Photoshop? Lightroom?

MPSax1 · 12-03-2009, 10:01 PM

I have photoshop, I don't have lightroom.

Could someone please explain:

1. If you have photoshop, is it worth getting lightroom?
2. What are lightrooms advantages?
3. What are photoshops advantages?

Anything else in helping me decide whether to spring the money ($300) on Lightroom or keep CS4 would be nice.

**Pugs** · 12-03-2009, 10:32 PM

Get both. Lightroom is a workflow tool. For its organizational, cataloging, keywording, searching, rating, flagging, creating collections, etc..., it is essential. It is the most useful tool that I've ever used. I can also do about 80% of the post-processing that I need to do right there: color temperature, contrast, cropping, rotating, spot healing, color correction, sharpening, etc... I bounce out into Photoshop for when I need to do anything more extensive than that.

If you can only get one, I'd get Lightroom. For the organizational side of things alone, it's the most valuable tool that I have. Plus as I said, it handles the majority of the post-processing that I need to do.

MPSax1 · 12-03-2009, 11:51 PM

ARGH. The thing is that I'm 15 years old and do photo work as a hobby. Do you really feel photoshop won't be good enough? Argh....I'm probably looking for a justification that accentuates that photoshop is of equal or greater purpose but I've been told that Lightroom does almost all necessary editing work of Photoshop but acts as a workhorse in comparison to speed

IuriiO · 12-03-2009, 11:54 PM

Completly agree with Pugs, get both if you can, otherwise get Lightroom

DJOrtiz · 12-04-2009, 12:09 AM

where the tutorial on how to use Lightroom?

WTF? · 12-04-2009, 12:21 AM

if your only doing photography casually and dont really have to deal with big workloads, then its probably not worth your money if you already have photoshop. lightroom is made specifically for photography, it makes it easier for all your basic post processing - i.e cropping, rotating, adjusting contrast, tint, saturation etc. you can do all these things in photoshop, its just lightroom makes it a much easier and faster process. its pretty much iPhoto on steroids.
you can always head over to Adobe and get the 30 day free trial of it, see if its for you. its definitely a useful tool to have, but not a necessity.

IgsEMT · 12-04-2009, 12:52 AM

PS: is more of an individualized approach to images.
LR: allows you quicker approach to your images to do basic and I guess relatively advanced manipulations.
Together the two are a perfect marriage

Quote:

where the tutorial on how to use Lightroom?

http://www.lightroomkillertips.com/
http://thelightroomlab.com/
http://www.photoshopusertv.com/

mdruziak · 12-04-2009, 05:01 AM

If you are a student (which I hope you still are) you can get Lightroom for $99 from places like journeyed.com.

wiredhernandez · 12-04-2009, 06:06 AM

LR 3 Beta is available for free download and useable till March... Try it..

Adobe Labs - Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3

skieur · 12-04-2009, 07:42 AM

Of course the really cheap way out is to purchase Paintshop Pro Ultimate X 2 at around $50 or less. It is very photoshop-like in all its features and has Express Lab built-in, which works like Lightroom. The plug-ins that many buy separately for Photoshop such as software filters, etc. also work with Paintshop Pro X 2.

skieur

Shockey · 12-04-2009, 09:14 AM

If you process tons of images get Lightroom if not Photoshop Elements is all you need.

NateWagner · 12-04-2009, 10:15 AM

Personally, I use lightroom much more than Photoshop, primarily because of it's ease of use and the fact that it's better for workflow. It also has (once you get used to it) a useful system for organization of photos.

Photoshop does have more abilities though in actual image manipulation.

My personal suggestion? get the lightroom Beta, and see if you need anything else.

PhotoXopher · 12-04-2009, 10:29 AM

Guys, he already has Photoshop...

Since you are 15 just stick with that, worry about Lightroom later in life - or download the Beta as mentioned and play with it for a few months to see if you just can't live without it.

There's really nothing you couldn't already do for no extra cost, and being 15 years old I'd place a bet that you have more time than money.

DScience · 12-04-2009, 04:37 PM

GET THEM ALL!!!!!

ANDS! · 12-04-2009, 06:52 PM

Lightroom is hardly essential. Bridge and Camera Raw were sufficing before Adobe decided to put the two into a seperate product. Does LR do it better - of course it does, that's what it is designed to do. However if you only have Photoshop (and by default Bridge/Camera Raw) you still have a pretty nice workflow setup that won't have you ripping your hair out.

12-03-2009, 10:01 PM	#1
MPSax1 TPF Noob! Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southern California Posts: 21 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Photoshop? Lightroom? I have photoshop, I don't have lightroom. Could someone please explain: 1. If you have photoshop, is it worth getting lightroom? 2. What are lightrooms advantages? 3. What are photoshops advantages? Anything else in helping me decide whether to spring the money ($300) on Lightroom or keep CS4 would be nice.

12-03-2009, 10:32 PM	#2
Pugs I gotta make more TPF time! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 926 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 37 Times in 34 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Get both. Lightroom is a workflow tool. For its organizational, cataloging, keywording, searching, rating, flagging, creating collections, etc..., it is essential. It is the most useful tool that I've ever used. I can also do about 80% of the post-processing that I need to do right there: color temperature, contrast, cropping, rotating, spot healing, color correction, sharpening, etc... I bounce out into Photoshop for when I need to do anything more extensive than that. If you can only get one, I'd get Lightroom. For the organizational side of things alone, it's the most valuable tool that I have. Plus as I said, it handles the majority of the post-processing that I need to do. __________________ -Pugs Nikon D300: - Nikkor 18-55mm AF-S f/3.5-5.6 DX GII - ProMaster 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 - Nikkor 50mm AF f/1.8 D - ProMaster 55-200mm AF f/4-5.6 LD Macro - Nikkor 70-300mm AF f/4-5.6 G - Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DL Macro Super Konica Autoreflex T2 & nT3 - Hexanon 50mm AF f/1.7 - Hexanon 52mm AF f/1.8 - Hexanon 100mm AF f/2.8 - Spiratone 135mm Auto Spira-Tel YS f/2.8

12-04-2009, 05:01 AM	#8
mdruziak TPF Noob! Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Rochester NY Posts: 23 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	If you are a student (which I hope you still are) you can get Lightroom for $99 from places like journeyed.com. __________________ Mark http://www.sportsshooter.com/mdruziak http://druziak.weebly.com http://mdruziak.blogspot.com/

12-04-2009, 07:42 AM	#10
skieur TPF Junkie! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 2,561 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 15 Times in 15 Posts My Gallery: (30)	Cheap way out Of course the really cheap way out is to purchase Paintshop Pro Ultimate X 2 at around $50 or less. It is very photoshop-like in all its features and has Express Lab built-in, which works like Lightroom. The plug-ins that many buy separately for Photoshop such as software filters, etc. also work with Paintshop Pro X 2. skieur

12-04-2009, 10:15 AM	#12
NateWagner TPF Junkie! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 1,041 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 38 Times in 36 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Personally, I use lightroom much more than Photoshop, primarily because of it's ease of use and the fact that it's better for workflow. It also has (once you get used to it) a useful system for organization of photos. Photoshop does have more abilities though in actual image manipulation. My personal suggestion? get the lightroom Beta, and see if you need anything else. __________________ Thanks, Nate Canon stuff. Tampa Bay Photography

12-03-2009, 11:51 PM	#3
MPSax1 TPF Noob! Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southern California Posts: 21 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	ARGH. The thing is that I'm 15 years old and do photo work as a hobby. Do you really feel photoshop won't be good enough? Argh....I'm probably looking for a justification that accentuates that photoshop is of equal or greater purpose but I've been told that Lightroom does almost all necessary editing work of Photoshop but acts as a workhorse in comparison to speed

12-03-2009, 11:54 PM	#4
IuriiO TPF Noob! Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 3 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Completly agree with Pugs, get both if you can, otherwise get Lightroom

12-04-2009, 12:09 AM	#5
DJOrtiz No longer a newbie, moving up! Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Misawa, Japan Posts: 27 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post My Gallery: (0)	where the tutorial on how to use Lightroom?

12-04-2009, 12:21 AM	#6
WTF? Been spending a lot of time on here! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: A.C.T Australia Posts: 228 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts My Gallery: (0)	if your only doing photography casually and dont really have to deal with big workloads, then its probably not worth your money if you already have photoshop. lightroom is made specifically for photography, it makes it easier for all your basic post processing - i.e cropping, rotating, adjusting contrast, tint, saturation etc. you can do all these things in photoshop, its just lightroom makes it a much easier and faster process. its pretty much iPhoto on steroids. you can always head over to Adobe and get the 30 day free trial of it, see if its for you. its definitely a useful tool to have, but not a necessity.

12-04-2009, 12:52 AM	#7
IgsEMT TPF Junkie! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 1,366 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 64 Times in 62 Posts My Gallery: (0)	PS: is more of an individualized approach to images. LR: allows you quicker approach to your images to do basic and I guess relatively advanced manipulations. Together the two are a perfect marriage Quote: where the tutorial on how to use Lightroom? http://www.lightroomkillertips.com/ http://thelightroomlab.com/ http://www.photoshopusertv.com/

12-04-2009, 06:06 AM	#9
wiredhernandez No longer a newbie, moving up! Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 96 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts My Gallery: (0)	LR 3 Beta is available for free download and useable till March... Try it.. Adobe Labs - Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3

12-04-2009, 09:14 AM	#11
Shockey I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Boise Idaho Posts: 378 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 20 Times in 18 Posts My Gallery: (30)	If you process tons of images get Lightroom if not Photoshop Elements is all you need.

12-04-2009, 10:29 AM	#13
PhotoXopher TPF Junkie! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 3,066 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 85 Times in 85 Posts Blog Entries: 2 My Gallery: (0)	Guys, he already has Photoshop... Since you are 15 just stick with that, worry about Lightroom later in life - or download the Beta as mentioned and play with it for a few months to see if you just can't live without it. There's really nothing you couldn't already do for no extra cost, and being 15 years old I'd place a bet that you have more time than money. __________________ I am the french fry in a box of onion rings. Click to see the world through one crappy lens.

12-04-2009, 04:37 PM	#14
DScience TPF Junkie! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,179 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 19 Times in 18 Posts My Gallery: (0)	GET THEM ALL!!!!! __________________ My 365 project! Flickr Nikon D300s Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G Nikkor 105mm f/1.8 AI-S "It's not about what you see.....it's about how you see it."

12-04-2009, 06:52 PM	#15
ANDS! TPF Junkie! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Downtown Posts: 2,156 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 11 Times in 10 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Lightroom is hardly essential. Bridge and Camera Raw were sufficing before Adobe decided to put the two into a seperate product. Does LR do it better - of course it does, that's what it is designed to do. However if you only have Photoshop (and by default Bridge/Camera Raw) you still have a pretty nice workflow setup that won't have you ripping your hair out. __________________

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