What to look for…

Everyone’s editing needs are different. Here are some things to think about

Cataloguing tools

Some folk can get by with a simple folder system to keep their photos organized, but most of us need something a little more powerful. By the time your photo collection hits the tens of thousands, you’ll really benefit from a tool that can bring them all together into a single searchable database. With cataloguing tools you can also create albums/ collections to bring images together without having to move them from one folder to another. With cataloguing software you can also use keywords to find images quickly and even filter photos by the camera used, the date they were taken and more.

One-click presets

Photo-editors like Photoshop are designed for people who already know what they want to do and don’t mind spending a little time doing it. Programs like Lightroom take the opposite approach, offering image styles that you can simply click on to apply. If you’re the sort of photographer that likes to see ideas and inspiration for how your images could look, then programs with big libraries of presets are perfect – and since most are non-destructive photo editors, it takes moments to apply them to many images, and you can apply a different preset or edit the settings across multiple images at any time in the future.

Non-destructive workflow

All-in-one cataloguing and editing programs like Lightroom, Capture One and others bring another advantage – they offer ‘nondestructive’ editing tools. This means that all your adjustments are ‘virtual’ and the original image stays unaltered. You can come back at any time in the future, look at your changes and improve them or change them for a different effect. They can also edit Raw files seamlessly alongside JPEGS, without having to go through a separate processing stage, and many editors also offer ‘virtual copies’, so you can try out variations on a single image without having to make copies on your computer.

One-off vs subscription

This is a sore point for many who disagree on principle with the idea of ‘renting’ software. But it’s important to take a long, hard look at how ‘perpetual’ licenses work, too, because they’re not exactly a bed of roses. It’s true that you can use a perpetual license forever after paying for it, but the software won’t be useful forever. Far from it – next year another version will come along, for which you’ll need to pay an upgrade fee, so the cost of ownership over time may be closer to subscription charges than you imagine. With subscription software, you get regular updates and no fees for major version upgrades; everything is included.

Image layers

If you want to blend multiple shots into composites, or add type or illustration layers, you still need a regular ‘destructive’ photo editor. Only pixel-based photo editors can do this kind of detailed masking and editing work. Having said that, some all-in-one programs also offer support for layered images, but they do this by creating new files and swapping to a different mode. Essentially, you’re getting a Photoshop-style pixel-based editor included, but you’re no longer working non-destructively with your original. Programs like Lightroom and Capture One don’t do layers – but can work with programs that do.

Raw processing

Many shoot Raws as a matter of routine in order to get the best possible image quality – but the Raw processing software you use is a major factor in the results you’re going to get. Some programs are much better at Raw processing than others! The big three are DXO Photolab, Capture One and Adobe Lightroom/camera Raw. Adobe’s software is the best known and most used, but does not match the detail rendition and noise control of the other two. Many of the other programs here can process Raws, but not to the same standard – though you still get the benefits of Raw, notably extra dynamic range and colour information.