Best Free photo editing software for Mac: The GIMP for Mac OS X GIMP is a popular open-source image editor for Mac OS X and is often considered as the 'free Photoshop' because of its similar interface and features with Photoshop. It is beta software developed by volunteers, so software updates and stability may be a problem. Paint Shop Pro is a great photo editing that promises to transform your photography experience. With this software, you can perform creative text wrapping, batch picture editing, and make content aware magic moves. If you are a beginning photographer or just take hundreds of selfies every day, you need a free (cheap) photo organizer software program that will do basic photo editing and color correction. Check out my review of the 10 best photo management software programs you can download to manage your photographs easily and fast. Adobe Bridge CC. Download this app from Microsoft Store for Windows 10 Mobile, Windows Phone 8.1, Windows Phone 8. See screenshots, read the latest customer reviews, and compare ratings for Photo editor free.

• Free Mac Editing Photo Software
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• Free Editing Pictures Software For Mac

• January 02, 2020
• 28 min to read

A comprehensive review of the best RAW photo editors on the market

There are many RAW photo editors available, and they get better every year. It can be hard and time-consuming to try all of them, so we’ve tried them for you and come up with a list of the best RAW photo editors you should consider right now.

Professional photographers shoot in RAW to preserve as much detail as possible. They want high-resolution images with a wide dynamic range, natural-looking colors, and sharp details. RAW files are large files that need powerful editors. A good RAW photo editor is able to edit RAW files while preserving image quality and color accuracy.

The first criterion in choosing a RAW photo editor is how good the RAW processor is and how well it renders the RAW data. But there are also other criteria to consider, such as support for batch processing, digital asset management, preset libraries, layers and masks, and local editing tools. Practicality is also important. Consider system requirements, processing speed, the user interface and workflow, and, of course, the price.

Because RAW editors are sophisticated software that require a long time to develop, you’ll hardly find free RAW photo editors. The only free editors on our list are darktable and RawTherapee, cross-platform image processing programs with enthusiastic communities around them. Nevertheless, all paid RAW photo editors on this list offer free trials that allow you to test them before buying.

The best RAW photo editors on the market

1. Luminar 4

Released at the end of 2019, Luminar 4 is a RAW photo editor that includes AI-based technology. Yes, it provides support for most RAW file formats and all the basic adjustments you need, but it also provides content-aware automatic adjustments. Its smart features and friendly interface have already convinced many professional photographers to become Skylum Ambassadors.

Luminar’s AI-based features analyze your images and make decisions based on their contents. Luminar 4 recognizes objects and people and applies custom adjustments for different types of pictures. It includes AI-based features for sky replacement, skin and portrait enhancement, structure enhancement, general image enhancement, and adding sun rays.

Moreover, Luminar 4 comes with more than 70 built-in presets, called Looks, that provide easy access to the most popular artistic styles. You can also create your own presets and download Signature Looks designed by renowned photographers from the Luminar Marketplace.

Luminar 4 allows you to fine-tune every aspect of an image, which is great because in RAW editing, every detail counts. Luminar works with layers and masks and provides easy tools for controlling opacity and blending modes. The workflow is fluid and easy to learn, and you’ll find features such as batch processing, adjustment synchronization, digital asset management, and image rating and labeling.

Luminar 4 works as standalone software, a plugin for Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, and an extension for Apple Photos. It’s available for Mac and Windows and costs $89.

2. Aurora HDR

Aurora HDR was the first Skylum solution for RAW photo editing and is one of the most appreciated HDR photo editors. It’s the perfect choice if you want to create images with a wide dynamic range. Aurora provides tools for bracket merging that create high-quality images without halos, chromatic aberrations, or artifacts. It also includes basic tools such as color toning, a polarizer filter, detail enhancer, and LUT mapping.

Like Luminar 4, Aurora HDR makes use of AI technology to separate noise from detail and deliver exquisite denoising and detail enhancing tools. As Aurora is a RAW photo editor, its support for layers and masks is especially useful. Also useful are the presets designed in collaboration with professional photographers, which deliver amazing effects in seconds.

In terms of practical features, Aurora HDR offers batch processing, support for most popular cameras, and the ability to run as standalone software or a plugin for Adobe and Apple products. Aurora HDR is available for Windows and Mac and costs $110.

3. Adobe Lightroom

Due to its prestigious producer, Adobe Lightroom has been the standard in RAW photo editing for a long time. But it has lost many fans since Adobe introduced the monthly subscription plan. Yes, Lightroom is a RAW photo editor that gives you access to cloud space and synchronizes your edits across all your devices. But it’s expensive, and people have started to look for cheaper alternatives. Adobe Lightroom costs $9.99 per month, which means almost $120 per year. That’s more than other software costs for a lifetime license.

For this money, Adobe Lightroom offers endless sharing capabilities, image synchronization, exquisite image management tools, and easy-to-use image editing tools. It also has many presets, and you can find more in the large Adobe community, which also offers books, tutorials, and video materials.

Adobe Lightroom is available for Windows and Mac, but check the system requirements before you buy it because it requires relatively new operating system versions.

4. ACDSee Photo Studio

ACDsee is known for its image organizing software, but its latest products show that it has become a powerful competitor on the photo editor market. Photo Studio is a complete editing solution that includes RAW processing, image editing tools, and the amazing ACDSee digital asset management.

Free Mac Editing Photo Software

ACDSee Photo Studio Professional 2020 supports more than 500 camera models and offers RAW editing tools such as LUTs, non-destructive color grading, lens corrections, noise and haze removal, contrast and brightness adjustments, layers and masks, selection tools, and local adjustments. It’s fast and supports many file formats, offers batch processing, and has a lot of tools for zooming, previewing, and reviewing images. In terms of the interface and image management, it’s one of the best RAW photo editors.

ACDSee Photo Studio Professional 2020 is available only for Windows. There’s also a separate ACDSee Photo Studio for Mac 6. You can choose between a monthly subscription at $8.90 and a lifetime license for $99.95.

5. PhotoDirector Ultra

With PhotoDirector Ultra, Cyberlink aims to deliver a photo editor that accumulates the functionalities of Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom at a better price. PhotoDirector Ultra supports many RAW file formats and provides AI-based tools for image retouching, layer editing, and presets.

This software is aimed at a wide variety of users, from professional photographers to the general public. It mixes powerful content-aware image adjustments with tools for making videos out of images, frame templates, and 360-degree photo editing. Delivering a wide variety of features isn’t always the best idea, however. Professional photographers are more interested in color accuracy, noise reduction, and detail preservation than in applying brushstrokes that simulate painting styles.

But despite the features unrelated to RAW editing, PhotoDirector Ultra is very good at recovering blurred images, eliminating haze and fog, and retouching portraits. It also provides image management tools, cloud storage, and additional products such as special effects and dedicated plugins.

PhotoDirector Ultra is available for Windows and Mac and costs $74.99.

6. Capture One Pro 2020

Capture One develops a RAW photo editor that supports many RAW file formats and has dedicated versions for Fuji and Sony camera users. Capture One Pro 2020 is a complete photo editing solution for all cameras, and it provides tools for image editing and management.

While Capture One Pro 2020 isn’t very easy to learn and use, once you get to know it, you’ll have full control over every aspect of your images. This software’s features range from tools for basic image adjustments (fixing exposure, color, and contrast) to HDR tools, advanced color adjustments, and presets. Essential for a RAW editor, Capture One Pro 2020 works with layers and masks and provides non-destructive editing.

Capture One Pro 2020 is a powerful photo editor even if its workflow isn’t for beginners. It provides lens and camera profiles, lens correction, high color accuracy, and tools for printing and creative artwork. All these features come with a price, however: Capture One Pro 2020 costs $27 per month. It’s available for Windows and Mac.

7. DxO PhotoLab

Like Capture One Pro, DxO PhotoLab is a complex RAW photo editor for professional photographers. It focuses on color accuracy and camera compatibility. DxO PhotoLab matches the rendering of over 60 camera models and provides optical corrections and custom lens profiles.

Among its best features are exquisite color tools such as ICC profiles, Moiré removal, and the new HSL tool, more than 40 presets, haze removal based on colorimetric component analysis, noise removal that’s been optimized to process RAW files at high speed, and local adjustments. DxO PhotoLab is an editor for color perfectionists and aims to satisfy the most demanding professionals.

DxO PhotoLab provides digital asset management with all you need for organizing images in a neat interface. It’s available for Windows and Mac and costs $140.

8. PaintShop Pro

PaintShop Pro is one of Corel’s solutions for photo editing that includes RAW functionalities. Keeping to Corel’s long tradition in graphic design, PaintShop Pro provides not only photo editing tools but also graphic design tools. So if you want tools for creating artistic compositions, drawing, and painting onto images, PaintShop Pro is the best editor for you.

In terms of RAW photo editing, PaintShop Pro offers a powerful RAW processor, lens correction, HDR editing, geometric transformations, basic adjustments for image retouching, and layers and masks. It doesn’t have too many filters and presets, but it offers support for third-party plugins such as the NiK Collection from DxO and Topaz Labs plugins. This may cover the need for extra features, but these plugins come with an additional cost.

In terms of useful functionalities, PaintShop Pro doesn’t have digital asset management, but it does provide batch processing and support for many file formats. PaintShop Pro is easy to learn and has a customizable workspace. But if you don’t need graphic design tools, they’ll only slow you down.

PaintShop Pro is available only for Windows and costs $79.

9. AfterShot Pro

Another RAW photo editing solution from Corel is AfterShot Pro. Designed to compete with Adobe Lightroom, AfterShot Pro focuses on increasing processing speed while delivering high-quality images.

Unlike PaintShop Pro, however, AfterShot Pro is dedicated to photography. This means is has RAW camera profiles, lens corrections, a large library of presets, and highlight recovery for images with a wide dynamic range. It also provides efficient digital asset management and integrates with other editors. In exchange, it doesn’t have graphic design tools.

In terms of RAW photo editing, we’re more interested in color accuracy, noise reduction, and HDR tools than in drawing tools. Still, the advanced selection tools provided by Corel’s programs are always welcome for local adjustments and subtle image retouching.

AfterShot Pro is a better option than PaintShop Pro for RAW editing. It’s also more expensive, as it costs $99.99. But if you compare it with Adobe Lightroom, you’ll see that it’s worth the money.

10. Darktable

Darktable is an open-source, free RAW photo editor available for Linux, Mac / macports, BSD, Windows, and Solaris 11 / GNOME. It’s designed to be a virtual darkroom and allows you to view negatives through a zoomable lighttable.

Aiming to be more than a RAW convertor, darktable provides tools for image enhancement, batch processing, and tethered shooting. It also allows you to develop your own image processing modules and add them to the program.

For a free editor, darktable offers exquisite tools, from an optimized RAW processor that can manage large files to non-destructive edits and professional color management. It has ICC profiles, several demosaicing methods, base and tone curves, lens corrections, and tools for dithering, haze, fringing, noise removal, color, contrast, and white balance adjustments. It also offers a few filters for creative effects.

However, darktable has minimal image organizing functionalities. It does allow you to search for images by tags, stars, and labels, and it works with metadata.

11. RAW Power

Gentlemen Coders offers a RAW photo editor for Mac and iOS called RAW Power that can run as standalone software or a Photos extension.

RAW Power uses Apple’s RAW decoder to provide high-quality images. Among its best features are support for hundreds of camera models, precise curve adjustments, white balance recovery, lots of presets, and perspective and chromatic aberration corrections.

RAW Power also provides digital asset management, batch processing, synchronization between devices via iCloud Photo Library, multiple editing windows, and batch export. It comes as an extension to Apple Photos and costs $29.99

12. RawTherapee

RawTherapee is a free RAW photo editor for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It provides high-quality images with high dynamic range and uses state-of-the-art demosaicing algorithms. Although it’s open-source software, RawTherapee supports most common RAW file formats, including those from Pentax and Sony.

Among its best features are RAW histograms, adjustments for fixing exposure, contrast, detail, and color, color profiles, and advanced controls. RawTherapee also lets you save your current editing profile for later use or batch editing. Unfortunately, it doesn’t support layers, and you have to apply all adjustments to the same layer, which may be confusing.

RawTherapee has a neat workspace that allows you to find all you need in seconds. It’s intuitive, well-labeled, and has shortcuts for everything. It also provides file browsing, ratings, and color labeling, and it supports metadata. For those who want to see how printed images will look, RawTherapee runs a simulation with a specific printer profile.

13. Affinity Photo

Affinity Photo provides powerful photo editing and graphic design tools. Alongside RAW editing, it provides HDR editing and focus stacking, panorama stitching, support for editing Adobe Photoshop files, and painting tools.

In terms of RAW photo editing, Affinity Photo’s big advantage is its ability to process very large files (more than 100 Megapixels) and to offer smooth zoom at 60 frames per second. It gives you full control over the smallest details of your images and provides editing tools such as levels, curves, HSL, and exposure and white balance adjustments. All edits are non-destructive because Affinity Photo works with layers and masks. You can perform local adjustments using advanced selection tools, analyze histograms, and edit EXIF information.

Affinity Photo provides lens corrections, noise reduction, and hot pixel removal, which is essential for RAW editing. It also provides presets and effects, including brush libraries and text and vector tools. It’s one of the best RAW photo editors for creating artistic compositions and collages.

Affinity Photo is available for Windows, Mac, and iPad and costs $49.99 respectively $19.99.

In conclusion

We’ve tested the most powerful RAW photo editors on the market, but the final decision is yours. Choose the best editor for your needs. Consider your budget, frequency of use, skills, and artistic preferences. For example, you shouldn’t buy an editor with graphic design functionalities if you don’t do abstract photography and strong editing. If you work with large amounts of similar images, batch processing is a must. So is digital asset management when you have lots of albums and catalogs. Keep in mind that trying before buying is the wisest thing you can do.

• January 07, 2020
• 30 min to read

It has become general truth that almost every Internet user who has an account on social networks edits their photos. For this reason, today we will be looking at Top 18 best photo editing software for PC that you will make good use of. Let’s get it started!

(Shortlist) Top 10 Photo Editing Software for PC with a Free/ Trial Versions to Download

1. Microsoft Windows 10 Photos
   
2. Luminar
   
3. GIMP
   
4. Lightzone
   
5. Paint.NET
   
6. Aurora HDR
   
7. Photos Pos Pro
   
8. PhotoScape X
   
9. Lightroom
   
10. Photolemur

1. Microsoft Windows 10 Photos (Windows 10's Built-In App)

This app replaced its predecessor, Windows Photo Gallery. Although the software lost some of the features and tools, it still offers all the basic and essential means of editing your photographs and videos.

The first thing you notice when getting acquainted with Microsoft Windows 10 Photos is the minimalistic interface that is easy to interact with. The photostream is horizontal, which some users may find a bit unusual, but this feature actually contributes to the convenience of the app. You can rest assured that no extra icons will get in your way!

The key tools include Enhance, Contrast, Brightness, Shadow, Tint, Warmth and Filters. With videos, you will be able to add some music as a background, create clips and projects. The software is free so don’t hesitate to give it a go!

2. Luminar (7 days fully free)

A great solution for those who are ready to buy editing software and use it regularly, Luminar is also available for a 7-day free trial. It’s considered one of the leading software of its category on the market.

Luminar can fix minor drawbacks in your pictures automatically, or you can take control over it and turn to the following tools: brushes, filters, Enhance, Curves and others. The software loses out on some up-to-date features like adding location or face recognition, but the stability and convenience balance up.

You can store your pictures in catalogs or easily import them to the PC files or elsewhere. Luminar supports numerous photo formats, including RAW. Edit your pictures with the help of filters or adjust the colors separately for the best result.

Another decent competitor is GIMP, a true pioneer of photo editing founded back in 2002 and developed to a great extent now. The design has undergone changes – all the tools you will now find in one window! In addition to that, you can choose the background color of the software that will suit your taste the most.

GIMP now operates GEGL, which enhanced its efficiency and work speed. You can process formats like PNG, TIF, JPG, RAW and some others. Take advantage of the split feature that enables you to compare the before and after of your picture and keep your eye on each detail.

Apart from the basic tools, GIMP now can boast with the variety of Transform Tool options, which allow you to work with the scale and perspective within one tool.

For a free photo editing software, Lightzone offers a vast range of great tools and ways to transform images at ease. The list includes sharpening, managing colors, getting rid of the noise, changing brightness, eliminating red eyes, adding glow to the skin and many more.

One of the best features of Lightzone is the ability to undo changes or track them, which enables you to choose what way you like your pictures more. Another quite appealing feature is the quick and smooth processing of RAW format files that allow you to work with the highest quality of your images.

Don’t wait around and try this free photo editing software right now!

If you search for a free photo editor to process images on your PC, Paint.Net is a viable solution! The software interface is smartly designed, so you can easily navigate the program. Here you will find numerous tools, such as pen, crop tool, text adding and others. Even the newbies in the world of editing will learn how to handle the app in a split minute.

Another upside of Paint.NET is a rather fresh feature – translucent pallets that don’t get in your way while you’re editing. However, those of you who disapprove of this feature can just turn it off.

All the necessary means of editing an image you will find in the Adjustment section, where you will be able to work with the color and brightness. Removing red eyes is also one of the key elements of the section. Although Paint.NET hasn’t provided some extra tools like adjustment layers, it is great for simple photo manipulations.

This software meets all the standards of an up-to-date editing app – Aurora HDR offers an impressive number of tools and features, including Curves, Enhance, Dodge & Burn, Color Adjustment and a lot of opportunities with the HDR effect.

Aurora HDR operation is based on AI and transforms your average pictures into highly detailed images with a variety of layers to them due to the emphasis on HDR. The results look clear and sharp, the key objects stay in the foreground.

Use creative filters for a change in the mood of the picture. The software has plug-in options with Apple Photos, Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom; the users can process RAW files and maintain the highest quality of their works. You can get Aurora HDR for a free trial.

Produced by Power of Software, Photos Pos Pro appears to be a powerful program for editing and retouch. It offers an abundance of features and useful tools, both basic and out-of-the-ordinary; the app also enables you to create collages and even web pages, so that you can show all your creativity and bring your ideas to life.

The strongest side of Photos Pos Pro is the convenience and simplicity of the interface; the navigation will be no problem even for kids. Professional photographers will take advantage of its compatibility with the RAW format. If this is the first time you work within Photo Pos Pro, don’t hesitate and watch the step-by-step tutorials offered by developers.

All the outstanding features are only available in a paid version, although you can get a free trial.

Do you like to apply filters and presets instead of adjusting each detail separately? Then PhotoScape is a great option for you, since it offers numerous effects from film to bokeh, from HDR to Surrealistic effect. The list of filters makes PhotoScape stand out in the crowd of competitors.

Nevertheless, there are tools for photo processing that allow you to work on each aspect in depth. Change the size, brightness, contrast and other settings in a picture. Another upside of PhotoScare is that it enables you to create GIFs, a feature that many other photo editing software won’t offer.

Windows 10 and macOS users can download PhotoScape for free; still, if you want to appreciate all the best tools PhotoScape has come up with, you can enjoy the paid version.

Free Software To Edit Photos On Mac

Most of us have heard of this photo editing giant – made by Adobe, Lightroom makes one of the most convenient and rich-in-tools software for editing and retouching.

Lightroom operates as cloud storage, which implies that you can keep your images within the app. Take control over all the basic settings: brightness, contrast, shadows, whites and blacks, color adjustment, clarity, sharpness and much more. Change the size and rotate the picture, add presets and frames. Also, be sure to try to create your own presets and share them with others! The variety of features will impress you.

Import images directly from your digital camera or SD card and get to work straight away. Save edited photos in any format you like.

This is one of the best photo editing software for PC with free a download option. Photolemur is rather new on the market compared to the above-mentioned apps. However, this software is not inferior, for it offers you a quick automatic edit with the help of the Enhance tool. You can also smoothen the skin with Enhance Face and make a portrait look more appealing.

Photolemur has a secret – it operates based on AI that conducts an analysis of a photo and creates a unique way to improve its quality.

The users can process many photos at once, which saves time and effort. Just use the Enhance tool and the work is done! The software is available for free download, but not without a watermark in your picture.

11. Pixlr (Web or Mobile Versions)

This photo editor runs in the browser, which has both its pros and cons. The good thing about it is that you don’t depend on any device or OS, the bad one – the app won’t operate without Flash and you’ll have to get used to the advertisement.

You can import photos from your PC or from Facebook, which may save you some time if you’re in a hurry. Another remarkable advantage of Pixlr is the customizability of the interface, which implies that the program will meet your unique demands and preferences in terms of design.

Pixlr can offer many advanced features for transforming your photos. For example, within Pixlr users can apply layers, use brushes, adjust light settings or manage colors. Quite a bargain for a free editor!

As you can see from the name of the software, its main goal is to process RAW files in the most efficient and sophisticated way, so that the photos could maintain their quality and look even better after editing.

RawTherapee is perfect if you want to modify the exposure, shadows, color settings, temperature, contrast and some other aspects. You can also manipulate the format and resize the photo.

Those of you who prefer to complete several tasks at once may be disappointed that RawTherapee allows you to process only one file at a time. Nonetheless, the well-thought design makes you enjoy the process and dive into it fully.

RawTherapee enables you to make presets and save the needed settings to apply them to another file. This is a nice free option if you don’t feel like buying a photo editor program.

13. DarkTable

This software takes the leading position as far as the number of tools is concerned – here you will be able to crop, rotate, work with curves, adjust white balance and much more. In each separate section, the users will find the corresponding tools.

Image Editor For Mac Free

Process RAW files at ease – bring out new layers and angles in a picture. With DarkTable you can make the colors pop out or emphasize sharpness and natural beauty.

Free Editing Pictures Software For Mac

This is a decent opponent to Lightroom, although you don’t have to pay in order to use DarkTable. It’s powerful and simple at the same time, and that is a fact.

14. InPixio

Bring your pictures to a new level with InPixio – smartly designed and useful photo editor. You will be able to apply filters and designs, as well as create frames or just crop your images. Needless to say, such basic features as brightness, contrast and color managing are all here.

The app has numerous versions and updates, which lets you pick the best one with the most suitable interface and tools. The customers can choose between InPixio Photo Clip 8 and InPixio Photo Clip 8 Professional, the second offering 100+ effects, a handle of frames and text adding features.

One of the high points is the change of background – the software can automatically wipe it or you can paint it on your own. Bring the most important details into focus with the focus tool. Feel sure about InPixio? Don’t wait and purchase it now.

Another famous photo editor for PC is definitely worth your attention – you will take advantage of the minimalistic design and all the necessary tools for better image processing. Create a masterpiece by working on clarity, white balance, saturation, curves and so on. For portrait photographers, Picktorial offers a variety of features to improve the skin or make it smooth.

Brushes and gradients make up a great basis for your adjustments and creative deeds. The interface may appear similar to the Lightroom’s, but it is more of an advantage. Choose the visibility for each tool.

The most attention developers paid to color adjustments – you will make great use of the Color Mask tool and other opportunities to render this aspect of your picture.

Do you like your images out-of-the-ordinary and bizarre? Want to stand out on Instagram? Well, then Polarr is the best software you will find. It’s popular for its impressive effects that have no equivalent on the market.

Creating your own filters and using editing tools for face makes the basis, while unusual effects like light leaks and flares spice up the software. Brushes, color masks, enhance, vignette, curves – all of them allow you to process your pictures the best way and get the needed results.

Users can customize the interface, change dark or white mode or create a new colorful design. There is only paid subscription available, although very affordable -- $2,49 a month for quality photo retouch and editing.

ON1 photo editing software aims at providing the best services for those who want to make a change with their photography. If you need time to make acquaintances with ON1 – take advantage of a 30-day free trial.

The app is great to manage RAW files, it adds depth and sharpness to a picture to an extent suitable for each user. You can organize photos the way you find it convenient and pick those that you would like to work with.

Mac and Windows users can purchase the software and enjoy the whole range of features and tools. Want to make the grass look greener? No problem! Irritated by those red eyes? There will be no more! Change the contrast, blur the background, manage colors and never stop creating with ON1.

18. Photopea (Online app)

We close our list with this advanced photo editing software that is in no way worse than all the previous options. The design resembles that of Photoshop and boasts with its simplicity and minimalism. Every tool is kept in its own place and can be reached easily, so you don’t have to worry about losing the essential brushes or settings.

You can manage photos with the help of layers, brushes, filters, crop-and-rotate tools and many others. Save your settings to apply them as a preset later. Erase whatever you dislike in your image or add new elements or even text.

Photopea is a decent solution for those of you who need a cheaper alternative to Lightroom or Photoshop. Here it is, waiting for you to download it and get down to creating beautiful pictures!

We hope these variants of editing software will bring out your creativity and imagination!