Einar's introduction to photography
Chapter 05: Editing images and workflow

Lesson 02: Editing on different devices

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Tablets (iPad, Android tablets) 

Tablets have become surprisingly powerful editing tools. Beginners love them because touch controls feel natural, they are portable and lightweight, they are great for basic editing and apps like Lightroom Mobile and Pixelmator are fast and intuitive. They do have some limitations in form of smaller screens, limited storage and they are not ideal for large batches of RAW files. They are best for travel, quick edits, social media, and learning the basics. 

 You have portable computers like Microsoft Surface and HP Elite X2 that has the same form factor as tablets, but they are far more powerful as they have normal computer hardware in them.  

MacBooks and iMacs 

Apple devices are extremely popular among photographers and have been popular for decades. Their strengths are excellent colouraccurate displays, smooth performance with editing software in addition to a strong ecosystem (AirDrop and iCloud to mention some). This is best for Beginners who want a simple, reliable system that “just works.”  

Windows PCs

Windows PCs and laptops offer the most flexibility. Their strengths are wide range of hardware options, easy to upgrade storage, RAM, and monitors in addition to being great for heavy editing, large RAW files, and video. This option is best for Beginners who want value for money or plan to grow into more advanced editing. 

Software for image editing

 Popular software for editing includes:  

  • Adobe Lightroom (Desktop and Mobile). Benefits includes that it is easy to learn, are great for organizing photos, have powerful RAW editing and syncs across devices.  

  • Adobe Photoshop (desktop and mobile). Is best for retouching, composites, and detailed edits. This software is way more advanced, but worth learning over time.  

  • Capture One (MacOS and Windows). This software has excellent colour control and is popular among portrait and studio photographers.  

  • Free Options includes Darktable, RawTherapee and GIMP. These are great if you’re starting out and want to learn without spending money. 

 

Some of the alternatives above costs money, but it can be worth it.