To celebrate ON1’s 21st anniversary, we’ve rounded up the best ON1 Photo RAW 2026 tutorials and reviews from our partners, covering workflow, masking, effects, and Restore AI.

Twenty-one years ago, ON1 set out to build something photographers had always wanted: one application that handles everything, without compromise or a monthly bill. ON1 Photo RAW 2026 is the latest chapter in that story, and this year, the software earned more attention from the photography community than ever. To mark our 21st anniversary, we pulled together the best tutorials, walkthroughs, and reviews that our partners and affiliates published over the past year. Whether you’re new to Photo RAW or have been editing with it for years, there’s something here worth watching or reading.

The content below spans the full 2026 cycle, from the October launch through the 2026.4 update and its Restore AI module. You’ll find complete workflow tutorials, deep dives into AI masking, a landscape effects walkthrough, an honest buyer’s review from a working photographer, and two written reviews that put Photo RAW through its paces. If you’ve ever wondered what experienced ON1 Photo RAW users actually do with the software, this is the place to start.

In This Post:

• A Complete 7-Step Editing Workflow in ON1 Photo RAW 2026
• ON1 Photo RAW 2026: What’s New and Should You Buy?
• Mastering AI Masks and Mask Layers in ON1 Photo RAW 2026
• Precision Masking with Intersect Mode in ON1 Photo RAW 2026
• ON1 Photo RAW 2026.4: The New Features You Need to See
• ON1 Photo Raw 2026 Review: Is It Worth It?
• Restore AI in ON1 Photo RAW Max 2026.4: A Real-World Test

A Complete 7-Step Editing Workflow in ON1 Photo RAW 2026

Richard from Silent Peak Photo has spent years testing and reviewing photo editing software, and his channel is one of the most thorough independent resources available for photographers weighing their software options. In this tutorial, his most-watched ON1 video to date, he walks through a structured, seven-step editing process that covers cropping and lens corrections, white balance, exposure and contrast, color correction, local adjustments and masking, stylizing with the Effects module, and sharpening. The strength of this video is its repeatability: rather than showing off one particular technique, Richard demonstrates a consistent sequence that applies to most of what photographers shoot. If you’ve been editing in ON1 Photo RAW 2026 but feel like you’re making it up as you go, watching this once should change how you approach every session afterward.

Featured Video: ON1 Photo Raw Tutorial 2026 — How To EDIT 90% OF YOUR PHOTOS using just 7 STEPS — Silent Peak Photo

ON1 Photo RAW 2026: What’s New and Should You Buy?

Austin James Jackson is a professional landscape photographer based in Southern Utah whose work takes him deep into backcountry locations across the American West. He brings a working shooter’s perspective to software evaluation, less interested in feature checklists than in whether a tool actually holds up when you’re editing a full shoot. Published within days of the 2026 launch, his video covers the masking overhaul, the upgraded Effects panel, and the integration of Resize AI into Photo RAW, then honestly addresses the “should you buy” question for both new users and existing customers considering an upgrade. It’s a practical assessment from someone who uses the software as part of a professional workflow, not a promotional walkthrough.

Featured Video: ON1 Photo RAW 2026: What’s New and Should You Buy? — Austin James Jackson

Mastering AI Masks and Mask Layers in ON1 Photo RAW 2026

Free Will Photos has been teaching ON1 Photo RAW workflows for years and publishes new tutorials weekly, making the channel one of the most consistently useful external resources for Photo RAW users. This tutorial focuses on the biggest masking update in the 2026 release: one-click Subject and Background masks, the new Mask Layers system that lets you stack and combine multiple masks per filter, and the improved AI edge detection that handles hair, branches, and other fine detail more cleanly than before. The walkthrough is step-by-step and practical, showing exactly how to put these tools to use on real photos. If you haven’t explored what the 2026 AI masking tools are capable of, this is the tutorial to start with.

Featured Video: How to Use ON1 Photo RAW 2026’s AI Masks & New Mask Layers (Tutorial) — Free Will Photos

Precision Masking in Photo RAW with Intersect Mode

Scott Davenport has been teaching landscape photography and post-processing for years, with a teaching style built around a single concept per video: no padding, no detours. In this tutorial he focuses on Intersect mode, a masking approach that reveals only the overlap between two or more selections, making it possible to build complex masks that previously required several manual steps. He walks through combining sky and luminosity masks, refining subject selections, and applying targeted adjustments to specific tonal ranges within a scene. For photographers who already have the basics down and want to work faster and more precisely, this is the kind of technique that tends to stick. You’ll find yourself reaching for Intersect mode regularly once you understand what it does.

Featured Video: Precision Masking Explained: Intersect Mode in ON1 Photo RAW 2026 — Scott Davenport

ON1 Photo RAW 2026.4: The New Features You Need to See

Anthony Morganti is one of the most recognized photography educators on YouTube, with over 400,000 subscribers and a reputation for honest, detailed walkthroughs that don’t oversell. His 2026.4 video covers every major addition in the update: the redesigned Home module, performance improvements throughout the app, and most significantly, Restore AI inside ON1 Photo RAW MAX. He tests Restore AI on real images including damaged prints, old film shots, and low-quality phone photos, and gives a straightforward assessment of where it works well and where its current limitations are, including its handling of faces. It’s the kind of review that actually helps you decide whether a feature belongs in your workflow, rather than just telling you it exists.

Featured Video: ON1 Photo RAW 2026.4: The New Features You Need to See — Anthony Morganti

ON1 Photo Raw 2026 Review: Is It Worth It?

Kieran Hayes is a professional photographer based in Ireland with over a decade of experience shooting commercially. His 2026 review, updated through March 2026 after extended real-world use, covers the software from the perspective of someone who came to it from other platforms and spent time genuinely evaluating it against them. He works through the full feature set: the Browse module’s no-import approach, the Develop controls, the AI masking improvements, the layer-based editing system, and the pricing model. His conclusion is direct: for photographers who want Lightroom and Photoshop capabilities in a single application without a subscription, Photo RAW 2026 is a compelling option. The review is long enough to be thorough and honest enough to be useful.

Featured Post: ON1 Photo Raw 2026 Review — Is It Worth It? — Kieran Hayes Photography

Try ON1 Photo RAW MAX Free for 30 Days →

Restore AI in ON1 Photo RAW Max 2026.4: A Real-World Test

Rod Lawton writes for Life After Photoshop, a long-running site dedicated to reviewing Lightroom and Photoshop alternatives with the kind of depth that comes from testing software seriously over time. He describes himself as a skeptic of AI photo enhancement tools, which is exactly why this review is worth reading. After putting Restore AI through a real-world test using a 3MP scan of a damaged postcard-size print, he came away impressed. He walks through the scratch and crease removal, the upscaling to 4K from a low-resolution original, and the colorization of black-and-white photos, showing before and after images throughout. It’s a concise, grounded assessment from someone with no stake in the outcome, published shortly after the 2026.4 release.

Featured Post: ON1 Photo RAW Max 2026.4’s Restore AI Process Is Truly Remarkable — Life After Photoshop

Try ON1 Photo RAW MAX Free for 30 Days →

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If you’re deciding between ON1 Photo RAW and Adobe Lightroom Classic, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions among photographers who are either frustrated with Adobe’s subscription model or simply looking for a more capable all-in-one tool. Both are serious, professional-grade photo editors. But they’re built on different philosophies, and the right choice depends on how you work.

This comparison breaks down pricing, AI tools, editing capabilities, workflow, and performance side by side so you can make the call with confidence. The short version: ON1 Photo RAW is a powerful, subscription-free alternative with deeper AI features and built-in layered editing. Lightroom Classic is a mature platform with a strong ecosystem. Both deserve a serious look.

ON1 Photo RAW vs Adobe Lightroom Classic: Quick Comparison

Key Differences Between ON1 Photo RAW and Lightroom Classic

Pricing & Value

This is often the deciding factor. Adobe Lightroom Classic requires an active Creative Cloud subscription currently around $9.99/month for the Photography Plan. Cancel the subscription and you lose access to the software.

ON1 Photo RAW is a one-time purchase. You buy it, you own it, no monthly fees, no access cliffs. Upgrades to new major versions are available at a discounted upgrade price, but entirely optional. For photographers who bristle at the idea of perpetually renting their tools, this is a meaningful advantage.

Over three years, the subscription cost of Lightroom Classic can easily exceed the price of several generations of ON1.

AI-Powered Editing Tools

AI has become a major differentiator between photo editors, and this is where ON1 Photo RAW has a clear lead. ON1’s AI suite includes:

• Super Select AI — click any object or area and get an intelligent, edge-aware selection in seconds
• Sky Swap AI — detect and replace skies with a single click, with realistic blending
• Portrait AI — automatically detect faces and apply individualized retouching (skin, eyes, lighting) per subject
• Brilliance AI — one-click enhancement that intelligently adjusts tone, color, and noise simultaneously
• NoNoise AI — dedicated AI-powered noise reduction that preserves fine detail

Lightroom Classic has improved its AI masking and added Denoise AI in recent updates. But it still lacks built-in sky replacement and the depth of Portrait AI retouching without additional plugins or a round-trip to Photoshop.

Editing Workflow & User Experience

Lightroom Classic’s catalog-based workflow is well-established. You import photos into a catalog, and Lightroom tracks every edit non-destructively. However, catalogs can become fragile. File links break if you move images outside the app, and large catalogs can slow down over time.

ON1 uses a folder-based approach. You browse directly from your drives with no import required, no catalog database to maintain. This makes it more intuitive for photographers who prefer working with real file structures and is more resilient when you reorganize your storage.

Performance & Speed

ON1 generally handles large folder-based libraries more fluidly than Lightroom does with bloated catalogs. ON1’s GPU-accelerated processing pipeline helps with previews and rendering, particularly for AI-intensive tasks.

File Management & Organization

Lightroom Classic excels at catalog-based organization: smart collections, hierarchical keywords, color labels, star ratings, and face recognition are all mature and polished. For photographers with years invested in Lightroom keyword hierarchies, this is a genuine strength.

ON1’s folder-based system act as an image browser and is simpler but faster for photographers who organize with a clear directory structure. It supports keywords, ratings, color labels, and collections. If complex smart collections are central to your workflow, that’s worth weighing.

Feature Comparison Breakdown

Photo Editing Capabilities

Both ON1 and Lightroom Classic offer professional-grade RAW processing, non-destructive editing, lens and camera profiles, and a full suite of tone and color controls. The core editing floor is similar.

Where they diverge is in compositing. Lightroom Classic requires Photoshop for any layer-based editing. ON1 Photo RAW has full, non-destructive layers built in — so you can blend images, create composites, and apply masked effects all within one application.

AI Features

Presets & Effects

Both platforms support presets. Lightroom Classic has a solid ecosystem with adaptive presets that respond to image content.

ON1’s Effects module goes further with over 30 stackable creative filters. Dynamic Contrast, Glow, Sunshine, Lens Flare, and more — each fully maskable. You can combine multiple effects, mask them independently, and preview them in the browser before committing.

Mobile & Cloud Capabilities

ON1 Cloud Sync allows you to publish entire folder structures navigable on mobile (iOS and Android), syncs across multiple desktop computers, and keeps presets, add-ons, and preferences in sync across devices.

Lightroom Classic’s mobile syncing requires an active Creative Cloud subscription and routes through Adobe’s cloud infrastructure.

Pros and Cons

ON1 Photo RAW Pros & Cons

Pros:

• No subscription required, own it outright
• More advanced AI tools (Sky Swap AI, Portrait AI, Super Select AI, Brilliance AI)
• Built-in layers for compositing and blending without Photoshop
• Folder-based organization with no need to import
• Includes Focus Stacking and Time-Lapse Creation
• Over 30 creative, maskable filters in the Effects module
• Built-in Lightroom Migration Assistant

Cons:

• Less mature catalog/keyword management than Lightroom
• Smaller third-party plugin ecosystem
• Learning curve for long-time Lightroom users

Lightroom Classic Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Deeply mature catalog organization with smart collections and keywords
• Strong integration with Photoshop, Bridge, and Adobe ecosystem
• Large, established plugin marketplace
• Familiar to a large user base

Cons:

• Subscription required, ongoing cost, no ownership
• No built-in layer editing, requires Photoshop for compositing
• No built-in sky replacement
• Catalog-based system can become fragile and slow with large libraries
• Image upscaling and some AI features require full CC subscription

Is ON1 Photo RAW the Best Lightroom Alternative?

ON1 consistently ranks as one of the top Lightroom alternatives, and for good reason. It’s the most feature-complete standalone option, especially for photographers who want a single app handling editing, organization, AI tools, and creative effects without needing Photoshop.

Other alternatives worth knowing:

• Capture One — excellent RAW processing and color tools, but expensive and subscription-heavy. Strong for studio and commercial photographers.
• DxO PhotoLab — outstanding RAW development and optics corrections. Less capable for organization.
• Luminar Neo — AI-heavy and accessible, but less stable with weaker organization tools.

For photographers wanting the best balance of professional power, AI capabilities, pricing, and workflow flexibility, ON1 Photo RAW is the strongest all-in-one Lightroom alternative available.

Final Verdict: ON1 Photo RAW vs Lightroom Classic

Both tools are capable of producing exceptional results. But the right choice depends on your priorities.

Choose ON1 Photo RAW if:

• You want to own your software outright without a monthly subscription
• You need AI-powered tools like sky replacement, smart masking, and portrait retouching in one app
• You want built-in layers without round-tripping to Photoshop
• You organize files by folder and prefer direct access without catalog management
• You’re ready to leave Adobe’s ecosystem — ON1’s migration tool makes the switch straightforward

Stick with Lightroom Classic if:

• You’re deeply embedded in the Adobe ecosystem (Photoshop, Bridge, Cloud)
• Your workflow depends on advanced smart collections and keyword hierarchies
• Your team already uses Adobe tools and consistency matters

For most photographers evaluating their options in 2026, especially those frustrated with subscription pricing or looking for more AI capability without adding apps, ON1 Photo RAW delivers more value, more tools, and true ownership. It’s not just a Lightroom alternative; for many photographers, it’s the better choice.

Learn more in our Lightroom to ON1 migration guide →

Try ON1 Photo RAW →

If you are searching for the best alternative to Adobe Lightroom this year, look no further than ON1 Photo RAW! With cutting-edge tools, AI-driven features, and a photographer-focused approach, ON1 Photo RAW provides everything you need for excellent photo editing and management without breaking your bank.

• Advanced AI-Powered Features
• No Subscription Required
• Powerful Photo Organization Tools
• Complete Set of Photo Editing Tools for Photographers
  
• Cross-Platform Compatibility
• Affordable and Value-Packed
• Conclusion

Advanced AI-Powered Features

A standout set of features in ON1 Photo RAW are the suite of AI-powered tools that make photo edits faster and easier. Here are some of the top AI features that set ON1 Photo RAW apart:

1. Resize AI: Effortlessly upscale images without losing quality
2. NoNoise AI: Eliminate noise while retaining stunning detail in low-light photos.
3. Mask AI: Achieve precise and automated masking for complex subjects.
4. Super Select AI: Quickly apply effects and edits to selected areas with intuitive AI assistance.
5. Keyword AI: Organize and tag photos automatically using intelligent keywording.
6. Sky Swap AI: Replace skies in your images seamlessly for dramatic transformations.
7. Portrait AI: Enhance portraits with professional-quality skin retouching and face enhancements.

ON1 Photo RAW delivers the tools you need to elevate your photographic vision for every photo you edit.

No Subscription Required

Are you tired of being tied to a software subscription? Unlike Adobe Lightroom, ON1 Photo RAW gives you the flexibility to purchase outright or opt for our affordable subscription plans. This means you can choose the pricing that suits your budget and avoid ongoing fees and increasing costs.

Powerful Photo Organization Tools

ON1 Photo RAW combines photo organizing and editing in one application. As the VP of Product, Dan Harlacher, likes to say, “Photo RAW is kind of like Lightroom and Photoshop having a baby.” Its non-destructive editing capabilities ensure your original photos remain untouched while you experiment with creative editing like Effects or Layers. Its cataloging speed and organization tools are also faster and more intuitive than Lightroom, allowing you to spend less time managing and more time being creative.

Complete Set of Photo Editing Tools for Photographers

Whether you’re enhancing landscapes, retouching portraits, swapping skies, or creating a holiday card, ON1 Photo RAW’s robust suite of tools has you covered. Highlights include:

• Color Grading: Achieve cinematic looks easily.
• Stacking & Layering: Create advanced compositions.
• Masking Tools: Edit with precision masks and selections.

These features make it a favorite among photographers who need an alternative to Lightroom.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

ON1 Photo RAW works on both Mac and Windows, and works the same across platforms. Its mobile companion app allows you to take your editing workflow on the go, offering greater flexibility.

Affordable and Value-Packed

With no subscription required and feature-rich functionality, ON1 Photo RAW offers exceptional value for both hobbyists and professional photographers. Plus, frequent updates ensure ON1 Photo RAW stays ahead of the competition.

Conclusion

ON1 Photo RAW stands out as a powerful Lightroom alternative in 2026. Its AI-driven features and tools, photo management, and unmatched value make Photo RAW the go-to choice for photographers who want more control, flexibility, and creative possibilities. If you’re a professional photographer or a hobbyist, ON1 Photo RAW should be on your radar for bringing your photos to life—all without the constraints of a subscription. It’s the perfect Lightroom replacement. Take the leap today and experience the future of photo editing! Not sure? Check out this video where ON1 Photo RAW is named the best Lightroom alternative in 2026.

As photographers, our growing photo libraries require fast and efficient photo organization. Whether managing thousands of raw files or an enthusiast looking for photo cataloging, the right photo organizing software can save you time and frustration.

Lightroom Classic has been the go-to for many photographers for years, offering a structured catalog-based system. However, in 2025, alternatives to Lightroom, like ON1 Photo RAW, redefine photo organization software by providing a more flexible, import-free workflow that speeds up access to your images.

So, how does ON1 Photo RAW compare to Lightroom Classic when organizing and managing photos? Let’s break down the key differences so you can choose the best software for your workflow.

• • Cataloging vs. Direct File Access
  • Speed & Performance
  • File & Folder Organization
  • Search, Metadata & Keywords
  • Backup & File Safety
  • Which Photo Organizing Software is Right for You?

1. Cataloging vs. Direct File Access

One of the biggest differences between ON1 Photo RAW and Lightroom Classic is how they handle photo organization.

ON1 Photo RAW uses a hybrid system. This allows you to browse files directly from your hard drive without importing them. Users can also take advantage of cataloged folders for faster searching. In Lightroom Classic, all photos need to be imported into a database-driven catalog, which can be slower but does provide robust metadata indexing.

Which is better?
If you want immediate access to your photos and loathe the hassle of importing them each time, ON1 Photo RAW’s browser-based system is a game-changer. But if you rely on advanced cataloging tools, Lightroom Classic may still be appealing.

Adobe Lightroom Classic: Catalog-Centric

Lightroom Classic uses a catalog system, where photos must be imported into a database before editing. This structure is powerful but comes with complexity:

• Powerful search and filtering
• Risk of broken links if files are moved outside of Lightroom
• Slower performance on large catalogs
• Requires regular catalog backups

ON1 Photo RAW: Folder-Based Simplicity

ON1 uses a direct folder-based browser—you can edit your files exactly where they live:

• No import needed—just open folders
• Live previews and metadata update instantly
• No catalog corruption
• Easier to maintain across drives or cloud storage

Side-by-Side Comparison: DAM Features

2. Speed & Performance

A key factor in choosing a photo organizing tool is performance, especially when working with large libraries.

ON1 Photo RAW is optimized for speed, letting you open folders instantly without waiting for an import. You can also catalog specific folders for fast metadata searches. Lightroom Classic relies on its catalog system, which can slow down as it grows, requiring regular optimization to maintain speed.

Which is better?
If you work with thousands of images daily and need fast access, ON1 Photo RAW gives you instant file browsing without performance slowdowns.

3. File & Folder Organization

How each software handles your files can significantly impact your workflow efficiency.

ON1 Photo RAW respects your existing folder structure, letting you organize files exactly how you want without being locked into a proprietary system. Lightroom Classic tracks files inside its database, meaning if you move them outside of Lightroom, they will show up as missing files—requiring relinking.

Which is better?
If you want complete control over file management without worrying about broken links, ON1 Photo RAW gives you greater flexibility.

4. Search, Metadata & Keywords

A powerful photo organizer must offer search, keywording, and metadata management to help you quickly find images.

ON1 Photo RAW supports keywords, AI keywording, metadata searches, and Smart Albums, giving you a flexible way to manage photos without a catalog dependency. Lightroom Classic includes hierarchical keywording and facial recognition, which can be helpful for photographers who organize by people.

Which is better?
If you need face detection for people-based organization, Lightroom Classic may be beneficial. However, for a faster, more flexible keywording and search system, ON1 Photo RAW keeps things simple and effective.

5. Backup & File Safety

Photo organization isn’t just about access—it’s also about protecting your work.

ON1 Photo RAW stores non-destructive edits in .on1 sidecar files, keeping your RAW images untouched while allowing you to move files freely. Lightroom Classic saves all edits within its catalog, which means if the catalog file gets corrupted, you could lose edits and metadata unless adequately backed up.

Which is better?
If you prefer non-destructive editing without worrying about a single database file, ON1 Photo RAW gives you more security and flexibility.

6. Which Photo Organizing Software is Right for You?

ON1 Photo RAW is Ideal If:

• You want simple, fast file browsing
• You edit from multiple drives or folders
• You dislike the complexity of catalogs
• You want true non-destructive edits without an import process

See how ON1 compares beyond DAM in our Lightroom alternative roundup.

Lightroom Classic is Ideal If:

• You’re already deep into Lightroom’s ecosystem
• You rely heavily on smart collections and tagging
• You’re okay managing a central catalog file carefully

In 2025, Photo RAW 2025 continues to innovate in photo organization software, making it a great alternative to Lightroom Classic for photographers who value speed, control, and aren’t required to pay for a subscription.

Want to give it a go? Try ON1 Photo RAW today and take your photo organizing workflow to the next level!

If you’re a photographer looking for the perfect alternative to Lightroom, then 2025 is your year. Renowned for its powerful editing tools and innovative features, ON1 Photo RAW has been named the best Lightroom alternative in a recent review by Micro Four Nerds in their video Best Lightroom Alternatives for 2025 (watch it at 11:05).

Recently posted on the YouTube channel Micro Four Nerds (be sure to subscribe), the video highlights ON1 Photo RAW’s features, including the masking capabilities, presets, responsiveness, and the option for a perpetual license (subscription-free model). As of this posting, the video has received over 64,000 views! ON1 Photo RAW is perfect for photographers seeking more control over their workflows and budgets. The reviewer also notes ON1’s speed and flexibility, making it an ideal choice for beginners and professionals alike. Check out the blog post here to read the written review.

From the blog:
“The sliders seem very similar to Lightroom and the interface is modern and snappy. It felt lighter on my machine compared to Luminar.

There’s even some Photoshop-style features like Ai generated canvas expanding, so if you only lightly use Photoshop, then this could be a solution for both in one.

You can add LUTs as presets, and they organize in folders really neatly — much neater than Luminar — so if you use presets in Lightroom, this is going to be the closest alternative.

It also has the Orton Effect glow, and quite a few similar features to Luminar, as well as some photoshop style things… as well as just being quite logical and intuitive.”

Why ON1 Photo RAW?

Here’s why we think ON1 Photo RAW deserves its spot at the top:

• Advanced AI Features: Powerful tools like AI Masking, AI Sky Swap, and Generative Fill elevate your editing.
• Flexibility: Unlike many competitors, you’re not locked into a subscription.
• Workflow Efficiency: Lightning-fast import and cataloging, plus exceptional editing speed.
• All-in-One Solution: Everything you need to organize, edit, and export your photos. It’s like having Lightroom and Photoshop in one app!

Whether you’re a hobbyist or a seasoned pro, ON1 Photo RAW 2025 truly raises the bar, proving that excellent photo editing software doesn’t have to come with limitations.

Curious to see what all the hype is about? Check out the free 30-day trial to experience ON1 Photo RAW!

Subscription price hikes are frustrating and inevitable—whether it’s streaming, phone plans, or software. More photographers are searching for a powerful Lightroom alternative without expensive subscriptions. That’s why we built ON1 Photo RAW.

ON1 Photo RAW is an all-in-one photo editor with AI-powered tools for noise removal, upscaling, retouching, effects, and so much more—no extra plugins or subscriptions needed. You own it outright, making it the best Lightroom replacement in photo editing software.

Unlike big tech companies, ON1 is a passionate team that listens to photographers. With 20+ years of experience, we’re committed to high-quality, non-subscription photo editing software.

When you choose ON1, you get more than software—you join a community with free tutorials, creative assets, and world-class support, all backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Take control of your photography and ditch subscriptions today. Thousands of photographers have made the switch—join them now!

Are you ready—or at least considering—making the switch from Lightroom to ON1 Photo RAW? If so, we want to make your transition as smooth as possible. There are two common ways to move from Lightroom to ON1 Photo RAW, and both depend on how you store your photos. We’ve broken the most common method down into three simple steps to make it easier to follow. There’s also an alternative method (Path 2) that’s even simpler. Let’s get started!

Path 1

Remember, Lightroom is a non-destructive editor, so all metadata and edits are stored in Lightroom’s catalog file—not in the photos themselves. Don’t worry—we want you to retain as much as possible so your time isn’t wasted. Our Lightroom Migration Assistant helps tremendously when you’re ready to transition to ON1 Photo RAW. Here’s how to prepare:

1. Find your photos – Connect any external drives or shares containing photos you want to migrate. Then use the Sync Folder command in Lightroom to make sure your Lightroom catalog and the actual files are up-to-date. This will add any photos that Lightroom is missing as well as remove broken links.
2. Pre-organize – Take this opportunity to remove any photos, virtual copies or collections you don’t care about. It’s also a good time to reorganize your folders if necessary. If you have multiple catalogs, rinse and repeat.
3. Make the Switch – Next install ON1 Photo RAW if you haven’t already. Then open Lightroom and go to the File > Plug-in Extras menu. Then select the Migrate Catalog to ON1 Photo. You will see a dialog that looks like this.

The Migration Assistant will add all top-level folders from Lightroom’s Folders pane to ON1 Photo RAW’s Cataloged Folders. Your photos will be cataloged automatically, and any metadata edits from Lightroom will be transferred as well.

Things to Note about Path 1

• What About Collections? Any normal collections, the ones you drag and drop photos into, and their contents will be copied over as Albums. If you have used collection sets, their organization will be maintained as well. Unfortunately Smart Collections will not be migrated, but you can create Smart Albums later, which are similar.
• What About My Edits from Lightroom? Lightroom and ON1 Photo RAW are both non-destructive editors. Again, edits are stored as instructions and not pixels. While both apps do similar things, they also do similar things differently. ON1 can’t take the exact instructions Lightroom creates and produce the same results. This leads us to two additional options to consider when switching from Lightroom.

Option 1:
Make the switch from Lightroom without carrying over your edits.

Option 2:
Create copies of your photos with Lightroom edits applied.

If you create copies, the Lightroom Migration Assistant will generate copies of any edited photos in the format you choose. These copies will be stored next to the original photos.

IMPORTANT!

The migration process may take some time, especially if exporting Lightroom edits. However, you can continue using Lightroom and ON1 Photo RAW simultaneously during the process. The Migration Assistant is designed for a one-time migration of catalogs, not for ongoing syncing. If you have multiple catalogs, you can run the Migration Assistant separately for each one to merge them into a single ON1 Photo RAW library.

Things to Note about Path 2

If you store and manage photos in a folder structure, switching is easy. This method assumes that any edits you have made to your photos are stored in the photos themselves or as copies of the original photos. This is common if you have been using a pixel-based editor like Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.

Simply open ON1 Photo RAW and browse to the location where your photos are stored. If you have any top-level folders (like your My Pictures folder), set it as a Cataloged Folder by going to the File menu and selecting Add Cataloged Folder. ON1 Photo RAW will then catalog all your folders and photos.

Cataloging occurs in the background, extracting and organizing photo metadata while generating screen-sized previews for quick browsing. That’s it—you’re done!

As photographers, we often find ourselves in situations where we can’t get the image quality we want. Either we don’t have the right equipment with us, or it simply wasn’t available at the time we took the photo. What to do? Lucky for you, this is where ON1 Resize AI comes in. It’s the best photo enlargement software available, and it’s now built inside the new ON1 Photo RAW 2022.5, the ultimate all-in-one raw processor and editor. Have you ever found yourself in one of these situations?

#1 – You Forgot Your Long Lens
“I wish I had a longer lens, I went on a trip and have some good bird shots, but the bird is so small, when I crop the photo, there isn’t much left to print.”

ON1 Resize AI has Ultra-Resolution. This allows you to crop a portion of your photo and enlarge it up to 700% and still have amazing quality and detail. It can equate to having a longer lens without the expense or weight. View Examples →

#2 – You Saved Old Photos Too Small
“I have some old JPGs or film scans from the early days of digital photography that are small and really compressed. I wish I had saved them better.” OR “I have some great photos from my old camera, I wish I could print them bigger.”

Whether over-compressed and even small photos, ON1 Resize AI can reduce the JPG compression artifacts while creating new details, leading to an increase in resolution and higher quality upscaled images.

#3 – The Best Camera is the One That’s with You
“I took this great shot with my phone, but when I go to print it, it is small and not sharp.”

ON1 Resize AI upscales your photo to the desired size and sharpens the final details incredibly well for creating stunning prints. Even on photos shot with your phone!

#4 – Don’t Do This One by One
“I have a ton of photos that all need to be resized to the same size and format and need to be renamed based on when they were captured.”

The powerful batch-processing engine in ON1 Resize AI lets you enlarge a group of photos and control how they are named, what file type they are, where to save them, their metadata, and add watermarks.

We are so confident you will love the new ON1 Photo RAW 2022.5, we’re giving everyone who has downloaded the trial in the past the chance to try it again – free for 14-days! We also offer a 30-day money back guarantee, no questions asked. So technically, you could use it for a full 44 days with no risk to you. 😉

ON1 Photo RAW, the ultimate photo editor and Lightroom alternative that gives photographers the best image quality with the state-of-the-art raw processing engine, superior noise reduction with NoNoise AI, incredible filters and presets in Effects, automated portrait retouching tools, and now the best photo enlargement software, ON1 Resize AI, fully integrated. Photo RAW is also a photographer’s goto organizer, raw processor, and layered photo editor.

The new ON1 Photo RAW 2022.5 is available today! The ultimate photo editor and the best Lightroom alternative includes the full integration of ON1 Resize AI, major enhancements to Sky Swap AI and NoNoise AI, new LensMatch Automatic Lens Correction, support for the Z9, the OM-1 and more.

For owners of ON1 Photo RAW 2022, the full release notes and download instructions for the free update are available here.

ON1 Photo RAW, the ultimate photo editing software, gives photographers the best image quality with the state-of-the-art raw processing engine, superior noise reduction with NoNoise AI, incredible filters and presets in Effects, automated portrait retouching tools, and now the best photo enlargement software, ON1 Resize AI, fully integrated. Photo RAW is also a photographer’s goto organizer, raw processor, and layered photo editor.

New Features in ON1 Photo RAW 2022.5
Full Integration of ON1 Resize AI — ON1 Resize AI, the next-generation photo enlargement software, gives photographers the highest quality photo enlargements. This all-new super-resolution technology allows any photographer to enlarge photos while quickly maintaining and recovering an incredible amount of detail and sharpness.

Batch Upscaling – Open multiple photos at once, or an entire folder. Easily adjust and sync settings across multiple photos. Then use Export to control the destination, naming, filetype, etc.

Print Ready — With the power of Resize AI built into ON1 Photo RAW, photographers can now prepare entire gallery shows in one step. Crop, resize, sharpen, and print to any size all at once.

Enhanced NoNoise AI in Non-raw Files – When working on non-raw photos such as JPG, TIF, or PSD files, the results have been much-improved, with quality closely matching the raw models.

New and Improved Lens Correction — The new LensMatch automatic lens correction can detect and remove distortion when shooting raw with camera-maker matched lenses. This does away with the need for external lens profiles for many users. Lens correction can also remember user manual profile adjustments so they can be used as the defaults for a lens.

Better Masks in Sky Swap AI – The masks produced from Sky Swap AI have been improved around trees and with white skies

New Camera Support – Added support for the Canon EOS R5C, Panasonic Lumix DC-GH6, OM System OM-1, Leica M11, Fujifilm X-T30 II, and Nikon Z 9 normal compression.

Pricing & Availability
ON1 offers photographers the choice to own ON1 Photo RAW outright with a perpetual license OR they can choose a subscription license option.

Version 2022.5 is a free update for all owners of ON1 Photo RAW 2022. New customers can order it today for $99.99 for a perpetual license. Owners of any previous version (prior to version 2022) of any ON1 products can order version 2022.5 for the upgrade price of $79.99. A free 14-day trial of ON1 Photo RAW 2022.5 is also available. Anyone that has tried ON1 Photo RAW 2022 in the past can download the version 2022.5 trial AGAIN and use it free for 14-days.

ON1 Photo RAW subscribers will automatically receive the new ON1 Photo RAW 2022.5 as part of their plans (check your emails!). Photo RAW subscription plans always include the latest version of ON1 Photo RAW for computers and mobile, the cloud syncing, and each ON1 plugin. Starting plans are as low as $7.99 per month or $89.99 per year.

A single purchase of any ON1 product includes Windows and macOS versions on two computers and support for 11 languages. All purchases are also covered by our 30-day money back guarantee, no questions asked.

About ON1
For the better part of two decades, ON1 has provided award-winning software to millions of photographers worldwide. We accomplish this by being different from other photo software companies. ON1 puts the photographer first, and this means customers have complete control over every aspect of their photography, including having a say in the products ON1 develops.

The ON1 focus has always been and will always be to provide an open system keeping you in control of your photos. We will always give you choices in the organization, storage, editing, creative style, and how you purchase ON1 products. We will never force you into a subscription model. You will always have a choice of perpetual license, subscription, or membership when choosing how you buy ON1.

Coming this June – the best photo editing software application for photographers, ON1 Photo RAW, gets a huge new update. Version 2022.5 includes a huge update to the popular ON1 Resize, better noise reduction, improved Sky Swap AI, camera support for the Nikon Z 9, and more.

ON1 Photo RAW is the ultimate editor. This easy-to-use photo organizer, raw processor, layered editor, and photo effects app covers all of your photo editing needs. To top it off, ON1 Photo RAW 2022.5 can also be a complete desktop and mobile workflow ecosystem with mobile and cloud integration. With ON1 Photo RAW 2022.5, photographers no longer have to go between many apps to get the best possible photos. Photo RAW gives photographers the ultimate image quality with the state-of-the-art raw engine, superior noise reduction with NoNoise AI, incredible filters and presets in Effects, automated portrait retouching tools, and now the best photo enlargement software, ON1 Resize AI, fully integrated. It’s the best Lightroom alternative!

“Image quality is of utmost importance. Our goal is to always deliver image outputs that are better than anything else out there. We are using AI to take over tasks that you simply cannot do with other applications. We aren’t using AI to take over the art of photography or using it to take away from the creative process,” says Craig Keudell, ON1 President.

New Features in ON1 Photo RAW 2022.5
Full Integration of ON1 Resize AI — ON1 Resize AI, the next-generation photo enlargement software, gives photographers the highest quality photo enlargements. This all-new super-resolution technology allows any photographer to enlarge photos while quickly maintaining and recovering an incredible amount of detail and sharpness.

Batch Upscaling – Open multiple photos at once, or an entire folder. Easily adjust and sync settings across multiple photos. Then use Export to control the destination, naming, filetype, etc.

Print Ready — With the power of Resize AI built into ON1 Photo RAW, photographers can now prepare entire gallery shows in one step. Crop, resize, sharpen, and print to any size all at once.

Enhanced NoNoise AI in Non-raw Files – When working on non-raw photos such as JPG, TIF, or PSD files, the results have been much-improved, with quality closely matching the raw models.

New and Improved Lens Correction — The new LensMatch automatic lens correction can detect and remove distortion when shooting raw with camera-maker matched lenses. This does away with the need for external lens profiles for many users. Lens correction can also remember user manual profile adjustments so they can be used as the defaults for a lens.

Better Masks in Sky Swap AI – The masks produced from Sky Swap AI have been improved around trees and with white skies

New Camera Support – Added support for the Canon EOS R5C, Panasonic Lumix DC-GH6, OM System OM-1, Leica M11, Fujifilm X-T30 II, and Nikon Z 9.

Pricing & Availability
ON1 offers photographers the choice to purchase with both perpetual or subscription license options for ON1 Photo RAW.

Version 2022.5 is a free update for all owners of ON1 Photo RAW 2022, and it will be available in June (early). ON1 Photo RAW is currently available for $99.99 for a perpetual license. Owners of any previous version (prior to version 2022) of any ON1 products can order version 2022.5 for the upgrade price of $79.99. A free 14-day trial of version 2022.1 is available now, and the 2022.5 trial is coming in June.

ON1 Photo RAW subscribers will automatically receive the new ON1 Photo RAW 2022.5 as part of their plans. Photo RAW subscription plans always include the latest version of ON1 Photo RAW for computers and mobile, the cloud syncing, and each ON1 plugin. Starting plans are as low as $7.99 per month or $89.99 per year.

A single purchase of any ON1 product includes Windows and macOS versions on two computers and support for 11 languages.

About ON1
For the better part of two decades, ON1 has provided award-winning software to millions of photographers worldwide. We accomplish this by being different from other photo software companies. ON1 puts the photographer first, and this means customers have complete control over every aspect of their photography, including having a say in the products ON1 develops.

The ON1 focus has always been and will always be to provide an open system keeping you in control of your photos. We will always give you choices in the organization, storage, editing, creative style, and how you purchase ON1 products. We will never force you into a subscription model. You will always have a choice of perpetual license, subscription, or membership when choosing how you buy ON1.

Our Photo, Your Look is a new spin on the popular series Your Photo, Our Look, where ON1 Plus members would submit photos and have ON1 Gurus edit them with their style.

In Our Photo, Your Look, ON1 Plus members can download our raw file and edit it with your look using the ultimate photo editor and your favorite photo editing software, ON1 Photo RAW. Crop, enhance, add effects, composite, or whatever you choose. Just have some fun! Our VP of Product, Dan Harlacher, will pick his favorite three edits, and the winners will receive a $250.00 Amazon gift card.

To take part, you must be an ON1 Plus member and follow the instructions here.