Photoshop

Pros

• Industry-standard toolset that is difficult for professionals to replace.
• Highly accurate and fast masking and cutout tools.
• Versatile functionality including focus stacking, stop-motion animation, and advanced retouching.
• Seamless integration with other creative software like Lightroom and professional plugins.

Cons

• High RAM usage that can lead to system instability or crashes with large files.
• Subscription-only pricing model is a common point of frustration.
• Steep learning curve for beginners, often leading to 'over-edited' results.
• Diminishing performance returns on CPUs with more than 8 cores.

Caveats

• The complexity of professional-grade editing tasks is often underestimated by new users.
• Performance is heavily dependent on hardware, specifically RAM capacity.
• Automated systems within the software are sometimes bypassed by professionals in favor of manual control.

Best for

• Professional photographers and digital artists.
• Users requiring advanced masking and fine-tuned image manipulation.
• Creative workflows already integrated into the Adobe ecosystem.

Avoid if

• You are working on a machine with limited RAM (especially for large file sizes).
• You prefer a one-time purchase software over a recurring subscription.
• You need a simple, lightweight editor for basic tasks.