Quick answer: Alien Skin Exposure still exists, but under new names. Alien Skin Software renamed itself Exposure Software in 2019, and the Exposure X5 we reviewed has been replaced by Exposure X7, released in September 2021. In October 2026, X7 was still the version Exposure Software was selling, at US$129 (or US$149 in a bundle with its Snap Art and Blow Up tools), as a one-time purchase with no subscription. Exposure is known for its film-style presets and its catalogue-free design, and works on its own or as a plug-in for Photoshop and Lightroom.
This review is based on Exposure Software’s website and published launch coverage. We have not tested the software ourselves. An earlier version of this article called Exposure X5 “one of the best free software” for styling images and “the go-to tool” for film looks. Exposure has never been free; it is paid software with a free trial. We have corrected that and removed the unsourced superlatives.
From Alien Skin Exposure X5 to Exposure X7
- The company: Alien Skin Software, founded in 1993 and known for Photoshop plug-ins such as Eye Candy, announced in September 2019 that it was changing its name to Exposure Software, after its best-known product. Its website’s copyright line now reads Exposure Software, LLC.
- Exposure X5: the version this article originally reviewed, sold under the Alien Skin name.
- Exposure X7: launched on 28 September 2021. It added intelligent masking (draw a rough border and the software refines the mask), selectable workspaces for culling, editing and retouching, a combined crop and transform panel and composition guides.
Exposure Software’s homepage still calls X7 “the new Exposure X7” in October 2026, and we found no newer version. A 2024 review noted that X7 lacks support for some newer cameras and formats, so check that your camera’s raw files are supported before buying.
Pricing (as of October 2026)
As of October 2026, per Exposure Software’s shop page:
| Product | New licence | Upgrade from an older version |
|---|---|---|
| Exposure X7 | US$129 | US$89 |
| Exposure Bundle X7 (Exposure X7, Snap Art and Blow Up) | US$149 | US$99 |
Exposure Software says no subscription is required and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a free trial. The original article listed US$119 for X5, or US$149 with other Alien Skin products, and a 30-day trial. Those prices are out of date.
Features Exposure Software documents today
- Raw editor and organiser: a complete non-destructive raw editor with tools for colour grading, sharpening and noise reduction.
- Presets: more than 500 customisable presets, including many film simulations. The original article described the same strength: looks that imitate black-and-white and colour film, cross-processing and old Kodachrome-style portraits.
- Layers and masking: effect layers and masking tools, including the intelligent masking added in X7. The original article noted that presets can have several layers and can be stacked.
- Special effects: film grain, bokeh, borders, overlays and light effects. The original article mentioned focus effects, infrared, textures, dust and scratches.
- Catalogue-free design: Exposure works directly on your folders without importing photos. The original article explained the benefit: there is no separate catalogue to corrupt or move, and edits travel with the folder.
- Plug-in use: Exposure X7 runs as a standalone editor or as a plug-in for Photoshop (CS6, or CC 2015 or newer) and Lightroom 6 or Lightroom Classic.
- GPU acceleration for faster editing and image switching, and lens corrections for distortion, vignetting and chromatic aberration.
The original article noted that Exposure does not create panoramas, multi-layer composites or focus stacks. Its 2020 pros were continuous import from several sources, edits and metadata saved as local files, a one-time purchase and high-quality filters; its cons were slow opening from a launcher and different handling of raw-plus-JPEG pairs. We have not re-tested these points in X7.
System requirements
- Mac: macOS 10.13 or newer; Apple M1 or Intel Core 2 or newer; 8 GB of RAM (16 GB recommended).
- Windows: 64-bit Windows 10 or 11; Intel Core 2 or newer; 8 GB of RAM (16 GB recommended).
- A monitor of at least 1280 x 768. A 2015-or-later GPU with 2 GB of memory is recommended for GPU acceleration.
- File formats: TIFF, JPEG, DNG, HEIC, PSD and many raw formats.
Who Exposure suits
- Good fit: photographers who want film-style looks and a one-time price, and who prefer working in folders instead of a catalogue. It also suits Photoshop and Lightroom users who want its looks as a plug-in.
- Consider alternatives: if you need support for the newest cameras or the latest AI tools, check whether a more frequently updated editor suits you better. See our reviews of Adobe Lightroom, Skylum Luminar and ON1 Photo RAW, or our list of photo editing software.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Alien Skin Software?
It renamed itself Exposure Software in 2019, after its Exposure photo editor. Its plug-ins, such as Eye Candy, Snap Art and Blow Up, are still sold under the new name.
What is the latest version of Exposure?
Exposure X7, launched in September 2021. It was still the current version on Exposure Software’s website in October 2026.
Is Exposure free?
No. It costs US$129 as a one-time purchase, with a free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. An earlier version of this article wrongly called it free.
Does Exposure work as a Lightroom or Photoshop plug-in?
Yes. Exposure X7 works as a plug-in for Photoshop CS6 or CC 2015 and newer, and for Lightroom 6 and Lightroom Classic.
Checked in October 2026 against Exposure Software’s homepage, requirements and shop pages, DIY Photography’s September 2019 report on the name change and PetaPixel’s September 2021 report on the launch of Exposure X7.
