Top 5 Photo Editing Programs Used By Magazine Editors in 2017

Visual content production can be a tricky field to navigate. Aside from the endless responsibility to provide readers with captivating word content, there is also (usually) the need to furnish that word content with rich, captivating photography that not only adds relevance to the piece, but provides a concise visual representation of the content’s subject matter.

Magazine production is not Instagram of Tumblr. The professionals in these fields have to adhere to the highest possible standards of photography, often using the most expensive camera’s and incorporating intricate post processing to make sure that their shots come out crisp and sharp. Whether with the $50,000 Phase One XF or the relatively cheap $700 Canon EOS 700D, image editing is an integral part of photo processing and without the tools and software involved therein, it is simply impossible. So, without any further delay, here are the 5 highest recommended PC photo editing software by magazine editors in 2017.

Adobe Light Room and Photoshop CC

The reason why both these software are put together on this list (other than the fact that they are made by the same company) is that they work best in tandem rather than compete with each other. They can be ordered together as part of a single bundle or separately (although the former is highly advised). The best way to get the most out of either of them is to use them together. Lightroom allows you to quickly import, tag, rate and adjust discrepancies for a large swathe of photos while Photoshop comes into the fray when you want to carry out minute, detailed editing work on individual photographs.

Corel Paintshop Pro

This software has emerged as a great go to option for software image editing because of its rich collection of features that compete with the best on the market. It may not have Adobe Lightroom levels of organization and tagging features (nor does it convert raw to other formats), it does make up for this with its automated effects and vast editing options.

CyberLink PhotoDirector

Ah, CyberLink. Most people will have used the company’s product at one point or the other in their lives. CyberLink’s Photo Director 6 is the company’s photography editing software and it takes a different approach to the subject. The software has a much more simplistic, streamlined user interface with a bland-ish theme that makes sure the user isn’t overwhelmed. With an excellent selection of presets and tools, this might just be the easiest editing software to use yet.

DxO OpticsPro

If you are deep into the photography world, you must have heard of the French photography software and research company DxO. Their OpticsPro software might not be great at organizing or indeed more localized editing features but where it shines is with correction of distortion. Admittedly, one major strength might not be a big enough draw to convince a potential user but add to that a rich library of other functions such as vignette, noise removal and chromatic aberration and you have a winner.

Movavi Photo Editor

With a focus on Mac, this software is changing the photo editing landscape. With its emphasis on quick fixes and error correction such as with exposure, it is proving a convenient choice for professional editors in the Mac ecosystem. Add to that some subtle but important features such as tagging and the ability to add text to photos on Mac, and you have an excellent professional grade photo editor for cheap.