ON1 Photo RAW 2020 for Mac: A Comprehensive Guide

ON1 Photo RAW 2020 is an all-in-one photography post-processing software that integrates photo management, RAW file processing, layer editing, and special effects. It is renowned for its non-destructive editing workflow, rich preset library, and efficient all-in-one working environment, providing photographers with a powerful tool that can replace or complement traditional workflows.

I. Detailed Explanation of the Core Interface and Workspace

After launching the software, you will see a highly integrated and customizable workspace, mainly divided into the following core areas:

1. Top Menu Bar and Toolbar: Contains traditional menus such as File, Edit, and View, as well as a row of customizable quick tool icons, such as crop, spot repair, brush, etc.
2. Left Panel Area: By default, displays a “Folders” or “Catalog” browser, used for navigating and selecting photo folders on local disks.
3. Center View Area: The core area of the software, used to display photo thumbnails (Browse mode) or large images (Edit mode). In this area, you can perform operations such as comparing and culling.
4. Right Panel Area: This is the core area of functional modules, dynamically switching according to different modules (such as Browse, Develop, Effects, Mask, etc.). Typically includes:
   • Presets/Filters Panel: Provides a large number of one-click effects.
   • Adjustment Tool Panel: Includes all adjustment sliders for exposure, color, detail, lens correction, and more.
   • Layers & Masks Panel: Used for local adjustments and compositing.
5. Bottom Module Selector: Switch between different functional modules by clicking tabs such as “Browse,” “Develop,” and “Effects,” forming a complete workflow.

II. Complete Workflow: From Import to Export

The following workflow demonstrates a typical path for processing a RAW photo.

1. Create/Open a Project and Import Photos

Location: After launching the software, you will enter the “Browse” module by default.

Specific Steps:

1. In the “Folders” panel on the left, navigate to the folder containing your photos. Photo thumbnails will appear in the central viewer area.
2. To import photos, you can drag a folder directly into the left panel area, or use the menu File > Add Folder....
3. Double-click any thumbnail to enter the “Develop” module and begin editing.

2. Basic Adjustments and RAW Processing (the “Develop” Module)

How to Access: Double-click a photo in the “Browse” module, or click “Develop” in the bottom module selector.

Core Operations:

1. Lens Correction: In the “Lens” tab of the right panel, typically check “Remove Chromatic Aberration” and “Enable Profile Corrections”; the software will automatically correct lens distortion and vignetting.
2. Basic Exposure and Color Adjustment: In the “Basic” tab, use the “Exposure,” “Highlights,” “Shadows,” “Whites,” and “Blacks” sliders to recover detail. Use “Temperature” and “Tint” to correct white balance.
3. Local Adjustments: Use the “Graduated Filter” (shortcut G), “Radial Filter,” or “Brush Tool” (shortcut B) from the toolbar for local adjustments. Adjustment parameters will appear in the right panel.
4. Detail Sharpening and Noise Reduction: Switch to the “Detail” tab and use the “Sharpening” and “Noise Reduction” features. It is recommended to do this at 100% view.

3. Applying Creative Effects (the “Effects” Module)

How to Access: Click “Effects” in the bottom module selector, or click “Apply” in the lower right corner of the “Develop” module.

Core Operations:

1. In the “Effects” panel on the right, you will see a large number of categorized presets such as “Dynamic Contrast,” “HDR Look,” “Black & White,” and “Texture.”
2. Click any preset to preview the effect in real time. You can stack multiple effects and control their intensity, blend mode, and scope via layers.
3. Use the “Brush Tool” (B) or “Graduated Filter” (G) to paint masks on the effect layer to control where the effect is applied.

4. Local Retouching and Compositing (“Masking” and “Layers” Features)

The core of ON1’s non-destructive editing lies in layers and masks.

Location: In the “Effects” or “Develop” module, the “Layers” tab on the right panel.

Steps:

1. Click the “Add New Layer” button at the bottom of the “Layers” panel, and choose “Blank Layer,” “Adjustment Layer,” or “Paste as New Layer.”
2. For any adjustment layer or effect layer, you can use the “Brush Tool” to edit its associated mask (white reveals, black conceals).
3. Use the layer’s “Opacity” and “Blend Mode” drop-down menus to create complex compositing effects.

5. Final Photo Export

Location: Any module, menu File > Export... or shortcut ⇧⌘E.

Steps:

1. In the pop-up window, first select the export folder in the “Location” section.
2. In the “File Settings” section, choose the format (e.g., JPEG, TIFF, PNG) and set quality, color space, etc.
3. In the “Size” section, you can adjust the dimensions and resolution of the output image.
4. Click the “Export” button to complete the process.

III. Advanced Tips for Common Features

1. Quick Browsing and Culling: In the “Browse” module, press the spacebar for a full-screen preview, use the number keys 1-5 to add star ratings (Rating) to photos, and press F to add a flag, making it easy to quickly cull via filters later.
2. Non-destructive cropping and straightening: After activating the crop tool (C), you can set the specific ratio in the right panel. With the straighten tool (S), simply draw a line along the horizon and the image will be automatically corrected to level.
3. Batch processing: In the “Browse” module, select multiple photos, right-click and choose “Edit Photos,” and all selected photos will enter the queue of the “Develop” module. After adjusting one photo, click the “Sync” button to apply the settings to all selected photos.
4. Create custom presets: After completing adjustments in the “Develop” or “Effects” module, click the “Add Preset” button at the bottom of the “Presets” panel on the right to save the current settings for easy one-click recall in the future.

IV. Common Issues and Solutions

V. Summary of Mac Shortcuts