‘X’ marks the spot for Zoner

An Editor’s Choice winner for the best image editing software in our Photography News 2023 Awards, this combined photo editor and file manager is an enticing alternative to Lightroom and Photoshop

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Seeking a photo editing and image management package that’s on a winning streak? Then look no further than Zoner Photo Studio X.

Having previously won the Photography News affiliated TIPA World Awards, the software’s bagged Editor’s Choice for the best image editing software in our PN Awards.

So what makes it victorious? More affordable than Photoshop or Lightroom, Zoner Photo Studio X is comprehensively featured for starters.

It provides Raw processing, layer support, quick-and-easy-to-apply presets, retouching tools, cataloguing, plus we can even transform photos into a video presentation or time-lapse movie without having to switch software.

Encouragingly, those with an ageing PC don’t need the latest device to run the software. Zoner Photo Studio X utilises the graphics card to its fullest extent, resulting in an accelerated GPU (graphics processing unit) and swifter editing even on older hardware.

In fact, our workflow is potentially cut in half due to the program’s Develop module being two times faster. Quality isn’t sacrificed, either, for the software to run more smoothly. 

The latest iteration of the award-winning program also features a new toolbar, placing the most important tools at our fingertips. They can be applied to precise areas of photos, enabling enhanced adjustments.

Boasting greater versatility than before, settings have also been added to the Radial Filter, Filter Brush and Gradient Filter to give them the complete popular functions of the  Develop module.

It’s not just all about photography, as videomakers too can undertake advanced colour work, thanks to support for 3D LUTs (lookup tables).

LUTs can be applied directly to footage for setting and changing the colour tone to emulate the appearance of TV shows and films.

Displaying Raw talent

Still photographers seeking optimum quality are directed to the program’s default settings, which can be customised for the processing of Raw files. In fact,

default adjustments can be set from the Develop module for each camera, eliminating the need for manual adjustment. These settings are saved even when additional adjustments are reset, providing superior photo enhancement in just a few clicks.

Further features of Zoner Photo Studio X include seamless control of video speed using key frames. Losing track of photos earmarked for a photo book or another project is avoided thanks to Print module tracking files.

It also allows for live editing, with adjustments made in the Develop module reflected immediately in ongoing projects.

Offering support for Windows 10 and 11, Zoner Photo Studio X is priced at just $5.99 a month, or $59 for the whole year.

Updates are added automatically. The licence – which includes 20GB of Zoner Cloud storage – allows users to log in from any computer, with English-speaking customer support, online chat and email available.

It’s no wonder the software has caught the imagination of our editor and readers alike. Try out a fully featured, free seven-day trial of this award-winning product at the link below to download.

See the full list of PN Award 2023 winners.

First published in Issue 113 of Photography News.