Hi,

I'm curious how you edit your underwater photos and videos:

- What are you using? Lightroom, Capture One, RapidRAW, Davinci Resolve, something else?

- What annoys you about your workflow?

- What's missing? Anything you wish your software could do for underwater shots?

- What do you love about your setup and would never give up?

Quick bit about me: I've used Capture One and Lightroom for years, and now I'm building my own editing app just for divers and underwater shooters.

I want it to tackle the stuff that really bugs people.

So any input is welcome, even small gripes or half-baked ideas.

Thanks!

Hello, Davinci Resolve 21 Studio both videos and stills

Bye

Hi @Gmsalterego ,

Thanks for the info and you miss anything or something you don't like about your workflow?

Hello @Jurgen I'm really satisfied of my workflow. The learning curve of DR21 is a point of attention.

Bye Giacomo

I use Pinnacle Studio - mostly because I have been using it for years, so I understand their user interface. I tried using DaVinci Resolve and the learning curve was too much, so I went back to Pinnacle Studio. I can see why people like Resolve, and may switch at some future time if Studio is discontinued, but for now at least, I will continue using it just because it is the path of least resistance and works for me.

I was using Pinnacle Studio back in the days also.

Lightroom since 1.0. And, maybe minority view, I think the subscription is actually good value. 😝

I honestly struggle to think of anything I can’t do or that could be significantly better. I guess a lot of that is just that I’ve been using it so long!

I’m also a long time Lightroom user. I have a pretty basic workflow and probably use only 20% of its capabilities. My one major gripe is the lock-in nature of the subscription. If I decide to stop paying, or Adobe goes out of business, I’ll lose all my work. I keep meaning to export full size JPEGs of all my edited images just in case - that will be a major long term effort.

@Troporobo yeah the nature of the subscription is….

2 hours ago, Troporobo said:

I’m also a long time Lightroom user. I have a pretty basic workflow and probably use only 20% of its capabilities. My one major gripe is the lock-in nature of the subscription. If I decide to stop paying, or Adobe goes out of business, I’ll lose all my work. I keep meaning to export full size JPEGs of all my edited images just in case - that will be a major long term effort.

The free Adobe Bridge app can read and convert all of your edited RAW files. Just tell LRc to generate XMF? metadata for all of your pictures. Cancel your subscription any time.

In my workflow i export to JPG all of the files I tag and post process. Those jpgs go to cloud storage for backup and portability.

I use Capture One for initial RAW processing and selection then an old copy of PS CS6. Essential features to me - it needs a levels tool, masking must be straight forward. I would like to be able to soft proof images and need to be able to use a calibrated monitor. Backscatter removal cloning tool needs a one touch tool like PS. I just tap each spot on a tablet. An actions tool like PS is also an essential for me, i have actions which take my processed tif and resize to a set pixel size , add shapening layers do initial sharpening and place a copyright notice. The dodge/burn tools also get use - PS allows burning of only the highlights so for example will dull down backscatter without impacting the background.

On the topic of masking I use the Tony Kuyper free luminosity masks plug in in PS makes controlling shadow/midtone/brights contrast so easy . I tried Affinity photo and while its good at levels curves etc. masking is ridiculously convoluted and I gave up. The sort of masking I am talking about is using a monochrome version of the image suitably adjusted with contrast and/or inverting it. Doing this in PS is a single click to get the image placed as a monochrome mask. Affinity requires jumping through flaming hoops.

I'm a bit different to the average user in that I do everything with levels and curves etc, the original toolset in PS. I don't need all the other so called smart tools as I can do just about everything they do with the basic set of PS tools and some masking capability.

Hi Chris,

Thanks a lot for such a detailed reply! This is exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping to get.

It’s really interesting to hear how much you can achieve with the basic tools in Photoshop, especially levels, curves and masking. I think there’s a lot to be said for having a solid set of fundamental tools that work well, rather than relying on lots of automated features.

Your point about masking is particularly useful. Being able to create and adjust luminosity masks quickly, without jumping through a dozen steps, sounds like a must-have. The same goes for the one-click spot removal and the ability to burn highlights selectively to reduce backscatter without affecting the background.

I also hadn’t fully considered how important things like soft proofing, calibrated monitor support and customizable actions are for an established workflow. Being able to automate repetitive tasks like resizing, sharpening and adding copyright information makes a lot of sense.

I’m curious about one thing: When it comes to underwater images specifically, are there any adjustments you find yourself repeating in almost every image that you wish you could handle more quickly or precisely? For example, restoring reds, correcting colour casts at different depths, or improving contrast without losing detail in the water.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience. It’s genuinely helpful!

Edited October 9Oct 9 by Jurgen

Thanks for sharing your workflow, @Dave_Hicks

That’s an interesting approach, especially using Bridge as a way to keep accessing and converting your RAW files without an ongoing Lightroom subscription.

Exporting the selected and processed images to JPEG and backing them up in the cloud also makes a lot of sense for portability and easy access.

I’m curious about one thing: do you ever miss being able to go back and fine-tune your edits from the original RAW files, or are your JPEG exports usually all you need once an image is processed? I’m asking because I’m exploring how to handle file management, editing and long-term access in my own app.

Thanks again for the input!

1 hour ago, Jurgen said:

Thanks for sharing your workflow, @Dave_Hicks

That’s an interesting approach, especially using Bridge as a way to keep accessing and converting your RAW files without an ongoing Lightroom subscription.

Exporting the selected and processed images to JPEG and backing them up in the cloud also makes a lot of sense for portability and easy access.

I’m curious about one thing: do you ever miss being able to go back and fine-tune your edits from the original RAW files, or are your JPEG exports usually all you need once an image is processed? I’m asking because I’m exploring how to handle file management, editing and long-term access in my own app.

Thanks again for the input!

I don't delete the RAW files ever. As i grow my editing skills over time and find new tools i have often gone back to a favorite image from prior years and re-edited from scratch.

JPG is a end product consumption format and never re-edited again.

Edited October 9Oct 9 by Dave_Hicks

Hi Dave,

Absolutely, you’re right!
Our editing skills and the tools available to us are constantly evolving. Images we were more than happy with five years ago might offer even more potential today with new techniques and a fresh perspective. That’s exactly why keeping the RAW files is so valuable!

lightroom - subscription

PS on rare occasions when I want to remove a thing or paint over it but that is obviously cheating

I am very much a weekend warrior sort of lightroom user - I do the basics but when I open up the menus and see all the possibilities I get overwhelmed

2 hours ago, Jurgen said:

Hi Dave,

Absolutely, you’re right!
Our editing skills and the tools available to us are constantly evolving. Images we were more than happy with five years ago might offer even more potential today with new techniques and a fresh perspective. That’s exactly why keeping the RAW files is so valuable!

Totally agree!

I use LRc and PS with Macbook Pro M1...

Great software and no need for an alternative, but what makes me outrageous is the "Library" system: Instead of having the option to define the folders/subfolders from where to take the photos and where to place the Adobe specific files by oneself and just use the "Develop" module, one has to use the entire Adobe Libraray-system that I find complicated and confusing...

I wrote them several times, but still they do not offer this simple and easy to implement option...

@Mike Saunders

Yes something the possibilities can get overwhelmed. If a software provides you a way to customize or you can help a lot. Everybody needs different things if his/her workflow. Also sometimes you want to order things like white balance, curves, and so on the way to like them.

@Architeuthis

I know exactly what you mean – that drove me crazy too, and it's one of the reasons I built an app around plain folders right from the start. You can open as many folders as you like, wherever they are – each one shows up in the sidebar with its subfolders. No import, no catalog.

It works the same for RAW and JPG: your original file is never touched. The edit is saved as a small file right next to it, and every editing step can be switched off or removed later – or you go back to the original with one click.

Since we're underwater people, I also added the option to store the dive site and your dive computer data with the photos – so every shot knows its depth.

These are exactly the little things I'm looking for in this thread – I'd rather get them right from the start than fix them later.

2 hours ago, Architeuthis said:

I use LRc and PS with Macbook Pro M1...

Great software and no need for an alternative, but what makes me outrageous is the "Library" system: Instead of having the option to define the folders/subfolders from where to take the photos and where to place the Adobe specific files by oneself and just use the "Develop" module, one has to use the entire Adobe Libraray-system that I find complicated and confusing...

I wrote them several times, but still they do not offer this simple and easy to implement option...

Haha, funny old world. Me, I find the Library brilliant! I can search all 60k photos and find exactly what I'm looking for (yeah, you have to Keyword of course). The ability to then drop files into a Collection is terrific.

Each to his own, eh?!

Ha, I think you're both right – and that's exactly the gap I'm closing.l

@Architeuthis wants plain folders, no catalog.

@TimG wants to search 60k photos and find the one he's looking for.

My app does both: you work with your own folders, nothing gets imported, and in the background the app quietly builds a small search index. It's only there to make searching fast – your edits and tags live next to your photos, not inside it. Delete the index and the app simply rebuilds it. Nothing is lost.

And because the app recognises species and knows your dive data, you don't have to keyword everything first. You just type things like:
– "Where did I see a frogfish?"
– "Show me all dives deeper than 25 m"
– "All shark photos from the Maldives"

For sure I still missing something but its a good starting point I guess 🙂

56 minutes ago, TimG said:

Each to his own, eh?!

Yes -absolutely!

But Adobe should provide the option to do it the simple and individual way too. I think I am not asking for too much...

But Adobe should provide the option to do it the simple and individual way too. I think I am not asking for too much...

No, I don't think you're asking for too much. It makes perfect sense to me. The problem is that, with such large companies, a single user's voice often doesn't count for much. Unless enough people ask for the same thing, even a simple and sensible option can go unheard for long time.

23 minutes ago, Architeuthis said:

Yes -absolutely!

But Adobe should provide the option to do it the simple and individual way too. I think I am not asking for too much...

Only it does. The import module of Lightroom is very flexible and powerful. It also does exactly what you say it does not.

I import every days photos into distinct folders with my the Folder name of the Event, files renamed to that event + date info, and placed in sub-folders named by date.

Photos

+++ 2026

+++ Gods Pocket Sept 2026

+++ Sept 6 2026

+++ Gp-Sept26_Photo1

I have 20 years of photo organized this way using lightroom and it is very simple to parse and discover using just the file system. LR goes beyond that with a system of tags and metadata in the library but i don't really use that.