CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

LR does not work in layers. Any, all other edits are there, including a powerful masking / local edit tool that covers what some might need from a layer-based editor to isolate specific changes. LR couldn't / wouldn't be the industry standard editor without the full gamut of the basic and advanced digital edit tool examples you mentioned.

wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

What Gene51 said.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

As Gene mentioned, Ps is my primary processing software. I started using Ps in 2002 or 3. I recently added Capture One, as it does Lens Color Correction, something Ps did seem to do. This became a necessity as of late. It was either purchase software that did or write a module to use with Ps. Purchasing Capture One was quicker.
--Bob

maxlieberman Loc: 19027

I have been using elements since version 3, and am now up to 2018. I can do everything I want and more. There are zillions of You Tube tutorials to assist.

I have been trying to learn Affinity, but am not sure why. It does have one or two advantages, but it is slow and does not have an organizer or database.

Josephakraig

There are many millions who only use their phones for picture taking and they like what they get. Some people like their Polaroid pictures and yes some are very satisfied with what comes out of their cameras as a JPEG file. Those that use their phones see no reason to use a RAW editor. Those who shoot Polaroid can't understand all the fuss, the same with JPEG shooters.

If you shoot with a modern camera that has the capability of giving you a RAW image and you want the "Best" your camera can provide you simply cannot get it out of the camera, you must post process. You can post process in JPEG but you can do remarkably more with a RAW image.

I poopooed RAW for years. After the first time I put one of my RAW images in a friends Photoshop and got such dramatic results, I have never gone back. My friend took a picture with his Nikon D700 in my dark barn. By the time he got done editing you would have thought he took the picture in a studio.

You owe it to yourself to at least to try a good RAW editor if you are serious about your pictures.

Rathyatra Loc: Southport, United Kingdom

HI Ken

I have used PSE for many ears and it is always my go to program as it is much easier to use and has a range of editing options that I can cope with without having to strain my brain cells too much lol! I also have lightroom, on-one and , recently, Luminar 4 and a number of Topaz Labs utilities. But i wold highly recommend PSE 2020 - my recent of posting of a box of novelties was done with PSE 2020.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

greenwork Loc: Southwest Florida

My experience is like Gene's and I started using PS the same time. I'd suggest the LR PS route BUT if you don't want to stick your foot into that pond Elements is a great entry processor. The 8 bit limit isn't that limiting and if you want to delve further much of the learning curve is already applicable. Good Luck!

tomad Loc: North Carolina

Also look at Luminar Flex. It's a scaled down version of Luminar that is very easy to use.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Thanks for the reply - I can't imagine why I was advised that LR couldn't adjust WB in JPGs.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Probably an internet expert ... For RAW editing, you adjust the K-temp and tint (green to red). But, like all JPEG editors, the Kelvin temp comes off the table when not editing RAW, instead becoming a warm to cool, blue to yellow, slider. This difference / commonality may have been a point of misunderstanding.

bleirer

Lightroom sort of has layers but nothing like Photoshop, in the sense that there is an adjustment brush that you paint an area with, then whatever adjustment you make only apply to that area, kind of like a layer mask. But luckily Photoshop is included with Lightroom and there layers are direct and easy to use. For example separate adjustment layers with the ability to mask which area it applies to for contrast, brightness, levels, hue/saturation/lightness, exposure, simulated camera filters, gradients, curves, and much more.

cyclespeed Loc: Calgary, Alberta Canada

If you like using your camera but not too much into computers fir post processing Luminar is the answer. I will never pretend to be so wise as to know exactly what needs t one done besides cropping. Now with "Looks" being instantly available I spend far less time getting to and end result I like than I did most times getting to "that will have to do" status in photoshop and LightRoom.

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

Photoshop Elements is (nearly) all anyone needs for most serious editing, and if you are finally able to master ALL that it offers and still want more, then I would say move into the full blown Photoshop, but you can do wonders with Elements and 2020 is quite good. There are tons of videos on the web to assist you with practically ANY feature you might want to get more understanding about.
Also: you don't need to 'pay rent' to use it. When you buy it, it's yours to use - period.
God Luck and keep us posted,
God Bless,
Papa Joe

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

You have been given a lot of great advice (except for not using LrC for JPEG processing!). Take it all in and roll it around in your head for a bit. Reread what Gene51 said, too. The biggest thing you need to consider is what are your expectations with your images, the answer should drive your pick of processing tools and the format you shoot in. Many people are content to simply take snapshots (I recently heard the term Happy Snapper and found it amusing). Other people want more from their images. If you are content with snapshots just pick the easiest and quickest route to success, shoot JPEG and use a processed that lets you take out sensor dust and tweak WB. However, if you want images that are perfect technically (no processing software will teach you the art of photography) and you want to create artwork with each finished image then you need to give a great deal of consideration to your choice. I am a 10-year user of Adobe products but I would not tell you what to choose Adobe products; I can say, however, that the products allow me to get wonderful, finished artistic results as I desire. Most of the software on today's market is adequate so most of them will do a fine job. Any software you choose will have a learning curve, depending on your ability to master the concepts of the software. Luminar is an easy software for some to learn, Photoshop is not easy for most people and with LrC you need some knowledge to use the software to its full potential, but I think that probably applies to any software. Do your research and choose what works for you.