you meant to state that Adobe holds our native source files 'hostage' since without a subscription we cannot edit those files, and without a perpetual license we are forced into an endless subscription / renting our software.
That is indeed, unfortunately, the case for most of our Adobe source files. Of course, PSD files are relatively well supported by third-party image editors. Not perfect, though. Other Adobe source files such as After Effects, Premiere, Animate, Illustrator: more problematic, and the original software is usually required to open these.
That, however, is the case with most, if not all, subscription software / software for rent. It is not exclusive to Adobe.
@Ambrosia7177 I feel like you are beginning to overthink in your choice of image editor somewhat.
All choices @OldMacs4Me listed two posts earlier are viable options. PS Elements perhaps not, since its licensing isn't that great.
Krita has a nice artist-friendly GUI, and also offers most of the general editing features that most other image editors have on offer. Krita started life as a general image editor, but the developers decided to focus on digital drawing and painting with animation options instead.
But it still has quite strong image editing options. @OldMacs4Me The healing brush in Krita is good (if a tad slow).
All of them are, as are Acorn8, Pixelmator, Elements, Photoshop, ...
Affinity Photo is much more focused on general image editing, and the performance of Affinity Photo in this regard is much better. In particular when working with larger files.
I found Affinity Photo to be kinda like a double-edged sword that cuts on both sides. It has a good feature set, with some features better than Photoshop. And other parts I find utterly intolerable and frustrating to work with.
No software is perfect, though, and I approach these tools from a very experienced level. So small papercuts that don't matter to most average users can absolutely kill my workflow.
But again, ANY of these image editors would work well for your needs. That is why you ought to try them all out (they all have trials) and get a feel for them. Everyone is different: I know people who took to Affinity Photo fast, and love it. I also know people who decided to switch from Photoshop to Affinity Photo, then tried PhotoLine, and switched to PhotoLine for their main image editing app (not that many of those, though lol).
PhotoLine is probably not a good fit for you due to the lack of docs and tutorials. Great forum, with direct support from the devs. And needs some customization in the preferences before it handles well. (Personal note: it is incredibly versatile and powerful, though! And I love the core workflow and freedom it offers compares to other image editors, including Photoshop! It also plays incredibly well with other apps via its live app link option.)
Elements is not a good fit for you due to licensing issues.
Acorn8 might be a good fit for you, but again - like PhotoLine - not that popular, and while there are more tutorials online, its community is just much smaller than the likes of Affinity, of course.
Pixelmator new version: Haven't played with that one. Seems more than good enough for your @Ambrosia7177 's purposes. It's Apple owned now. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing, though. Reasonably popular, and tutorials can be easily found - at least for the older version.
Krita is free, so can't hurt to have it in your toolset. And good general image editing tools. Nice forum. But most tutorials tend to focus on the artistic side, less on general purpose image editing; that is true.
Affinity Photo would be a great fit for you. Tons of tutorials, room to grow. Great forum for quick support. Perpetual license. But the future might bring some changes to its licensing. But that is up in the air for now.
And yes: Preview can deal with some of your requirements as well.
So, we're back to square one! ;-)
@Ambrosia7177 Nothing is set in stone. Change is part of life. Your choice of image editing sofware should be led by what you need NOW and in the near future, rather than worrying over things that might or might not come true in 2, 3, or 10 years down the line.
Anything you learn in any of these image editors is transferrable knowledge and will assist in making the transition to another image editor, if that turns out to be the case in a few years.
As I wrote before in an earlier post: only you can decide, and the best way is to download a few, try them with a small project, and than you'll quickly figure out which one matches your expectations and approach.
I wouldn't be led by anxiety about what-ifs and what-could-bes. Focus on the present and the upcoming months to just get started with any of these options.
All choices @OldMacs4Me listed two posts earlier are viable options. PS Elements perhaps not, since its licensing isn't that great.
Krita has a nice artist-friendly GUI, and also offers most of the general editing features that most other image editors have on offer. Krita started life as a general image editor, but the developers decided to focus on digital drawing and painting with animation options instead.
But it still has quite strong image editing options. @OldMacs4Me The healing brush in Krita is good (if a tad slow).
All of them are, as are Acorn8, Pixelmator, Elements, Photoshop, ...
Affinity Photo is much more focused on general image editing, and the performance of Affinity Photo in this regard is much better. In particular when working with larger files.
I found Affinity Photo to be kinda like a double-edged sword that cuts on both sides. It has a good feature set, with some features better than Photoshop. And other parts I find utterly intolerable and frustrating to work with.
No software is perfect, though, and I approach these tools from a very experienced level. So small papercuts that don't matter to most average users can absolutely kill my workflow.
But again, ANY of these image editors would work well for your needs. That is why you ought to try them all out (they all have trials) and get a feel for them. Everyone is different: I know people who took to Affinity Photo fast, and love it. I also know people who decided to switch from Photoshop to Affinity Photo, then tried PhotoLine, and switched to PhotoLine for their main image editing app (not that many of those, though lol).
PhotoLine is probably not a good fit for you due to the lack of docs and tutorials. Great forum, with direct support from the devs. And needs some customization in the preferences before it handles well. (Personal note: it is incredibly versatile and powerful, though! And I love the core workflow and freedom it offers compares to other image editors, including Photoshop! It also plays incredibly well with other apps via its live app link option.)
Elements is not a good fit for you due to licensing issues.
Acorn8 might be a good fit for you, but again - like PhotoLine - not that popular, and while there are more tutorials online, its community is just much smaller than the likes of Affinity, of course.
Pixelmator new version: Haven't played with that one. Seems more than good enough for your @Ambrosia7177 's purposes. It's Apple owned now. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing, though. Reasonably popular, and tutorials can be easily found - at least for the older version.
Krita is free, so can't hurt to have it in your toolset. And good general image editing tools. Nice forum. But most tutorials tend to focus on the artistic side, less on general purpose image editing; that is true.
Affinity Photo would be a great fit for you. Tons of tutorials, room to grow. Great forum for quick support. Perpetual license. But the future might bring some changes to its licensing. But that is up in the air for now.
And yes: Preview can deal with some of your requirements as well.
So, we're back to square one! ;-)
@Ambrosia7177 Nothing is set in stone. Change is part of life. Your choice of image editing sofware should be led by what you need NOW and in the near future, rather than worrying over things that might or might not come true in 2, 3, or 10 years down the line.
Anything you learn in any of these image editors is transferrable knowledge and will assist in making the transition to another image editor, if that turns out to be the case in a few years.
As I wrote before in an earlier post: only you can decide, and the best way is to download a few, try them with a small project, and than you'll quickly figure out which one matches your expectations and approach.
I wouldn't be led by anxiety about what-ifs and what-could-bes. Focus on the present and the upcoming months to just get started with any of these options.
Yes, it seems like everything I endeavor in I do that!
In the end, it usually pays off, because I tend to make better decisions.
But during the "exploratory phase" it can be PAINFUL!!
So with Krita, I could do both photo-editing AND graphic design?
If so, can you work with vectors and SVG in Krita?
Yeah, you are likely light-years ahead of me!
First I'll see if I can find "Affinity Photo vs Krita" comparison videos on YouTube.
But if I can get a free trial of Affinity Photo, I guess I could install it and Krita.
Thank you for mentioning it in my original thread, and I will keep it in mind for down the road, but for right now it would overwhelm me.
Yeah, I will never go back to anything Adobe.
Yeah, when I have time I will install it and play around.
That is the way I am leaning...
YouTube video tutorials and how-to videos are really what makes or breaks anything I choose. (And online forum help.)
Running around in circles - it is what I do best! ;-)
I agree, but. large reason for coming here was to get a sense of how soon things might change.
After listening to others, and just thinking about things, I feel like Affinity Photo should be a safe bet for 3 years. (It would be business suicide for Canva to flip to a business-model that is chasing people away from Adobe and to Canva?!)
I am sure with time, all proprietary software will be 1.) Subscription-based, 2.) Cloud-based, and 3.) AI-based.
But I agree that my focus is to find a solution that will help me solve problems in the next 30-60 days.
That is good to know, as it wasn't clear to me if that was the case.
True.
True, it was more a fear of losing a lot of TIME...
Right now I feel so overwhelmed trying to do everything it is enough to give me a stroke!
I don't want photo-editing and photo-editing software to become another burden!!
Probably the best next step is to just watch some tutorials on Affinity Photo and Krita and get a sense which one would work better for me - or if they seem equal - and then per your advice to install them and try them out and then go from there.
Thank you for your sage advice!! (And thanks for everyone's comments so far!)
P.S. I also need help creating YouTube thumbnails - both from a design standpoint, and from a software stand-point. Is there somewhere on MacRumors where I can ask questions about that? (It feels like my questions could work in this forum, but I'm not sure which forum is fair game?)
Yes, absolutely... especially when we're talking about pretty basic and conventional photo editing concepts as we are.
Really, take people's advice that you're overthinking this. The kind of things you need are *nothing* in the world of image editing. You are doing exactly what you said you fear. You're losing time.
The chances that the program you pick being the deciding factor of whether you become an image editing ninja or not are exceedingly slim. What you're doing is like not being able to choose between chocolate or vanilla ice cream for intellectual reasons. Just pick one and see if you like it.
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Guilty as charged.
Good to know.
Disagree on this one. Better to waste a little time up front researching, than to go the wrong way and lose even more time.
For example, while researching another tool for thumbnails, I discovered it is made by ByteDance so I not only saved time, but also just saved my soul!! =)
But that wasn't my goal or concern. What I want to avoid is investing time learning something that will either go away in a few years, or which isn't very good - like GIMP in my experience.
Duly noted! *LOL*
You are correct. I still could use some of the older DXO and NIK software bundles if I wanted. The latest DXO Photo Lab 8, works quite well with Sequoia, but so do older versions. Newer version add some improvements and AI effects one can adjust, but the basic ones remain the same.
Now, I am not liking the latest interface of OneOne's PhotoRaw, because it takes some time to find my photos. For example, when I browse the folders with the photos in my Mac's desktop using DXO Photo Lab, all I have to do is choose "Desktop" in the DXO library, and then open the proper folder. With OneOne's PhotoRaw, the work window lists "Desktop" and so on, but does not show the folders with my photos in my desktop. This has happened with the latest version of PhotoRaw, so I am not using it very much. Photo Lab and NIK have now become my favorite.
I just don't know if DXO Photo Lab 8 (or so) would feel the OP's needs. The following app, Graphic Converter, has been called "The Poor Man's Photoshop" years before Adobe stopped selling standalone PS versions:
Key features
www.lemkesoft.de
Back in the day I used Graphic Converter to open numerous files that would not open straight with Apple's OS in the Mac.
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Yeah, good results can be had with a lot of the software out there! As someone noted, I should be chastised, open source software can also offer good support and can take on new features. As always, as the person rightfully noted, "It depends." Everyone has different things that matter to them and for you (it seems), it's quality plus not having to license software via subscription. Remember you're always licensing software (not "owning"), regardless of cost or price model. There is so much software out there, though, that you can choose your payment model with no problem.
Affinity is great right now and might meet your goals. They're not—yet—going down a subscription path. It has a great quality output. Quality+Not subscription+lots of videos and documentation to learn. All good. Things can change. Be flexible, obviously.
Are you opposed to Adobe (I think Elements will do what you need, rather than full Photoshop) because of the subscription model? Or is it because you don't like the program itself?
Because if this is for your business, remember that software (subscription or standalone) is simply part of the CODB. The way I think of it is, I'm not paying for my Adobe subscription... my clients are. If you like Adobe just get it. Your most precious commodity is time, and that includes the time spent on learning new software. Elements is simpler and it will do everything you said you wanted. Plus it is currently $100 for three years. Full Photoshop is much more complex (and expensive!) and basically made more for artists. It's overkill for the things you said you were going to do.
And remember, as other posters mentioned, export your files as plain JPGS or TIFFS and not as any proprietary file formats. That's planning for the future of your business. Good luck and let us know what you decide!
Because if this is for your business, remember that software (subscription or standalone) is simply part of the CODB. The way I think of it is, I'm not paying for my Adobe subscription... my clients are. If you like Adobe just get it. Your most precious commodity is time, and that includes the time spent on learning new software. Elements is simpler and it will do everything you said you wanted. Plus it is currently $100 for three years. Full Photoshop is much more complex (and expensive!) and basically made more for artists. It's overkill for the things you said you were going to do.
And remember, as other posters mentioned, export your files as plain JPGS or TIFFS and not as any proprietary file formats. That's planning for the future of your business. Good luck and let us know what you decide!
p.s.:
(a) exporting to JPGs as a way to archive your work is not a good idea, because JPG is a lossy format and doesn't support transparency. At the very least export to a file format that is non-lossy and maintains any transparency/alpha information, and
(b) always save & archive your native source files in case you'd want to reuse or update existing files. Clients may need their old files updated, or you yourself can open older files for a quick-start in a new project.
In essence, build a library of reusable assets to work faster and more efficiently. That is impossible if native source file formats are avoided!!! Foregoing proprietary source file formats throws the proverbial baby out the window with the bathwater.
It's the OPPOSITE of planning for the future by doing so.
For example, the OP @Ambrosia7177 wants to create thumbnails and title screens for their videos. A source template file with the typography and type effects, and any non-destructive filter effects and adjustments already in place means merely having to import the video snapshot into the background, and presto: instant video cover screen. Change the text, it's all non-destructive.
Avoiding proprietary file formats makes no sense whatsoever in one's workflow.
Sorry to say: this is such bad advice. While it is prudent to export one's files to flattened versions and a simplified layered PSD that can be read in most image editing software:
(a) exporting to JPGs as a way to archive your work is not a good idea, because JPG is a lossy format and doesn't support transparency. At the very least export to a file format that is non-lossy and maintains any transparency/alpha information, and
(b) always save & archive your native source files in case you'd want to reuse or update existing files. Clients may need their old files updated, or you yourself can open older files for a quick-start in a new project.
In essence, build a library of reusable assets to work faster and more efficiently. That is impossible if native source file formats are avoided!!! Foregoing proprietary source file formats throws the proverbial baby out the window with the bathwater.
It's the OPPOSITE of planning for the future by doing so.
For example, the OP @Ambrosia7177 wants to create thumbnails and title screens for their videos. A source template file with the typography and type effects, and any non-destructive filter effects and adjustments already in place means merely having to import the video snapshot into the background, and presto: instant video cover screen. Change the text, it's all non-destructive.
Avoiding proprietary file formats makes no sense whatsoever in one's workflow.
The one thing that strikes me is that your motivation is all centred around thumbnails for YouTube videos, so isn't a bigger priority selecting the best video software? I use Filmora and FCP, and I never need photo editing software for thumbnails; I can select the screenshot thumbnail within the video editing software and then edit the thumbnail as if it were a little video... AI can easily add and remove elements from your thumbnail: backgrounds, titles, etc. Software like vidIQ can also generate relevant thumbnails automatically, which you can edit as you wish. Sometimes I make a thumbnail by combining my selected video screenshot with a vidiq thumbnail, but I always do it in the video editing software because that's where my workflow is; it's already part of the process. I've been uploading videos for over a year and honestly can't think of a single time I used photo editing software for the thumbnails. Food for thought!
You shouldn't assume. I didn't say that OP should use those JPG or TIFF images as their archive. It's not what I do and it's not what I said.
I said export so OP could easily use finished images in their thumbnails and other use cases that they mentioned, even though they might be shooting in other formats, and creating layered images with type, etc.
I want to buy software that I own. (Let's not get into the - "You never own software debate.")
I am not going to buy ONE piece of software, and then pay for it MULTIPLE times (i.e. recurring subscription) when all I get in return is the same ONE piece of software!
I want the software to reside locally on my computer.
I want the software to function standalone, and not have to "phone home" to run.
I do not want to have to store my files on "the Cloud".
I do not want to be tricked into accidentally storing my files on "the Cloud".
I don't want my proprietary, copyrighted material being used to train some company's AI so it can profit off my IP.
I don't want to get locked out of my work because I choose to stop doing business with a company.
I don't want to do business with a company that exists purely to make profits - admittedly an impossible task in 2025.
I don't want a bunch of bloatware installing and nesting itself so deep in my OS that I can never truly get it off my computer short of wiping my drive and starting over.
And so on and so forth....
True, but why waste $$$ paying for a subscription that adds no real new value each year - and then pass along that wasting of $$$ to my end clients?
(Some people say the U.S. gov't does that... And God knows every bank and large corporation I have ever dealt with does that. "Let's get the most expensive room on our business trip, and buy the most expensive food - I mean it's not like WE are paying for it!!!")
Just sayin...
I used to like Adobe, but I think their culture and priorities chanegd for the worse about 10-15 years ago.
1000% correct.
Do you have experience with Affinity Photo?
You lost me on this one...
Thanks for the honest advice!!
Is there a lossless format(s) that are good to use for archiving?
Is there a file format that preserves most, if not all, of one's work, but would open/work in other photo-editors?
While proprietary, file formats like .XLS and .DOC are widely supported among office productivity tools.
Likewise, .WAV and FLAC are pretty universal.
Yes, .TIFF
Again, if size, is not an issue for you then .TIFF is the answer.
But in all fairness, .JPG compression is really good — especially at smaller sizes for screens.
I use DaVinci Resolve.
You may be able to create thumbnails in Davinci Resolve, but I suspect if you want to make them ready for primetime on YouTube, you need more specialize software.
**Question for Mods:
I actually have a lot of questions on this very topic. Where would be the best place to ask for help? I don't want to go too deep into the topic here as it will mushroom this thread. And since I likely would be using Affinity Photo, can I ask for help in the Photography forum under a new thread?
While addictive, I want to avoid going down the AI rabbit-hole.
Thanks for the thoughts!
It should be noted, though, that my need for photo-editing software goes beyond YouTube thumbnails...
My primary use will be to edit (and optimize) photos that I take with my iPhones (and future mirrorless camera) for my mobile website.
But creating professional-looking YouTube thumbnails is a close #2.
And the more I can do with the software the better.
I'm not a Mod, far from it! 🤣
However I would say if a new thread would deal with something substantially different to what this current thread is about, then why not start a new one?
If it helps...
Think of me as an independent-journalist aspiring to do AP, Reuters, AFP, BBC, Al Jazeera, NYT quality work.
(For those who haven't noticed, the "meltdown" has already started, and I need tools and knowledge to be able to cover things as they unfold, and create award-winning content, that anyone can consume and understand...)
=)
Think of me as an independent-journalist aspiring to do AP, Reuters, AFP, BBC, Al Jazeera, NYT quality work.
(For those who haven't noticed, the "meltdown" has already started, and I need tools and knowledge to be able to cover things as they unfold, and create award-winning content, that anyone can consume and understand...)
=)
I think you may have some misapprehensions about what Adobe (and perhaps other software) does, and I have seen plenty of things written in plenty of places that don't comport with my experience, but you should use the software and workflow that is a good fit for you. That goes without saying (but there, I said it! 🤣 )
I will note that something to keep in mind is unintended consequences. When they release new models, camera companies create new RAW and other formats -> software companies update only their newest versions to work with new file formats -> those new versions only work with the latest OSes -> those new OSes only work with relatively recent hardware. It's a nasty and anti-consumer cycle that I have seen for years. But if you are ever going to buy new gear or update an OS or buy new hardware, you may find yourself stuck somewhere in that cycle. Unintended consequences.
So whatever workflow you use (starting with capture and going through post), if you want to license a piece of software just once and leave it at that, try to plan for it to stand the test of time, especially as you are starting a business that hopefully will last and last.
In my case, buying new gear is a natural occurrence, and since camera companies do update their RAW formats when they release new models, I expect my post-processing software to keep up with whatever files my gear is producing, into the future. It used to be the case that you could skip a version of Photoshop or Lightroom and it would still work with files that are newer than the software, for a while, but eventually buying new gear would mean I would have a RAW file that my post-processing software couldn't open. So I'd have to buy new software, costing hundreds of $$$ at a time.
One way or the other, I'd be stuck with spending lots of money to make sure my software worked with the files my cameras produced.
So updating your post-processing software is inevitable, unless you don't use proprietary file formats from the moment you are capturing an image. I do not recommend that (I shoot RAW) but it is one way to entirely freeze your workflow in amber so that you will never have to license software again, for as long as that version of your post-processing software is compatible with your OS version and hardware.
So the unintended consequences of buying new gear, updating your OS, buying new hardware are something to bear in mind.
As for your question about Affinity, I don't use it. I looked into it a few years ago and it had some features that I didn't like, and it didn't fit with my workflow. If it's a good fit for you, however, that's all that matters. It seems to have a decent user community with YT tutorials and advice available. Once again, good luck with whatever you do.
I commend your ambition.
The world certainly needs quality journalism…
I would however point out that these outfits have teams of people behind every production. So just accept — at first — that things may go slower and you will gradually build up a head of steam.
Good luck! 👍
Are you saying that in the context of why Adobe (supposedly) switched to a subscription model?
If so, while I can appreciate that trying to keep up with camera manufacturers can be a brutal thing, in the end, my belief is that control (and ownership) of software should remain with the consumer.
Nikon updates their camera, and Adobe has to re-write things, and that costs them $$$, so they release a new version and ask for more $$$? Fine. But don't force me to upgrade - which is what subscriptions do.
Similar to my hardware, I buy software and run it into the ground before I re-purchase things.
The control should be mine.
If that is not what you meant, then never mind! ;-)
I have no problems buying upgrades, but WHEN I upgrade should be my decision.
Good advice, but I think you are giving me too much credit. ;-)
I'm not a wedding photography - I am doing photo-journalism.
The only reason that I am considering getting a mirrorless camera - when I have the $$$ - is that there clearly are advantages to using REAL lenses versus anything that an iPhone can offer. (Having a good "normal" - or possible zoom - lenses would help make my talking head videos look more natural.)
But out in the field, an iPhone is hard to beat.
This past summer, I pondered doing the whole RAW thing - with my iPhone 15 Pro Max - but all of the feedback that I got was that it is OVERKILL for most videographers.
And considering that I am scrapping my desktop website, and coding a new mobile-first site - because over 60% of people watch YouTube videos on a mobile - there are limitations to how "good" my photos and videos need to be.
All of that being said, I think that gives me more flexibility, and means that I am less likely to be a "slave" to camera manufacturers - and by proxy, software companies that make photo-editing software.
I'm sure that is true for many professional photographers.
Right, every 3 years I am okay with. Every year because I am tethered to a perpetual subscription? No way!
Are JPEG and TIFF proprietary? (I assume that I what I would use.)
Good advice.
I am a newbie, and it sounds like you are in a whole other category.
Relatively speaking, my needs are fairly simple. (GIMP still isn't worth it, though.)
I hope to grow in my knowledge and skills, so I want something that will help me grow with it, and something that will allow me to get into design a little as well - e.g. Affinity Designer.
Thanks, I appreciate your thoughts and support!!
By the way... If I make any $$$ from this startup, it will be because of killer content and not the computer, camera, or photo-editing software that I own.
Good gear and tools help, but at the end of the day it has always been about the message.
Thanks!!
I agree, and am trying to do my own part to help.
(I am part of the "U.S. Resistance" and planning on using my pen/keyboard/camera - instead of violence - to make positive change this time around...).
Yeah, learning Affinity Photo is the least of my worries. Trying to keep up with the news-cycle is brutal!!
All I can do is try. Let's hope that I can make a small impact - and make a couple of bucks as well!
Thanks!!!!!!!
P.S. A wise person once said, "If you are not angry, then you are not paying attention." (That is so me!!!)