Which to buy, photoshop elements 11 or Lightroom 4
Dec 11, 2012 12:51:11 #
I have bought a new computer and would like advise as to which to purchase for editing purposes, for photos and video, photoshop elements 11 or Lightroom 4. Thank you.
Dec 11, 2012 12:54:38 #
Pepper
Loc: Planet Earth Country USA
My guess would be that if you track your responses you'll wind up with about a 50/50 split. We'll see. I actually have both and to be honest if I could only keep one I'm not sure which I'd keep. I know this is of no help but in my humble opinion you can't make a bad choice whichever direction you go.
Dec 11, 2012 14:31:36 #
If you had to choose, one or the other and can ot have both, then go with Elements. Contained within Elements 11, is camera RAW. which has about 90% of the features found within Lightroom. Lightroom was not designed for all of the artistic capabilities and fine editing that Elements possesses. Rather they compliment one another.
Unless you are a graphic artist needing to do photo editing on the fly with a client, then you do not need the other functions that lightroom has even though lightroom can do most of what most people who do generic photo editing do. Camera RAW in Elements does that also.
There is no 50/50 about it. One will get more usefulness out of Elements over all.
You asked about two specific programs only. If others jump in recommending Picasa or Coral or Gimp, discard those replies for they were not within the scope of your question. All this accomplishes is to confuse one's self.
If you need further information, it is at your fingertips via Google.
Unless you are a graphic artist needing to do photo editing on the fly with a client, then you do not need the other functions that lightroom has even though lightroom can do most of what most people who do generic photo editing do. Camera RAW in Elements does that also.
There is no 50/50 about it. One will get more usefulness out of Elements over all.
You asked about two specific programs only. If others jump in recommending Picasa or Coral or Gimp, discard those replies for they were not within the scope of your question. All this accomplishes is to confuse one's self.
If you need further information, it is at your fingertips via Google.
Dec 11, 2012 14:37:23 #
DeanMars wrote:
I have bought a new computer and would like advise as to which to purchase for editing purposes, for photos and video, photoshop elements 11 or Lightroom 4. Thank you.
Lightroom or Photoshop Elements? Apples or oranges? IMHO, these two programs do not have a competitive relationship. They are to be viewed as companions.
Lightroom -- it excels at managing and categorizing your photos; it offers a fully featured Raw Converter; you can use it to do most of your photo processing. However, to be fair, it should be pointed out that in Photoshop Elements 11 Adobe has raised the Organizer another notch. Now this module is much more automated. Also, PSE11's Raw Converter uses the same process as Lightroom 4's Raw Converter (2012 Process). The only downside? Still it doesn't have as many features as the one in Lightroom 4.
Photoshop Elements -- if you are into creative/graphical/special effects, this program is your best friend: textures, layers, text, graphics, fancy filters, and so on. Also, if you need to do some retouching, healing, etc, you will need PSE.
Here is an interesting article about Lightroom vs Photoshop Elements.
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/html/integrate-lightroom-with-elements/
Dec 11, 2012 14:49:34 #
DeanMars did mention video also. I don't believe that either LR4 or PSE11 will do anything with video .............
Dec 11, 2012 15:03:00 #
GC likes NIKON wrote:
DeanMars did mention video also. I don't believe that either LR4 or PSE11 will do anything with video .............
I believe Lightroom 4 does offer video-editing capability.
http://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/kb/video-support-lightroom-4-3.html
http://tv.adobe.com/watch/getting-started-with-adobe-photoshop-lightroom-4/working-with-dslr-video-/
On the Elements side of things, Premiere Elements 11 will be the choice. It can be purchased in a combo with Photoshop Elements.
http://www.adobe.com/products/premiere-elements.html
Dec 11, 2012 16:18:05 #
Ziza wrote:
quote=GC likes NIKON DeanMars did mention video a... (show quote)
I didn't know that !! We learn something every day .................
Dec 11, 2012 17:46:14 #
DeanMars wrote:
I have bought a new computer and would like advise as to which to purchase for editing purposes, for photos and video, photoshop elements 11 or Lightroom 4. Thank you.
My advice only covers photos. I don't edit video. I will note that Lightroom can do some video and there is a version of Elements (Premiere) that can also.
If you are going to only do one of them Elements is the much better deal. There are two reasons:
1. If you wait you can find Elements for $50 for the photo only version. You'll pay more for Lightroom...up to $150 I think.
2. Elements has far more capability than Lightroom. Elements is actually three programs: the Organizer, Adobe Camera RAW, and the Editor. The Organizer is Lightroom light and the Editor is Photoshop light.
The only case that would make me get Lightroom first is if I was doing large numbers of photos that requires similar adjustments made to all of them. Lightroom excels at that. You do some of that in Elements also but not as easily.
I have Lightroom, Elements and Photoshop. Long term I'll likely drift back to only Elements.
Be sure to get Elements 11 and the book on it by Kelby and Kloskowski.
Dec 11, 2012 23:55:25 #
IMHO you need both. And I were to start with Lightroom. All the photos in the world are of no value to you if you can't go back and find them later and as Zita said Lightroom excels here. Lightroom is also a very capable RAW photo enhancer- most everything you may ever need. After I was comfortable with Lightroom I would add Elements 11. The only rub is I don't do video and that may be a game changer for you.
Dec 12, 2012 02:49:54 #
Bram boy
Loc: Vancouver Island B.C. Canada
That first line of yoursis confusing , are you saying if you start with Literoom all the photos in the world are no value to you?
Dec 12, 2012 04:38:24 #
GC likes NIKON wrote:
But you can buy the Elements / Premiere Elements bundle for not much more than Elements. This will give you video editing. The deal I found gave me Premiere Elements for £1 more than the best deal I have seen for Elements 11!DeanMars did mention video also. I don't believe that either LR4 or PSE11 will do anything with video .............
Dec 12, 2012 04:50:11 #
DeanMars wrote:
I have bought a new computer and would like advise as to which to purchase for editing purposes, for photos and video, photoshop elements 11 or Lightroom 4. Thank you.
Dean, nobody can answer that for you, but you can easily answer that for yourself.
If you spend minimal time and energy on PP and are pretty happy with out-of-camera results, then you will be happy with LR.
If your style is to be very creative with PP and you like to add clouds to your sky, take people out/in and spend hours tweeting each foto, then Elements or PS will serve you better.
You pick
Dec 12, 2012 06:53:11 #
Rumaweigh
Loc: Richmond VA USA
I've owned Elements 2 thru 9. While the editing functions of Elements worked well (they're Photoshop lite), 9's organizer gave me no end of problems. About 2 years ago I bought Lightroom and converted my catalog. Over time I've found that I make at least 90% of my adjustments in Lightroom. Lightroom rather seemlessly allows use of external editors for the remaining 10%.
It may not be important to you but as best I know, Elements does not allow editing of 16 bit depth images. Lightroom does. Some types of images benefit from the higher bit depth and if you use a high bit depth camera, it would be counter productive to lower the bit depth in post processing.
Lightroom also uses non-destructive editing, a more contemporary technique.
It may not be important to you but as best I know, Elements does not allow editing of 16 bit depth images. Lightroom does. Some types of images benefit from the higher bit depth and if you use a high bit depth camera, it would be counter productive to lower the bit depth in post processing.
Lightroom also uses non-destructive editing, a more contemporary technique.
Dec 12, 2012 06:53:33 #
DeanMars wrote:
I have bought a new computer and would like advise as to which to purchase for editing purposes, for photos and video, photoshop elements 11 or Lightroom 4. Thank you.
Dean,
As ohers have stated, it depends on what you want to do. LightRoom is excellent for organizing your files & does a pretty decent job at post processing.
If you're really into making presentation prints (8x10, 11x17, 13X19 or larger) than PSE is the way to go but there is a steep learning curve.
PD
Dec 12, 2012 06:57:39 #
DeanMars, I use both LR4 and PSE 11, LR4 is a great organizer of my photos, plus I use LR4 to make 80% of my postprocessing. PSE 11 works seamlessly (think plug-in) with LR4 when I need to make photoshop type adjustments.
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