Photo Organizer Feature Comparison
Open source programs
Also see Kipi (the KDE Image Plugin Interface).
Commercial programs
- Aperture
- iPhoto
- Lightroom
- Picasa
- Windows Live Photo Gallery
Organizing
| iPhoto | F-Spot | Picasa | Windows Live Photo Gallery | Aperture
|
| multiple versions of each photo | n | y | n | | y
|
| display/edit photo names | y | n | n | |
|
| hide photos | y | n | y | |
|
| keywords | y | y ("tags") | y | |
|
| ratings | y: 1-5 stars | y: 1-5 stars | can give photo a star to mark as favorite | y: 1-5 stars | y: 1-5 stars
|
| where modified photo files are stored | in a hidden library directory; 1 full-size copy for each modified photo | in same directory as original; one copy for each modified version | stored in hidden directory; edits written to files only upon user request | written to original file immediately; backup copy kept in hidden directory so user can revert | in a hidden library directory; by default, 1 reduced-size copy for each photo (whether modified or not)
|
| where metadata (e.g. keywords) is stored | in private database; written to files only upon export | either in private database or in photo files, depending on user option | written immediately to photo files | written immediately to photo files | in private database; a user command is available to write metadata to masters
|
| thumbnail sizes | | | | | 180 px (AP.Tinies), 360 px (AP.Minis), 1024 px (AP.Thumbnails)
|
Editing
| iPhoto | F-Spot | gThumb | Picasa
|
| compare photos side by side | y | n | n | n
|
| quick compare before/after change | y (Shift key) | n | n | n
|
| undo | y | n | y | y
|
| zoom in while editing | y | y | y | n
|
| pan with mouse | y | n | y | y
|
| rotate | y | y | y | y
|
| crop | y | y | y | y
|
| crop tool displays thirds | y | n | n | n
|
| straighten | y (by 0.1 deg) | y (by 1.0 deg) | n | y
|
| straighten tool displays horizontal lines | y | n | n | y
|
| resize | n | y (only while exporting) | y | y (only while exporting)
|
| one-click auto-enhance | y | y ("Auto Color") | y ("Equalize") | y
|
| auto-enhance changes listed in color adjustment dialog | y | n | n | n
|
| red-eye removal | y | y | y | y
|
| retouch brush | y | n | n | y
|
| effects | b&w, sepia, others | b&w ("Desaturate"), sepia | b&w ("Desaturate", negative | y
|
| histogram | y | y | n | y
|
| color adjust: exposure (= lightness?) | y | y | n | y
|
| color adjust: brightness/contrast | contrast | brightness, contrast | brightness, contrast | brightness, contrast
|
| color adjust: hue/saturation/lightness | saturation | hue, saturation | hue, saturation, lightness | y
|
| avoid saturating skin tones | y | n | n | n?
|
| color adjust: color balance | temperature, tint | temperature, tint | cyan-red, magenta-green, yellow-blue | warmify,etc
|
| color adjust: effects | sharpness, de-noise, others | sharpness (in Edit menu) | none | several
|
Presentation/sharing
| iPhoto | F-Spot | Picasa
|
| slideshow | y | y | y
|
| slideshow controls (pause, manual advance) | y | n | y
|
| configurable slideshow timing | y | n | y
|
| configurable slideshow transitions | y | n | y
|
| slideshow can display photo captions | y | n | y
|
| slideshow can play music | y | n | y
|
| slideshow themes (e.g. ken burns, sliding panels) | y | n | ??
|
| export to online print service | y | n | y
|
| export to facebook | y | y (via plugin) | n
|
| export slideshow as movie | y | n | n
|