Looking for a photo editor that you actually own, not rent? Gemstone from ACDSee is fast, feature-rich and packs a punch
(Image credit: ACD Systems)
The landscape of photo editing has transformed in recent years. The Goliath of the industry is forcing you to rent your software, with competitors offering alternatives that are either expensive or outright bloatware.
Gemstone Photo Editor, from ACDSee (aka ACD Systems), is neither. It’s time to stop renting your software and actually own it again – and Gemstone offers an affordable, powerful, fast and feature-rich alternative that won’t bloat your system.
Saving cost doesn’t mean compromising quality, though. Far from it; the latest version of Gemstone Photo Editor offers full MDI, RAW development, layered editing and much more, putting serious power at your fingertips while streamlining your workflow – and, importantly, keeping things intuitive.
What is MDI? It stands for multi-document interface and grants you the ability to open and edit multiple files simultaneously, in separate tabs along the top of the screen, each with their corresponding adjustments. You can also drag images into the preview panel to display two images instead of one, or onto a second monitor to open an image into its own window.
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(Image credit: ACD Systems)
(Image credit: ACD Systems)
(Image credit: ACD Systems)
This enables you to work across multiple files at the same time, whether you want to make batch tweaks to your shots or implement elements from one file into another. And at any time you can return to the Homescreen, where you can create new files – using templates and presets if you wish – browse existing images, or open recent projects.
All of which seriously streamlines your workflow, but without creating complication – thanks to straightforward yet powerful features, you get dexterity without complexity.
(Image credit: ACD Systems)
The RAW developer supports the latest cameras, including the professional Canon EOS R3 and Nikon Z9, indicating the kind of pro-level functionality on offer. Indeed, highly advanced techniques such as frequency separation come as standard in Gemstone.
You can also add artificial intelligence into the mix, with the software’s AI-powered selection tools offering one-click select, background removal, and even the ability to turn your background monochrome or blur it instantly.
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(Image credit: ACD Systems)
(Image credit: ACD Systems)
With everything from Light and Color EQ to lens correction and pixel targeting to layer masks and focus stacking, Gemstone Photo Editor offers powerful performance without a premium price tag – and you never have to worry about being forced into a subscription.
Whether you want to make some light edits, or you want to go full bore with LUTs and blended cloning and specific output color spaces, this is the editing software you've been waiting for.
(Image credit: ACD Systems)
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