Photos, MacOS vs iPadOS and editing

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Level 1

12 points

Photos, MacOS vs iPadOS and editing

Looking at updating my device, from a 2012 iMac to a new something. The iPad Pro makes a compelling case, but the cost is right there with a mac mini. I currently use a perpetual license Windows Lightroom 6, for editing and printing, Photos on Mojave as the library. Apple made me a disgruntled individual when Aperture was discontinued, but the editing in Catalina looks close to my old Lightroom version.

Main question: Is there a difference in Photos in iPadOS and Photos in Catalina, primarily in the editing? Apple photos support page has a different link separating the two versions. If there is a difference, that would push me one way or the other as far as device/hardware goes.

Thanks a bunch.

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on Jun 19, 2020 2:29 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Russ New Boy

Level 4

1,162 points

Jun 19, 2020 2:40 PM in response to _David_P_

Photos on the Mac and iPad are very similar, they both offer the same basic exposure, colour, noise reduction edit capability. However the Mac version goes further and provides histogram and tone control curves and therefore is ultimately more powerful.

Neither version is a patch on Lightroom though and the far more powerful editing it allows including local editing.

It really depends what type of editing you are doing - I use Lightroom for all my Raw stuff and Photos for shots taken with iPhone.

If you get a Lightroom subscription is also includes Lightroom on the iPad............

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Answer 2

_David_P_ Author

Level 1

12 points

Jun 19, 2020 3:52 PM in response to Russ New Boy

That was super helpful - tone curves and histogram on the Mac version and maybe the Affinity plugins push me toward the mac mini.

Type of LR editing: Mostly converting to B&W images, yes some local edits/brush work, and I have some favorite presets to get me to a good start point. The main guide in the B&W was Craft & Vision, The Power of Black & White. I use the profile for lens and camera as the start. I use LR for the edit, x and then the bulk delete. There are handy things there, but the library portion has always been a bit behind the apple products, in my experience.

I haven't done the CC or LR subscription since this is just a hobby (albeit an enjoyable one) hence the LR6. Manually managing the library between the Win box and the iMac has become tedious so iCloud has my attention - along with reading about Photos adding in more of the old Aperture editing features. These things combined are starting to pull me back to the Apple ecosystem. Wasn't quite ready to add in 2 subscriptions (iCloud & LR plan)

Again - thanks

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Answer 3

Jun 20, 2020 1:37 PM in response to _David_P_

You're welcome.

Photos has improved quite a bit over the years and for general editing works well. Syncing between devices works well also. The monthly subscription for iCloud is not too expensive, £3 a month I think for 250GB. I find it easy to make quick edits using Photos but clearly the tools are not as sophisticated as LR.

Lightroom has also moved on quite a bit since LR6 and as much as I hate the subscription model Adobe does release a number of useful feature enhancements during the year. If you buy it on Amazon during a sale, such as Black Friday you can pick up a years sub for around £70 and for that you get Photoshop and Lightroom Mobile which is a new cloud based version of Lightroom for iPad and iPhone.

Good luck on your choice.

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Photos, MacOS vs iPadOS and editing

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