For many users, photography is turning from a hobby into a profession. If you want to become a professional photographer, you simply can’t do without the best picture enhancer. But how to choose it? This question is of interest to many users.
Of course, the easiest thing to do is to go to the websites of such giants as Photoshop or Lightroom and download these photo editors. However, a lot of great alternatives have recently emerged. For example, Luminar Neo — an AI picture enhancer — is great. It is very simple and easy to use, which will allow beginners to quickly understand it and get started. Experienced photographers will be pleased with the wide range of tools for post-processing. There are also other programs, such as GIMP or Elements, which are worth paying attention to.
So how do you find an app that’s right for you? We have collected the most valuable tips to help you make the right choice. Well, let’s go!
Remember that Photographers’ Needs are Different
You may be looking for an app to help you with basic photo processing. Then you don’t need a professional tool that can, for example, replace the background or automatically remove gear lines. Perhaps, on the contrary, you need apps that can do that. Then you can’t do without the light version. Think about what exactly the photo editor that’s right for you should do, and only then make a decision. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- The choice between portrait, landscape, nature, and art photography. Depending on what you choose, the application that suits you will change. For example, you may want natural images and fine filters, local adjustments and intelligent image enhancement tools, image drawing tools, support for graphic tablets, and rich brush libraries.
- The presence or absence of batch editing capabilities. If you are a professional photographer, you can’t do without batch editing.
- Presets and filters. A good library can save you time and energy. You don’t need to recreate the same style over and over again. Make sure you choose a photo editor that includes a wide range of presets and do your post-processing quickly and happily.
Cross-Platform License Availability
Imagine you found the best AI picture enhancer for your Windows computer and it is only available on Mac. It’s a real shame, isn’t it? Photographers often own both a Windows PC and a Mac for their needs. Consequently, they may desire to use their preferred photo editing software on both platforms without having to purchase a separate version for each. Even if they currently use only one platform, such as a PC, they may consider switching to the other platform in the future, making it convenient to have a license that can be used on both.
Moreover, it is essential to consider the number of computers on which the photo editor may be used. Certain licenses may restrict the usage of the software to only one computer, necessitating the purchase of additional licenses. Therefore, it is crucial to take into account such factors while making a decision.
RAW File Compatibility
Earlier on this point, you could not pay so much attention, but now it has become really important. Encountering problems with software that doesn’t support a recently released camera and experiencing issues with the image quality of your RAW file converter are both possible. For example, some RAW converters may struggle with converting RAW files from a Fuji camera, while others may perform exceptionally well.
Customer Support
Very often this factor is underestimated. And in vain, because a lot depends on customer support. As soon as you have a problem, you need to address it right away. Answer the following questions for yourself:
- Does customer support work 24/7 or does it have a fixed schedule?
- Can customer support be contacted through the official website?
- How can you contact customer support? Does it have a live chat, phone, or just email?
If customer support is not available 24 hours a day, it will not be able to process your request quickly, so you will have to wait quite a long time. If you can only contact her by email, you shouldn’t expect a quick response either. Ideally, the developer has a separate thematic forum where users share problems and find solutions. Perhaps this way you won’t even have to contact the support team.
Learning Materials
Do you require extensive learning resources to use the photo editing software proficiently? Additionally, is there easy access to such materials? Are there tutorials and books available that cater to the specific photo editor you are interested in, and are they suitable for your level of expertise, and available in a format that suits you best? Different people have different preferences, such as print books, e-books, online reference guides, or video tutorials. It is crucial to explore the options available before selecting a photo editor.
Closing Thoughts
One last piece of advice we’ll give you – don’t be afraid to use the free trial that most post-processing app developers offer. You will be able to evaluate their tools, and after that, it will be much easier to make a choice.
We’ve given you some tips, and the rest is up to you! We wish you success and inspiration!
