Are you looking for the best desktop for photography? The criterions for buying a desktop to edit your photos and videos involve more than just a high display resolution. It requires the ability to multi-task handling several editing applications at the same time without any visible lag time. Finally, it also requires a large display with a high resolution.
We jump right into the top 8 desktops for photographers in 2018, if you want to read more about the minimum specs your new desktop should have, scroll down to the Minimum Specs a Photo Editing Desktop should have (in terms of RAM, CPU, Storage, Graphics Cards).
| Product | Details |
|---|---|
Apple iMac Pro MQ2Y2LL/A
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Apple iMac MNED2LL/A 27-inch
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Dell XPS 7760 27'
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Dell XPS 8930 Tower Desktop
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Dell 3668 Inspiron
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Lenovo ThinkCentre M710 Tower
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Intel NUC8 VR Machine Mini PC
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Microsoft Surface Studio
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1. Apple iMac Pro MQ2Y2LL/A
The new Apple iMac Pro is powered by the Intel Xeon W 8-Core processor. The base clock speed of the processor is 3.2 GHz, while the maximum speed is 4.2 GHz. The processor comes paired with 32 GB of internal DDR4 SD RAM. The memory has a speed of 2666 MHz.
Graphics are powered by an AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56 processor with 8 GB of GDDR5 VRAM integrated.
The display is a large 27″ one with an aspect ratio of 16:9. The native resolution of the IPS display is 5120 x 2880. The 5K Retina Display is more than enough for any and all photography and video editing work.
The 500 nits brightness ensures a bright realistic display of the images/videos while editing. The display supports up to a billion colors.
Internal storage of the computer is a healthy 1 TB which is entirely composed of an SSD PCIe unit. There are no optical drives on the device.
The computer has an array of input and output connectors. This includes 4 thunderbolt ports, 4 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type A ports and 4 Mini Display Port via Type C. Apart from these you have a 3.5mm headphone output as well as integrated speakers and headphones.
- 3.2 GHz Intel Xeon W 8-Core
- 32GB of DDR4 RAM - 1TB SSD
- AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56 (8GB HBM2)
- 27' 5120 x 2880 IPS Retina 5K Display
- UHS-II SDXC Card Reader
- Thunderbolt 3 - USB 3.0
- 802.11ac Wi-Fi - Bluetooth 4.2
- 10Gb Gigabit Ethernet
- Magic Keyboard & Magic Mouse 2 Included
- macOS
2. Apple MNED2LL/A 27-inch iMac
This is a slightly less powerful Apple 27″ iMac from mid-2017. This iMac is powered by a 3.8 GHz Intel Core i5 Quad-Core processor (7th generation Kaby Lake). The processor can fire at a base speed of 3.8 GHz, which when boosted can be overclocked to 4.2 GHz.
It is paired with an 8 GB DDR4 RAM (2400 MHz). Internal memory is powered by a 2 TB of Fusion Drive. The device’s graphics are powered by an AMD Radeon Pro 580 graphics processor unit.
Related Post: Best Computers for Video Editing (Top 7 Picks in 2019)
The 27″ iMac boasts a 5120 x 2880 Retina display. The display’s aspect ratio is 16:9. This is an IPS display which normally gives a much wider viewing angle than traditional TN panels. It has a maximum screen brightness of 500 nits and it supports up to a billion colors. Thanks to the P3-based color gamut it is able to display much better color rendition compared to standard sRGB displays. Same as Adobe RGB, though you get slightly different color space than Adobe RGB.
Connectivity slots on the iMac include UHS-II SDXC card slots, plus two thunderbolts 3 ports. It also has four 5 Gb/s USB 3.0 Type A ports and Ethernet port. It also has 2 DisplayPort via thunderbolt port. Additionally, there are 2 integrated speaker, plus integrated microphones and a headphone (3.5mm) output port. There are no optical drives on the iMac.
For security purposes, a Kensington Lock slot is also provided.
- 3.8 GHz Intel Core i5 Quad-Core
- 8GB of DDR4 RAM - 2TB Fusion Drive
- 27' 5120 x 2880 IPS Retina 5K Display
- AMD Radeon Pro 580 Graphics Card (8GB)
- UHS-II SDXC Card Reader
- Thunderbolt 3 - USB 3.0 Type-A
- 802.11ac Wi-Fi - Bluetooth 4.2
- 1 x Gigabit Ethernet Port
- Magic Keyboard & Magic Mouse 2 Included
- macOS
3. Dell XPS 7760 27″
2019 Update: No Longer Available
The Dell XPS 27 7760 is a multi-touch all-in-one desktop that has a display of 27″. The display resolution of the computer is 4K / UHD (3840 x 2160). Not a big fan of touch displays on the primary photo editing device. They tend to be fingerprint magnets and then you have to clean them up regularly.
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The display on the computer is a stunning 27″ which offers UHD resolution. The display covers 100% of the Adobe RGB color gamut. The computer comes with the Dell PremierColor software that will adapt content to display them correctly within the Adobe RGB color gamut.
The Dell XPS is powered by a 3.4 GHz Intel Core i7-6700 Quad-Core processor (6th Generation). The processor clocks 3.4 GHz when running at normal load. However, it can be overclocked to 4.0 GHz when you need to handle heavier processing loads.
It comes with a built-in memory of 32 GB DDR4 RAM (2133 MHz). There is a provision to expand the memory and you can add up to an additional 64 GB of memory.
The system is not labeled as an “all-in-one” for nothing. The audio quality is exceptional. The display comes with an integrated sound bar that incorporates ten well-concealed speakers and amplifiers. Additionally, there are two tweeters as well as four full range drivers that give a fantastic sound effect for watching movies or playing games.
Graphics processor on the Dell is an AMD Radeon R9 M485X graphics card with 4 GB of integrated GDDR5 memory.
Internal storage of the computers is a hefty 2 TB hard drive plus a 32 GB SSD used as cache for faster loading of applications and operating system.
4. Dell XPS 8930 Tower Desktop
The Dell XPS 8930 is a tower desktop (no display included). The desktop is powered by an 8th generation Core i7-8700 6-core processor. The maximum clock speed of the processor is 3.20 GHz and when overclocked the processor can clock a maximum of 4.60 GHz.
The processor is paired with a 16 GB DDR4 RAM (2666 MHz). Internal storage on the desktop is a 2 TB HDD (7200 RPM SATA). There is an optical drive as well on the desktop.
Graphics on the system is powered by an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 processor with 4 GB GDDR5 integrated memory. The desktop comes with Intel UHD Graphics 630.
The desktop has a series of connectivity options. These include 1 display port, 1 HDMI port and 1 DVI port. The device is powered by Windows 10 preloaded which should take care of all your photo editing and video editing tasks.
Dell XPS 8930-7814BLK-PUS Tower Desktop - 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8700 Processor, 32GB..- 8th Generation Intel i7-8700 6-Core 3.20 GHz Processor (12M Cache, up to 4.60 GHz), Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)
- 32GB DDR4 2666MHz Memory, 1TB SATA Hard Drive + 16GB Intel Optane Memory Accelerated, DVD-RW Drive
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB GDDR5 Graphics (3x Display Port, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI), Intel UHD Graphics 630
- Dell Wireless 802.11a/c + Bluetooth v4.1, Integrated 5.1 Channel Audio with Waves MaxxAudio Pro
- 1 Year Limited Warranty, Dell USB Laser Mouse - Black, Dell Wired Keyboard - Black, No Monitor Included
5. Dell 3668 Inspiron
August 2019 Update: No Longer Available
The Dell 3668 Inspiron is a mid-range tower desktop PC (no display provided). The desktop is powered by a 7th Generation Intel Quad Core i7 processor with an integrated memory of 16 GB DDR4. The processor clocks 3.6 GHz. It can be overclocked to a maximum of 4.2 GHz. Internal storage on the desktop is a 2 TB HDD.
The processor is paired by an internal memory of 16 GB DDR4 2400 MHz RAM. Internal storage is 2 TB.
Graphics processor on the desktop is powered by NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 GPU with an integrated memory of 2 GB.
The device comes with a series of connectivity options including two USB 3.0, 4 x USB 2.0, a HDMI port and an audio jack output. The desktop comes with an optical drive (DVD-RW) and an Ethernet port. Windows 10 come preloaded into the system.
2017 Newest Dell 3668 Inspiron 7th Generation Mid Size Tower Computer PC (Intel Quad..- 1- Year Limited Hardware Warranty and 90 days Limited Technical Support for Software and Initial Setup (From Date Of..
- Intel Quad Core i7-7700, 7th Generation High Performance 3.6GHz Processor.
- 16GB DDR4 2400MHz RAM / 2 TB Hard Drive. ( McAfee LiveSafe ) Free Internet Security For 1 Year.
- 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 Graphics, 802.11 Wireless-N + Bluetooth 4.0, 2 x USB 3.0, 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI, 1 x..
- Microsoft Windows 10 Professional (64-bit). Comes With 1 Year Brand New Limited Warranty. Comes In Original Brand New..
6. Lenovo ThinkCentre M710 Tower
This is yet another desktop computer ideally suitable for the purpose of photography (and videography). The Lenovo ThinkCentre M710 is a Tower PC (no display included). It is powered by an Intel Quad Core i5-7400 (7th Generation) processor. The base clock speed of the desktop is 3 GHz but it can be overclocked to a maximum of 3.5 GHz when you need to run resource hogging applications.
The system has an integrated memory of 16 GB DDR4 (2400 MHz), with a 500 GB SSD unit making up for the internal storage. Window 10 comes preloaded into the system.
The desktop comes with a series of connectivity options including two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, two USN 2.0 ports and an Ethernet port. There is also a VGA port and two DisplayPorts along with PS/2 ports for keyboard and mouse.
- 3.0 GHz Intel Core i5-7400 Quad-Core
- 8GB of 2400 MHz DDR4 RAM
- Integrated Intel HD Graphics 630
- 1TB 7200 rpm SATA 3.5' Hard Drive
- SuperMulti DVD Burner
- 1 x Gigabit Ethernet Port
- USB 3.0 Type-A - USB 2.0 Type-A - PS/2
- DisplayPort - VGA
- USB Wired Keyboard & Mouse Included
- Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)
7. Intel NUC8 VR Machine Mini PC Kit
August 2019 Update: No Longer Available
Barebones systems are not a new concept in desktop computing. We have been using it for some time now. These systems give the ultimate in terms of freedom to configure your desktop computer. Under the right circumstances, that is. For someone who wants an up and ready system that s/he can use straight out of the box, barebones systems are not for them.
Barebones systems, as the name suggests, are mini-PCs which don’t have an operating system, RAM, and hard drive installed. So, you will have to get all of these, install and load them before you can start using it. Works for some advanced users, definitely not suitable for someone who needs to get up and running in the minimum possible time.
The Intel NUC8 VR, by definition, is a barebones system. This system can be upgraded (or brought to working condition) by adding RAM, operating system, and a hard drive. The processor inside the NUC8 VR is a 3.1 GHz Intel Core i7-8809G (eight generation) quad-core system.
Related Post: Best External Hard Drives for Photographers (10 Top Picks)
There are slots for 2×2400 MHz DDR4 SO-DIMM RAM. You can add up to 32 GB of memory on to the device. Additionally, there are slots for 2 x PCIe 3.0 x 4M.22242/2280. You can attach up to two SSD units in different RAID combinations. Paired with the processor is a Radeon RX Vega M GH graphics processor unit with 4 GB of integrated memory on board.
Integrated into the system are media card readers capable of reading all types of SD cards (SD, SDHC, and SDXC. The system comes with 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports, HDMI and Mini-DisplayPort. Additionally, there are a total of 7 USB ports. It is compatible with Bluetooth devices and is VR ready.
The NUC8 VR supports a maximum of 6 displays. Scalable and fast this is the ideal solution when you are working on a budget.
8. Microsoft Surface Studio
We finally come to the Microsoft Surface Studio. The Surface Studio is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor. The processor is capable of clocking 2.7 GHz. Integrated memory on the computer is 32 GB of GDDR5. Graphics is powered by a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M GPU with 4 GB integrated memory. Internal storage on the computer is 2 TB of hybrid drive.
Additionally, there is a secondary 128 GB SSD installed which should result in faster booting time and better performance when loading applications. As a result, making the Microsoft Surface Studio one of the best desktops for photography.
The salient feature of the computer is the fact that it can transform from a desktop computer to a studio laptop device in no time. The 28″ screen size gives a display resolution of 4500 x 3000 pixels. It supports multi-touch with your fingers as well as the Surface Pen.
Integrated connectivity ports include 4 x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1 x Mini DisplayPort, a 3.5mm Aux out for headphone/sound bar and mic in jack. Apart from these, there is also an integrated microphone and a speaker for crisp sound when watching videos or mixing sound.
There is also a flash media slot that allows all types of SD cards to be accepted including SD, SDHC, and SDXC.
Microsoft Surface Studio (1st Gen) (Intel Core i7, 32GB RAM, 2TB) - Includes Surface Pen, Surface Keyboard, Surface Mouse and a Zero Gravity Hinge that moves the display weightlessly from..
- Enjoy a 28-inch adjustable PixelSense Display with touchscreen and 13.5 million pixels of color and clarity
- With Intel Core processors accelerated by a discrete NVIDIA GeForce dGPU, Surface Studio is up for anything
- Reinvent the way you create with a unique set of tools like Surface Pen, Surface Dial*, and Windows Ink
- Microsoft Surface Studio: Touch it. Draw on it. Visualize and develop your ideas like you would on a sheet of paper
Minimum Specs for a Photo Editing Desktop
(RAM, CPU, Storage, Graphics Cards)
Looking for the best desktop for photography? The criterions for buying a desktop to edit your photos and videos involve more than just a high display resolution. It requires the ability to multi-task handling several editing applications at the same time without any visible lag time. Finally, it also requires a large display with a high resolution.
Resolution
High resolution is imperative both from the point of view of image editing as well as video editing. A higher resolution ensures that you can view an image in a large format without the image getting pixilated. When editing video you can get a larger view of the timeline.
Processing Power
Intel’s Core i7 is a good place to start. With the latest 8th Generation processor now available, it would be a nice way to future-proof your investment; at least for the next few years. Technically, you can still run Photoshop and Lightroom on an older Core i5 processor, but you wouldn’t like the experience nor have the patience to edit a large number of RAW files after a while.
Speed
Speed is the operative word here. And for that, you need the latest processors with a high number of cores. You don’t have to go crazy and buy the latest 12-core Intel Core i9 processor, as the processor alone will set you back by a thousand bucks. A six to eight core is sufficient for photo and video editing.
Still on the subject of speed, ideally, the best desktop for photography is the one that comes with a high-speed RAM, preferably 32 gigs of it.
Graphics Processor & Connectivity
You also need a decent graphics processor unit. Plus, the ability mount several connectivity ports such as HDMI, USB 3.1 and the ability to mount SD cards. You need the ability to mount both SD, SDHC and SDXC cards.
Related Post: Best Laptops for Photo Editing (12 Laptops Compared)
Storage is a highly debated topic. There is a clear line of demarcation between users who prefer to have a high storage. They would want to store as many of their RAW images right on the computer itself. Then there are the other types of users who prefer to store as much as possible to an external (offline) storage unit. Storing a huge number of RAW files to a cloud storage can be quite expensive. It is better to store them to two or more external storages in a RAID 1 architecture. That way all the drives would be available for accessing of data at any time.
Going by this logic, even a small 256 GB SSD drive would be enough as the primary storage unit on a computer. You can always back up your RAW and JPEG files to the external storage unit as and when necessary.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the best desktop for photography.
Best Photo Editing Software of 2019 - Programs for Less Than $100
We thoroughly tested each program by manipulating the same set of photos to see how each program handled the edits. The programs all scored differently based on how intuitive the software's interface is. We also evaluated the photo organizing system to see how well the system helped us find and arrange our photos. Our testing helped us identify Corel PaintShop Pro 2019 as the best photo editing software in our review. Its user-friendly interface and advanced editing tools are good for both beginners and seasoned graphic designers alike. The photo organizing system helps you arrange your photos in a variety of ways so you will be able to find the images you need quickly.
Best OverallPaintShop Pro 2019
This software's basic and advanced tools can help you make professional-level photo edits to your images. The variety of photo organizing options allows you to create a system that makes the most sense to you.
Best ValueAffinity Photo
It doesn’t include a photo organizing system, but this program has some of the most powerful editing tools you’ll find in software you can buy without paying a subscription. It has a steeper learning curve for beginners, but it can help you become a pro.
Best for BeginnersCyberLink PhotoDirector Ultra 10
The editing and photo organizing interfaces are clean and easy to maneuver. It is a good program for beginners to learn on, but it also has the advanced editing tools that will satisfy a more experienced editor.
| Product | Price | Overall Rating | Pricing | Editing Tools | Organizing Options | File Compatibility & Sharing | Help & Support | Supported Configurations | Trial Period | Ease of Use Score | Editing Tool Score | Number of Filter Presets | Organizing Tools Score | File Compatibility Score | Sharing Options Score | Help & Support Score | Windows 10 | Windows 8 | Windows 7 | Mac OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corel PaintShop Pro 2019 | View Deal | 4.5/5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 30 Days | 100 | 100 | 99 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✖ |
| Adobe Photoshop Elements 2018 | View Deal | 4.5/5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 30 Days | 100 | 95 | 98 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CyberLink PhotoDirector Ultra 9 | View Deal | 4.5/5 | 4.5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 30 Days | 100 | 93 | 93 | 100 | 50 | 100 | 60 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Zoner Photo Studio X | 4/5 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 5 | 5 | 1.5 | 5 | 30 Days | 100 | 38 | 38 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 60 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✖ | |
| ACDSee Photo Studio Professional 2018 | 4/5 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2.5 | 30 Days | 100 | 60 | 60 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Affinity Photo | View Deal | 3.5/5 | 4.5 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2.5 | 5 | 10 Days | 17 | 57 | 57 | 17 | 100 | 25 | 40 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Xara Photo & Graphic Designer | View Deal | 3.5/5 | 5 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 0 | 30 Days | 33 | 140 | 140 | 33 | 75 | 75 | 60 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✖ |
Best Overall
PaintShop Pro 2019
This software offers some automatic editing tools, which is helpful for beginners, but it also provides hands-on editing tools that allow you to tweak your images exactly the way you want.
The Smart Photo Fix tool allows you to compare the original image alongside an edited preview as you make alterations, which can help you make the changes you want.
The interface is clean and organized so you can easily find the tools and menus you need. You can organize your photos by rating, keywords, people and places to help you find your photos faster. It also keeps track of your images' EXIF data so you can look up the exact settings your camera used to capture your photos. It also works with a wide variety of file types, including RAW, PSD and PDF files so you can edit just about any project using this software. One thing that helps this program stand out from the others is its extensive help features and resources. The learning center tool allows you to get information quickly about any of the tools in the program. PaintShop Pro also has hundreds of tutorial videos on its YouTube page so you'll be able to find help on any subject.
Best Value
Affinity Photo
This software offers all of the advanced photo editing tools that an experienced photographer or graphic designer might want, including content aware tools, EXIF data, HDR tools and more.
While each of the programs on this review can make edits, this software creates the most professional-grade edits. Surprisingly, this program is relatively cheap and only requires a one-time payment instead of a subscription like many of the top programs on the market.
As a more advanced feature, this program's Assistant Manager allows you to make presets to each of the editing tools so that when you select a specific tool it automatically adjusts brush settings, adjustment tools, masks and layers to match your predesignated specifications. This program lacks a built-in photo organizing system. While it isn't necessary to have one, it can make the editing process easier when you can quickly locate your photos.
There are dozens of tutorials on the Affinity Revolution YouTube channel and even more throughout the web so you can learn various effects from experienced users. It is compatible with all the basic files along with PSD, RAW and PDF files. This program is available on both Windows and Mac so it is more likely to suit your needs. A full version of the software recently became available for the iPad.
Best for Beginners
CyberLink PhotoDirector Ultra 10
PhotoDirector 365 MonthlyThis software is split into six different sections to help you find the tools you need without overwhelming you with too many options at once, which is especially helpful when you're a beginner.
A user guide is available within the application to help explain the various tools, and there are dozens of video tutorials online to help you learn and achieve more effects. You can add text and a number of text effects to your photos using this program. This software's watermark feature allows you to easily create and place an identifying mark on your photos so you can feel better about sharing them online. In addition to editing your photos, this software also allows you to create slideshows complete with music, transitions and accompanying text.
The Library section helps you to find and arrange your photos by rating, tags and name. To save you time, this program allows you to use batch editing to complete the same edits to a group of photos. It also features a content-aware removal tool which allows you to seamlessly remove items from your images and fills the empty space in a way that matches the rest of the photo.
Best For Learning Adobe
Photoshop Elements
Photoshop Elements is the gateway software for Adobe CC. The program's interface is divided into Quick, Guided and Expert mode, designed to help beginning users grow and come to an intermediate editing level.
You can toggle between the modes to learn how to use the software until you are comfortable enough to stay in the Expert mode. Adobe offers the best editing tools on the market and this is made evident by its impressive content-aware fill tool, which allows you to remove unwanted objects, like trash or electrical poles, from your images and fill in the space believably with just a couple button clicks.
This is one of the only Adobe programs that doesn't require a subscription. You'll just need to make a one-time payment, albeit it a pricey one, of roughly $100. This will give you access to 90 creative filters, plenty of tutorials, HDR tools, blemish removing tools and many more useful features. Like many of Adobe's programs, this one expects you to work with other Adobe software to fulfill your editing goals. The photo organizer is a separate program that opens in a different window. While this is nice in getting you ready for how other Adobe software works, it can also be a little annoying popping between the two programs.
Best Built-In Photo Organizer
ACDSee Photo Studio
Photo Studio Professional MonthlyACDSee Photo Studio offers over 60 filters so you can quickly add stylization to your photos. It also features plenty of drawing and painting tools as well as background removal tools.
However, the reason it didn't score as highly as other programs is because this software doesn’t work in layers, which is standard for most photo editing software. This means you cannot view and select your separate elements as easily as you can with other programs. This software also requires that you take a few extra and somewhat unnecessary steps before you can finalize your editing changes to your file, which is why it didn't score as highly in the ease of use category.
If you don't mind the lack of layers and the extra steps it takes to edit your photos, this program is a great choice. It has a phenomenal photo organizer that allows you to separate, rate and organize your images in a variety of ways so you can find them in the way that makes the most sense to you. You'll find plenty of online support including an active user forum, tutorials and live chat so you can find answers to questions quickly.
Why Trust Us
For the past nine years, we have reviewed photo editing software to find the best programs available. We spent over 85 hours in the last 12 months using these editing programs to manipulate photos. Our testers are skilled editors with backgrounds in photography and graphic design. We used the same set of photos so we could compare each program's editing capabilities against each other.
We contacted John Yoo, Head of Sales at CyberLink, to see what he finds most important for any photo editing software. He told us, 'The basic functions – crop, adjust exposure, contrast, white balance, noise reduction – all of these features are not only important but the software needs to be able to adjust these accurately and easily.' We completely agree.
Programs that completed edits in a quick, intuitive fashion while truly enhancing the photos received higher scores in our review. Programs lacking main features or offering them in a clunky fashion scored lower. Since tutorials and forums are such an important part of learning the photo editing process, programs with better instructive and help features scored higher.
We also evaluated each programs' help features and organizing abilities to determine which offered the best options overall. We paid attention to each program's ease of use to see which were best for beginners to learn on. Since file compatibility is such an important part of the editing process, we scored programs higher if they accommodated the main photo file types: JPG, TIFF, PNG, GIF, PSD, PDF and RAW.
How We Tested
We used the same 12 photos in each of the programs we tested to see how well each one performed basic and advanced edits. We began by using the most basic editing tools like cropping, red eye removal and filters before moving on to more advanced editing tools like using mask layers to adjust hue, tone and brightness, or creating HDR images. We compared the final images from each program to see which software performed editing tasks the best.
Some programs provided the same level of editing finesse but forced you to go through several unnecessary steps before completing a task. For this reason, we scored clean, simple and well-organized interfaces higher. This year's best photo editing software, PaintShop Pro 2018, beautifully creates basic and advanced image enhancements through an easy-to-use interface.
If the program you want requires a subscription, make sure you understand the payment schedule. For instance, find out if the $20 payment is due quarterly or monthly.
If you are a beginner wanting to become a more advanced editor, make sure you purchase a program that allows you to work in layers.
How Much Does Photo Editing Software Cost?
Free Photo Editor For Mac Air
Beginner to Intermediate-level photo editing software costs between $40 and $100, though some programs are subscription based and require a monthly or annual payment that typically totals to about $50 per year. More professional-level photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop CC will cost you roughly $21 a month or more. Before deciding on a program, make sure it has the features and editing tools that you will likely use the most.
Things to Consider With Photo Editing Software
File Types
Most professional photographers prefer to work with RAW images since it gives them more control over brightness, color and overall image quality. PSD is another popular file type since it saves the individual layers of your photos so you can edit them at any time. If you plan on becoming a serious photo editor, it is best to learn to work with these files.
Download Photo Editor For Mac
If you take a lot of photos and plan on editing them on a regular basis, it can really help you save time if you get a program that offers batch processing. For example, if you wanted all of your photos to be a little brighter, you can use batch processing to quickly brighten all of the photos you select instead of taking the time to do it individually. This feature is commonly found in the photo organizing section of photo editing software.
Simple Tips for Good Photography & Editing
Pdf editor for mac. Scribus is an open source page layout and PDF editor that is available for not only Mac, but also Windows and Linux platform. You can use it to create and design interactive PDF files. There is a lot of choice when it comes to color management. Top and Best Open Source PDF Editors for Windows, Mac, and Linux LibreOffice draw pdf editor LibreOffice is a complete office suite that consists all type of document reading, editing and creating tools such as Writer a Microsoft Word alternative, Calc alternative of. Formulate Pro for Mac is one of the best open source PDF editors for Mac users. It is a stable program with great features. This PDF editing tool lets you redact PDF files, and provides cloud services for more space to store documents. How can the answer be improved?
Best Free Mac Photo Editor
- One of the most crucial parts of editing is taking a good picture to begin with. You’ll save hours of work if you learn to set up your camera and lighting correctly from the start.
- To capture better details, get as close as you can to your subject while still keeping it in focus.
- Try not to work in direct sunlight, as the harsh cast shadows can be very distracting. This is why many photographers prefer to shoot on cloudy days or during the golden hours – just after sunrise and just before sunset when the light isn’t as harsh.
- If you must work in direct sunlight, try to counterbalance the sun's harshness with diffuser or reflector panels, the camera flash, light boxes, and shade.
- Learn how to use shutter speeds. To capture crisp details in fast-moving subjects, such as wildlife, you need a shutter speed of over 1/500th of a second.
- Engaging landscape photography often has a foreground, middle ground and background. Try to incorporate all three when taking a shot.
- When taking portraits, try to help your subjects loosen up. You’re more likely to capture genuine expressions and body language this way.
- Practice, practice, practice. If you want to get better, get out there and learn. Experiment with aperture sizes and learn which lenses and settings you like best.
- If you make too many edits, your image may look less organic, amateurish or downright bad. Be conservative with your edits – as the saying goes, “less is more.”
- Keep a copy of the original image in case you don’t like your edits. Before finalizing a photo, focus on something else for 10 minutes and then come back to it. Your fresh eyes will be able to tell if the image looks good or if it needs tweaking.
- Learn from the pros. Many photographers offer tips on YouTube or their websites. Ask questions and learn as much as you can.
- Pace yourself. Photography equipment and editing software are expensive, so you’ll likely have to acquire everything bit by bit.
Basic Photo Editor For Mac
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