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Choosing between lightroom and photoshop


12 years 9 months ago #130979 by Bjean
If you only had the $ for one of the two..Lightroom 3 or Photoshop CS5, which would you get? Of course this decision is based on reviews from others, never using a trial version.
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12 years 9 months ago #130981 by butterflygirl921
i would personally use lightroom i like photoshop but only for a few things
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12 years 9 months ago #130984 by Five Brain
For me, I would choose photoshop, mainly because I never heard of Lightroom.
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12 years 9 months ago #130996 by cod
Lightroom. First, it's half the price of Photoshop new and money is the issue you raised. More importantly, it is designed with just photography and photographers in mind. The learning curve is easier, the workflow is more intuitive for photography. Photoshop is all things to all graphics professionals. It's fabulous, but includes a lot of things the typical photographer doesn't need. The learning curve is steeper and the tools and workflow less obvious. Lightroom can do everything you need to process most photos. I do 95% or more of my processing in Lightroom and only move over to Photoshop just occasionally - typically for layers work, which LR doesn't do - and some healing/cloning work - I prefer PS's healing tools to LR. There are add-ons for LR for those things, e.g. onOne's Perfect Layers at under $100, or you can add PS, or PS Elements as you become rich from your current photography. LR keeps getting better with each new release, too.
Chris O'Donoghue
Winnipeg, Canada
codonoghue.prosite.com
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12 years 9 months ago #131009 by Henry Peach
Unless you need to stitch, HDR, remove/alter large portions of the photo, etc... Lightroom would probably cover you.
mattneedham.zenfolio.com
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12 years 9 months ago #131036 by thebostongirl
If money is your main factor I would definitely go with Lightroom. I use both, however, I do about 99% of my post-processing in Lightroom. Lightroom was developed with Photographers in mind. It's workflow capabilities are wonderful. It's definitely easeir to learn. In fact, the Adobe Lightroom page has links to some great how-to videos. This is not in anyway to diminish the capabilities of Photoshop. It's a great program and has alot of features. But for value and ease of use, I would say Lightroom.
"You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." ~ Jack London
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12 years 9 months ago #131422 by Jamie
They are very different animals, which we can discuss as well...but without a doubt, Photoshop. If Lightroom is a cat, Photoshop is a Lion. Again, though, they are very different. If you're leaning toward Lightroom for budget concerns, at the very least grab Photoshop Elements 9, which is a very powerful, excellent software.
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12 years 9 months ago #131543 by photodezigner
I had Photoshop as part of the CS3 bundle which is no longer working correctly after I updated my OS. Also, being new to the photography software, the learning curve was enormous. I now have lightroom3 which seems to be easier on the learning curve, but I have the benefit of Photoshop Elements8 that came with a piece of my equipment. (I believe it was a tablet my son gave me.) For me these two together work very well. They are definitely more cost effective than Photoshop and to date I have not missed my photoshop CS3 for photo editing.
Marshall Photography
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12 years 9 months ago - 12 years 8 months ago #131567 by MLKstudios
Above is the ticket. Get a tablet, or scanner or whatever you need that includes PS Elements.

Lightroom is more than an editing tool. It also catalogs, prints, designs, searches, converts, etc. etc. Shoot RAW and you may not even need Elements, or the other Photoshop.

Matthew :)
Matthew L Kees
MLK Studios Photography School
www.MLKstudios.com
[email protected]
"Every artist, was once an amateur"
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12 years 9 months ago #132601 by Foxy Girl
Another vote for lightroom, with Lightroom you can edit and organize your photos
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12 years 8 months ago #133407 by Prago
Lightroom :thumbsup:
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12 years 8 months ago #133462 by timhoggarth
Photoshop is the best because you can get add ons such as Phototools and Topaz Labs, yes they might also cost money but it's money well spent and can make editing a lot quicker and easier.

I use Photoshop CS5, Phototools and sometimes Topaz Adjust
Eat, Sleep and Drink Photography, Editor & Designer & Manchester City fan & Gadget Geek & Science Geek...yep, that's about it :)
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12 years 8 months ago #133533 by cod

timhoggarth wrote: Photoshop is the best because you can get add ons such as Phototools and Topaz Labs, yes they might also cost money but it's money well spent and can make editing a lot quicker and easier.


The majority of the major plug-ins, including most from onOne software, Topaz Labs or Nik, work with Lightroom also, or have LR versions.
Chris O'Donoghue
Winnipeg, Canada
codonoghue.prosite.com
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12 years 8 months ago #133685 by JennVphoto
I like photoshop better because I like the option to edit in layers. But I think if you can afford it it would be great to have both programs.
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12 years 8 months ago #133688 by Psmurf
I have thought of this question myself lately...I have CS5 at school and downloaded both LR3 and elements trials for home use and I find that I use LR3 almost all the time CS5 is good for layers and a few other things but I have fallen in love with LR3.:patriot:
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