ACDSee Gemstone 12 review

ACDSee Gemstone Photo Editor 12 shows a great deal of promise in some areas but lacks essential features in others

ACDSee Gemstone 12
(Image: © James Abbott)

Digital Camera World Verdict

ACDSee Gemstone 12 is easy to use image-editing software that balances the truly impressive against the completely awful. On the one hand, the powerful raw editing capabilities offer an excellent level of control while the main image editor is akin to a ‘pumped up’ version of Photoshop Elements with AI-powered features rather than guided edits. But where this Windows-only software falls hard, is in the lack of an image browser and hit or miss results with its AI-powered features.

Pros

  • +

    Excellent raw processing

  • +

    User-friendly interface

  • +

    Inexpensive

Cons

  • -

    No image browser

  • -

    Not as fully featured as Photoshop

  • -

    ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate is better

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ACDSee has been busy over the last year or two, and the latest software offering from the company is Gemstone Photo Editor 12. This is image editing software that provides similar image quality and a user experience to the company’s flagship photo editor Photo Studio Ultimate, but with a few differences.

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James Abbott

James Abbott is a landscape and portrait photographer based in Cambridge. He’s also an experienced photography journalist specializing in camera skills and Photoshop techniques. He is also a CAA-approved drone pilot and professional aerial photographer.