Imerge Pro

Editing your photos can be a complicated process, but it doesn't have to. From pared-down tools to full-blown professionally-oriented ones, one can claim that such software comes in many forms. Choosing the right fit for you can get confusing, given the sheer amount of programs on offer for that duty.

Altering your photos is easier and more accessible than ever before, with even the built-in tools of your OS accommodating for some form of image editing. But you can take it up just a notch above that, and that's where Imerge Pro comes in: choose from dozens of filters and personalize them, add in various effects, and use the intelligent masking functions to make your photo stand out.

Upon first interacting with this app, you will notice that it features a rather compressed interface, fitting only what is necessary. Upon adding your image, you have the option to choose from the Effects list, containing numerous ways to embellish your shot. We found the ones relating to color correction to be very impactful for our photos, requiring just a few easy adjustments to liven them up.

Effects, too, can be used however you please. We wanted to add a mysterious hint to a rather lively nature shot of ours, and we achieved that by adding cloud and long shadow effects, along with a black and white filter.

Filters can also be opened by way of the sidebar on the left, and hovering on one of them will preview how it would alter the photo. The "Film" presets looked quite classy, and being able to customize them via the menu on the right was a welcome addition. Needless to say, working with RAW files is just as functional as working with jpeg ones.

This program's capability to mask your shots is an amenity, and the algorithms are very intelligent to boot. Being able to affect specific parts of your image through the available options has a lot of depth to it. For instance, there's a lot of added value in using the color-related masks properly, as they are capable of altering the nuances of your photo in a very granular manner.

Imerge Pro may not look like the most intricate software out there, but there's a lot of use one can get out of it, thanks to the high skill ceiling of by the tools it offers.