ON1 Photo RAW

ON1 Photo RAW
Name	ON1 Photo RAW
Developer	ON1, Inc.
Initial release	2017
Latest release	2024
Operating system	Microsoft Windows, macOS
Genre	Photo editing, Digital asset management

ON1 Photo RAW ON1 Photo RAW is a proprietary photo-editing and digital asset management application developed by ON1, Inc., positioned for professional and enthusiast photographers. It combines raw image processing, non-destructive editing, local adjustments, and metadata management in a single package intended to streamline workflows common among users migrating from or supplementing Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom Classic, Capture One, Phase One, and DxO PhotoLab. The software targets users familiar with Nikon Corporation cameras, Canon Inc. bodies, Sony Corporation mirrorless systems, and medium-format backs from Hasselblad and Fujifilm.

Overview

The application integrates raw conversion, cataloging, and layered compositing akin to features found in Adobe Photoshop Elements, Affinity Photo, CorelDRAW, Skylum Luminar, and ACDSee Photo Studio. Its interface echoes paradigms used by professionals who rely on tools from Adobe Systems, Phase One, Nikon, Canon, and Sony, supporting tethered capture workflows popularized by studios working with equipment from Profoto, Broncolor, and Elinchrom. The product is marketed toward portrait photographers, landscape photographers influenced by figures like Ansel Adams, wedding photographers using vendors such as Canon EOS R systems, and commercial photographers familiar with color-managed pipelines from X-Rite and Datacolor.

Features

Core features include raw processing comparable to engines from Phase One and DxO, non-destructive editing paralleling Adobe Lightroom Classic catalogs, and layered editing similar to Adobe Photoshop compositing. Tools for masking, AI-based automatic subject selection inspired by research from institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, batch processing used by studios collaborating with agencies like Getty Images, and noise reduction algorithms competing with offerings from Topaz Labs and Nik Collection are included. The application offers lens correction profiles for lenses produced by Sigma Corporation, Tamron Co., Ltd., Zeiss, and Leica Camera AG, as well as export presets for social platforms and print labs partnered with distributors like Mpix and Bay Photo. Color management supports ICC profiles from X-Rite and printer workflows used by fine art labs associated with museums such as the Museum of Modern Art. Advanced features mimic content-aware operations present in Adobe Photoshop and frequency separation workflows employed by retouchers working with agencies including Vogue and National Geographic.

Versions and Release History

The initial public release debuted in 2017 after iterations of legacy plugins and standalone applications developed by ON1, Inc., whose background includes prior products integrated into pipelines alongside Adobe Photoshop and Apple Aperture. Subsequent major updates followed annual release patterns similar to those adopted by Microsoft and Apple for their flagship software, with notable editions aligning with camera launches from Canon EOS R5, Nikon Z7 II, and Sony A1. Versions added features comparable to those in Capture One and improvements influenced by user communities active on forums moderated by photographers from DPReview, Petapixel, and PetaPixel-adjacent sites. Beta programs have been conducted in collaboration with technicians from manufacturers such as Intel Corporation and AMD to optimize performance on CPUs and GPUs produced by those firms.

Workflow and Integration

The application can function as a standalone DAM and editor or as a plugin for Adobe Photoshop and Affinity Photo, facilitating round-trip editing workflows used by commercial retouchers at agencies like Saatchi & Saatchi and broadcasters such as BBC. It supports tethered capture with camera control comparable to tools offered by Phase One’s Capture One and integrates with cloud storage providers and print services similar to partnerships seen with Dropbox, Google Drive, and Apple iCloud. Photographers who manage assignments for outlets such as National Geographic, Time, and The New York Times may incorporate the software into pipelines alongside color management hardware from X-Rite.

Reception and Criticism

Reviews have compared the application favorably against competitors like Capture One, Adobe Lightroom Classic, Skylum Luminar Neo, and DxO PhotoLab for its non-destructive layered workflow and plugin architecture, while critics have noted performance and stability issues reminiscent of early releases from companies like Corel. Industry commentators at publications such as PCMag, Wired, and The Verge have evaluated feature parity with Adobe Photoshop, highlighting strengths in masking and compositing but also pointing out gaps in certain advanced retouching tools used by professionals contributing to Vogue and National Geographic. Forums frequented by photographers from communities like DPReview and Reddit have discussed complaints about catalog migration, export behaviors, and update cadence relative to product cycles from Adobe Systems and Phase One.

Licensing and Pricing

The product is distributed under a proprietary license by ON1, Inc., with pricing strategies including perpetual licenses and subscription options in formats comparable to offerings from Adobe Systems and Corel Corporation. Licensing tiers have been compared to subscription models used by Adobe Creative Cloud, and promotional bundles have occasionally been marketed alongside hardware packages from vendors such as B&H Photo Video and Adorama Photographic. Educational discounts have been offered in manners similar to programs run by Autodesk and Microsoft Education.

Compatibility and System Requirements

Supported operating systems include Microsoft Windows and macOS releases contemporary with versions of Apple hardware like MacBook Pro and Mac Studio, and compatibility statements reference CPU architectures from Intel Corporation and Advanced Micro Devices as well as GPU acceleration from NVIDIA and Apple M-series. Camera raw format support tracks updates from manufacturers such as Canon Inc., Nikon Corporation, Sony Corporation, Fujifilm, Olympus Corporation, and Panasonic Corporation to accommodate files from models including Canon EOS R, Nikon Z, Sony Alpha, Fujifilm X, and medium-format systems by Hasselblad.

Category:Photo software