Photo Studio Ultimate is Shockingly Good

Fstoppers
14 Nov 202323:51

TLDRPatrick Hall from fstoppers.com reviews ACDC Photo Studio 2024, a powerful alternative to Adobe's Lightroom and Photoshop. Highlighting its user-friendly interface and AI-based editing tools, he discusses the software's competitive pricing model. The review showcases features like AI masking, sky replacement, and face editing, emphasizing the software's versatility for both professionals and casual users. Hall also mentions the perpetual license option for a one-time fee of $149, positioning it as a cost-effective choice over Adobe's subscription services.

Takeaways

  • 🌟 Photo Studio Ultimate 2024 is a powerful alternative to Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
  • 💡 It offers intuitive AI-based editing tools that enhance user experience.
  • 💻 The software is designed with a user-friendly interface, making the switch from Adobe products easier.
  • 💰 Photo Studio Ultimate is competitively priced with a one-time purchase option of $149, contrasting Adobe's subscription model.
  • 🔗 ACDC software provides a subscription model at $89 a year, which is less than Adobe's $119 annual subscription.
  • 📸 The software integrates features of both Lightroom and Photoshop, suitable for professional photographers.
  • 📈 It includes AI features like 'AI Keywords' that automatically tag photos with relevant keywords, aiding in better image metadata.
  • 🖼️ Advanced masking features allow for detailed editing similar to what was previously only possible in Photoshop.
  • 🌄 'AI Sky' feature helps in easily selecting and editing the sky in images.
  • 👥 Face editing tools enable adjustments to facial features, which can be useful for portrait photography.
  • 🎨 The software allows for non-destructive editing with layers and masks, similar to Photoshop.

Q & A

  • What is the name of the software being reviewed in the script?

    -The software being reviewed is called ACDC Photo Studio 2024.

  • Who is reviewing ACDC Photo Studio 2024?

    -Patrick Hall from fstoppers.com is the one reviewing ACDC Photo Studio 2024.

  • What are the subscription costs for Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop compared to ACDC Photo Studio?

    -Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop have a subscription cost of $119 a year, while ACDC Photo Studio's subscription model is $89 a year.

  • What is the one-time purchase price for ACDC Photo Studio Ultimate?

    -The one-time purchase price for ACDC Photo Studio Ultimate is $149.

  • What kind of users is ACDC Photo Studio Ultimate aimed at?

    -ACDC Photo Studio Ultimate is mainly aimed at professional photographers, but it also caters to hobbyists, graphic designers, and individuals for personal or business use.

  • What is the significance of the AI Keywords feature in ACDC Photo Studio 2024?

    -The AI Keywords feature automatically tags images with relevant keywords, which can help with searchability on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google, and is beneficial for driving traffic to websites.

  • How does the AI Masking feature in ACDC Photo Studio 2024 work?

    -The AI Masking feature allows for complex masking directly within the software, similar to Adobe Lightroom's feature, enabling users to separate and adjust the background and subject of an image individually.

  • What is the advantage of having the AI Sky feature in photo editing?

    -The AI Sky feature allows for easy selection and editing of the sky in an image, and users can also replace the sky with different options, enhancing the flexibility and creativity in photo editing.

  • What is unique about the face editing capabilities in ACDC Photo Studio 2024?

    -ACDC Photo Studio 2024 can identify and edit individual faces in an image, allowing for adjustments such as slimming the face, changing eye size, and modifying facial features dynamically and naturally.

  • What does the 'Output as Layers' feature in ACDC Photo Studio allow users to do?

    -The 'Output as Layers' feature allows users to export sky replacement edits as separate layers within the software, providing more control and flexibility for fine-tuning the final image.

  • What is the significance of the software's intuitiveness and speed according to the reviewer?

    -The reviewer, Patrick Hall, appreciates the intuitive user interface and the speed of ACDC Photo Studio 2024, noting that it runs quickly and is easy to navigate, which are significant advantages over other software he has reviewed.

Outlines

00:00

🖥️ Introduction to ACDC Photo Studio 2024

Patrick Hall from fstoppers.com introduces ACDC Photo Studio 2024 as a strong alternative to Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. The software boasts new AI-based editing tools and is praised for its user-friendly interface, making the switch from Adobe products easier. ACDC offers different versions to cater to professionals and casual users, with the 'Ultimate' version being the focus of the review. It includes advanced features suitable for professional photographers. The video discusses the software's pricing model, which is competitive with Adobe's subscription service, offering a one-time purchase option at $149, in contrast to Adobe's subscription-only model.

05:02

🔍 Exploring AI Features in Photo Studio Ultimate 2024

The script delves into the new features of ACDC Photo Studio Ultimate 2024, emphasizing the AI-based tools. A significant feature is the AI masking, which allows for detailed separation of subjects from backgrounds, similar to Adobe Lightroom's capabilities. The video demonstrates how to adjust exposure and color temperature to enhance images. The AI Sky feature is also highlighted, which quickly selects and edits the sky in images. The script mentions the desire for an 'intersect' feature similar to Photoshop for more complex masking.

10:02

🌁 Sky Replacement and Face Editing

Patrick showcases the Sky Replacement feature, which allows users to change the sky in their images with various options, including custom skies. He uses skies from Mike Kelly's Sky Library, available on fstoppers.com store, to demonstrate how to integrate custom skies that match the scene's lighting. The script also covers face editing capabilities, such as adjusting facial features and expressions, which can be useful for portrait photography and event photography, like weddings.

15:02

👶 Practical Editing Example: Son's First Birthday

The script describes a practical editing example where Patrick edits a photo from his son's first week of life. He uses AI background masking to enhance the subject, adjusts the background lighting and color, and tweaks the subject's exposure and saturation. Patrick also discusses the challenges of color balance when shooting in certain environments and how the software's tools help in correcting these issues. Additionally, he applies photo effects and uses the liquefy tool for minor retouching.

20:03

💸 Pricing and Subscription Model Comparison

In the concluding paragraph, Patrick summarizes the benefits of ACDC Photo Studio Ultimate 2024 as an alternative to Adobe's products, particularly praising its one-time purchase option versus Adobe's subscription model. He suggests that the software's intuitive design and performance make it a compelling choice for photographers seeking to move away from Adobe. Patrick also encourages viewers to try the software via a free trial and mentions potential discounts for future versions.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI based editing tools

AI based editing tools refer to software features that utilize artificial intelligence to automate and enhance the photo editing process. In the context of the video, these tools are integral to the functionality of ACDC Photo Studio 2024, allowing for advanced editing capabilities such as automatic keyword tagging and AI masking. The video emphasizes how these tools make the software a strong alternative to Adobe's offerings by simplifying complex editing tasks.

💡Adobe Lightroom

Adobe Lightroom is a popular photo editing software and lifeline to Adobe's Creative Cloud, primarily used for organizing, editing, and publishing large volumes of photos. The video mentions Lightroom in comparison to ACDC Photo Studio 2024, highlighting how ACDC's software offers similar capabilities, such as raw file editing and batch processing, but with a one-time purchase option instead of a subscription model.

💡Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is a widely recognized image editing software used for photo manipulation, digital painting, and more complex design work. The script compares ACDC Photo Studio 2024 with Photoshop, indicating that ACDC's software aims to consolidate the functionalities of both Lightroom and Photoshop into a single, more affordable package.

💡User Interface

The user interface, or UI, is how software presents information to users and allows them to interact with the software. The video script mentions that ACDC Photo Studio's user interface has become more intuitive over the years, making it easier for users to switch from Adobe's software, which is crucial for user adoption and satisfaction.

💡Subscription Model

A subscription model is a business strategy where customers pay a recurring fee to use a product or service. The video discusses the subscription model of Adobe's software, which requires a yearly fee, and contrasts it with ACDC's one-time purchase option. This comparison underscores a significant cost advantage for users who do not wish to commit to ongoing subscription fees.

💡AI Keywords

AI Keywords is a feature of ACDC Photo Studio 2024 that uses artificial intelligence to analyze imported images and automatically generate relevant metadata tags or keywords. This feature is highlighted in the video as a time-saving tool that enhances photo organization and SEO, exemplified by the software's ability to automatically tag images upon import.

💡Masks

In photo editing, masks are used to isolate parts of an image for selective adjustments. The video script describes how ACDC Photo Studio 2024's AI masking allows for complex masking within the software similar to Adobe Lightroom's capabilities, which was previously only possible in more advanced software like Photoshop.

💡IPTC

IPTC is a set of standards developed by the International Press Telecommunications Council for managing metadata in images. The video mentions the ability to convert ACDC's AI-generated keywords into the IPTC format, which is important for photographers who want to ensure their images are properly tagged and searchable across various platforms.

💡Develop Module

The Develop Module in ACDC Photo Studio 2024 is analogous to the Develop module in Lightroom, focusing on non-destructive raw image processing. The video script illustrates the module's functionality with features like AI background masking and color temperature adjustments, emphasizing its role in streamlining the photo development process.

💡Photo Effects

Photo Effects are filters or adjustments applied to images to achieve specific visual outcomes. The video demonstrates how ACDC Photo Studio 2024 includes various photo effects, such as the 'Chrome' effect, which can be adjusted for intensity and applied to enhance the final look of an image.

💡Liquify Tool

The Liquify Tool is used for making advanced transformations to parts of an image, such as pushing, pulling, rotating, or bending. The video mentions using this tool in ACDC Photo Studio 2024 to adjust the subject's waistline and fix minor imperfections, showcasing its utility in retouching and creative image manipulation.

Highlights

ACDC Photo Studio 2024 is a powerful alternative to Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.

It offers AI-based editing tools that enhance user experience.

The user interface is intuitive, making the switch from Adobe easy.

Photo Studio Ultimate 2024 is designed for professional photographers.

ACDC provides versions for hobbyists, graphic designers, and home users at lower price points.

The software offers a subscription model at $89 a year, competitive with Adobe's $119 a year.

A one-time purchase option is available for $149, unlike Adobe's subscription-only model.

Photo Studio Ultimate combines features of Lightroom and Photoshop in one package.

The software includes a new AI Keywords feature for automatic image tagging.

AI Background masking allows for complex selections similar to Adobe Lightroom's feature.

The develop module is similar to Lightroom, with a filmstrip and new features for editing.

The edit module offers layer-based editing akin to Photoshop.

AI Sky selection and replacement tools are included for easy sky edits.

Face Edit feature allows for detailed facial adjustments and corrections.

The software provides tools for skin smoothing, eye resizing, and lip thickness adjustments.

Glow effect can be added to subjects for a pop in portraits.

A liquefy tool is available for body reshaping and other adjustments.

The software offers a one-time purchase with updates for a year, and future discounts on new versions.

ACDC Photo Studio Ultimate 2024 is praised as a comprehensive and cost-effective editing solution.