Lightroom vs Photoshop Elements: Simple question. What will Lightroom do that PSElements can't, that would justify the addition/switch-to Lightroom?

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

Simple question. What will Lightroom do that PSElements can't, that would justify the addition/switch-to Lightroom?

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

neilds37 wrote:

Simple question. What will Lightroom do that PSElements can't, that would justify the addition/switch-to Lightroom?

I've never used Elements, but Lightroom will:

-Organize your photo library in a myriad of ways that support your workflow
-Allow editing with Camera Raw
-Support geotagging
-Give tools to allow the creation of books of your images
-Create slideshows

These are but a few of its functions. I use LR for the organizational capabilities, which is the primary purpose if LR.

As I understand, Elements is a subset of Photoshop, primarily a pixel editor. When I was first starting my library, organization was very important to me, so I did research into these two tools to determine which one I needed. It became obvious rather quickly that LR was the piece I needed to do what I wanted. I seem to recall that Elements had SOME organizational capabilities, but LR was head and shoulders above in this regard.

Don't interpret this to be a slam of Elements!! It is not. I wanted strong organizational capabilities.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

As far as the difference between LR and PSE:
PSE is really 3 programs in one. It's an Organizer, it's a layering editor, and it's a raw editor all in one. But it's organizer gets slow when your catalog of images approaches 10,000, it's layering is limited to mostly 8-bit images and is limited to what it can do compared to PS CC, and the raw editor is a stripped down version of Photoshop CC's ACR (Adobe Camera Raw) and can only do about 20% of what ACR can do. LR has a powerful organizer, and is basically the same raw editor as Photoshop CC but on steroids with a slightly easier to use interface. The only thing LR can't do is layers and/or compositing. It's not very efficient at retouching either. So that is why most photographers pay the $9.99/month for Photoshop/CC and LR/CC. Those 2 programs really compliment each other.

neilds37 wrote:

Simple question. What will Lightroom do that PSElements can't, that would justify the addition/switch-to Lightroom?

Erik_H Loc: Denham Springs, Louisiana

neilds37 wrote:

Simple question. What will Lightroom do that PSElements can't, that would justify the addition/switch-to Lightroom?

Lightroom's real strengths lay in its cataloging ability, far superior that of Elements IMO. They approach editing in two different ways though. LR is great at making adjustments to the whole image with a few tools that provide localized adjustments. PSE on the other hand, is a pixel level editor that supports layering like its big brother Photoshop. For most people, LR is all that's needed, however, if you need to move a tree 10 feet to the left in an image, you would need to use Elements.

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

brucewells wrote:

These are but a few of its functions. I use LR for the organizational capabilities, which is the primary purpose if LR.
.....
Don't interpret this to be a slam of Elements!! It is not. I wanted strong organizational capabilities.

Bruce, I didn't read it as a slam, more like "different people work in different ways and have different preferences"

I once downloaded LR, worked with it daily for the 30-day trial and hated it!
I have been using PSE since version 7, and love it!
As to organisation, I have my own filing system (which has been blasted by some, but it works for me) and I don't use the organizer in PSE either.
I have added to PSE a plug-in called Elements+ , cost $12, and downloaded some actions from the 'net. PS can record AND play back the actions, PSE can play back many but not all actions recorded with PS.

I guess, in the long run, it depends on what you like, what you're used to and what you're comfortable with. I think the main reasons for me to stick with PSE, are that I can work with layers, that I am very comfortable with the program, and that I can share my files with those that use PS/LR and vv.

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

brucewells wrote:

I've never used Elements, but Lightroom will: br ... (show quote)

Thank you very much for this information. I have an organizational system that suits me, so that aspect of Lightroom does not interest me.

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

jeep_daddy wrote:

As far as the difference between LR and PSE: br PS... (show quote)

Good info, thank you. I use layers extensively, but would like more capability in ACR. Like Morning Star I have my own organizatonal system, and don't even use that supplied with Elements.

All choices have trade-offs, and this is no different I guess. Your info gives me a lot to go on.

Cheers, Neil

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

Erik_H wrote:

Lightroom's real strengths lay in its cataloging ability, far superior that of Elements IMO. They approach editing in two different ways though. LR is great at making adjustments to the whole image with a few tools that provide localized adjustments. PSE on the other hand, is a pixel level editor that supports layering like its big brother Photoshop. For most people, LR is all that's needed, however, if you need to move a tree 10 feet to the left in an image, you would need to use Elements.

Thank you Erik. I don't move trees, but do edit to the pixel level and use layers a lot.

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

neilds37 wrote:

Simple question. What will Lightroom do that PSElements can't, that would justify the addition/switch-to Lightroom?

Best answer: file & folder organization.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

The Photography Life web site offered this summarized comparison, after a lengthy article detailing the advantages of each tool:

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom advanced workflow management software with tools for non-destructive mass image editing, publishing and printing. Mainly targeted at professional photographers.

Adobe Photoshop complex image and graphics editing software package designed for editing one file at a time. Mainly targeted at graphic artists.

Adobe Photoshop Elements a bridge between Lightroom and Photoshop, with limited functionality from both. Basic workflow/file management, along with some editing tools from Photoshop. Targeted at beginner and amateur photographers and graphic artists.

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

brucewells wrote:

The Photography Life web site offered this summari... (show quote)

Then I guess I'm in my Element(s) :) I'm just about as amateur as they get (had money forced on me once for a five-shot sports series). Since I shoot a bridge camera I might as well have a bridge editing program too.
Cheers, Neil

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Morning Star wrote:

Bruce, I didn't read it as a slam, more like "... (show quote)

One of the strengths of Lightroom is that's it's completely not destructive, another is the ability to make virtual copies of images. Lightroom doesn't actually edit images which is why there is no save fearure. All "edits" are actually just overlay instructions which are applied on the fly.

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

mwsilvers wrote:

One of the strengths of Lightroom ... another is the ability to make virtual copies of images.

Excuse me, but what in the name of all that's Holy is a "virtual copy".
Copy (noun): def. 2. A thing made to be similar or identical to another thing.

What is the difference between a "virtual" copy, and any other copy?

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

As one pro wrote, if photos are well done in camera then LR does what needs to be done 90% of the time.
And because almost all of its functions work through sliders it is fast and easy. It keeps a log of every thing you do and you can scroll down the list all the way to the original shot and click to pull up the image at that stage. (The original image is still there in its own file, the changes are filed in their own log so every version you had along the way is recallable.) Oh, don't move an original image in "My Pictures" or the Mac equivilent, LR will lose track of it and only show a degraded thumbnail with the message that it can't find the original. Make all moves in LR's organizer.
Photo Shop (and Corel Paint Shop Pro) are the heavy hitters that do all of the rest plus the fancy stuff beyond just tweaking a picture.
PSE is PS lite for those who don't want or need the heavy hitter. Simpler and somewhat limited compared to PS. Both PSE and PS couple to LR smoothly and work can be passed along with little trouble.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

neilds37 wrote:

Excuse me, but what in the name of all that's Holy is a "virtual copy".
Copy (noun): def. 2. A thing made to be similar or identical to another thing.

What is the difference between a "virtual" copy, and any other copy?

A real copy takes up space on a hard drive, a virtual copy does not. You cannot send someone a virtual copy or separate the virtual copy physically from the original. But, you can export it, print it, modify it, and undo changes into perpetuity. You can have many virtual copies of the same image while still retaining only the original image. You can have the original image and 100 or more virtual copies taking up no additional space and each copy can be treated like a separate image and adjusted like a separate image and separately exported for sharing or uploading. They are not the same as actual copies. Its just one of Lightroom's great features.

https://www.video2brain.com/en/lessons/creating-virtual-copies-1