Photo Editing Software
Choosing the best photo editing software ultimately depends on the purpose for using the software, but it takes some time to find the right product. For starters, there are three different types of photo editing software and over 120 different products to choose from. There also more than 200 different photo editing features to sort through. The choice might be simple for some, but others might want to take a deeper look and compare where some products excel and others fall short.
Buying Guide
1. Reviews
2. Features
3. Consumer
Profiles
Profiles
4. Types
Chapter 2: Features
What Photo Editing Software Features Matter and Why?
Advanced Editing
Advanced Editing includes the photo editing tools that are are required by most professionals and appreciated by the average consumer photo editor. Advanced Editing includes features like layers, masks, photo text entry, and selection options and tools. Advanced Editing is an important category because it holds high value for both consumer-level photo editors and professionals. Consumer photo editors will appreciate the ability to take their photos above and beyond, while professionals will rely on these tools on a daily basis.
16 bit Image Editing
You can edit 16 bit Images.
Add Grain/Noise
You can add graphical identification metadata to your images.
Advanced Color Image Operations
You can perform color image operations such as color correction, color zones, color transfer, and vibrance.
Audio Editing
You can perform basic audio editing within the software.
Black-and-White Conversion
You can convert a color image into a black and white image using any number of methods.
Blend
You can blend areas of an image together.
Blur
You can soften the detail of an image.
Collage
You can create a collage of images.
Color Adjustment Tools
You can use a tool to replace missing color or match existing colors.
Color Management
You can maintain color quality as an image moves from device to device.
Color to Grayscale
You can convert a color image into a black and white image using this specific method.
Control Points
You can use control points, a series of small squares placed on the edges and corners of a rectangular selection, to modify a selection by dragging the small squares as needed.
Distortion Control/Correction
You can reduce pincushion and barrel distortion effects.
Effects
You can add general effects to an image.
Exposure Adjustment
You can adjust the exposure of an image.
Filters
You can use any of the standard filter types to alter images.
Generate Mosaic Images
You can create a single large image made from a number of other smaller images.
Gradients
You can create smooth transitions between adjacent colors.
Image Correction
You can brighten shadows, fix unwanted flash and repair backlight effects.
Image Zoom
You can enlarge or shrink the view of the image, in part or in total, as needed.
Layers
You can make changes to images on individual sheets that can be stacked to form the combined image. Each layer can be adjusted without changing the other layers.
Masks
You can protect certain areas of an image from being modified.
Nondestructive Editing Environment
You can make changes to image without altering the original version.
Photo Text Entry
You can type right on the image you are working on and see the text in real-time.
Post-processing Effects
You can create effects after processing to include framing and vignetting.
Reshaping, Manipulating, and Resizing
You can enhance, enlarge or reduce images, cut images to predefined or custom formats, and measure and mark image content.
Retouch Brush
You can remove blemishes, dust and other unusual elements from images while maintaining its integrity.
Saturation/Warmth
You can control the strength and warmness of a color
Selection Options
You can, once you have made a selection, set aspect ratios, adjust selection sizes, move selections, turn the selection into a mask and/or add feathering to the edges.
Selection Tools
You can used different tools to select an area of the image to work on, including the circle, square, wand, and/or lasso.
Sepia Enhancement
You can add a sepia (brown-gray) tone to an image.
Shadow and Highlight Adjustment
You can control the levels of shadow and highlights in your image.
Sharpen
You can enhance the detailed edges within an image.
Support for Custom Palettes
This software supports custom color palettes.
Templates
You can create project or metadata templates.
Text Effects
You can add effect to text, such as drop shadows, 3D, perspective, curved text, and path text.
Transformations
You can trim, skew, scale, flip, mirror, rotate, and/or add perspective to an image.
Watermarks
You can create savable, personalized, and usually semi-transparent watermarks for your images.
Professional Editing
Professional Editing is a category that is made up of only the most advanced photo editing tools that are primarily used by professional photo editors. Some of these highly advanced tools include adding 3D effects, animation, lense correction, noise reduction, and even content-aware tools, which automatically adjust to the content you are working with. Of course, Professional Editing is a very important category for people who edit photos for a living; however, consumers should place a much lower value on this category.
32 bit Image Editing
You can edit 32 bit Images.
3D
You can add 3D effect to your images.
Animation
You can create basic animations from your images.
Base-level Image Operations
You can perform adjustments to the image, such as demosiac, highlight reconstruction, exposure controls and base curve.
Basic Video Editing
You can perform basic video editing functions, such as creating a still image, picture control, trim, and save.
Blur Adjustment Tools
You can use tools to perform actions, such as Gaussian Blur and Unsharp Masking, in order to adjust the detail of the image.
Chromatic Aberration Tools
You can automatically detect and correct chromatic aberrations, color on the boundaries between dark and light areas.
Compositing
You can splice together separate images or parts of images, in order to form one combined image. Panoramas are a specific type of compositing.
Content-Aware Tools
You can use tools that automatically adjust the content that you are working with.
Gamma Correction
You can adjust the middle tones of the image.
High Dynamic Range (HDR)
You can combine multiple photos at different exposure levels into a single photo.
Histogram Correction
You can use the information from the software's histogram to help color correct your image.
Image Post-processing
You can adjust your image after processing through split toning, high pass filters, low pass filters, lowlight vision and/or bloom.
Image Scaling Methods
You can resize your digital image with scaling methods, such as nearest neighbor, bicubic smooth, bicubic sharpen and lanczos in order to address the inherent trade off between efficiency, smoothness and sharpness.
Image Slicing
You can cut up your image in any number of ways.
Layer Management
You can copy, link, edit masks, and/or group layers.
Lens Correction
You can adjust your image for lens defects.
Noise Reduction
You can remove noise and grain from an image.
Panoramas
You can create panoramic (wider) images from a series of individual images attached side-by-side.
Perspective Control
You can correct a certain type of distortion where an object that you know to be a straight line appears curved in an image, by automatically adjusting the curve back into a straight line.
Professional Color Image Operations
You can perform color image operations such as channel mixing and color profile management.
Special Effects Filters
You can add special effects to the image through the use of vignette filters, metallic filters, distortion filters, Orton filters and/or custom filters.
Spot Removal
You can correct a zone in your image by using another zone as model.
Tone Image Operations
You can modify the tone of an image through tools such as tone curves, levels, fill lights, zone systems, and tone mappings.
Trim to Shape
You can trim, or punch out, the area of the image that you want to work on with a specific shape or edge.
Publishing
Publishing is the various methods of output that the photo editing software is capable of. With many of the photo editing products, it's possible to create books, CDs or DVDs; print images; and generate web galleries. Publishing is very important to the consumer photo editing products because they are likely the features that many consumers value the most. Professional editors will place less importance on Publishing, but it's still important for the pros to publish their work in different formats.
Books
You can create a photo book with the software.
CD/DVD
You can save your images to a CD or DVD.
Cloud-based Storage
You can publish (upload) your finished images to a cloud-based service for storage or sharing.
Preview
Your can preview your images before publishing them in some form.
Printing
You can print your images.
Screensaver
You can create your own screensaver.
Send via email
You can create appropriate images and send them via your email.
Slideshows
You can create slideshows.
Web Galleries
You can create HTML or Flash Player Compatible galleries with your images for upload onto the internet.
Standard Editing
Standard Editing is comprised of mostly basic editing tools that someone would expect to see in all professional software and most, if not all, consumer photo editing software. Adjusting brightness, color balance and depth, cropping, and basic drawing tools are all included in Standard Editing. This category is important for anyone looking to purchase photo editing software because any product must have the ability to make these types of edits to be considered useful.
8 bit Image Editing
You can edit 8 bit Images.
Brightness
You can lighten or darken an image.
Color Balance
You can adjust the colors of your image so that the more neutral colors are correct.
Color Depth
You can adjust the color range possible in an image.
Contrast
You can adjust the level of difference between the bright elements and dark elements of your images.
Crop
You can trim an image to a specific size or focus on area of the image.
Drawing Tools
You can draw or paint colors onto your image using a brush, pencil or other tools.
Flip
You can invert the image either horizontally or vertically.
Picture Frame
You can add a simple picture frame or border to an image.
Red Eye Removal
You can automatically replace the red pixels with black piixels in photographs where this has occurred.
Resize
You can make your image smaller or larger.
Rotate
You can spin your image.
Shapes
You can add basic shapes to an image, such as a circle, a square, or rectangle.
Undo
You can go back in your process one step at a time.
White Balance
You can adjust to correct for the effects of different light on the colors in the image.
Digital Painting
Digital Painting covers a variety of tools that allow a photo editor to use different painting techniques on a photo. Some of the most used Digital Painting features are paintbrushes and pencils. To make things easier, many photo editing products also include custom brush options and a color mixer that allows the artist to save colors for later use. Digital Painting is highly important for professional photo editors who put a high value on post-production. For those who wish to keep their photos in more of a raw format, Digital Painting holds a much lower importance rating.
Color Mixer
You can mix and save colors for later use.
Custom Brush Options
You can change your brush options, including size, shape and type.
Drawing Modes
You can enter into different drawing modes within the software.
Floodfill Options
You can fill in an enclosed area with your choice of color.
Layer Blending Modes
You can control how different layers blend with one another.
Mix Brush
You can have multiple colors on one brush.
Paint Brush
You can paint color in several ways, such as airbrush, watercolor, and oil brush.
Papers
You have a choice of paper options on which to draw.
Pen Tablet Connection
You can use pen tablets to control specific drawing actions within the software, including pressure, direction, orientation, and more.
Pencil
You can use a pencil tip for more detailed painting.
Shapes
You can create different shapes, such as dots, lines, ellipses, rectangles, circles, and Bezier splines.
Tools
You can use multiple tools such as stencil, crop, panorama, and distortion.
Learning Materials
Learning Materials focuses on the assistance given by a product or company to help the user learn the software. Some of the ways to measure Learning Materials are to look at the user guides, help articles, and video tutorials offered by the company. Learning Materials is an especially important category for consumer-level photo editors because they are generally going to have to spend a good chunk of time learning the software. Advanced photo editors or professionals would also consider Learning Materials an important category, but it's likely that they have already invested the time in a previous version of the product and already know how to use most features.
Help Articles
A set of detailed articles are available to help learn and understand the software.
User Guide
A user guide is available to help learn and understand the software.
Video Tutorials
Video tutorials are available to help learn and understand the software.
Webinar
Webinars are available to help learn and understand the software.
Interface
Interface is made up of the layout and options provided by the photo editing software. Some of the key features in the Interface category include being able to customize workspaces and view images in multiples ways. While Interface may not necessarily measure a product's capabilities in terms of editing, it can greatly enhance or destroy the usability and functionality of a product. For that reason, Interface is very important because convenience is valued by anyone using a photo editing software.
Change Default Templates
The set of templates at startup can be changed.
Configurability
You can modify and/or expand the overall interface to fit your needs.
Create New Transparent Image
You can create a new image with a transparent background.
Customizable Workspaces
You can modify individual workspaces within the interface.
Dockable Panels
You can dock and undock individual panels from the main interface.
Dual Monitor Support
You can work on this software on multiple monitors.
Editable menu shortcuts
You can edit menu shortcuts.
Filter Preview
You can preview filter changes in real-time, before applying the filter to the image.
Panels
The software consists of paneled units, such as a color picker, tools, or gradient panel.
Screen Capture
You can capture (save) an image from your screen.
Scriptable File Management
Provides a method to script the program.
Support for Pen Tablets
You can use pen tablets to control general actions within the software.
Tethered Capture
You can save live images on your camera directly to your computer.
Viewing Options
You can view images in multiple ways.
Virtual Memory Management
The software manages the virtual memory of the computer so as to not over-stress the entire system by taking up too much of the resources.
Standard Photo Management
Standard Photo Management is made up of the basic photo management features that help a photo editor track and organize photos. Some of the important features of Standard Photo Management are viewing images, creating metadata tags, rating images, and searching for images. These more basic photo management features are somewhat important to professionals and consumers alike; however, these are certainly not the features that either group would specifically purchase a product for. Standard Photo Management becomes more important if someone is looking for a photo editing software that specializes in photo management.
Audio/Video Playback
You can play video and audio files with the software.
Create Albums
You can create albums in which to sort your images.
EXIF Overview Data
You can use the image metadata, such as the date, GPS information, resolution and other camera information that is included with the image file.
Favorites Folder
The software has an easily accessible, designated folder where you can include select images.
Image Labels
You can label images.
Image Ratings
You can rate images.
Image Search
You can search for an image with a dedicated tool.
Image Viewer
You can view images inside the program.
Metadata Tags
You can use, read, create, adjust and save metadata (text-based information related to your image) that travels in the image file.
Offline Photo Management
You have access to manage your software when offline.
Thumbnails
You can create thumbnails of your images.
Formats
Formats are the the specific types of files that can be read or written by a photo editing software. Two of the major features that make up the Formats category are Image Read Support and Image Write Support. There are an extremely large number of file formats, and these formats are constantly changing, so having a photo editing software that can support many formats is key. Formats are more important for those who are primarily interested in image management and dealing with photos from a variety of sources. Otherwise, Formats has a relatively low importance rating to consumers and professionals who are importing their own photos because those formats are likely supported by the product.
Archive Read Support
You can use this software to read specific archival file types.
Archive Write Support
You can use this software to write specific archival file types.
Image Read Support
You can use this software to read specific image file types.
Image Write Support
You can use this software to write specific image file types.
Other File Formats
You can use this software to read specific image file types.
Palette Import
You can import Palette file types with this software.
Video and Audio Read Support
You can use this software to read specific video and audio file types.
Video and Audio Write Support
You can use this software to write specific video and audio file types.
File Management
File Management takes into account everything that has to do with saving, transferring, and organizing files. Being able to transfer images from multiple sources and creating templates to name images as they are processed are two of the most important features of File Management. For both consumer and professional photo editing software, File Management holds less importance because most photo editing software comes with sufficient file management capabilities. For those looking for software that focuses more on image management, File Management becomes much more important.
Automatic Image Backup
The software automatically backs up your images, either locally or in the cloud.
Batch Processing
You can process files as a group rather than individually, usually this occurs when loading images in bulk.
Compare to Last Saved
You can compare the current selected image with the last saved version.
File Export Preview
You can preview the image before exporting the file.
Image File Transfer
You can transfer images from multiple sources, such as digital cameras, video cameras, scanners, card readers, flash drives, and/or upload them to the internet.
Renaming Template
You can create a template to organize the naming of the images as they are processed.
Scriptable
You can write scripts to deal with file management.
Support
Support is the different ways that a company interacts with customers who may need some assistance. Some of the more important features in the Support category for photo editing software include online forms and online knowledge bases. These support channels stand out because the majority of the companies are focusing a large amount of their efforts on these support resources. Support is more important to consumer photo editing software because the consumer photo editor is more likely to run into technical issues in comparison to the professional photo editor who will likely be able to troubleshoot technical issues because he or she has been using photo editing software for many years.
The company has an email address.
FAQ Page
The company has a dedicated FAQ page.
Live Chat
The company has live chat available.
Online Forum
The company hosts an online forum.
Online Knowledge Base
The company has a dedicated online knowledge base.
Phone
The company has a phone number to call.
Social Media
The company has active social media accounts to post questions or comments.
Advanced Photo Management
Best in Class:
Advanced Photo Management
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4
Apple Aperture 3
Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 Advanced Photo Management covers the more complex photo managing tools that help with organization and identification. Some of these advanced features include geotagging, image conversion, and adding image captions. This type of photo management is not a major selling point for either consumer or professional products, but those interested in heavy photo management will want to pay attention to this category.
Automatic Collections
The software uses metadata that automatically determines which collections your images may be sorted into.
Batch Editing
You can edit files as a group rather than just individually.
Contact Sheet
You can create a contact sheet of your images.
Create Image Lists
You can create lists of you images.
Event-based Image Management
You can organize your images around events.
Extended GPS support
You can use GPS information beyond simple geotagging.
Facial Recognition Tagging
You can have the software automatically determine the identity of people in your images.
Geotagging
You can add graphical identification metadata to your images.
Image Analysis
You can perform a detailed quantitative analysis of your images.
Image Caption
You can caption your images.
Image Conversion
You can convert images into other file types.
Import and Edit RAW Files
You can import and edit RAW files.
Location-based Organization
You can organize your images around sites or places.
Side-by-Side Image Comparison
You can compare images side-by-side.
Slideshow-to-Video
You can save your slideshows in a video format.
3rd Party Integration
Best in Class:
3rd Party Integration
Adobe Photoshop CS6Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 3rd Party Integration focuses on how well the photo editing software works with applications outside of the product. Some of the applications that fall into 3rd Party Integration are Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and Adobe Flash Player. Integration has a low importance rating for photo editing software because the features are considered add-ons and not a major component of photo editing products.
Adobe Flash Player
The software can integrate with Adobe Flash Player.
The software can integrate with Facebook.
Flickr
The software can integrate with Flickr.
Google Earth
The software can integrate with Google Earth.
Microsoft PowerPoint
The software can integrate with Microsoft PowerPoint.
The software can integrate with Twitter.
Chapter 3: Consumer Profiles
Who Uses Photo Editing Software?
Photo Collector
The photo collector stores a large number of images and doesn't require a high degree of advanced editing features. This person is more interested in photo management and file management above everything else. A photo collector may also appreciate additional cloud storage to manage a large library of photos.
First-Time Photo Editor
A first-time photo editor is a novice who is looking to enter into the world of photo editing and photography. The first-time photo editor likely has a lot to learn and will be interested in software that has a quick learning curve in addition to standard editing feeatures and photo management capabilities.
Recommended Products:
High-Volume Pro
Any professional photographer who takes a large number of photos is considered a high-volume pro. This individual must have the best image processing, image management, and file management capabilities. The high-volume pro also requires advanced photo management features, however, this person will generally spend less time manipulating images and, therefore, not need as many professional editing tools.
Professional Photographer
The professional photographer needs the best software in the industry to maximize the quality and effectiveness of his or her work. The professional places an emphasis on excellent advanced and professional editing functionality above all else. Professionals also appreciate an efficient interface and likely don't care as much about advanced photo management abilities.
Graphic Designer
The graphic designer has to deal with all kinds of images beyond just photographs. A designer is more inclined to manipulating images and will benefit most from a full selection of digital painting options. This person will also desire strong editing functionality, but may not be as concerned with third-party integration or file management.
Recommended Products:
Prosumer
A prosumer, or professional consumer, is also known as an advanced amateur. The prosumer will likely own an SLR camera and pursues photography as a serious hobby. This type of person places a high value on advanced editing and professional editing features. Additionally, the prosumer will want a software with solid publishing options, third-party integration, and strong photo management capabilities.
Snapshooter
A snapshooter is an amateur photographer who generally uses a point-and-shoot camera. Although the snapshooter takes photos more for memories than artistry, this person will exercise creativity when the mood hits. The snapshooter places a high value on a product that has a nice selection of basic and advanced editing functions, quick learning curve, and an easy-to-use interface.
Social Media Maven
The social media maven places the highest importance on third-party integration and sharing photos with others online. This individual often uses social media sites and cloud services to facilitate the sharing process over the internet. Features like special printing functionality and professional editing are not highly valued by the social media maven.
Scrapbooker
A scrapbooker is someone who uses photos or images to create cards, books, or other physical products. Scrapbookers will mostly value publishing in addition to basic editing functions and simple painting tools. This person is looking for simplicity as opposed to an abundance of editing features.
Chapter 4: Product Types
What are the Different Types of Photo Editing Software?
Professional Photo Editing Software
The industry standard in photo editing software is Adobe Photoshop CS6. Any photo editor who is considered a professional will be using Photoshop CS6. It’s not uncommon for professionals to use two products together, like Adobe Photoshop CS6 and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, as both products together will offer every feature that any professional would need. It doesn’t make as much sense for consumers to make the significant investment in a product like Photoshop CS6 because this type of person won’t likely use most of the features. However, for a professional, it is a necessity to own this product and worth the price.
Consumer Photo Editing Software
Consumer photo editing software is geared towards people who don’t edit photos for a living, but engage in photography and photo editing as a very serious hobby. These products won’t have the same capabilities in terms of professional editing tools, but it’s not likely that the average consumer will even notice these are missing. One of the features that stands out in consumer photo editing is publishing. Consumers are often interested in the post-production aspect of taking their photos off the computer and bringing them to life in another form, like a book or a DVD.
Image Management Software
Image management software is a form of photo editing software that focuses primarily on managing, storing, and organizing photos. While the consumer and professional photo editing options put an emphasis on making edits and publishing photos, image management is meant for the photo collector who has large libraries of photos. The most important components of an image management software are standard and advanced photo management, file management, file formats, and publishing photos. Extra editing features, like digital painting, hold little or no weight when considering an image management software.
