Popular image editing software

Popular image editing software and clever extensions: An overview

The market for image editing software has become ever larger and more diverse in recent years. Where once you could hardly avoid industry giants such as Adobe, there is now a wide range of programs for very different approaches, use cases and levels. From beginner-friendly software with AI support to special software for astrophotography, there is a wide range of software on the market. In addition to classic software, there are also plugins that add new features and possibilities to the main software.

Presenting all programs would go beyond the scope of this article, so we would like to take a look at a few programs and applications as examples.

An overview of popular image editing software

Adobe Photoshop: The all-rounder for professionals

Adobe Photoshop is probably the best-known image editing software on the market and is appreciated by photographers worldwide. Its extensive functions enable almost any type of image editing, from simple exposure and color corrections to in-depth retouching and complex montages. Adobe Photoshop is also well-known and popular for its ability to work with layers and tools such as the correction stamp or the generative filling of areas.

Practical examples:

• Editing images

  : Tonal value adjustments, applying creative filters, cropping subjects from the background and exporting as a PNG

• Composings

  : Working with layers, enhancing images with AI, intensifying colors and removing distracting objects from the image.

Adobe Lightroom: The photographer's version of Photoshop

Adobe Lightroom offers powerful tools for RAW development and non-destructive editing of images. With its wide range of tools, which are aimed specifically at photographers, it can be used for everything from fine adjustments to extensive color grading and local adjustments. Adobe Lightroom is also ideal for editing and managing large volumes of images, which is particularly beneficial for wedding or event photographers.

Practical examples:

• Portrait retouching

  : remove skin blemishes, adjust color tones (skin, eyes) and emphasize details such as eyes and hair.

• Cataloguing

  : Organize images in the cloud or on the PC (Classic version).

• Editing

  : Efficient adjustment of exposure, contrast and colors.

Capture One: The choice of professionals

Capture One, developed by Phase One, offers advanced color correction and tethered shooting features that are particularly popular with studio photographers. The software is known for its accurate color reproduction and its ability to extract details from RAW files.

Possibilities with Capture One:

• Tethered shooting

  : direct image transfer from camera to computer, ideal for controlled studio shots.

• Color correction

  : Detailed adjustment of hue and saturation for precise results.

DxO PhotoLab: Precision and quality

DxO PhotoLab offers powerful tools for image optimization and RAW editing. The software is particularly well known for its excellent noise reduction, with which it is usually ahead of its competitors, and for its optical corrections, which also promptly support new hardware.

Practical examples:

• Photos in low light

  : Effective reduction of image noise without loss of detail, ideal for shots in low light conditions.

• Architectural photography

  : Automatic correction of lens errors such as distortion and vignetting.

Radiant Photo: Quick and easy image enhancement

Screenshot: Sarah A. Fechler, Photo: Sarah A. Fechler, Model: Julia Harrer (all New C)

Radiant Photo is a user-friendly software that enables fast and effective image enhancements. It uses advanced algorithms to optimize images with just a few clicks. The software offers automatic development via AI, which does not patronize, but provides suggestions that can be adapted. Particularly noteworthy here are the retouching options for portrait photographers, where all types of skin tones can be optimized with one click, and dark circles can be removed or eyes emphasized.

Practical examples:

• Automatic adjustments

  : Automatic correction of exposure, colors and contrast. Quick retouching and extensive retouching options for portraits.

• Custom presets

  : Creation and application of individual presets for consistent results across different image series.

Useful plugins for image editing software

Nik Collection: Creative filters and effects

DxO's Nik Collection offers a variety of creative filters and effects that integrate seamlessly with programs like Photoshop and Lightroom. It contains tools for black and white conversions, color corrections and special effects.

Included in the software

• Silver Efex Pro

  : conversion of color images into stunning black and white photographs.

• Viveza

  : Selective adjustment of color and tonal values without masks or complicated selections.

Topaz Labs: AI-supported image enhancement

Topaz Labs develops plugins based on artificial intelligence to improve image quality. These include tools for sharpening, noise reduction and enlarging images without loss of quality.

Included in the software scope:

• Topaz

  DeNoise AI

  : Reduces image noise while preserving detail, ideal for shooting in low light conditions.

• Topaz

  Gigapixel AI

  : Enlarges images by up to 600% without any visible loss of quality, perfect for large-format prints.

Radiant Photo: Quick improvements via plugin

Radiant Photo is also available as a software plugin for Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom and Corel PaintShop Pro. For example, if you want the aforementioned quick eye ring retouching, but otherwise like to develop the image in Lightroom, you can use the plugin.

Included in the software scope:

• Retouching

  : remove skin blemishes and shine, optimize skin tones, whiten teeth, remove dark circles in seconds.

• Looks

  : Radiant Photo also offers a wide selection of presets and filters (called looks) for creative effects.

Manufacturer software: Software and hardware from a single source

Some camera manufacturers also offer their own image editing software, which is free of charge for system users. The advantage of such image editing software is that the RAW formats and lens corrections of the manufacturer's system are usually implemented and supported more quickly than with the open-market competition.

NX Studio: The solution for Nikon users

NX Studio is the free image editing software from Nikon, which was specially developed for editing and managing Nikon images. The software offers comprehensive RAW processing functions and seamless integration with other Nikon software solutions. The software also offers image management options.

Practical examples:

• RAW processing

  : fine-tune NEF RAW files to achieve the best possible image quality.

• Image organization

  : Effective management and sorting of images directly in the software.

Phocus: Professional image processing for Hasselblad

Phocus is Hasselblad's image processing software specifically designed for processing RAW files from Hasselblad cameras. It offers advanced tools for image editing and color correction ensuring a high level of integration with Hasselblad cameras and accessories.

Practical examples:

• Color management

  : precise color corrections and adjustments for outstanding color reproduction of Hasselblad images.

• Detail enhancement

  : Advanced sharpening and noise reduction tools for razor-sharp images.

Special software for special applications

In addition to classic image editing software, there is also software that has been specially optimized for certain photo genres and special activities. Experts like to use these programs, as these functions sometimes have less influence in classic image editing programs or the necessary functions are only available in a rudimentary form. These include, for example, programs for stacking astro shots, macro shots or panoramic images. Here, too, we would like to present a few examples.

SIRIL: Astrophotography made easy

SIRIL is a specialized software for processing astrophotographs. It offers tools for calibrating, stacking and processing images taken with telescopes. In addition, this software is not only available for macOS and Windows, but also for Linux

Practical examples:

• Image calibration

  : Correction of sensor artifacts and vignetting in astro images.

• Stacking

  : Combining several images to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and to emphasize fine details in the night sky.

DeepSkyStacker: Efficient stacking for clear astro images

DeepSkyStacker is a free software specially developed for stacking astro images. It combines several images to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and make fine details visible.

Practical examples:

• Light Frames

  : Combining images to improve image quality.

• Dark Frames and Flat Frames

  : Correction of sensor noise and optical artifacts for clean images of the night sky.

Starry Landscape Stacker: Landscape and stars in perfection

Starry Landscape Stacker is a specialized software for Mac users who want to create astro-landscape images. This software combines several images to display both the starry sky and the landscape in detail in the image.

Practical examples:

• Stellar Alignment

  : Alignment and combination of images of the starry sky to avoid motion blur.

• Landscape Blending

  : Integration of landscape and sky elements to create a harmonious overall image.

Helicon Focus: Focus stacking for impressive macro photography

Helicon Focus is software that has been specially developed for focus stacking. The focus stacking technique is often used in macro photography to achieve a continuous depth of field. In the software, macro photographers can combine individual shots with different focus points to create an image with a special depth of field.

Practical examples:

• Macro photography

  : Combining images with different focus points into a single, sharp image.

• Product photography

  : Creating images with maximum depth of field for professional product shots.

Tips for choosing the right software

Which software is used can depend on very different factors. Some prefer it quick and easy - others want full control over the entire process, even if this takes considerably more time. Here are five tips for anyone who is thinking about buying image editing software and doesn't know which one is right for them.

• Purpose and need

  : Think about what kind of photography you do and which functions are important and necessary for you.

• Ease of use

  : Do you want all-encompassing software that may require significantly more training time? Or do you want an intuitive user interface that is easy to master and offers practical tips?

• Integration and expandability

  : Check whether the software is available on your system and whether it supports desired plug-ins and extensions.

• Price-performance ratio

  : Software is usually available either as a single purchase or as a monthly subscription. Compare the cost of the software with the functions it offers and decide whether the investment is worthwhile for your purposes.

Conclusion: The image editing software for your photographic journey

Choosing the right image editing software and the right plugins is a process. From all-rounders like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom to specialized programs like Capture One and SIRIL to useful add-ons like the Nik Collection and Topaz Labs, the right software is the one that will help you realize your photographic visions and images. Which software this is can vary depending on the photographic genre and the respective application. Tip: Most image editing programs offer free trial periods. Take advantage of these and put the software you are considering through its paces. Don't be afraid to try out different programs to find out which one best suits your working style. Then decide on the programs and plug-ins that give you the tools you need.