Aperture gone. ON1?

[tbob]

I saw Richard's post and decided to ask a related question.

With the demise of Aperture I am looking for a new program. I use NIK addons as well. My base procedure is: sensor spot patrol and remove some small distractions (love the clone and repair tools in Aperture), adjust saturation, adjust midtone contrast, sharpen and adjust the white balance if needed to warmup a bit. Then into NIK for local adjustments or convert to monochrome.

Should I consider ON1. As well a LR. Or alone?

Creative Suite, or even Elements in my hands is overkill. Way more than I need.

[DanK]

I've never used On1, but LR will certainly do all you listed. I think there might be a free demo you can download.

[Brev00]

I am not sure why Elements would be overkill. It makes a great home base for plug-ins. I use Nik as well as Perfect Photo Suite 9 and Topaz. Elements will do the adjustments you like but not demand you use any other features. You might enjoy experimenting with the art filters. I have found it to be very easy to operate. The plug-ins are actually more expensive than Elements itself. Nik is a particularly nice plug-in for Elements since Elements does not have local adjustments (you can select areas very easily) and Silver Efex is far superior to the conversion feature in Elements. Perfect Photo Suite has a very nice black and white plug-in that I use more and more. It is all very nice stuff.

[tbob]

I've never used On1, but LR will certainly do all you listed. I think there might be a free demo you can download.

Lightroom is on the list. And it may be all I need. My problem with Adobe is the need for internet connection (I assume). My home internet is satellite link; sketchy and unstable for downloads or uploads.

Capture I is the other program I am looking at as an option.

[tbob]

I am not sure why Elements would be overkill. It makes a great home base for plug-ins. I use Nik as well as Perfect Photo Suite 9 and Topaz. Elements will do the adjustments you like but not demand you use any other features. You might enjoy experimenting with the art filters. I have found it to be very easy to operate. The plug-ins are actually more expensive than Elements itself. Nik is a particularly nice plug-in for Elements since Elements does not have local adjustments (you can select areas very easily) and Silver Efex is far superior to the conversion feature in Elements. Perfect Photo Suite has a very nice black and white plug-in that I use more and more. It is all very nice stuff.

I used Element several years ago, did not like the user interface. And I need to migrate my Aperture Library to the new program. So far Lightroom and Capture 1 seem to be the best options. Capture 1 is ahead on points due to my internet problems

[NorthernFocus]

Hey, Trevor. One thing to note about the ON1 product is that it is not a RAW converter. So you need something to do your base RAW processing. Plus if you don't need to use layers and you think PSE is overkill, then ON1 will be overkill as well. However, ON1 had some excellent cloning and masking tools. One issue with PSE is that most of the functions (including the cloning tools I believe) only work in 8bit mode. For the kind of work you do I suspect 16bit processing is useful.

LR has functions for simple spot removal but is pretty basic for any cloning of powerlines, etc. LR is still available as a standalone product. The only thing you need the internet connection for is license registration.

PSE does have ACR built into it. You could use it as a RAW converter and then NIK/Topaz/ON1 plugins and still maintain 16bit processing. Cost-wise that would run about the equivalent of purchasing the standalone version of LR.

Other may recommend a freeware RAW converter as I know there are a few out there.

Full disclosure after several years of using PSE in conjunction with Nikon software, I have fully converted to LR/ON1 in combo. I'm happy with it but we all have different needs.

[davidedric]

Hi Trevor,

A couple of things. Lightroom CC only needs an internet connection briefly once a month to verify your licence, so any internet connection will suffice. It also has an excellent dust spot identifier, which makes that a breeze.

As has been noted, its cloning is more limited, though the local adjustments you can do have come on leaps and bounds. It's global only, but the new dehaze filter is marvellous.

However, all its masking is done behind the scenes, so if you need explicit mask and layers you will likely need something else. Same for collages; except for hdr and panoramas Lightroom is strictly one image at a time.

Of course Lightroom's huge plus is that all its editing is non-destructive!

However, I also use Nik, mostly for b&w, and On1 when I need layers. Confession: I have Photoshop through the CC deal, but after several attempts I have failed to master it (I just don't need it very often) and I find On1 much more intuitive.

Dave

[IzzieK]

Add On One and Nik with Lightroom and you'd be home and hose...I do not use Lightroom as I have Photoshop CS6 -- purportedly the last Adobe without cloud, stand alone but since these are plug-ins and On One can be stand alone if you want, I have both. Thrown Topaz out of the window...sorry Topaz...too much to worry about...

[Thlayle]

I saw Richard's post and decided to ask a related question.

With the demise of Aperture I am looking for a new program. I use NIK addons as well. My base procedure is: sensor spot patrol and remove some small distractions (love the clone and repair tools in Aperture), adjust saturation, adjust midtone contrast, sharpen and adjust the white balance if needed to warmup a bit. Then into NIK for local adjustments or convert to monochrome.

Should I consider ON1. As well a LR. Or alone?

Creative Suite, or even Elements in my hands is overkill. Way more than I need.

Trevor,

I have not used ON1 so I cannot comment on that aspect of your question. Having been an Aperture user for a long time, I can say after making the transition to Lightroom that I am very happy with the change and no longer miss Aperture at all.

Beyond that, I am using the CC Photography Program and am getting well acquainted with Photoshop and am using it more and more all the time. So, going back to your 'overkill' concern, that is exactly what I originally thought of Photoshop. Having it now in the toolset, I no longer think that way and don't see myself going back to using only a parametric editor again for all of my work.

Regards,

Randy

[mastamak]

A couple of years ago I wrote a similar question to this forum asking why I should install and learn Lightroom. Just about everyone replied with (to paraphrase Bill Clinton) - "its the catalog -stupid". And they were right! The power of Lightroom lies in its catalog which makes finding and manipulating large volumes of photos easy. I now have the Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop subscription model and use OnOne and NIK as plugins as needed. Each program has its own individual advantages.
OnOne has some great presets and its portrait editing is excellent but they now have an upgrade for which they are charging $90 for what seems like fairly superficial changes. Adobe upgrades free of charge on a fairly regular basis.
From for the editing that you mention in your post, Trevor, I think you will find Lightroom quite adequate and you will have the advantage of a powerful cataloging process.

[tbob]

I suspect I may end up with Lightroom and maybe Photoshop. Once I move to a spot where I have reliable internet connection, as any cloud based option is out for now.

A two friends of mine laughed when I told them about my quandry about choosing one program. Both are professionals (one does portraits, the other does commercial/industrial/advertising) they use, or have tried, about every program you can imagine on both Mac and PC. Their advice: don't worry about it. Almost everything out there is fantastic compared to what existed 10 years ago. Unless I am heavily into image manipulation anything will work.

[inkista]

... My problem with Adobe is the need for internet connection (I assume)...

You don't have to get the CC version of Lightroom. You could get the standalone version. The main disadvantages are that you don't get any of the new features in point releases (i.e. 6.x releases--you have to wait for version 7) E.g., the dehaze slider isn't there in the standalone version of Lr, but is there in the CC version. And you don't get to use the Mobile versions of anything (because the cloud component relies on you having a CC account).

But no internet connection required, unless you get electronic delivery of the installer (i.e., download it from Adobe's website). See:

http://owenbillcliffe.co.uk/lightroo...alone-upgrade/

Here in the US, B&H still sells you a DVD if you want it.

[rpcrowe]

Add On One and Nik with Lightroom and you'd be home and hose...I do not use Lightroom as I have Photoshop CS6 -- purportedly the last Adobe without cloud, stand alone but since these are plug-ins and On One can be stand alone if you want, I have both. Thrown Topaz out of the window...sorry Topaz...too much to worry about...

I use the same as Izzie: CS6, NIK and On-One. There is a bit of duplication between these programs but, I like certain of the programs for specific tasks and the CS6 plus the NIK and On-One are really a great combination.

I really like On-One Perfect Resize for just that. It is a great way to resize including output sharpening. I like NIK RAW Sharpener and I use NIK Viveza for many of my PP tasks. I absolutely LOVE the NIK Control Point system.

I had not installed NIK or On-One on my wife's computer and when my computer was in the shop, I did some PP using CS6 alone. I found that I really missed the On-One and NIK capabilities. I installed NIK on her computer as a Photoshop CS6 Plug-in and plan on installing On-One also as part of the five computer license that On-One allows.

I have been using On-One for several years now and they have provided all the upgrades free of charge. I don't mind paying the $89.95 for this upgrade...

[IzzieK]

The girlfriend of my stepson who is now living with us likes to get involved in photography and asked if I can teach her. This is after I have done a photoshoot of her "handing over her crown" as the Miss Gateway Midwest festival. So last week, she asked if it is advisable for her to learn and subscribe to CC. Since she doesn't have a real job yet (via her chosen career) I said I will teach her but she will have to learn from my other computer upstairs. Then she said she has Photoshop CS6 on her Mac. I advised her to get Nik or I'll get it for her. I said those two will see her through until she can buy her own camera...I am lending her my D90 if I am not using it. I intend that it will be easier if I show her how her the camera works first, have her shoot her first image and I will sit her down in front of Photoshop and teach her the basics and the work flow I use.

I suspect I may end up with Lightroom and maybe Photoshop. Once I move to a spot where I have reliable internet connection, as any cloud based option is out for now.

A two friends of mine laughed when I told them about my quandry about choosing one program. Both are professionals (one does portraits, the other does commercial/industrial/advertising) they use, or have tried, about every program you can imagine on both Mac and PC. Their advice: don't worry about it. Almost everything out there is fantastic compared to what existed 10 years ago. Unless I am heavily into image manipulation anything will work.

[billtils]

Hi Trevor

There are several threads on "RIP Aperture" that will overload you with choices! FWIW, after trying just about everything on 30 day free trials (including LR and onOne), I moved to Capture One with Affinity Photo as an external editor. I am delighted with the outcome. It was easy to successfully recreate my Aperture library structure; its RAW engine is superb; and its External Editor/Open with functions let me call not only AP but also the occasional plugin (I'm not keen on plugins but mention it as it was in item in your OP).

If you decide to take advantage of the free trial, I suggest that you read these first to get your catalog set up right (and you can get a 10% discount), and that you use Aperture Exporter to import Album by album.

[davidedric]

Bill's post reminds me that Lightroom has a conversion utility from Aperture built in.

Dave

[billtils]

Yep, and it was as useless as you-know-what on a bull for importing a large library - one of several reasons I didn't go with LR.

(To be fair, I may have been part of the problem and not doing it right; but I had the same issues with all the DAM options I tried out except for Capture One Pro8).

Bill

[davidedric]

Fair enough. Never needed to try it. Though I am rather sure it has helped others.

For interest, what were your other reasons for not choosing Lightroom?

Dave

[billtils]

Hello Dave

It's been a while now, but the 2 main things as far as I remember were the problems with conversion of the Aperture library (as mentioned above), and I didn't like the workflow. There was probably a bit of subconscious prejudice too as I used Photoshop Express some years ago because I needed it to edit illustrations for a text book - and it nearly drove me crazy!

I'd prefer to be positive and reiterate that the main reason was a higher degree of comfort with Capture One than any of the others . These things tend to be somewhat subjective mind you - one of the first places I go each time I log on to CIC is the current batch of mini comps and about half the time I end up shaking my head in disbelief at what garners (or does not garner) votes!

[IzzieK]

I do not know what sort of votes counts, but I vote for members who participate with the forums best -- I do not know most of those that participate there. And if there are many of them that participate like the monthly ones, it is a real headache to choose so sometimes I don't vote. The mini ones, I do and it feels good to give even just my vote in appreciation to them that I am familiar with...like an old friend, they make you feel comfortable.

Hello Dave

It's been a while now, but the 2 main things as far as I remember were the problems with conversion of the Aperture library (as mentioned above), and I didn't like the workflow. There was probably a bit of subconscious prejudice too as I used Photoshop Express some years ago because I needed it to edit illustrations for a text book - and it nearly drove me crazy!

I'd prefer to be positive and reiterate that the main reason was a higher degree of comfort with Capture One than any of the others . These things tend to be somewhat subjective mind you - one of the first places I go each time I log on to CIC is the current batch of mini comps and about half the time I end up shaking my head in disbelief at what garners (or does not garner) votes!