Image editing software

[Polyphony]

Lightroom edit photos! If you are saying image sharpening, noise reduction (or addition), spot removal, distortion fix, etc. not photo editing, I dont know what editing is anymore. Really, you can pretty much remove a pimple on someone's face using only lightroom. You can do a lot!

Lightroom is really not for editing photos. As many have said it is a RAW converter which lets you make some adjustments to the photos. You really need Lightroom + Photoshop or Lightroom + Gimp etc.

I know, but it doesn't have all the capabilities that photoshop does. For example (a very important example in my opinion) lightroom does not utilize layers.

 

[sobolik]

Im looking at getting some software to edit pics...I am looking at the Adobe products and as a beginner I think Photoshop elements 8 is more than enough for my intended use... I dont think I need CS5.

So my question: is Elements pretty user friendly and not to difficult to learn with. I dont want to get something I will "outgrow" as I progress...or hope to progress I should say.

I take thousands of photos every year. Weddings included. I use Photoshop Elements 5.0. I also have the full version of Photoshop but don't use it. I also have other big name programs and don't use them either. Paintshop pro etc.
Lightshop is for mainly cataloging photos as my explorations have learned. I don't use that at all. My computer is my catalog.
I'm always open to a new and better mousetrap but never find one better than Elements 5.0. I get them and try them and then just keep using 5.0

Elements 5.0 has the perfect blend of ease of use and powerful tools. 5.0 can be bought cheap on ebay.

 

[KmH]

The editing function in Lightroom is Adobe Camera Raw (ACR). It is the same ACR that CS5 has, and Elements has a de-featured version of ACR.

Lightroom cannot edit pixels, does not have selection tools or layers, and has almost non-existant graphics functions.

Elements has about 45% of the capabilities that CS5 has, but leaves Lightroom in the dust because it can edit pixels, has selection tools, layers, and graphics functions. Note: Elements cannot handle images in a 16-bit depth.

I would definately recommend Adobe Photoshop Elements for a hobby shooter.

 

[DxAxN]

Looks like I dont need to decide...I will use Elements 5.0...while racking my brain on what to get, the ol' light bulb went off. I already have PSE 5.0. A company I was working for a few years ago bought the program and gave them to us. I never used it and its been sitting on a shelf ever since. I am gonna have my wife bring it to me when she comes here next month.

 

[o hey tyler]

Lightroom edit photos! If you are saying image sharpening, noise reduction (or addition), spot removal, distortion fix, etc. not photo editing, I dont know what editing is anymore. Really, you can pretty much remove a pimple on someone's face using only lightroom. You can do a lot!

Lightroom is really not for editing photos. As many have said it is a RAW converter which lets you make some adjustments to the photos. You really need Lightroom + Photoshop or Lightroom + Gimp etc.

I know, but it doesn't have all the capabilities that photoshop does. For example (a very important example in my opinion) lightroom does not utilize layers.

Yeah, and Lightroom also doesn't have the price-tag that CS5 has, did you stop to consider that?

Photoshop is more geared towards photo manipulation, being able to add text to images, use layers/masks, make composites, etc.

Lightroom is more geared towards adjustment sliders and histograms, while it still gives you all of the necessary tools to make a good photo an outstanding photo. It also gives you easier access to your EXIF info (as far as I know). I would suggest Lightroom over Photoshop for a photography enthusiast.

They are both IMAGE EDITING software. They take an image SOOC and they change the appearance of it, subtly or drastically... Regardless, they both are used for image editing.

I am a photographer and graphic designer. I use Photoshop to make mockups for special sections in the newspaper I lay out, and I use Lightroom to process ALL of the images that I take for the paper, and only Lightroom. I've found it useless to bring them into Photoshop for most purposes, other than to convert to CMYK.

 

[Polyphony]

Lightroom edit photos! If you are saying image sharpening, noise reduction (or addition), spot removal, distortion fix, etc. not photo editing, I dont know what editing is anymore. Really, you can pretty much remove a pimple on someone's face using only lightroom. You can do a lot!

I know, but it doesn't have all the capabilities that photoshop does. For example (a very important example in my opinion) lightroom does not utilize layers.

Yeah, and Lightroom also doesn't have the price-tag that CS5 has, did you stop to consider that?

Photoshop is more geared towards photo manipulation, being able to add text to images, use layers/masks, make composites, etc.

Lightroom is more geared towards adjustment sliders and histograms, while it still gives you all of the necessary tools to make a good photo an outstanding photo. It also gives you easier access to your EXIF info (as far as I know). I would suggest Lightroom over Photoshop for a photography enthusiast.

They are both IMAGE EDITING software. They take an image SOOC and they change the appearance of it, subtly or drastically... Regardless, they both are used for image editing.

I am a photographer and graphic designer. I use Photoshop to make mockups for special sections in the newspaper I lay out, and I use Lightroom to process ALL of the images that I take for the paper, and only Lightroom. I've found it useless to bring them into Photoshop for most purposes, other than to convert to CMYK.

Just the fact that Photoshop allows you to use layers makes it almost necessary. Sure you don't need layers but it's a huge advantage to have them. There are ways to get Photoshop for free (legally and illegally). Price shouldn't be a concern.

And before anyone even starts, I got Photoshop and Lightroom for free LEGALLY.

 

[o hey tyler]

I know, but it doesn't have all the capabilities that photoshop does. For example (a very important example in my opinion) lightroom does not utilize layers.

Yeah, and Lightroom also doesn't have the price-tag that CS5 has, did you stop to consider that?

Photoshop is more geared towards photo manipulation, being able to add text to images, use layers/masks, make composites, etc.

Lightroom is more geared towards adjustment sliders and histograms, while it still gives you all of the necessary tools to make a good photo an outstanding photo. It also gives you easier access to your EXIF info (as far as I know). I would suggest Lightroom over Photoshop for a photography enthusiast.

They are both IMAGE EDITING software. They take an image SOOC and they change the appearance of it, subtly or drastically... Regardless, they both are used for image editing.

I am a photographer and graphic designer. I use Photoshop to make mockups for special sections in the newspaper I lay out, and I use Lightroom to process ALL of the images that I take for the paper, and only Lightroom. I've found it useless to bring them into Photoshop for most purposes, other than to convert to CMYK.

Just the fact that Photoshop allows you to use layers makes it almost necessary. Sure you don't need layers but it's a huge advantage to have them. There are ways to get Photoshop for free (legally and illegally). Price shouldn't be a concern.

And before anyone even starts, I got Photoshop and Lightroom for free LEGALLY.

"Almost necessary" isn't the same as "necessary".

You don't need photoshop. And with localized adjustments (like you can do in lightroom) it almost eliminates the need for layers altogether.

I would like to know how you can get Photoshop CS5 for free legally though. I am really interested in that. Please explain?

 

[KmH]

I am not aware of any way to get Photoshop legally, at no charge.

If there is, I would doubt that method would be readily available to the masses.

 

[Polyphony]

I am not aware of any way to get Photoshop legally, at no charge.

If there is, I would doubt that method would be readily available to the masses.

It isn't readily available. But there is a chance you know someone who can get it. I got both from a friend whose school makes them available to students in certain programs.

 

[o hey tyler]

So basically what you're saying is that there are no ways to get photoshop CS5 for free?

'Magin that.

 

[Polyphony]

Yeah, and Lightroom also doesn't have the price-tag that CS5 has, did you stop to consider that?

Photoshop is more geared towards photo manipulation, being able to add text to images, use layers/masks, make composites, etc.

Lightroom is more geared towards adjustment sliders and histograms, while it still gives you all of the necessary tools to make a good photo an outstanding photo. It also gives you easier access to your EXIF info (as far as I know). I would suggest Lightroom over Photoshop for a photography enthusiast.

They are both IMAGE EDITING software. They take an image SOOC and they change the appearance of it, subtly or drastically... Regardless, they both are used for image editing.

I am a photographer and graphic designer. I use Photoshop to make mockups for special sections in the newspaper I lay out, and I use Lightroom to process ALL of the images that I take for the paper, and only Lightroom. I've found it useless to bring them into Photoshop for most purposes, other than to convert to CMYK.

Just the fact that Photoshop allows you to use layers makes it almost necessary. Sure you don't need layers but it's a huge advantage to have them. There are ways to get Photoshop for free (legally and illegally). Price shouldn't be a concern.

And before anyone even starts, I got Photoshop and Lightroom for free LEGALLY.

"Almost necessary" isn't the same as "necessary".

You don't need photoshop. And with localized adjustments (like you can do in lightroom) it almost eliminates the need for layers altogether.

I would like to know how you can get Photoshop CS5 for free legally though. I am really interested in that. Please explain?

Which is why I said "almost necessary" instead of "necessary". If you want the best capabilities and the most options, you really need Lightroom and Photoshop or any other combination of similar programs.

 

[Polyphony]

So basically what you're saying is that there are no ways to get photoshop CS5 for free?

'Magin that.

Here we go with reading comp again. If you have ANY friends or know ANYONE in ANY school with an "arts" department, chances are you can get one if not both programs for free. Since you are a graphics artist I'm just taking a guess that you went to some school for it. Your school did not/does not provide you with Photoshop or Lightroom? If not, you don't know anyone in your field of work that went to a school that does?

 

[o hey tyler]

I'm not in school anymore, but I know Adobe doesn't give much away for free.

Perhaps you're confusing a FREE $900 program with a student discounted one.

And what are these "art" departments you speak of?

 

[Polyphony]

I'm not in school anymore, but I know Adobe doesn't give much away for free.

Perhaps you're confusing a FREE $900 program with a student discounted one.

And what are these "art" departments you speak of?

I'm sure some schools do have them at student discounts. While speaking with a friend of mine about photography, he mentioned that he could get me Photoshop and Lightroom through his school for free. (He's in the landscape architecture program.) By "arts department" I simply meant the school/college within a university that is home to arts programs such as photography, theatre, graphic design, music, etc.

My school offered Photoshop at a student discount like you mentioned. I wasn't aware that it was available for free at other schools until I spoke with my friend.

 

[o hey tyler]

I know what an art department is, I was being facetious.

My girlfriend is enrolled in an art school. She can't get Photoshop or the CS package for less than a student discount. I wish she could, believe me.