Its support for selections, masks and layers is unmatched, making it the tool of choice for complex composite images. Needs Lightroom for organizing -Raw processing is a separate stepĭespite its immense power and constant steady improvements, Photoshop is slick and straightforward to use. So while we still have Photoshop and Lightroom at the top of our list it's only partly because they are still very good, but also to reflect the fact they are still the default choice for so many enthusiasts and creative professionals. And for crazy AI-driven reality distortion (and some rather good portrait enhancement tools), Luminar AI might be the tool you need. If you want advanced black and white effects, retro/analog filters, HDR merging or one of dozen other specialised 'looks', you're often better off using a custom-made plug-in or a different application. You can get lots of different profiles and presets for Lightroom, but these pale in comparison to the scope and variety of the effects in other programs like the DxO Nik Collection, Exposure X6 or ON1 Photo RAW 2021. And to keep your images organized you need a tool like Lightroom to use alongside it.īut even this double-act doesn't provide a whole lot of creative inspiration.
If you need to open a raw file it has to go through Adobe Camera Raw first, and that's not even the best raw processor out there. Despite its mighty reputation, Photoshop is just a photo editor.
