The Best 9 Photo Brightness Adjusters for Windows – Enhance Your Photo Editing Experience.

As more and more people are getting interested in photography, photo editing software has become an essential tool for everyone who loves photography. One of the factors that make a great photo besides its composition and subject matter is the brightness and contrast of the image. While there are countless photo editing software in the market, not all of them are created the same. Some are free, some are not. Some are beginner-friendly, some are geared towards professionals. So, how do you choose the right photo brightness adjuster for your needs?

In this post, we will be discussing the best photo brightness adjusters for Windows that are currently available in the market. We will explore their features, pricing, and pros and cons, as well as compare them to give you a comprehensive guide to help you choose which one is right for you.

Video Tutorial:

What Photo Brightness Adjusters Can Do?

Photo brightness adjusters are software that helps you adjust the brightness and contrast of your images. The brightness controls how light or dark the overall image is while the contrast controls the difference between the light and dark areas.

With these tools, you can turn a dull photo into a bright, eye-catching image by making the whites whiter and the blacks darker. You can also adjust the brightness and contrast based on your preferences or to achieve a certain mood or tone.

What Factors Should Be Considered While Choosing Photo Brightness Adjusters?

Choosing the right photo brightness adjuster can be difficult. Here are a few factors that you should consider when selecting one:

  • Budget: How much are you willing to spend on a photo brightness adjuster? Some software can be quite expensive, while others are free.
  • Ease of use: Are you a beginner or a professional? You want to choose software that is easy to navigate if you’re new to photo editing. If you are a professional, you will need more advanced features to meet your needs.
  • Supported Format: Do you require software that can work with a specific file format such as RAW or JPEG?
  • Features: What features are essential for you? Every software has different capabilities; some offer basic brightness and contrast adjustment while others offer more advanced tools such as curves, levels, and selective adjustments.

Top 9 Best Photo Brightness Adjusters for Windows

1. Adobe Lightroom Classic

  • Pros:
    • Supports a wide range of file formats including RAW, TIFF, and JPEG
    • Very intuitive and easy to use
    • Offers a wide range of editing features including adjustment brushes and curves
  • Cons:
    • Expensive compared to other photo editing software
    • Requires a monthly subscription to use

2. Luminar 4

  • Pros:
    • Has a vast range of editing features including AI sky replacement and skin retouching
    • Offers a range of preset filters to jumpstart your editing
    • Can work as a standalone software or a plugin for Lightroom and Photoshop
  • Cons:
    • Can be quite expensive
    • Can be a bit overwhelming for beginners due to the number of features

3. Photoshop Elements 2021

  • Pros:
    • Intuitive and user-friendly interface
    • Supports a range of file formats including RAW, JPEG, and TIFF
    • Offers a range of editing features such as skin smoothing and adjustment layers
  • Cons:
    • Expensive compared to other similar software
    • Requires a monthly subscription to use

4. Capture One Pro 20

  • Pros:
    • Offers advanced color grading capabilities
    • Supports a wide range of cameras
    • Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • Cons:
    • Can be quite expensive
    • Not as popular as some other software, which can make finding help and support more difficult

5. Raw Therapee

  • Pros:
    • Free and Open-Source software
    • Supports a wide range of file formats including RAW, TIFF, and JPEG
    • Offers a range of editing features including curves and levels adjustment
  • Cons:
    • Not the most intuitive interface
    • Can be slower than other software

6. Affinity Photo

  • Pros:
    • Easier to use than Photoshop for beginners
    • One-time purchase instead of monthly subscription model
    • Offers a range of editing features including selective adjustments and HDR merge
  • Cons:
    • Not as many plugins and presets as software like Lightroom
    • Can be slower than its competitors

7. Capture One Express

  • Pros:
    • Affordable option with robust features
    • Offers advanced color correction tools
    • Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • Cons:
    • Doesn’t support as many cameras as its Pro version
    • Limited features compared to its competitors

8. PaintShop Pro 2021

  • Pros:
    • Affordable one-time purchase with good features
    • User-friendly interface
    • Offers a range of editing features including selective adjustment and HDR merge
  • Cons:
    • Slower than some of its competitors
    • Not as intuitively designed as software like Lightroom or Photoshop

9. GIMP

  • Pros:
    • Free and Open-Source software
    • Supports a wide range of file formats including RAW, TIFF, and JPEG
    • Offers a range of editing features including layers and channels
  • Cons:
    • Not as user-friendly as some of the other software on this list
    • Can be slower than its competitors

Pros & Cons

SoftwareProsCons
Adobe Lightroom Classic
  • Supports a wide range of file formats
  • Intuitive and easy to use
  • Offers a wide range of editing features
  • Expensive compared to other software
  • Requires a monthly subscription
Luminar 4
  • Has a vast range of editing features
  • Offers a range of preset filters to jumpstart your editing
  • Can work as a standalone software or a plugin for Lightroom and Photoshop
  • Can be quite expensive
  • Can be a bit overwhelming for beginners
Photoshop Elements 2021
  • Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • Supports a range of file formats
  • Offers a range of editing features
  • Expensive compared to other similar software
  • Requires a monthly subscription
Capture One Pro 20
  • Offers advanced color grading capabilities
  • Supports a wide range of cameras
  • Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • Can be quite expensive
  • Not as popular as some other software
Raw Therapee
  • Free and Open-Source software
  • Supports a wide range of file formats
  • Offers a range of editing features
  • Not the most intuitive interface
  • Can be slower than other software
Affinity Photo
  • Easier to use than Photoshop for beginners
  • One-time purchase instead of monthly subscription model
  • Offers a range of editing features
  • Not as many plugins and presets as software like Lightroom
  • Can be slower than its competitors
Capture One Express
  • Affordable option with robust features
  • Offers advanced color correction tools
  • Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • Does not support as many cameras as its Pro version
  • Limited features compared to its competitors
PaintShop Pro 2021
  • Affordable one-time purchase with good features
  • User-friendly interface
  • Offers a range of editing features
  • Slower than some of its competitors
  • Not as intuitively designed as software like Lightroom or Photoshop
GIMP
  • Free and Open-Source software
  • Supports a wide range of file formats including RAW, TIFF, and JPEG
  • Offers a range of editing features including layers and channels
  • Not as user-friendly as some of the other software on this list
  • Can be slower than its competitors

Our Thoughts

After thorough research and analysis, we believe that Adobe Lightroom Classic is the best photo brightness adjuster for windows currently available. It offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface, a wide range of editing features, and supports a wide range of file formats. However, it is quite expensive compared to some of the other options on this list.

If you are looking for a more affordable option, we recommend Raw Therapee or GIMP. Despite some hiccups in performance, they are both free and offer a range of features.

FAQs

Q1. What is the best photo brightness adjuster for beginners?

A: If you are a beginner, we recommend starting with Adobe Lightroom Classic or Luminar 4. They are both very intuitive and user-friendly.

Q2. What is the most affordable photo brightness adjuster?

A: Out of the options on this list, Raw Therapee and GIMP are both free. While they may not be as beginner-friendly as some of the paid options, they are still very capable and offer a wide range of features.

Q3. What is the most advanced photo brightness adjuster?

A: If you are a professional looking for more advanced features, we recommend Capture One Pro 20. It offers advanced color grading capabilities and supports a wide range of cameras.

Q4. How much does Luminar 4 cost?

A: Luminar 4 offers two pricing plans: a one-time payment of $89 or a subscription plan of $10/month

Q5. Can I use PaintShop Pro as a plugin for Lightroom or Photoshop?

A: Yes, PaintShop Pro works as a plugin for both Lightroom and Photoshop.

Final Words

Choosing the right photo brightness adjuster for Windows can significantly enhance your photo editing experience. With this comprehensive guide, we hope you can find the perfect software that matches your budget, skill level, and needs. Remember to consider your budget, supported file formats, ease of use, and features when selecting your software.