Affinity Photo vs ACDSee Photo Studio

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Our analysts compared Affinity Photo vs ACDSee Photo Studio based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Photo Editing Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

ACDSee Photo Studio Software Tool

Product Basics

Affinity Photo is a robust photo editing software designed to handle a wide array of tasks, from basic adjustments to complex manipulations. It is particularly well-suited for professional photographers, graphic designers, and digital artists due to its comprehensive toolset and high performance. The software excels in providing advanced features such as non-destructive editing, RAW processing, and sophisticated layer management, making it a powerful alternative in the photo editing industry.

One of the standout benefits of Affinity Photo is its affordability, offering a one-time purchase model rather than a subscription-based service, which can be more economical in the long run. Users appreciate its intuitive interface and the seamless experience it provides, even when handling large files or intricate projects. The software's ability to support a wide range of file formats and its compatibility with both macOS and Windows platforms further enhance its appeal.

Compared to similar products, Affinity Photo is often praised for its speed and efficiency, particularly in rendering and exporting images. For specific pricing details, it is recommended to contact SelectHub to obtain a quote tailored to individual needs.

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ACDSee Photo Studio is a comprehensive software solution designed for photo editing, digital asset management, and workflow optimization. It offers a robust suite of tools for editing images, including advanced color correction, layer-based editing, and precision retouching. The software is particularly well-suited for professional photographers, graphic designers, and digital artists who require powerful editing capabilities and efficient organization of large photo libraries. Industries such as media, marketing, and creative services often find it invaluable due to its extensive feature set and ease of use.

One of the standout benefits of ACDSee Photo Studio is its integrated digital asset management system, which allows users to catalog, search, and manage their photo collections seamlessly. Popular features include non-destructive editing, customizable presets, and batch processing, which significantly enhance productivity. Users often praise its intuitive interface and the ability to handle RAW files from various camera models.

Compared to similar products, ACDSee Photo Studio is frequently noted for its affordability and comprehensive feature set. Pricing details can vary, so it is recommended to contact SelectHub for a tailored quote based on specific needs.

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$49.99 One-Time
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$49.95 One-Time
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
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Product Insights

  • Cost-Effective: Affinity Photo offers a one-time purchase model, eliminating the need for ongoing subscription fees, making it a budget-friendly option for professionals and hobbyists alike.
  • High Performance: The software is optimized for both macOS and Windows, ensuring smooth and fast performance even with large files and complex edits.
  • Comprehensive Toolset: Affinity Photo provides a wide range of professional-grade tools, from advanced selection techniques to detailed retouching capabilities, allowing for precise and high-quality edits.
  • Non-Destructive Editing: With features like live filters, adjustments, and layer effects, users can make changes without permanently altering the original image, preserving the integrity of their work.
  • Seamless Workflow Integration: Affinity Photo supports a variety of file formats, including PSD, making it easy to integrate into existing workflows and collaborate with users of other software.
  • Advanced Layer Management: The software offers robust layer handling, including unlimited layers, layer groups, and adjustment layers, enabling complex compositions and edits.
  • Precision and Control: Tools like the Pen Tool and advanced brush dynamics provide users with the precision needed for detailed work, such as digital painting and intricate selections.
  • Regular Updates: Affinity Photo is continually updated with new features and improvements, ensuring users have access to the latest tools and technologies.
  • Cross-Platform Consistency: The software maintains a consistent user experience across both macOS and Windows, allowing users to switch between platforms without a learning curve.
  • Extensive Learning Resources: Affinity Photo offers a wealth of tutorials, forums, and documentation, helping users of all skill levels to master the software and improve their editing skills.
  • Customizable Interface: Users can tailor the workspace to their preferences, enhancing productivity by allowing them to focus on the tools and features they use most frequently.
  • High-Quality Output: Affinity Photo supports high-resolution outputs and professional color spaces, ensuring that final images meet the standards required for print and digital media.
  • Batch Processing: The software includes batch processing capabilities, enabling users to apply consistent edits to multiple images efficiently, saving time on repetitive tasks.
  • Advanced Retouching: Tools like frequency separation, inpainting, and liquify provide powerful options for retouching photos, making it easier to achieve professional results.
  • Panorama Stitching: Affinity Photo's panorama stitching feature allows users to create seamless panoramic images from multiple photos, expanding creative possibilities.
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  • Enhanced Productivity: Streamline your workflow with intuitive tools that reduce the time spent on photo management and editing tasks.
  • Non-Destructive Editing: Make adjustments without altering the original image, allowing for greater flexibility and experimentation.
  • Advanced Color Correction: Achieve precise color adjustments with tools like Color EQ and Color Wheel, ensuring your photos look exactly as intended.
  • Comprehensive Asset Management: Organize your photo library efficiently with features like keyword tagging, ratings, and categories, making it easier to locate specific images.
  • Batch Processing: Apply edits and adjustments to multiple photos simultaneously, saving significant time on repetitive tasks.
  • RAW Image Support: Work with RAW files from various camera models, preserving the highest quality and detail in your photos.
  • Layered Editing: Utilize layers to create complex compositions and edits, offering greater control over the final image.
  • Facial Recognition: Automatically identify and tag people in your photos, simplifying the process of organizing and searching for images.
  • Customizable Workspace: Tailor the interface to suit your workflow preferences, enhancing comfort and efficiency during editing sessions.
  • Comprehensive Metadata Management: Edit and manage metadata to ensure your photos are properly documented and easily searchable.
  • Seamless Integration: Easily integrate with other software and platforms, allowing for a smooth transition between different stages of your workflow.
  • Regular Updates: Benefit from continuous improvements and new features through regular software updates, keeping your tools up-to-date.
  • Extensive Learning Resources: Access a wealth of tutorials, guides, and community support to help you master the software and improve your skills.
  • High-Quality Export Options: Export your images in various formats and resolutions, ensuring they meet the requirements for different platforms and uses.
  • Cost-Effective Solution: Enjoy a comprehensive set of features at a competitive price, providing excellent value for both amateur and professional photographers.
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  • Non-Destructive Editing: Allows you to make changes to your images without permanently altering the original file.
  • Advanced Layer System: Supports unlimited layers, including adjustment layers, live filter layers, and mask layers.
  • Comprehensive RAW Editing: Provides a complete workspace for developing RAW files with extensive controls for exposure, white balance, and more.
  • Panorama Stitching: Seamlessly combines multiple images to create wide-angle panoramas with automatic alignment and color correction.
  • Focus Stacking: Merges multiple images taken at different focal distances to produce a single image with a greater depth of field.
  • HDR Merge: Combines several exposure-bracketed images into a single high dynamic range (HDR) image with tone mapping controls.
  • Batch Processing: Automates repetitive tasks by applying the same set of edits to multiple images simultaneously.
  • Retouching Tools: Includes a variety of tools such as the Healing Brush, Clone Stamp, and Inpainting Brush for precise image correction.
  • Advanced Selection Refinement: Offers sophisticated selection tools and refinement options to accurately isolate subjects or areas within an image.
  • Live Filters: Apply filters non-destructively, allowing you to adjust settings and see real-time previews without permanently altering the image.
  • Customizable Workspaces: Tailor the interface to your workflow with flexible panels and toolbars that can be rearranged and saved as presets.
  • Vector Drawing Tools: Integrates vector tools for creating and editing shapes, paths, and text, making it suitable for both raster and vector graphics.
  • Macros: Record and replay a series of actions to automate complex workflows and repetitive tasks.
  • 360° Image Editing: Edit and export 360-degree images with support for equirectangular projections and live editing previews.
  • PSD Import/Export: Fully compatible with Adobe Photoshop files, allowing you to import and export PSD files with layers and effects intact.
  • Color Management: Supports ICC color profiles and offers advanced color correction tools, including curves, levels, and color balance adjustments.
  • Text Tools: Comprehensive text editing capabilities, including artistic text, frame text, and extensive typographic controls.
  • Plugins Support: Compatible with a wide range of Photoshop plugins to extend functionality and enhance your editing capabilities.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility: Available on macOS, Windows, and iPad, ensuring a consistent experience across different devices.
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  • Digital Asset Management: Efficiently organize, search, and manage your photo collection with advanced metadata tools and customizable categories.
  • RAW Image Processing: Handle RAW files from over 500 camera models, ensuring high-quality image processing and editing capabilities.
  • Layered Editing: Utilize layers for non-destructive editing, allowing for complex compositions and adjustments without altering the original image.
  • Light EQ™ Technology: Adjust lighting and exposure with precision using patented Light EQ™ technology, which offers detailed control over image brightness.
  • Facial Recognition: Automatically detect and tag faces in your photos, making it easier to organize and search for images of specific individuals.
  • Color Grading: Apply professional-grade color grading to your photos with intuitive tools for adjusting hue, saturation, and luminance.
  • Lens Correction: Correct lens distortions such as barrel and pincushion effects, ensuring your images are geometrically accurate.
  • Blended Cloning: Seamlessly remove unwanted objects from your photos with the Blended Clone tool, which intelligently blends surrounding pixels.
  • Batch Processing: Save time by applying edits and adjustments to multiple photos simultaneously with robust batch processing capabilities.
  • Focus Stacking: Combine multiple images taken at different focus distances to create a single image with greater depth of field.
  • Panorama Stitching: Merge several photos into a single panoramic image, perfect for capturing wide landscapes and cityscapes.
  • Customizable Interface: Tailor the user interface to your workflow with customizable toolbars, panes, and keyboard shortcuts.
  • Advanced Selection Tools: Make precise selections with tools like the Magic Wand, Lasso, and Polygonal Lasso, enabling targeted edits.
  • Dehaze Tool: Improve clarity and contrast in hazy or foggy images with the Dehaze tool, which effectively reduces atmospheric haze.
  • Geometry Correction: Correct perspective distortions and straighten images with powerful geometry correction tools.
  • Dynamic Contrast: Enhance image details and textures with the Dynamic Contrast tool, which adjusts contrast at different levels.
  • Watermarking: Protect your images by adding customizable watermarks, ensuring your work is properly credited.
  • Mobile Sync: Sync photos between your mobile device and ACDSee Photo Studio, making it easy to transfer and edit images on the go.
  • Cloud Integration: Integrate with popular cloud storage services like Dropbox and OneDrive for seamless access to your photos from anywhere.
  • Comprehensive Printing Options: Print your photos with a variety of layout and size options, ensuring high-quality physical copies of your work.
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Product Ranking

#8

among all
Photo Editing Software

#31

among all
Photo Editing Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

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Basic Editing Tools
User Interface and Experience
Advanced Editing Tools
Basic Editing Tools
User Interface and Experience
Platform Capabilities

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Affinity Photo
ACDSee Photo Studio
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Advanced Editing Tools Basic Editing Tools Collaboration Platform Capabilities User Interface And Experience 88 100 39 62 90 82 98 39 87 90 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Affinity Photo and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Basic Editing Tools.

Basic Editing Tools Award

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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Professional Features: Affinity Photo boasts a comprehensive suite of tools, including RAW file development, layers, blending modes, and a vast library of brushes, making it suitable for intricate photo editing tasks.
User-Friendly Interface: Its intuitive design and customizable workspace make it easy to navigate and utilize its features, even for users transitioning from other software.
Cost-Effective Solution: Unlike subscription-based models, Affinity Photo offers a one-time purchase, providing access to all future updates without recurring fees, making it a budget-friendly choice for businesses.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: With versions available for macOS, Windows, and iPad, users can seamlessly switch between devices while working on the same project, ensuring flexibility and efficiency.
High Performance: Known for its speed and smooth operation, Affinity Photo allows for efficient handling of large files and complex edits, optimizing workflow and productivity.
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AI-Powered Editing: ACDSee offers tools like AI face edit for targeted adjustments, streamlining portrait retouching.
Cost-Effective Alternative: ACDSee presents a compelling price point compared to subscription-based competitors, making it budget-friendly.
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Limited Content-Aware Editing: Affinity Photo's content-aware fill and other related tools are not as sophisticated as Photoshop's, potentially making complex edits or object removal more challenging and time-consuming.
No Built-in Asset Management: Unlike Photoshop, Affinity Photo lacks integrated tools for organizing and managing image libraries, which can be a significant hurdle for businesses dealing with large volumes of visual assets.
Absence of AI-Powered Noise Reduction: While Affinity Photo offers noise reduction tools, it lacks the advanced AI-powered capabilities found in Photoshop, potentially limiting its effectiveness for images with high noise levels.
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Flawed Selection Tools: Users report that the selection tools, especially the brush selection, are clunky and less precise compared to industry-standard software, making detailed edits challenging.
Ineffective AI Keywording: The AI-powered keywording feature has been criticized for its inaccuracy, often misidentifying image content and limiting its usefulness for organizing large photo libraries.
Unsuitable for Professional Use: ACDSee Photo Studio lacks the advanced features, performance, and reliability demanded by professional photographers and editors for high-end work.
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Is Affinity Photo a picture-perfect solution for your editing needs? Users rave about Affinity Photo's affordability, with its one-time purchase price standing in stark contrast to Adobe Photoshop's subscription model. This makes it particularly appealing to hobbyists or those on a budget who don't want to be locked into recurring payments. Users also appreciate Affinity Photo's user-friendly interface, which many find comparable to Photoshop's, making it relatively easy to learn and navigate. The software's ability to handle large files and deliver smooth performance, even on less powerful machines, is another significant plus highlighted by users. However, Affinity Photo isn't without its drawbacks. Users point out its limited plugin compatibility compared to Photoshop, which boasts a more extensive library. This can be a dealbreaker for professionals who rely on specific plugins for their workflow. Another limitation is the absence of advanced features like AI-powered tools and content-aware fill, which are available in Photoshop. While Affinity Photo excels in many areas, these missing features can be a hurdle for users requiring more sophisticated editing capabilities. Overall, Affinity Photo emerges as a capable and budget-friendly alternative for photographers and editors who prioritize value for money and ease of use. However, professionals seeking a full-fledged suite of tools and advanced features might find Photoshop a more suitable, albeit pricier, option.

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Can you ACDSee yourself using this photo editing software? User reviews for ACDSee Photo Studio are a mixed bag, with some praising its potential as a Lightroom and Photoshop substitute, while others point out glaring flaws. Fans of the software appreciate its robust digital asset management system and AI-powered features. For instance, the software allows users to organize their photos using AI keywords and provides a seamless transition between the "Develop" and "Edit" modules, unlike the back-and-forth dance required between Lightroom and Photoshop. However, the software stumbles when it comes to its selection tools, which are considered clunky and inferior compared to its competitors. The AI keyword tool has also drawn flak for its hit-or-miss accuracy, often misidentifying subjects in photos. In a nutshell, ACDSee Photo Studio is like a swiss army knife of photo editing - it tries to do a lot but doesn't always excel in every area. It's a decent option for hobbyists or those seeking a cost-effective alternative to Adobe's subscription model, especially with its perpetual license option. However, seasoned professionals might find its shortcomings, particularly in the editing department, a deal-breaker.

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