ON1 Photo RAW is a RAW editing software that positions itself as a transformative force in the realm of photography. Its mission is straightforward—to offer user-friendly software that doesn’t require mastering a plethora of specialized techniques to execute intricate and aesthetically pleasing edits. ON1, a company founded and operated by photographers, dedicates its efforts to its flagship Photo RAW program, which made its debut on the internet in 2017 and has led the charge in technological advancements since its inception. Recognizing that seasoned photographers often turn to Adobe or Capture One products, ON1 also makes its distinctive features available as plug-ins. A distinctive attribute of ON1 Photo RAW is its integration of AI technology to detect crucial elements within photographs. This intelligent photo interpretation grants users enhanced control and can save countless hours typically spent on creating masks. Users can swiftly select specific areas or apply presets that only modify sections of their images. With these considerations in mind, the functionality of ON1 Photo RAW as a photo organization and editing software will be thoroughly examined. The review will determine whether this application presents a new, streamlined option that simplifies the workflow for both novices and professionals, making it easier, faster, and more efficient.

We Highly Recommend ON1 Photo RAW emerges as a mid-tier organization and editing software, boasting an extensive array of automated functions. It offers a glimpse into the potential future of photo editing with its advanced capabilities.

ON1 Photo RAW Review: Key Features and Benefits ON1 Photo RAW is a non-destructive RAW processing application, ensuring that any alterations made within the software do not affect the original image. The software eliminates the need for an import process, instead allowing users to locate images through a straightforward file management system. ON1 is compatible with RAW files from over 900 camera models, encompassing a vast majority of contemporary digital cameras. The principal strength of ON1 Photo RAW lies in its capacity for effortless and precise heavy photo manipulations, thanks to its emphasis on developing AI functionality. This is particularly evident in its ability to discern different sections within a photograph, which streamlines the masking process and offers a variety of options to enhance less favorable photos, making them more dramatic and dynamic within seconds. Another notable advantage is the assortment of preinstalled presets, which beginner photographers will find especially useful for achieving significant effects quickly. Moreover, ON1 facilitates the fine-tuning of these presets, allowing users to combine multiple presets and adjust the finer details of each one. The layering system in ON1 Photo RAW is yet another highlight, offering an accessible and uncomplicated system that beginners can grasp after a brief demonstration, while experienced editors will find it almost instantly comprehensible. Layered editing provides more nuanced control over photos, with presets, local adjustments, sky swaps, and more all utilizing the same layering system. This system is well-executed, making it ideal for introducing inexperienced editors to industry-standard practices. ON1 Photo RAW has also invested time in enhancing its Healing Brush technology, enabling advanced healing techniques to perfect photos. This new method allows users to scale, rotate, and even flip the healing brush for precise symmetry, while Copy and Move actions facilitate the repositioning and addition of objects within a photo. Recent additions to the software include a greater emphasis on image quality, with improvements in the Resize function and NoNoise AI. The AI’s role in elevating these functions is apparent across the latest photography software, and ON1 has incorporated these functions into its impressive array of AI capabilities.

Overview of Specifications ON1 Photo RAW Deals Through referral links, a commission is earned at no extra cost. Prices are updated regularly. As an Amazon Associate, earnings are accrued from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the last update and may vary. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Minimum Computer Requirements 8 GB RAM (16GB if shared with GPU), 6 GB disk space Minimum Software Requirements macOS 11 (Big Sur), Microsoft Windows 10

Tethered Shooting Yes

Mobile / Tablet Option Yes

Keyword Tagging Yes

Camera and Lens Corrections Yes

Brush Tools Healing Brush, Perfect Eraser, Retouch Brush, Clone Stamp, Push Tool

Layered Editing Yes

AI Editing Yes

Noise Reduction Yes

Export Options JPEG, TIFF, DNG, PNG, PSD, Original

Best For Amateur photographers who prefer not to spend excessive time on a computer, or anyone desiring to execute dramatic edits effortlessly without mastering Photoshop.

ON1 Photo RAW Deals Check Price Buy Now! Through referral links, a commission is earned at no extra cost. Prices are updated regularly. As an Amazon Associate, earnings are accrued from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the last update and may vary. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

ON1 Photo RAW operates as a standalone editing software, supporting the entire photographic process from upload to export. It handles RAW processing, file management, editing, and exporting in various formats. By incorporating a couple of AI features that significantly enhance photos, ON1 Photo RAW becomes an extremely attractive software option. Rather than merely emulating the strengths of Lightroom and attempting to catch up, ON1 Photo RAW forges its own path in the software market. ON1 Photo RAW has astutely anticipated the future of photographic editing and is ahead of some of the larger software companies in its AI capabilities. This not only demonstrates that their software boasts advanced features but also indicates that the company possesses a remarkable vision for the future of photography. Alongside these features, ON1 also offers improved usability and accessibility, evident in several areas such as enhanced RAW processing times, tethered shooting, and a mobile and tablet application. A notable decision made by ON1 is the introduction of its own dedicated cloud service, providing secure storage space accessible across multiple devices. Although there have been reports suggesting the need for faster program performance, the reviewer has not encountered this issue, running ON1 Photo RAW on an up-to-date Mac.

Main Strengths ON1 is committed to simplifying the most complex and time-intensive functions in digital photo editing. With its organizational capabilities, this application can serve as the sole software for many photographers. It is particularly suited for those who favor unlimited creative control over more natural-looking images, thanks to the remarkable ease with which the atmosphere of a photo can be altered. In addition to simplifying tasks, the tools created by ON1 are designed to save time. If you are a photographer with limited time for editing, Photo RAW may be the ideal choice.

Workspace and File Management Importing and Organizing Photos ON1 Photo RAW excels at maintaining a simple and clear interface without obscuring key features. This includes easily recognizable icons that guide images through the editing process, as well as displaying each image’s relevant information and metadata. File browsing is as straightforward as any folder structure on a computer. The Browse section facilitates the sorting of material and also allows for searches through Dropbox, Google Drive, and One Drive files. To utilize the Cloud Sync, Albums, and Smart Albums options, folders must be cataloged by right-clicking and selecting Make Cataloged Folder, which creates a duplicate folder within the My Catalogs panel. Smart Albums are an ingenious addition, enabling the program to generate albums based on a set of user-defined rules, ranging from camera or metadata settings to locations and seasons. The reviewer was even able to compile all images containing water. Overall, ON1 Photo RAW’s basic organization is well-conceived, and the company provides ample video tutorials to assist beginners.

Viewing Photos The Browse section of ON1 Photo RAW prioritizes clear visibility of images, which is particularly beneficial when sorting through numerous photos. The interface offers a variety of customization options, including viewing modes such as Fullscreen, Filmstrip, Compare, and Map View, as well as standard thumbnail size adjustments and a quick-access icon for dual-screen mode. ON1 has effectively identified the most valuable viewing options and made them readily accessible. The design ensures maximum focus on the photos, with icons at the bottom left and right of the application to collapse each panel for an uninterrupted editing experience. Additionally, Photo RAW allows the creation of virtual copies, referred to as “Versions,” enabling experimentation with different editing styles without altering the original RAW file.

Search and Sorting Tools The reviewer was impressed by ON1’s approach to searching and organizing photos on a large scale. Any photographer with years of photos understands the challenge of quickly locating a single photo. The search functionality is divided into Text, Attribute, Faces, and Metadata options, found at the top of the interface. Users can search using one or all options simultaneously. The search feature allows sorting through various criteria and fields, enabling the identification of specific keywords, ratings, and other attached elements. It even permits searching for people within an age range and by sex through the Faces option, effectively narrowing down large photo collections. The most outstanding organizational feature offered by ON1 is the Smart Organize feature, which scans images for those taken at the same time, similar-looking images, images taken at the same location, and duplicates. This is invaluable for several reasons. For instance, if multiple photos are taken in quick succession, Smart Organize can isolate these images to help select the best one and remove the others. The Smart Organize feature’s ability to effortlessly eliminate duplicates is a boon for disorganized photographers, allowing them to view and delete irrelevant duplicates in one location. This feature is excellent for digital archive spring cleaning.

Image Development RAW File Processing The discussion begins with how ON1 Photo RAW processes files through RAW processing. Upon importing images, the software automatically converts RAW files into visual material. The results produced by ON1 Photo RAW meet high standards, extracting significant detail and contrast from photos and capturing subtle tonal nuances to prevent information loss. ON1 Photo RAW has recently improved detail capture in highlights, resulting in stronger tonal and color ranges in these areas. When compared to Lightroom, the RAW processing is competitive, with noticeable differences in detail and contrast. The unedited ON1 image appears relatively flat, which professional editors may prefer, whereas the Lightroom image exhibits more vibrant colors, particularly in the shadows.

Basic Editing Tools To access editing tools, users must switch between the Browse and Edit workspaces using icons on the far left. The editing process is divided into five sections—Develop, Local, Effects, Sky, and Portraits. This division helps users quickly locate specific tools and simplifies the workspace for an uninterrupted editing experience. The Develop section is the first area of focus. ON1 separates the development process into “Tone & Color” and “Noise & Sharpening,” each containing straightforward sliders for basic adjustments. For those seeking an extensive range of sliders for fine-tuning every tonal aspect, ON1 Photo RAW may not be the ideal choice. Instead, these adjustments complement the subsequent AI adjustments. The Tone & Color section allows selection from a range of Camera Profiles, including color profiles specific to the user’s camera, providing a solid starting point for the editing process. The Exposure Compensation tool has been balanced in recent versions of Photo RAW, offering up to five stops of compensation, similar to Lightroom. When comparing both ON1 Photo RAW and Lightroom at -4 stops, the results are fairly comparable, with ON1 applying a more uniform darkness and preserving more detail in dark areas, though color retention is not as precise. Other basic tonal tools, such as the shadows adjustment, reveal that ON1 applies more dramatic changes compared to Lightroom, possibly due to the limited avenues for tonal adjustment in ON1. Both programs offer a range of -100, but ON1’s -75 is closer to Lightroom’s -100. However, pushing shadows in ON1 is not advisable, as it not only darkens areas but also adds softness to the image. ON1 has recently introduced a Tone Curve tool, which is not found in the Develop section but rather in the Effects section as an additional filter. Experienced photographers will appreciate this important addition. Other basic edits in ON1 Photo RAW have been carefully considered, offering useful tools for creative photo editing. For instance, the Crop section, located on the far-left Tool panel, includes crop overlays to assist with compositions, such as the golden spiral overlay.

Preset Support ON1 takes an innovative approach to presets, making it an attractive program for frequent preset users. Each preset is treated as having multiple layers, allowing users to edit each aspect of the preset in detail, add or remove filters, and save new presets after fine-tuning. Presets are prominently featured in the Photo RAW workspace, accessible from both the Browse and Edit workspaces. ON1 provides exceptional viewing options for preset selection, with a thumbnail button that displays all variations in full-screen mode, offering an excellent way to quickly and clearly see each preset variation. Another unique feature is AI adaptive presets, which revolutionize the use of presets by allowing incredible control with minimal user input. More on this will be discussed later.

Photo Manipulation Tools ON1 Photo RAW introduces users to essential manipulation tools, providing quick and easy access to local adjustments, which use simple masks to apply adjustments to specific areas. The Retouch tool is also readily accessible, a key reason many users opt for programs like Photoshop. By including this tool, ON1 may eliminate the need for a separate Photoshop purchase. The Retouch tool encompasses four modes—Healing Brush, Perfect Eraser, Retouch Brush, and Clone Stamp, each corresponding to Photoshop tools. Switching between brushes is done by moving the cursor to the top of the screen. While the brushes generally perform well, the Perfect Eraser occasionally takes time to display results and may not always be the most accurate, especially against simple backgrounds. Occasionally, the brushes may add unintended information outside the mask, but this can be easily corrected by reverting a step. The Push Tool, previously known as the liquify tool, is a rare feature for editing software and offers a playful way to warp images, aligning with ON1’s creative ethos. Here is an example of the Perfect Eraser in action, with an edit completed in just a few seconds.

Variety of Image Editing Views ON1 Photo RAW has introduced new specialist viewing options in its latest software version. In addition to the existing Preview button, which displays the original image when pressed, users now have access to a Slider Compare view and a Mask view, which focus solely on the adjustments. A Dual Screen mode is also available, allowing simultaneous browsing, organizing, and rating of images in a separate workspace while the Edit workspace remains open. This offers numerous possibilities for the editing process or for presenting photos to clients.

Advanced Editing Features AI Masking and Super Select AI The most compelling feature of ON1 Photo RAW is its AI masking capability. The Super Select AI tool enables users to select the desired editing area by clicking on the relevant section. ON1’s AI analyzes the image to determine which objects can be grouped. This tool is more accurate than Photoshop’s Magic Wand, as it assesses objects rather than just tone and texture changes. To use the Super Select AI tool, located in the far-right toolbar, simply hover over the image, and areas deemed to be the same object will turn red, turning blue upon selection. Right-clicking allows the addition of all adjustments offered by Photo RAW, creating a fully customizable mask layer. The tool performs exceptionally well, offering a significant time-saving alternative to manually creating paths in Photoshop. Although less precise than manual paths, the speed and accuracy are impressive. Tools like this revolutionize the photographic experience by enabling beginners to execute complex edits with ease.

Sky Swap AI The Sky Swap AI feature is another remarkable tool in ON1 Photo RAW, allowing users to transform an image’s atmosphere in seconds. Photographers often maintain their own “sky library” for editing photos with unfavorable skies, but ON1 provides a built-in library with a wide variety of options, from stormy skies to the aurora borealis. To use Sky Swap AI, simply navigate to the Sky section in the Edit panel, where the program automatically detects the sky in the image and provides a layer with all the necessary customization options for the new sky. A standout aspect is the automatic adjustment of foreground lighting, often overlooked by photographers when adding a new sky. The tool also allows adjustments to the horizon level and fine-tuning of the sky’s edge to ensure believability. ON1 also allows users to upload their own sky images, maintaining access to all the fine-tuning edits after placement. This feature is especially useful for commercial jobs where a dull sky can detract from the image, such as in real estate or architecture photography, but it can be applied to various commercial genres.

Brilliance AI Brilliance AI is ON1 Photo RAW’s new flagship feature, designed to provide a one-click edit for photographs. While the tool often requires fine-tuning after its initial use, it includes controls for “Amount,” “Tone Amount,” and “Color Amount,” all adjustable via simple sliders. Brilliance AI also activates the Local Adjustments section, which uses AI to identify different image regions for targeted adjustments. Users can add more regions than suggested by ON1, with the same masks accessible in the Local panel. Brilliance AI supports batch adjustments, allowing users to apply the tool to a selection of images from the Browse section. It also incorporates automatic noise reduction, affecting more than just tones and colors. However, the results tend to be saturated and resemble an HDR aesthetic