My ability to take a half-decent photo is somewhat lacking. Consequently, I need to cheat my way to a better final product. Therefore, a simple but effective editing program is a must-have. Amateur and professional photographers are spoilt for choice in this competitive marketplace. As such, it can be difficult to choose the right piece of software. Recently, I’ve relied upon Adobe as part of my editing setup. However, when I was offered ACDsee Photo Studio Ultimate 2022, I couldn’t wait to get started.
ACDsee Ultimate has been out for a number of years and has been well-received. Yet, many comments have been made about the minimal changes across the franchise. Therefore, I was intrigued to see if the 2022 edition was wildly different from its predecessor. In short, it is very similar, but there are some neat new features that’ll capture your attention. The most noteworthy additions are the colour channel control or colour selection. Other than this, it’s pretty much business as usual. Not that this is a bad thing, because ACDsee Photo Studio Ultimate 2022 is an exceptional piece of kit.
ACDsee Photo Studio Ultimate 2022 is affordable for every budget.
What makes this program stand out is its exceptional raw processing power. What’s more, it does a great job of cataloguing your photos and is perfect for image editing. Alongside this, the wonderful UI and well-labelled tiles and tools make it great for users of all abilities. However, in this day and age, usability is no longer the defining factor. No, instead, people want a budget-friendly option that ticks many boxes.
Luckily, ACDsee Photo Studio Ultimate 2022 has an array of options for every budget. You can select between a perpetual license, or a yearly/monthly subscription service. The first is offered at around £190 whereas, the yearly option is £75, and the monthly £7.50. There are regular sales and discounts available, so prices may vary from time to time. However, what you must consider is which of these best suits your needs! The first offers updates and technical support for up to 1 year. Alternatively, the latter will give you continuous support and updates as long as the money keeps rolling in.
5 tabs and excellent results.
I’ve used some complicated programs in my time, but ACDsee Photo Studio Ultimate 2022 is not one of them. With 5 clearly labelled options, you know exactly where you are. You can explore Manage, Media, View, Develop, and Edit. These make up an extremely user-friendly environment that is seamless and intuitive. Every base is covered from image selection, editing, raw processing and more. I spent most of my time in the Develop and Edit areas. At first glance, there is a mind-blowing amount of tools and filters available. Yet, a quick play around ensures that it is never overwhelming, nor is it difficult to master.
If you are familiar with the franchise, you’ll know how impressive the manage and develop tabs are. Thanks to the wonderful image categorisation and excellent raw processing tools, your images will never look the same again. You’ll enjoy the familiar colour wheel and an improved pixel targeting setting. Each brush or gradient has its own rules to achieve some awesome results. Furthermore, the original shot remains the focus as you adjust every layer to your heart’s content. As such, creativity is at the centre of everything this software produces.
If organisation and labelling are your things, then you’ll adore the Manage tab. Here, you can customise colour labels, add geo data, ratings, hierarchical keywords, tags, and more. In fact, the vast choice of options ensures that every photo is easy to handle and simple to store.
ACDsee Photo Studio Ultimate 2022 has oh so many filters.
Though the word filters fill me with dread, on a professional level, they are a key editing tool. I despise how generic filtering ruins the original image and everyone looks “perfect”. Luckily, ACDsee Photo Studio Ultimate 2022 gives you full control over everything you do. Consequently, your final product can have layers upon layers of unique filters and elements that enhance the original photo.
Alongside this, you’ll enjoy a smart erase tool, special effects, watermarks, tilt-shift, grain, and more. As you add these to your image, a further window opens with more advanced choices. Effectively, this adds an artistic flair that can be ignored if you so wish. The aforementioned smart erase tool does a nice job of removing unwanted people or objects from your pictures. Though I didn’t use it that much, it is nice to erase the odd photo bombing fool that spoils the shot.
Face detection.
To help with categorisation, ACDsee Photo Studio Ultimate 2022 has included a face detection feature. Now, you may worry that this is gimmicky, but it really isn’t. With a few simple steps, your photos will be filed and easy to find. What’s more, a handy window highlights any possible matches that should also be included. Subsequently, People Mode is a big step forward for this awesome editing program.
Now, I could go on forever, but I really shouldn’t. Therefore, let’s wrap this up. ACDsee Photo Studio Ultimate 2022 is a big leap forward from its predecessors. Furthermore, it leads the way in many of its features. I loved how user-friendly it was, and the many categorising options. On top of this, it’s a phenomenal piece of software for users of all abilities. Yes, Adobe may be more suitable in some situations, but this all-in-one program will tick many boxes. It is for these reasons that I recommend you to buy it here!
