Advanced Editing in Apple Photos: Extensions, Brushes, and Pro Tools Explained
Apple Photos offers solid editing tools — but once you hit its limits, things can get frustrating.
This guide walks through what comes next after Apple Photos, explaining how photo extensions work, why selective editing matters, and when it makes sense to move into professional tools like Lightroom, Capture One, or Photoshop — without abandoning your Apple Photos library.
🎓 What You’ll Learn
• The difference between Apple Photos extensions and standalone editing apps
• Why RAW photos unlock better editing results
• What selective editing is — and why Apple Photos can’t do it
• How brushes and masks work in advanced editors
• Real-world comparisons of popular editing software
• Which tools offer the best balance of power, price, and workflow
🧩 Applications vs Extensions
Photo editors generally come in two forms:
• Standalone apps — full editing environments outside Apple Photos
• Extensions — tools that integrate directly inside Apple Photos
Extensions feel convenient, but they often come with limitations — especially when it comes to editing history and flexibility.
🧭 Where to Find Photo Extensions in Apple Photos
You can access extensions while editing a photo by clicking the Extensions menu inside Apple Photos.
If an extension doesn’t appear:
• It may not be installed from the Mac App Store
• Or it may be disabled under System Settings → Extensions → Photo Editing
📷 RAW vs JPEG (Why It Matters)
RAW photos store all image data captured by the camera, while JPEG files discard much of it to save space.
Editing RAW photos allows you to:
• Recover blown highlights
• Lift shadows without heavy artifacts
• Maintain detail and color accuracy
If you’re serious about editing, RAW is non-negotiable.
🎯 Selective Editing: Where Apple Photos Falls Short
Apple Photos applies adjustments to the entire image.
Advanced tools allow:
• Editing only the subject
• Darkening or brightening backgrounds independently
• Isolating skies, faces, or objects
This is where brushes, masks, and layers become essential.
🎨 Pixelmator Pro: Powerful but Limiting
Pixelmator Pro offers strong selection tools and fast results — but once you save edits, you lose granular edit history.
Pros:
• Good automatic selection
• Fast retouch tools
Cons:
• No true non-destructive editing after saving
• Limited workflow flexibility
🧪 Affinity Photo: Feature-Rich, Workflow Heavy
Affinity Photo provides deep tools, but its extension-based workflow inside Apple Photos can feel sluggish and restrictive.
It shines as a standalone editor, not as an Apple Photos companion.
🌤️ Luminar AI: Smart, Stylish, but Final
Luminar AI excels at:
• Sky replacement
• AI-powered enhancements
• Quick stylistic edits
However, like many extensions:
• Once edits are saved, they’re largely permanent
• Editing history doesn’t persist
Great for creative effects — less ideal for iterative workflows.
💰 Software Pricing Overview
• Pixelmator Pro – One-time purchase
• Affinity Photo – One-time purchase
• Luminar AI – One-time or subscription
• Adobe Lightroom – Subscription (~$10/month)
• Capture One – Subscription or high one-time cost
Price often reflects editing depth and control.
🧠 Capture One: Precision and Control
Capture One offers:
• Layer-based editing
• Advanced masking
• Exposure warnings for print accuracy
• Complete non-destructive workflows
It’s ideal for photographers who want maximum control.
⚠️ Exposure Warnings (Why Pros Care)
Exposure warnings highlight areas that are:
• Too bright to print properly
• Too dark to retain detail
These tools are absent in Apple Photos — but essential in pro workflows.
🎛️ Adobe Lightroom: Smart, Flexible, Reliable
Lightroom excels with:
• Automatic subject and sky selection
• Editable masks at any time
• Clean, predictable results
It balances power with approachability better than most tools.
🌌 Sky Replacement (Photoshop vs Others)
Photoshop provides:
• True sky replacement using layered composites
• Edge-aware blending
• Custom sky libraries
It offers the most control — but comes with complexity.
🧠 Final Thoughts
Apple Photos is an excellent library and delivery system — but not a full professional editor.
A strong workflow often looks like:
1. Edit in Lightroom or Capture One
2. Export finished images
3. Store and sync in Apple Photos
Choose tools based on:
• Your editing style
• Your tolerance for complexity
• How often you want to revisit edits later
There’s no “best” editor — only the one that fits how you think and work.