inPixio Photo Studio 12 Pro Software Review

inPixio has recently updated its popular photo editing software (Photo Studio) to version 12 which brings improvements to its clever AI, one-click editing options and more.  

We're putting inPixio Photo Studio 12 Pro to the test to see how inPixio has improved it when compared with the previous version so won't be going into every detail of the software so if you want a more in-depth look at what inPixio has to offer, take a look at our previous reviews: inPixio Photo Studio 11 Pro & inPixio Photo Studio 10 Pro.

On test is the Windows version of inPixio Photo Studio 12 Pro but a Mac version is also available. 

inPixio Photo Studio 12 Pro Features

inPixio Photo Studio 12 Pro introduces a new User Interface that begins with a home screen you now select what type of editing you want to start with and from there, you can navigate different tabs to perform different tasks. The software's AI has also been improved with easier and faster 1-click edits now available. New tools include Erase Objects and a quick way to send inPixio feedback about specific tools or the software in general. Improved tools include the Remove Background and Sky Replacement AI as well as a few changes to the Manual tools that are available. 

New/Improved Features In inPxio Photo Studio 12:

• One-click photo editing (improved)
• Erase Objects tool (new)
• Remove Background tool (improved)
• Sky Replacement (improved)
• Photomontage options (improved)
• Edit Photos - Manually or with AI (improved)
• Give feedback to inPixio (new)

inPixio Photo Studio 12 Performance 

Those who have used inPixio Photo Studio software previously will notice that the User Interface (UI) has had a big revamp which simplifies the layout and makes it easier to see what tools are available. A new home screen greats you, asking what task you want to complete, and you can select from 'Erase Objects', 'Replace Sky', 'Remove Background', 'Make Photomontage' or 'Edit Photo'. Alternatively, you can select a photo to work from (once you've used the software) which opens your image in the 'Edit Photo' tab. 

No matter which editing option you choose, a very clean interface opens with the image you want to work in in the centre, tools for the specific task to the left of this and then a column featuring the other editing personas you can choose from. By splitting each photo editing option into individual sections keeps the interface uncluttered, clear and all of the tools you need for the specific task can be found easily. We do think there are less tools available under the 'Edit Photo' section which those with more photo editing experience will see as a negative but it does mean that the tools will be simpler for those new to photo editing. You can no longer add metadata or tag photos with star ratings either which was a basic, but useful feature for those who like to organise photos. 

Towards the top of the UI are options for moving one back or one forward in your edits, a button for reverting to the original image, options for opening/saving photos and a place you can access your inPixio account info from. When in the 'Edit Photo' window, you also have options for showing before/after comparisons. 

Erase Objects

The main new feature to inPixio Photo Studio Pro 12 is 'Erase Objects' which, as the name suggests, is a tool you can use to erase unwanted objects from your photos. The Erase Objects tool is powered by AI and all you have to do is highlight the object you want the software to remove and wait for the AI to process a few algorithms before the AI technology reconstructs the area behind the erased item(s).

We were sceptical about just how well the tool would perform but actually, it's really impressive. Even the complicated pattern of the Giant's Causeway didn't cause any problem for the AI with people in the scene all been removed successfully. Yes, those who are rather good at photo editing will probably be able to see where some areas of the image have been replaced but the majority of people will be happy with the results.

Foreground erasing is a bit more tricky and noticeable so inPixio still has this to work on but overall, it does a cracking job.

To select more/less objects, you can adjust the size of your masking brush and if you'd prefer to have more control over the edits, you can use a Clone or Patch tool, adjusting the brush size, opacity, flow and hardness, as you can in other photo editing software. To zoom in on a section of the image, you can use your mouse scrolling wheel or drag the bar/change the percentage of the zoom in the small preview image top left. 

Original 

After Using 'Erase Objects'

Replace Sky & Backgrounds

A tool we see in a lot of Photo Editing software nowadays is a sky/background replacement tool and this is something that was introduced in version 11 of Photo Studio Pro and has been improved in the latest edition. 

The improved sky replacement tool quickly detects where the sky is in your image and then removes it, allowing you to add a completely new sky. You can use your own skies or choose from 1 of the 36 inPixio supplies. The software did a decent job at selecting sky but where the sea meets the sky, it did get confused but this was easily fixed with a few adjustments.

To switch between skies, all you have to do is click on a new one and the AI applies it to your image while making tonal changes to the rest of the shot so it's balanced with the new sky. You can also adjust the foreground colour/tone as well as the temperature, exposure and scale of the sky manually via the 'Adjustments' tab. Also under this tab you find 'Edge' where you can adjust the transition from sky to the foreground and 'Selection' where you can adjust the masks applied to the image. We think this is actually easier to do in this version of inPixio Photo Studio Pro 12 than we've seen previously with straightforward tools for letting the AI know where the sky/foreground is and for adjusting the edge so both blend more seamlessly. 

It can be a bit fiddly still to perfect a shot and not all skies suit all photos (understandably) but the results generated by the AI are improved.

Sky Replacement

If you want to remove the background from an image you simply need to select 'Remove Background', wait for the AI to finish thinking and your image will then be shown with its background removed. At first glance, the results look great but you'll have to zoom in closer and make some manual adjustments to perfect your photo. Having said that, even with the manual adjustments (which can take quite some time) the whole process is still quicker than it would be if you have to remove the entire background manually. It's still not perfect but it's massively improved when compared with the old version of the software. 

You can leave the background empty, add a colour or replace it with one of the many scenes inPixio provide which you can have a lot of fun with but they won't be to everyone's tastes. If you want to keep the original background but add blur to it, you can do this as well and the results are pretty good. 

To adjust the selection so more/fewer subjects are kept/removed, you can use the same selection tools found in the 'Replace Sky' tab to tell the AI where the foreground, background and the edge of transition are. 

Remove Background

Photomontage 

If you enjoy making photo collages where you can combine pictures, stickers, text and more with your own photos/backgrounds then this area of the software is for you. 

The Photomontage tool won't be something everyone uses but young photographers and those who enjoy making posters, cards etc. will have hours of fun with this feature. inPixio had added AI-powered templates, too, so you can make magazine covers etc. which, again, is a bit of fun but won't be something all photographers will be spending their time on.  

Edit Photos

This isn't a new feature but it has been changed quite a bit as it's been optimised quite a bit so fewer tools are available. This reduction will mean the UI is simpler for those users who are just getting to grips with photo editing but more advanced users may think it's got a bit too basic. You can enhance colours with 1-click and choose from various presets to apply different looks, from vintage to cinematic, as well as add frames, textures and effects which is great but the rest of the tools on offer have been stripped back quite a bit.  

Manual options now available include:

• Adjustments (temperature/exposure/shadows... etc.)
• Sharpness
• Noise reduction
• Vignetting
• Film grain
• Graduated Blur 
• Luts
• Cropping

If you've not used inPixio software before or you have and found the tools too complicated, you'll welcome the change and with all of the attention that's been given to making things simpler, we think inPixio has decided to focus on creating software that's easy and straightforward to use for those who want to make basic adjustments and make the most of AI-powered editing. Overall, InPixio Photo Studio 11 is most certainly something beginners and enthusiast photographers could be interested in. 

Value For Money

inPixio Photo Studio 12 Pro is currently priced at £39.99 (usually £79.99) or you can purchase the basic version for £29.99 (usually £49.99). We'd recommend the Pro version as you get access to the software's full range of features. 

These prices are for a 1-year license but when you compare the price to Adobe's 20GB photography plan, which is available for £9.98 a month, inPixio still offers good value for money. You can purchase Adobe Elements as a standalone product for around £70 but the tools aren't as advanced. 

Other alternatives include DxO PhotoLab 5 priced at £199, Affinity Photo available for £47.99 but it's currently priced at £23.99 and Luminar Neo by Skylum priced at £67. 

To read more opinions on photo editing software, have a look at our software reviews. 

inPixio Photo Studio 12 Pro Verdict

inPixio Photo Studio 12 Pro is a really easy-to-use photo editing tool with great AI features that make complicated edits simpler and quicker. There are also some fun features you can spend a lot of time playing around with and the basic edits available in the photo editing tab allow you to make easy fixes to photos. The UI is much easier to use, too, keeping things really simple and making the software self-explanatory. However, all of the effort that's been made to simplify processes will mean that some who have a better understanding of the photo editing process will now find the software less useful and we now see inPixio Photo Studio 12 Pro as software for the beginner/enthusiast rather than something all photographers will be interested in. Still, plenty is on offer so it still comes 'Recommended' from us. 

Photo Studio 12 is photo editing software that beginners and photography enthusiasts will find incredibly useful.

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inPixio Photo Studio 12 Specifications

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