Free lightroom alternative?
Discussion
DaVinci Resolve is a high-end video editor that comes in two forms: Free and Studio. The UI uses 'Pages': Cut, Edit, Fusion and more.
For Resolve Free, and Studio of course, there's a new Beta release, Resolve 21, that includes a new Page: Photo. I assume it is intended for those who, like my, include still images in video but, from early review, it does a whole lot more. I no longer use Adobe, having opted for Affinity when that was in later Beta stages, but from this first view of Resolve 21, it seems to do all the basics of Lightroom.
It's in Beta, and Resolve Beta has, historically, been full of bugs, especially the early versions. I've not tried it, nor any Resolve Betas, and they tend to run Beta for some time, presumably the bugs that are picked up by the enthusiasts take time to eradicate. When they release a LTS update, I tend to let it fester for a while before jumping in.
It's promising. Resolve tends to start with a basic process and then steadily, and often rapidly, improve it. Two YT links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuKgfytA0lg covering the photo page, and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy0nFc-6k58 covering the whole of the 21 Beta changes.
It really is free. The free video editor is more than the vast majority of video editors need, and even want. I have Studio and I use little of the extra facilities.
For Resolve Free, and Studio of course, there's a new Beta release, Resolve 21, that includes a new Page: Photo. I assume it is intended for those who, like my, include still images in video but, from early review, it does a whole lot more. I no longer use Adobe, having opted for Affinity when that was in later Beta stages, but from this first view of Resolve 21, it seems to do all the basics of Lightroom.
It's in Beta, and Resolve Beta has, historically, been full of bugs, especially the early versions. I've not tried it, nor any Resolve Betas, and they tend to run Beta for some time, presumably the bugs that are picked up by the enthusiasts take time to eradicate. When they release a LTS update, I tend to let it fester for a while before jumping in.
It's promising. Resolve tends to start with a basic process and then steadily, and often rapidly, improve it. Two YT links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuKgfytA0lg covering the photo page, and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy0nFc-6k58 covering the whole of the 21 Beta changes.
It really is free. The free video editor is more than the vast majority of video editors need, and even want. I have Studio and I use little of the extra facilities.
I downloaded the (Beta) Studio version to have a bit of a play. Difficult to come to personal conclusions - it was crashing all the time on my Windows 11 machine, and wouldn't even start on my windows 10 one.
That said from what I saw - and what other reviewers have said - it represents quite a big step forward. It allowed editing of both my Canon and Sony raw files - but the editing facilities in Raw are limited - nothing like what you can do in Photolab for instance - and no lens corrections at all. So it won't replace Photolab for me, and I suspect the same will be true of many/most Adobe users, for no. However, if Blackmagic continue in the same direction, that may change in the future.
The fact that existing Studio license holders still get a FREE upgrade is amazing given the size of the development that must have been needed.
As you say the completely free (non-Studio) version is still a very powerful piece of software and may have enough photo editing features for quite a few. Be ready for a steep learning curve if you do take the plunge!
That said from what I saw - and what other reviewers have said - it represents quite a big step forward. It allowed editing of both my Canon and Sony raw files - but the editing facilities in Raw are limited - nothing like what you can do in Photolab for instance - and no lens corrections at all. So it won't replace Photolab for me, and I suspect the same will be true of many/most Adobe users, for no. However, if Blackmagic continue in the same direction, that may change in the future.
The fact that existing Studio license holders still get a FREE upgrade is amazing given the size of the development that must have been needed.
As you say the completely free (non-Studio) version is still a very powerful piece of software and may have enough photo editing features for quite a few. Be ready for a steep learning curve if you do take the plunge!
Edited by bcr5784 on Wednesday 15th April 08:20
bcr5784 said:
I downloaded the (Beta) Studio version to have a bit of a play. Difficult to come to personal conclusions - it was crashing all the time on my Windows 11 machine, and wouldn't even start on my windows 10 one.
That said from what I saw - and what other reviewers have said - it represents quite a big step forward. It allowed editing of both my Canon and Sony raw files - but the editing facilities in Raw are limited - nothing like what you can do in Photolab for instance - and no lens corrections at all. So it won't replace Photolab for me, and I suspect the same will be true of many/most Adobe users, for no. However, if Blackmagic continue in the same direction, that may change in the future.
The fact that existing Studio license holders still get a FREE upgrade is amazing given the size of the development that must have been needed.
As you say the completely free (non-Studio) version is still a very powerful piece of software and may have enough photo editing features for quite a few. Be ready for a steep learning curve if you do take the plunge!
You downloaded it? You are very brave.That said from what I saw - and what other reviewers have said - it represents quite a big step forward. It allowed editing of both my Canon and Sony raw files - but the editing facilities in Raw are limited - nothing like what you can do in Photolab for instance - and no lens corrections at all. So it won't replace Photolab for me, and I suspect the same will be true of many/most Adobe users, for no. However, if Blackmagic continue in the same direction, that may change in the future.
The fact that existing Studio license holders still get a FREE upgrade is amazing given the size of the development that must have been needed.
As you say the completely free (non-Studio) version is still a very powerful piece of software and may have enough photo editing features for quite a few. Be ready for a steep learning curve if you do take the plunge!
Edited by bcr5784 on Wednesday 15th April 08:20
I agree there are limitations, and it is not yet a replacement, even for Darktable. But for me, most of my image editing is tweaking and when I've messed up, there is Affinity, plus a number of other specific programmes I can fiddle with. I like learning new or modified software so might jump for this once the full is released.
The Free was the equal of my previous choice of software, Cyberlink PowerDirector, and the user support was excellent, but it now runs at £100pa. Two and a half years' subscription pays for Studio and that is a leap ahead. When I bought Studio they threw in a Speed Editor as well.
Thanks for the reply. Roll on the release.
The history of DaVinci graphically demonstrates how a manufacturer of cutting-edge hardware was obliterated by the rise of software-only systems (see also companies like Quantel). DaVinci was a unique hardware system used for colour grading in film to tape transfers - all the big edit houses down in Soho had custom transfer & edit suites with Cintel or Bosch telecines & a DaVinci system, usually with Pogle or Pandoras Other Box controllers. They cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, at a time when a £100k was a lot of money.
Now, it's given away for free.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da_Vinci_Systems
https://grokipedia.com/page/Da_Vinci_Systems
Now, it's given away for free.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da_Vinci_Systems
https://grokipedia.com/page/Da_Vinci_Systems
Mr Pointy said:
The history of DaVinci graphically demonstrates how a manufacturer of cutting-edge hardware was obliterated by the rise of software-only systems (see also companies like Quantel). DaVinci was a unique hardware system used for colour grading in film to tape transfers - all the big edit houses down in Soho had custom transfer & edit suites with Cintel or Bosch telecines & a DaVinci system, usually with Pogle or Pandoras Other Box controllers. They cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, at a time when a £100k was a lot of money.
Now, it's given away for free.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da_Vinci_Systems
https://grokipedia.com/page/Da_Vinci_Systems
Video editors still use DaVinci hardware and their cameras are being developed, although I've no idea if they're used to any extent in filming. I've assumed their cameras will plug in to Resolve in some manner. I use the Speed Controller and it is well-named. The time it cuts (pun intended) is remarkable.Now, it's given away for free.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da_Vinci_Systems
https://grokipedia.com/page/Da_Vinci_Systems
It's a bit odd that software that overwhelms most, if not all, prosumer offerings is free. If it was Microsoft, I'd assumed once the competition folded, they'd start charging. I wonder if the free/one-off charge will continue. There was mention of possible charging for AI add-ons or just for updates. I'll worry about that when it happens, but it will be of concern as there might not be a lot of choice remaining with alternatives. At the moment, I don't crack the updates before a new one emerges.
The "hardware" that BMD sells for Resolve are various levels of control interface, as I'm sure you know: the QWERTY keyboard is a pretty rubbish human interface for actually doing anything other than typing. If you want to speed thing up you might like to have a look at a customised keyboard - they aren't too expensive:
https://www.editorskeys.com/
https://www.editorskeys.com/collections/davinci-re...
https://www.editorskeys.com/
https://www.editorskeys.com/collections/davinci-re...
Derek Smith said:
You downloaded it? You are very brave.
I agree there are limitations, and it is not yet a replacement, even for Darktable. But for me, most of my image editing is tweaking and when I've messed up, there is Affinity, plus a number of other specific programmes I can fiddle with. I like learning new or modified software so might jump for this once the full is released.
The Free was the equal of my previous choice of software, Cyberlink PowerDirector, and the user support was excellent, but it now runs at £100pa. Two and a half years' subscription pays for Studio and that is a leap ahead. When I bought Studio they threw in a Speed Editor as well.
Thanks for the reply. Roll on the release.
An update on Davinci Resolve 21 Beta. Uploaded Beta 2 and that seemed much more stable, the odd bug but nothing I couldn't work around. Now on Beta 3 and used it for a "proper" project - nothing critical, but still end to end editing and rendering. Worked fine. To be fair I don't anything very fancy, only the odd bit of Fusion and no Fairlight at all. I agree there are limitations, and it is not yet a replacement, even for Darktable. But for me, most of my image editing is tweaking and when I've messed up, there is Affinity, plus a number of other specific programmes I can fiddle with. I like learning new or modified software so might jump for this once the full is released.
The Free was the equal of my previous choice of software, Cyberlink PowerDirector, and the user support was excellent, but it now runs at £100pa. Two and a half years' subscription pays for Studio and that is a leap ahead. When I bought Studio they threw in a Speed Editor as well.
Thanks for the reply. Roll on the release.
I'd definittely recommend anyone with a bit(?) of time on their hands to give it try. As always existing Resolve users are recommended to back up their projects.
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