How do Lightroom 4, AfterShot Pro, and Darktable compare for cataloging and non-destructive photo editing?

Question

I'm looking for a step-up from a basic workflow like Picasa/PhotoDirector to a more complete photo management and editing tool. My priorities are:

- organizing a large photo library
- easy but capable image enhancement, mostly for JPEGs at first
- local adjustments
- preferably a single application for both cataloging and editing
- good support for moving into RAW later

The main options I'm considering are Adobe Lightroom 4, Corel AfterShot Pro, and Darktable. RawTherapee also interests me, but it appears to lack catalog features.

I'm not looking for pricing advice so much as real-world differences in workflow, speed, cataloging, local edits, plugins, and overall usability. If you've used two or more of these, how do they compare in practice, especially for someone who wants both library management and non-destructive editing?

user952 · Accepted Answer

AfterShotPro 1.0.1 = ASP, Lightroom = LR 4.1 (sorry I don't have personal experience with DarkTable)

Speed: ASP way faster. LR - sloooow (on Core i5 3550, 16GB RAM, Win7)
Importing: ASP no need to import to do enough tasks with files. LR - mandatory
Multi catalog searching: ASP only
Non-distructive editing: both.
Split Toning: LR only
Local editing: The following two are competing. It depends what you preffer:
- Adjustment brush: LR only
- Layered editing: ASP only EDIT:(however you can have masks on each layer)
Gradients: LR only
Straighten: ASP much better (in fact, LR doesn't have but one could fake it)
Noise Removal: ASP better (IMHO - it has several ways including Noise Ninja OOTB)
Plugins: ASP is better (you can have plugins for the entire image processing pipeline)
Lens Correction: LR has slightly more lenses
Real Multi monitor support: LR only
AutoCorrect: Much better (IMHO) in ASP
Survey: Better in LR
Map, Book, Web: LR only
Red eye removal: LR only
Print: Didn't use
Keywording:
- ASP has Shortcut assignment for keywords
- LR gives you the last 9 keywords used and the entire keyword tree in place to pick from it.
- EDIT: Both give keyword sets for Outdoor/Wedding/Custom etc. However:
  - LR - only 9 keywords in a set
  - ASP - unlimited
(Batch) Export/Save As:
- ASP allows you to specify full custom processing settings to apply before saving as JPEG/TIFF
- DNG: LR only
- Watermarking: LR only
- Speed: ASP better
- Export to other targets (email etc.): LR only

...and many many more. :-) Generally speaking, LR is more bloated, slow and more mature. Also, the LR's GUI is much more shiny (ornaments, more animations etc.). ASP (in fact Bibble 5 Pro rebranded) is a "fresh" newcomer which covers some areas in which LR has problems (speed, catalog management, layered editing come in mind).

The best thing for you is to download both trials (ASP is quite small) and see for yourself.

However, IMHO, if you can stick with ASP and covers you in anything what you want, then go with it. Otherwise LR.

HTH

How do Lightroom 4, AfterShot Pro, and Darktable compare for cataloging and non-destructive photo editing?

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