Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4?

[shelby16]

As most of you know, I'm a beginner and will be getting a D5100 Nikon in a few weeks. I'm looking for a photoshop software that is good for beginners, and my budget is tight. I went to BestBuy and the cheapest Photoshop with the Lightroom 4. What are your thoughts? Is there anything in the same price range that is better?

Thanks!!

Shelby

 

[shelby16]

Also, I'm saying Photoshop because I've heard a lot of good things about it, and I really like their products. I also know that so many of you use this software, and your photos are literally flawless. haha

Edit: is Photoshop Elements better than Lightroom?

 

[KmH]

If you want, online there are free, open source alternatives to buying image editing software. GIMP.org, Photoscape.org, RawThreapee.com, and others.
Corel also makes image editing software. PaintShop Pro X5 Ultimate

Lightroom 4 is designed specifically for photographers, but is intended as a compliment to the professional grade Photoshop CS 6, or to the consumer grade Photoshop Elements 11.
Lightroom comes up short on having the graphics editing tools Elements 11 and CS 6 has.

As it is, the image editing portion of Elements 11, CS 6 Camera Raw, and Lightroom 4 are all Adobe Camera Raw 7 (ACR 7).
The version of ACR 7 in Elements 11 has about 1/2 of the tools and features the ACR 7 version in CS 6 and Lightroom 4 have.

But Elements 11 has other tools, features, and functions many photographers use Lightroom 4 does not have.

I recommend getting Elements 11 first, and Lightroom 4 later. However, if you can afford it it's even better to get both.

 

[shelby16]

If you want, online there are free, open source alternatives to buying image editing software. GIMP.org, Photoscape.org, RawThreapee.com, and others.
Corel also makes image editing software. PaintShop Pro X5 Ultimate

Lightroom 4 is designed specifically for photograghers, but is intended as a compliment to the professional grade Photoshop CS 6, or to the consumer grade Photoshop Elements 11.
Lightroom comes up short on having the graphics editing tools Elements 11 and CS 6 has.

As it is, the image editing portion of Elements 11, CS 6 Camera Raw, and Lightroom 4 are all Adobe Camera Raw 7 (ACR 7).
The version of ACR 7 in Elements 11 has about 1/2 of the tools and features the ACR 7 version in CS 6 and Lightroom 4 have.

But Elements 11 has other tools, features, and functions many photographers use Lightroom 4 does not have.

I recommend getting Elements 11 first, and Lightroom 4 later. However, if you can afford it it's even better to get both.

Thank you SO much! This was exactly what I needed to hear. Makes perfect sense to me.

 

[Buckster]

If you want, online there are free, open source alternatives to buying image editing software. GIMP.org, Photoscape.org, RawThreapee.com, and others.
Corel also makes image editing software. PaintShop Pro X5 Ultimate

Lightroom 4 is designed specifically for photograghers, but is intended as a compliment to the professional grade Photoshop CS 6, or to the consumer grade Photoshop Elements 11.
Lightroom comes up short on having the graphics editing tools Elements 11 and CS 6 has.

As it is, the image editing portion of Elements 11, CS 6 Camera Raw, and Lightroom 4 are all Adobe Camera Raw 7 (ACR 7).
The version of ACR 7 in Elements 11 has about 1/2 of the tools and features the ACR 7 version in CS 6 and Lightroom 4 have.

But Elements 11 has other tools, features, and functions many photographers use Lightroom 4 does not have.

I recommend getting Elements 11 first, and Lightroom 4 later. However, if you can afford it it's even better to get both.

Thank you SO much! This was exactly what I needed to hear. Makes perfect sense to me.

Disclaimer: My OPINION from reading many of his responses in many threads is that Keith has some sort of unfounded bias against Lightroom for some reason, though when cornered with actual questions and facts about its abilities, he tends to go totally silent and not post in that thread again.

That said, I'd recommend just the opposite and say to get Lightroom 4 because it will do nearly everything you could want, stopping short of deeper pixel-level editing. It will let you start properly cataloging and storing and working with your files so that you don't have a big mess of that later. It is a phenomenal tool that a LOT of photographers use exclusively, never even NEEDING a pixel-level editor because it's THAT GOOD.

Then, if you find you NEED a pixel level editor, there are many to choose from, and they range from free up to the least expensive Photoshop version, Elements, then up to one of the Photoshop CS versions, then up to again a few more times where it gets REAL expensive.

Scott Kelby is one of the most respected names in the business for his knowledge and experience with photography and Photoshop and Lightroom. Check out his take on the capabilities of Lightroom vs. Keith's favorite, Photoshop's Bridge:

Learning Center ? 100 Ways Adobe Lightroom Kicks Adobe Bridge?s A$$ For Photographers

 

[ZimPhoto]

I don't know if there is anything better, but I bought LR4 last year and have found it to be very easy to use and a great tool for adjusting photos. I'm fairly new to photo editing and it was amazing how much you can correct exposure, highlights, color, WB, etc... I downloaded mine from Amazon for less than $90 during the holidays last year.

 

[TamiAz]

I have Lightroom 4 and Photoshop Elements.. I purchased PSE first and then ended up getting LR. I use LR for almost all my editing and rarely open PSE anymore. Lightroom is a great tool for organizing your photos, but it's also a great editing tool. If your in the education field you can get a discount through Adobe.

 

[shelby16]

Oh wow, I had no idea. I'm glad I made this thread!
I'm thinking maybe I'll start of with LR4 and if I need something else, then I'll get PSE later. Everyone seems to be saying that LR4 is all I'll probably need, and easy to use which is a big plus for me.
Thank you all!

 

[pixmedic]

If you want, online there are free, open source alternatives to buying image editing software. GIMP.org, Photoscape.org, RawThreapee.com, and others.
Corel also makes image editing software. PaintShop Pro X5 Ultimate

Lightroom 4 is designed specifically for photograghers, but is intended as a compliment to the professional grade Photoshop CS 6, or to the consumer grade Photoshop Elements 11.
Lightroom comes up short on having the graphics editing tools Elements 11 and CS 6 has.

As it is, the image editing portion of Elements 11, CS 6 Camera Raw, and Lightroom 4 are all Adobe Camera Raw 7 (ACR 7).
The version of ACR 7 in Elements 11 has about 1/2 of the tools and features the ACR 7 version in CS 6 and Lightroom 4 have.

But Elements 11 has other tools, features, and functions many photographers use Lightroom 4 does not have.

I recommend getting Elements 11 first, and Lightroom 4 later. However, if you can afford it it's even better to get both.

Thank you SO much! This was exactly what I needed to hear. Makes perfect sense to me.

Disclaimer: My OPINION from reading many of his responses in many threads is that Keith has some sort of unfounded bias against Lightroom for some reason, though when cornered with actual questions and facts about its abilities, he tends to go totally silent and not post in that thread again.

That said, I'd recommend just the opposite and say to get Lightroom 4 because it will do nearly everything you could want, stopping short of deeper pixel-level editing. It will let you start properly cataloging and storing and working with your files so that you don't have a big mess of that later. It is a phenomenal tool that a LOT of photographers use exclusively, never even NEEDING a pixel-level editor because it's THAT GOOD.

Then, if you find you NEED a pixel level editor, there are many to choose from, and they range from free up to the least expensive Photoshop version, Elements, then up to one of the Photoshop CS versions, then up to again a few more times where it gets REAL expensive.

Scott Kelby is one of the most respected names in the business for his knowledge and experience with photography and Photoshop and Lightroom. Check out his take on the capabilities of Lightroom vs. Keith's favorite, Photoshop's Bridge:

Learning Center ? 100 Ways Adobe Lightroom Kicks Adobe Bridge?s A$$ For Photographers

KmH definitely prefers the heavier "editing" side of CS6 or Elements...but he has always explained his reasons based on the editing functions (or lack of) in both programs. its no different a bias than people that prefer lightroom for its ease of use and price. we have CS5 and lightroom 4.3, and 90%+ of our work goes through just lightroom. that being said, we have photoshop for when we need it. while i would recommend lightroom to someone all day long, the downside is that if/when you find you DO need to do some pixel editing...you have to go buy another program, whereas if you START with Photoshop and learn it, you can later move to lightroom for ease of use and workflow without having to learn a new editing process.

you cant really go wrong either way. lightroom is a wonderful program, and for most people that just want to correct exposure, or saturation, or color , its all they will ever need.
if you dont think you will need to do any real pixel editing anytime soon...you could always get lightroom now, and get a free pixel editor like GIMP until you think you need to step up and buy something like photoshop.

 

[Benco]

I would say go with Lightroom, it's a good basic RAW editor and a great file manager. There's plenty of good, advanced editing software if you want to do more elaborate stuff but Lightroom is IMO a very good place to start your photo editing suite of programmes.

 

[shelby16]

Thank you SO much! This was exactly what I needed to hear. Makes perfect sense to me.

Disclaimer: My OPINION from reading many of his responses in many threads is that Keith has some sort of unfounded bias against Lightroom for some reason, though when cornered with actual questions and facts about its abilities, he tends to go totally silent and not post in that thread again.

That said, I'd recommend just the opposite and say to get Lightroom 4 because it will do nearly everything you could want, stopping short of deeper pixel-level editing. It will let you start properly cataloging and storing and working with your files so that you don't have a big mess of that later. It is a phenomenal tool that a LOT of photographers use exclusively, never even NEEDING a pixel-level editor because it's THAT GOOD.

Then, if you find you NEED a pixel level editor, there are many to choose from, and they range from free up to the least expensive Photoshop version, Elements, then up to one of the Photoshop CS versions, then up to again a few more times where it gets REAL expensive.

Scott Kelby is one of the most respected names in the business for his knowledge and experience with photography and Photoshop and Lightroom. Check out his take on the capabilities of Lightroom vs. Keith's favorite, Photoshop's Bridge:

Learning Center ? 100 Ways Adobe Lightroom Kicks Adobe Bridge?s A$$ For Photographers

KmH definitely prefers the heavier "editing" side of CS6 or Elements...but he has always explained his reasons based on the editing functions (or lack of) in both programs. its no different a bias than people that prefer lightroom for its ease of use and price. we have CS5 and lightroom 4.3, and 90%+ of our work goes through just lightroom. that being said, we have photoshop for when we need it. while i would recommend lightroom to someone all day long, the downside is that if/when you find you DO need to do some pixel editing...you have to go buy another program, whereas if you START with Photoshop and learn it, you can later move to lightroom for ease of use and workflow without having to learn a new editing process.

you cant really go wrong either way. lightroom is a wonderful program, and for most people that just want to correct exposure, or saturation, or color , its all they will ever need.
if you dont think you will need to do any real pixel editing anytime soon...you could always get lightroom now, and get a free pixel editor like GIMP until you think you need to step up and buy something like photoshop.

Thanks for the advice!
But if I got PS Elements... does it have a lot of the same features that Lightroom has?
This is my dilemma.

 

[JoeCool76]

I am also a newbie, so take this for what it's worth... I have both LR4 and PSE11. I'd suggest getting LR4 first; you'll love it. Then get Elements if you need it. I almost never use Elements. Lightroom makes everything easier and much more efficient.

 

[shelby16]

I am also a newbie, so take this for what it's worth... I have both LR4 and PSE11. I'd suggest getting LR4 first; you'll love it. Then get Elements if you need it. I almost never use Elements. Lightroom makes everything easier and much more efficient.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Buckster]

while i would recommend lightroom to someone all day long, the downside is that if/when you find you DO need to do some pixel editing...you have to go buy another program

That's not true. There are several FREE pixel-level editing programs that are more than adequate.

 

[pixmedic]

while i would recommend lightroom to someone all day long, the downside is that if/when you find you DO need to do some pixel editing...you have to go buy another program

That's not true. There are several FREE pixel-level editing programs that are more than adequate.

i believe in another part of my post I actually said he could get lightroom and a free pixel editor like GIMP