Lightroom stand alone or Lightroom/PS: Hello, This is my first post. I am a passionate hobbyist photographer and I need some advice as to whether I should buy LR stand alone, or a...

SKM

Hello, This is my first post. I am a passionate hobbyist photographer and I need some advice as to whether I should buy LR stand alone, or a LR/PS subscription for my post processing. I started out shooting wildlife/landscape, but am gravitating toward Macro/Floral photography. My main post processing is done with Capture One Pro9 (I use a Sony A7r ll) but I want to use 3rd party plug-ins like Topaz, which C1 does not allow me to use. Will LR be enough? I have watched many YouTube videos, read numerous articles, but maybe someone can guide me here. Thanks in advance for your advice. SKM

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

IMHO, and I am admittedly biased on this, Lightroom CS6 is a dead end, non supported app from Adobe. With the Creative Cloud bundle, you get access to all the unbelievable updates the mad geniuses at Adobe develop. Perfect example, look at the Content Aware Crop, which you would not get with a standalone installation.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

SKM wrote:

Hello, This is my first post. I am a passionate ho... (show quote)

Hi,

I believe that using the monthly Adobe subscription version will work out best for you. You can do 95% of your work in Lightroom, then directly from Lightroom go into Photoshop to do whatever it is you need to do, such as removing bugs, building a layer, adding a texture, etc. Also, you will have instant access to all of the new upgrades to both Lightroom and Photoshop, as the Photography package includes both programs. You can access Topaz, On1, or whichever plug-in program you choose to use directly from Lightroom as well. I think you will be happy with the subscription choice. I have included a photo that I recently did using just Lightroom and Photoshop, laying the texture on in Photoshop after editing in Lightroom. You can easily create multiple versions of your work with these two programs, keeping everything in order in Lightroom.

SKM

Thanks for your reply. I am leaning towards the monthly subscription. I like how Capture One processes my RAW photos though. I just wish it allowed more 3rd party plugins. I will most likely go with the monthly subscription and have Lightroom plus Photoshop. Quick question: Can I still use C1 to process my Raw photos and is it easy to transfer them to Lightroom? Thanks!

SKM

Thanks for your reply. I guess I'll go ahead with the monthly subscription.

blackest Loc: Ireland

SKM wrote:

Thanks for your reply. I guess I'll go ahead with the monthly subscription.

what are your plans for the next 14 months?

If your happy with capture 1 but just need some of lightrooms features either will do the job. If standalone will do what you want for at least the next 14 months then get that and pay rent later when you feel you need too. That way you will always have the standalone version if you decide to stop paying adobe every month. If you want photoshop then maybe rent now, there is no closing date for subscribing to CC.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

SKM wrote:

Hello, This is my first post. I am a passionate ho... (show quote)

All you need is TopazFXlabs which is a stand alone application. If you are happy with C1's file management, there is no question - C1 does a better job with raw conversion and once you export a tiff you can use Topaz to edit and do proper photo finishing. And I am a strong proponent of Adobe products - but I do recognize that C1 does a better job with less effort.

SKM

Thanks so much. I do really like Capture One - I have already purchased C1Pro9. I did not know I could use Topaz with it. I know it supports NiK though. I will try what you said and hopefully I'll figure it out and try that before I buy Lightroom standalone or subscribe monthly.

SKM

Thanks so much. That's a great option!

SKM

Beautiful photo by the way!

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

SKM wrote:

Thanks for your reply. I am leaning towards the monthly subscription. I like how Capture One processes my RAW photos though. I just wish it allowed more 3rd party plugins. I will most likely go with the monthly subscription and have Lightroom plus Photoshop. Quick question: Can I still use C1 to process my Raw photos and is it easy to transfer them to Lightroom? Thanks!

Yes

cthahn

Get Adobe CC, Light Room. Photoshop, and Bridge and try them. If you are serious you need both Light Room and Photoshop. They're both different. One compliments the other. Don't try to mix and match a variety of other programs. This will only be confusing.

Gspeed Loc: Rhinebeck, NY

An Apple guy from corporate told me the other day that LightRoom has a free trial. He thinks it might be a 30 day free trial. Why don't you try it and see if PhotoShop has one, as well. That way you can try for yourself and see what might be possible. ~ Eileen

cthahn wrote:

Get Adobe CC, Light Room. Photoshop, and Bridge and try them. If you are serious you need both Light Room and Photoshop. They're both different. One compliments the other. Don't try to mix and match a variety of other programs. This will only be confusing.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Gspeed wrote:

An Apple guy from corporate told me the other day that LightRoom has a free trial. He thinks it might be a 30 day free trial. Why don't you try it and see if PhotoShop has one, as well. That way you can try for yourself and see what might be possible. ~ Eileen

There is a free trial for Adobe CC which includes LR/PS/Bridge

SKM

Thanks for your advice!