Buyers’ guide
CaptureOne Pro 22 › captureone.com › Mac andWindows Pro 22 annual subscription £179, monthly £24, licence £299
DxOPureRaw2 › dxo.com › Mac andWindows £115
Digital noise at high ISO speeds is not the issue it once was. You can shoot at ISO 1600 and higher quite happily and get impressive results. But for next-level images, this is the software for you. Version 2 delivers a smoother, faster workflow, especially working through Adobe Lightroom Classic. PureRaw 2 only has one job: it’s a powerful and efficient denoising and demosaicing software, with a simple interface and limited control. For example, you can choose whether or not to utilise DxO’s vast collection of camera/lens correction modules, to cure issues like distortion and vignetting.
Canon cameras can be tethered over a wireless network. Capture One also comes with three style packs of presets, with more available. When making tweaks or editing from scratch, adjustments are simple, thanks to keyboard shortcuts, all within a customisable workspace.
Capture One 22 supports editing abilities of all levels and has been developed in collaboration with pro photographers. It’s a powerful Raw converter, compatible with the latest cameras, including the Nikon Z 9 and Sony A1. For editing, you can control levels and curves within individual channels. Advanced options make it possible to apply up to 16 layers with precise masks, so small areas may be adjusted and fine-tuned one by one. The latest version includes skills such as HDR merge and panorama stitching, which can be output as DNG files. Certain
cameras, too – ideal if you want to improve your digital archive. This version is capable of working with Raws from Fujifilm X Series cams with X-Trans sensors.
This software can improve Raws shot at any ISO. If you’re after the best possible detail from scenics at ISO 100, it’s worth using. And it’s compatible with Raws from older
Affinity Photo › affinity.serif.com › Mac andWindows £47.99; iPad £19.49
newsletters and other products, Photo meshes seamlessly with its companion softwares, Publisher and Designer, both available at the same price. With layers, selection tools and features like focus merge and panorama stitching, Affinity Photo is everything image makers need.
This powerful, fully featured software is available for outright purchase, and is the first software to give complete file compatibility across Mac, Windows and iPad. It is also the only software with a 32-bit workflow from start to finish. For photographers producing posters, books,
Skylum uses AI to help realise your creative vision with just a click or two of the mouse. For scenic shooters, Sky AI is sure to be popular. This seamlessly replaces a dull sky with something much better, and if there’s water in the foreground, then the software detects it, automatically adding a reflection and relighting the scene. In a similar vein, Portrait Background Remover – Neo’s AI technology – quickly detects and selects the subject, letting you bring in a new background. The outright purchase version includes Soulful Panoramas and Film Burn. Go for the subscription and it costs £49 (or £59 for two copies), is billed yearly and includes Film Burn, too. SkylumLuminar Neo › skylum.com › Mac andWindows £59 outright purchase, £49 annual subscription
ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2022 › acdsee.com
›Windows Lifetime Licence US $149.95, subscription $8.90 amonth, $89 a year
ACDSee Photo Studio is available in Professional ($99.99 outright purchase) and Ultimate. The latter has two new settings: People mode with ACDSee’s market-leading face detection and recognition, improving people shots; and Media mode, which streamlines the management of digital media. Brush-on noise reduction and new selection tools that use filters and channels for precise selection also feature.
PortraitPro 22 › anthropics.com/portraitpro › Mac andWindows £39.95; Studio £69.95; StudioMax £139.95
Adobe Photoshop and LightroomClassic › adobe.com/uk/products/photoshop-lightroom.html › Mac,Windows Photography plan (20GB) £9.98/mo, Photography plan (1TB) £19.97/mo, Lightroomplan (1TB) £9.98/mo
There’s plenty of control in PortraitPro, if you prefer effects to be more subtle and lifelike. PortraitPro Body software is available, costing £59.90 (£29.95 with download discount).
slimming technology, chin reshaping skills and an advanced, full-body relighting function. This builds on existing features: skin smoothing, brush tools and realistic digital makeup.
Anthropics PortraitPro is for people photographers and has an impressive skill set, while being dead easy to use. Thanks to AI, the software can detect facial features and automatically apply correctable changes. Version 22 has gained an exclusive neck and shoulder
Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom Classic are built for photographers, available on monthly or annual subscriptions. Photoshop is the industry-standard editing software and has been for many years. There are thousands of brushes for flair, filters and adjustments may be applied via layers or masks, objects can be selected and removed – or others added.
Lightroom is a workflow program with different skills
compared to Photoshop, but one complements the other.
30 Photography News | Issue 99
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