The Ultimate AI Photo Culling Face Off | Aftershoot vs. FilterPixel vs. Narrative Select

Britney, a former photographer and current user experience practitioner, introduces the topic of artificial intelligence in the photography sphere. She discusses her intention to evaluate different AI photo editing software, namely Aftershoot, Filter Pixel, and Narrative Select, to determine which can most efficiently enhance a photographer's workflow. Britney discloses her previous use of Aftershoot and her criteria for evaluation, which include pricing, speed of image selection, user interface, and call quality. She emphasizes the importance of respecting differing opinions and invites viewers to share their experiences with AI culling.

The video segment focuses on the pricing models of Aftershoot, Filter Pixel, and Narrative Select. Britney appreciates Aftershoot's prominent free trial offer and notes its tiered pricing, with the Select tier being of interest at $10 per month when billed annually. Filter Pixel offers a basic free tier and a Pro tier at $12 per month, billed annually, with a flexible seasonal option. Narrative Select provides six project trials in its free option and a Pro tier at $15 per month, billed annually. Britney acknowledges Aftershoot as the cheapest option but appreciates Narrative Select's project-based free trial for its flexibility.

Britney conducts a speed test using images from a wedding photographed in October 2023 to compare the efficiency of Aftershoot, Filter Pixel, and Narrative Select. She manually culls the same set of images for a baseline comparison. Aftershoot takes 4 minutes and 48 seconds, Britney's manual cull takes 4 minutes and 26 seconds, Filter Pixel takes 4 minutes and 4 seconds, and Narrative Select astonishingly takes only 3 seconds. The results highlight Narrative Select's superior speed in image selection.

The evaluation shifts to the user interface and experience of the three AI systems. Aftershoot is praised for its organized layout, clear sectioning, and helpful tooltips. Filter Pixel's interface is compact with a familiar color scheme, though it lacks some customization options. Narrative Select stands out with a lighter theme and a feature-rich sidebar, offering various view modes and tools. Britney finds Aftershoot's interface most appealing due to its seamless organization and balance of information.

Britney discusses how each system communicates with users about their images. Aftershoot places a high priority on communication, providing tooltips, email alerts, and a feedback tool for the UI. Filter Pixel offers a compact design with straightforward tooltips and hover-over information. Narrative Select provides extensive communication, including informational tooltips, hover-over text, and assessments. Britney appreciates Narrative Select's detailed image assessments, despite a minor critique about unclear communication regarding duplicate images.

The segment explores the ease of correcting AI mistakes within each system. Aftershoot's Loop mode allows for smooth navigation and quick selection changes using keyboard shortcuts. Filter Pixel's full-screen mode relies on arrow keys and right-click options, which might be less comfortable for quick corrections. Narrative Select's duplicate viewing is noted as inefficient, but Britney discovers a method to view images within a scene using arrow keys. Aftershoot is favored for its ease of navigation and customization options.

Britney evaluates the exporting process of the three systems, noting that all allow for drag-and-drop functionality, which she prefers. Aftershoot's export menu is detailed but could be condensed. Filter Pixel offers a straightforward export process, while Narrative Select, after a recent update, simplifies exporting with a new interface. Filter Pixel is considered the most straightforward for exporting to applications or folders. Britney concludes that finding the right balance between AI and human effort is crucial and that the perfect balance is an evolving process. She invites viewers to share their thoughts and experiences with AI culling software.

After tallying the points from the various categories, Britney declares Aftershoot and Narrative Select as the winners with two points each, while Filter Pixel trails with half a point. She reflects on the challenge of determining the true time savings and productivity gains from using AI in photography. Britney emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between AI efficiency and human oversight. She encourages viewers to test the systems for themselves and form their own conclusions, acknowledging the continuous improvement in AI technology for photographers.