What software are you buying and not buying this Black Friday?
p.1 #1What software are you buying and not buying this Black Friday?
What software are you buying and not buying this Black Friday? 
Are you opting for subscriptions or perpetual licenses?
So far I upgraded all my remaining DXO licenses. I consider that a sold investment at this point. I've been with them since the beginning.
I'm going to buy BorisFX Optics for the first time. Just trying to decide between perpetual and subscription licensing. They just started Black Friday pricing today. I'm leaning towards perpetual.
Ditto for Helicon Focus - it's a buy if they have a Black Friday sale. I'd go lifetime on it. I might buy it either way. Sounds like nerd fun to me.
I haven't tried Photomechanic or Browser Pro for a long time. They haven't offered a Black Friday price but if they do I may give it another try. They used to be good but man their prices have gone up!
I've got licenses for Imagenomic and Topaz. I'm not sure if I'm going to upgrade these. Does anyone still use them still? Why? Portraiture was pretty good in the day.
Then there are dozens of recent entries into portrait subscriptions: Luminar Neo, Aftershoot, Retouch4me, SkinFiner, Evoto, Reblum.
What's up with Exposure 7? I've never tried it. Should I try it if I already have Adobe Creative Suite and DXO?
What's on your shopping list and what isn't?
Happy Thanksgiving to all and we have a lot to be thankful for! Cheers my friends!
Are you opting for subscriptions or perpetual licenses?
So far I upgraded all my remaining DXO licenses. I consider that a sold investment at this point. I've been with them since the beginning.
I'm going to buy BorisFX Optics for the first time. Just trying to decide between perpetual and subscription licensing. They just started Black Friday pricing today. I'm leaning towards perpetual.
Ditto for Helicon Focus - it's a buy if they have a Black Friday sale. I'd go lifetime on it. I might buy it either way. Sounds like nerd fun to me.
I haven't tried Photomechanic or Browser Pro for a long time. They haven't offered a Black Friday price but if they do I may give it another try. They used to be good but man their prices have gone up!
I've got licenses for Imagenomic and Topaz. I'm not sure if I'm going to upgrade these. Does anyone still use them still? Why? Portraiture was pretty good in the day.
Then there are dozens of recent entries into portrait subscriptions: Luminar Neo, Aftershoot, Retouch4me, SkinFiner, Evoto, Reblum.
What's up with Exposure 7? I've never tried it. Should I try it if I already have Adobe Creative Suite and DXO?
What's on your shopping list and what isn't?
Happy Thanksgiving to all and we have a lot to be thankful for! Cheers my friends!
Nov 22, 2025 at 05:08 PM
RoamingScott
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p.1 #2What software are you buying and not buying this Black Friday?
My $10/month Adobe LR/PS sub does everything I need and more...the software is certainly not a limitation to my output, that part is firmly behind the camera 
LR has added features at a blistering rate, it's a fantastic product.
LR has added features at a blistering rate, it's a fantastic product.
Nov 22, 2025 at 05:11 PM
p.1 #3What software are you buying and not buying this Black Friday?
RoamingScott wrote:
My $10/month Adobe LR/PS sub does everything I need and more...the software is certainly not a limitation to my output, that part is firmly behind the camera
LR has added features at a blistering rate, it's a fantastic product.
Adobe Lightroom is amazing! That's my main tool as well.
My $10/month Adobe LR/PS sub does everything I need and more...the software is certainly not a limitation to my output, that part is firmly behind the camera
LR has added features at a blistering rate, it's a fantastic product.
Adobe Lightroom is amazing! That's my main tool as well.
Nov 22, 2025 at 05:26 PM
p.1 #4What software are you buying and not buying this Black Friday?
I bought the PS/LR deal for $85 that is a gift code or whatever that does not renew. It is the first time for Adobe in over 10 years since the subscription method. There a few things in PS I will use sometimes.
I might upgrade one of my license sets for the DXO PL, maybe 7 to 9 and then keep the other set one on 8. It's hardly a meaningful discount so I'm not in a hurry.
EBH
I might upgrade one of my license sets for the DXO PL, maybe 7 to 9 and then keep the other set one on 8. It's hardly a meaningful discount so I'm not in a hurry.
EBH
Nov 22, 2025 at 05:37 PM
p.1 #5What software are you buying and not buying this Black Friday?
EB-1 wrote:
I bought the PS/LR deal for $85 that is a gift code or whatever that does not renew. It is the first time for Adobe in over 10 years since the subscription method. There a few things in PS I will use sometimes.
I might upgrade one of my license sets for the DXO PL, maybe 7 to 9 and then keep the other set one on 8. It's hardly a meaningful discount so I'm not in a hurry.
EBH
Sounds like the first two "wise" respondents have decided to go for Spartan and go lean and mean. DXO and Lightroom are my core as well. Do you have a link for the Adobe deal? I'd like to pick that up as I have computers everything and like to switch back and forth!
I bought the PS/LR deal for $85 that is a gift code or whatever that does not renew. It is the first time for Adobe in over 10 years since the subscription method. There a few things in PS I will use sometimes.
I might upgrade one of my license sets for the DXO PL, maybe 7 to 9 and then keep the other set one on 8. It's hardly a meaningful discount so I'm not in a hurry.
EBH
Sounds like the first two "wise" respondents have decided to go for Spartan and go lean and mean. DXO and Lightroom are my core as well. Do you have a link for the Adobe deal? I'd like to pick that up as I have computers everything and like to switch back and forth!
Nov 22, 2025 at 05:54 PM
p.1 #6What software are you buying and not buying this Black Friday?
netexpress wrote:
Do you have a link for the Adobe deal? I'd like to pick that up as I have computers everything and like to switch back and forth!
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1923542/
EBH
Do you have a link for the Adobe deal? I'd like to pick that up as I have computers everything and like to switch back and forth!
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1923542/
EBH
Nov 22, 2025 at 06:05 PM
p.1 #7What software are you buying and not buying this Black Friday?
EB-1 wrote:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1923542/
EBH
Way cool!
netexpress wrote
Do you have a link for the Adobe deal? I'd like to pick that up as I have computers everything and like to switch back and forth!EBH
Way cool!
Nov 22, 2025 at 06:40 PM
p.1 #8What software are you buying and not buying this Black Friday?
Great question. I'm debating between DxO and the Adobe deals. Have cut ties with Topaz.
Nov 22, 2025 at 06:52 PM
p.1 #9What software are you buying and not buying this Black Friday?
Got everything I need from software. Anyone see a good deal on time…subscription or perpetual, does not matter.
Nov 22, 2025 at 06:58 PM
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p.1 #10What software are you buying and not buying this Black Friday?
armd wrote:
Great question. I'm debating between DxO and the Adobe deals. Have cut ties with Topaz.
There are uses for both. PS does so much as a pixel level editor that DXO does not do, but DXO does such a great job with the RAW file processing at high ISO. PS has only a couple of settings for denoise - amount and sharpening. DXO has plenty of options that allows better control and multiple Denoise models; those are more important at higher ISOs. DXO is also much faster to process RAW files with RTX 50 GPU acceleration. IDK about others.
EBH
Great question. I'm debating between DxO and the Adobe deals. Have cut ties with Topaz.
There are uses for both. PS does so much as a pixel level editor that DXO does not do, but DXO does such a great job with the RAW file processing at high ISO. PS has only a couple of settings for denoise - amount and sharpening. DXO has plenty of options that allows better control and multiple Denoise models; those are more important at higher ISOs. DXO is also much faster to process RAW files with RTX 50 GPU acceleration. IDK about others.
EBH
Nov 22, 2025 at 07:17 PM
p.1 #11What software are you buying and not buying this Black Friday?
Protonmail.com
Best safe email provider
They are currently offering their premium plan (which includes Drive, Calendar, password manager, and vpn) for $2/month.
Best safe email provider
They are currently offering their premium plan (which includes Drive, Calendar, password manager, and vpn) for $2/month.
Nov 22, 2025 at 07:47 PM
p.1 #12What software are you buying and not buying this Black Friday?
My workflow is based on Photoshop and Adobe Camera Raw/Bridge (and occasional use of Lightroom) so I don’t really need any other software. Since I pay annually the cost is only $10/month, and it is very powerful.
Nov 22, 2025 at 09:12 PM
p.1 #13What software are you buying and not buying this Black Friday?
gdanmitchell wrote:
My workflow is based on Photoshop and Adobe Camera Raw/Bridge (and occasional use of Lightroom) so I don’t really need any other software. Since I pay annually the cost is only $10/month, and it is very powerful.
My use of raw processing is diminishing rapidly. The more I use my iPhone and HEIF, the more I realize it can do almost as much as my current preferred raw workflow of CaptureOne to PS; and the built-in Apple AI tools are pretty amazing. Photography is pure hobby for me now, and my interest in it is waning. I am transitioning into retirement and will NOT be renewing my C1 license at the next renewal. IF -- and it's honestly a big IF -- I still even have a minimal camera system other than my iPhone by June when my PS renewal hits, I will keep the PS package and revert to ACR/LRc for raws (or perhaps just PS for HEIF's) like Dan is doing. At this point I'd give it a 50-50 I will throw in the dedicated camera towel. Life changes, priorities change, and software (and camera gear) is only getting more expensive; time for me to try and do and enjoy with less... Just an old, tired guys perspective here, YMMV.
My workflow is based on Photoshop and Adobe Camera Raw/Bridge (and occasional use of Lightroom) so I don’t really need any other software. Since I pay annually the cost is only $10/month, and it is very powerful.
My use of raw processing is diminishing rapidly. The more I use my iPhone and HEIF, the more I realize it can do almost as much as my current preferred raw workflow of CaptureOne to PS; and the built-in Apple AI tools are pretty amazing. Photography is pure hobby for me now, and my interest in it is waning. I am transitioning into retirement and will NOT be renewing my C1 license at the next renewal. IF -- and it's honestly a big IF -- I still even have a minimal camera system other than my iPhone by June when my PS renewal hits, I will keep the PS package and revert to ACR/LRc for raws (or perhaps just PS for HEIF's) like Dan is doing. At this point I'd give it a 50-50 I will throw in the dedicated camera towel. Life changes, priorities change, and software (and camera gear) is only getting more expensive; time for me to try and do and enjoy with less... Just an old, tired guys perspective here, YMMV.
Nov 23, 2025 at 09:41 AM
p.1 #14What software are you buying and not buying this Black Friday?
Exire, Capture One, Topaz, Affinity
Nov 23, 2025 at 10:09 AM
p.1 #15What software are you buying and not buying this Black Friday?
Affinity is free, isn't it? Not much of BF deal.
EBH
EBH
Nov 23, 2025 at 10:51 AM
p.1 #16What software are you buying and not buying this Black Friday?
For years, I have been a regular user of DxO Photolab. In early 2025, I subscribed to Adobe photography plan, then later added a subscription to Capture One.
Now, I have fully adopted Capture One where most of my processing takes place, while PL9 I use for denoising and a few minor corrections when necessary.
I have not developed a need for Adobe products (I definitely don't want a Lightroom catalog); thus, I am going to cancel this subscription.
Now, I have fully adopted Capture One where most of my processing takes place, while PL9 I use for denoising and a few minor corrections when necessary.
I have not developed a need for Adobe products (I definitely don't want a Lightroom catalog); thus, I am going to cancel this subscription.
Nov 23, 2025 at 12:25 PM
p.1 #17What software are you buying and not buying this Black Friday?
I’m debating upgrading from Photolab 8 to 9 or skip this one and wait for 10.
Nov 23, 2025 at 12:43 PM
p.1 #18What software are you buying and not buying this Black Friday?
I'm upgrading to Photolab 9 from Photolab 7. If there's a deal on photo paper (silver gelatin), I'll get some of that.
Nov 24, 2025 at 03:54 PM