CyberLink PhotoDirector

PhotoDirector is an all-in-one photo editor and manager that gives you complete control over your digital photography workflow. For new users and photography veterans alike, PhotoDirector has robust tools to help you perfect each snapshot.

Pros

Intuitive interface: PhotoDirector shares many traits with tried-and-true workflow interfaces like Lightroom. Primary adjustment and management tools are in menus that are aligned to the screen edges. Manual-adjustment sliders give you incremental control over every aspect of your photo file, from standard color-correction, brightness, and noise-removal tools to more perspective-altering adjustments like lens correction.

Filtered management: Get as basic or as granular as you please in organization. You can manage your photo gallery through tags and labels, and you can sort by flags, color, edit status, and stacks.

Performance: Version 5 takes advantage of 64-bit processor-powered machines, which is critical for loading images at higher resolutions, especially when entering Retina and 4K territory.

Cons

Varying import times: Our import times varied when importing about 40 raw images. Batch load times were noticeably inconsistent compared to those of other photo editors like Lightroom.

Lens profiles: PhotoDirector lacks some of the more precise lens perspective profiles that Lightroom has. That's not a deal breaker, since most photographers will find 90 percent of their needs met by PhotoDirector's tools. However, for the few who take their discipline more seriously, that lack is a differentiator.

Bottom Line

PhotoDirector offers a competitive package with comparable value. It's accessible for photographers of all levels, yet includes enough depth to enable serious photographers to get the most out of their shots.