I just had a gas attack and bought a new apple tabletop computer. I've been using photoshop 6 on my old computer Its my understanding that now its all in "the cloud" and I'll have to go there to process my pictures, most of which are shot in raw. I use photomatix for HDR. If the above is true, it has been suggested that I might want Lightroom instead of Photoshop. I am a minimalist with my processing. Almost never use cloning and primarily just adjust exposure levels and cropping. I shoot with a Nikon D800, D7100 and D7500 if that makes any difference. Suggestions for the new computer set up would be appreciated. Photoshop..lightroom...photomatix... What the best way to go

Adobe uses their cloud in different ways - it uses the cloud to deliver software/updates/upgrades and for monthly license verification, quickly and efficiently. It also houses all of their applications, in the event you want to try some. And if you purchase storage space, it allows you to save images to the cloud for collaboration and image delivery - just like any other cloud service. It is not cloud-based computing - they host no applications. All applications are on your local machine.

This should lend some clarity:

https://prodesigntools.com/adobe-creative-cloud-myths.html

You can no longer legitimately buy perpetual licenses for their software other than Elements. But you can't upgrade Elements, you can only replace them with newer purchased versions.

Lightroom has some seriously powerful editing capabilities for a raw converter, but it's unique in that it has a comprehensive image file management system that is catalog-based. It is not, however, a raster editor like Photoshop. You can get Lightroom subscription by itself, or for $10/mo you can get both LR and PS. You cannot get PS by itself.

I just had a gas attack and bought a new apple tabletop computer. I've been using photoshop 6 on my old computer Its my understanding that now its all in "the cloud" and I'll have to go there to process my pictures, most of which are shot in raw. I use photomatix for HDR. If the above is true, it has been suggested that I might want Lightroom instead of Photoshop. I am a minimalist with my processing. Almost never use cloning and primarily just adjust exposure levels and cropping. I shoot with a Nikon D800, D7100 and D7500 if that makes any difference. Suggestions for the new computer set up would be appreciated. Photoshop..lightroom...photomatix... What the best way to go

I just had a gas attack and bought a new apple tabletop computer. I've been using photoshop 6 on my old computer Its my understanding that now its all in "the cloud" and I'll have to go there to process my pictures, most of which are shot in raw. I use photomatix for HDR. If the above is true, it has been suggested that I might want Lightroom instead of Photoshop. I am a minimalist with my processing. Almost never use cloning and primarily just adjust exposure levels and cropping. I shoot with a Nikon D800, D7100 and D7500 if that makes any difference. Suggestions for the new computer set up would be appreciated. Photoshop..lightroom...photomatix... What the best way to go

1) It is not in the cloud. Only the installers for the software are in the cloud. And only the images YOU DECIDE to put in the cloud are there. The rest are local, on your hard drives or SSDs. But ALL the software runs locally, except for a few Photoshop neural filters.

2) There are TWO Lightrooms. The "cloudy" one, Lightroom, which used to be Lightroom Mobile, does rely on the Adobe Cloud service to move your images among all your computers, smartphones, and tablets. I don't use it, so I won't mention it again. But Lightroom CLASSIC, the one developed for professionals and now at version 11.0.1, runs mostly on your local computer. It can USE the Adobe Cloud, but most of us don't bother doing that.

3) Lightroom Classic and Photoshop are designed to work together.

Lightroom Classic is a "hub" of your workflow:

> It is an IMAGE DATABASE (Adobe calls it a catalog-based image library).
> It is a CULL EDITOR (It uses a light table motif to allow you to locate images quickly. Then you can view them individually, or compare a couple side by side.)
> It is a RATING TOOL (Use 0-5 stars to rate your images)
> It is a METADATA tool (Add details about your images individually or in bulk, to aid in searching the catalog for them later.)

> It has a NON-DESTRUCTIVE, PARAMETRIC editor. (You see proxies of your images. Raw files are developed in LrC using Adobe Camera Raw, the same as they would be in Adobe Bridge ACR or Photoshop ACR. The same ACR serves all three, with different interfaces in each of them. The proxies change dynamically as you make changes on screen. ORIGINAL FILES ARE NEVER ALTERED. They remain in place, as LrC stores instructions for use during Export, Print, Post to Web, or Edit in Photoshop — or another external editor — operations.)

When you need more tools than Lightroom Classic has, hitting Command+E starts Photoshop, hands it a TIFF or PSD of your image (created right then, based on instructions stored in Lightroom). You make changes in Photoshop. When you save the file, it is stored on disk, BUT it shows up in Lightroom Classic, next to the original in the catalog! The same can happen with your other imaging application. You can configure LrC to use as many external editors as you wish.

In short, there is no argument: It's not "Lightroom Classic vs. Photoshop," but rather, "Lightroom Classic AND Photoshop." They are completely different toolsets with different purposes.

LrC was designed to do most of what professionals do to manage their images' basic development and editing after a session. Photoshop is meant as a FINISHING tool for retouching, color separations for offset printing, adding text, applying layer effects and filters, and more.

Photoshop is a "black hole time sucker." You can fall into an image and spend hours on it, before you realize you need to get real work done. Lightroom was aimed at keeping working pros on schedule by just doing the essential tasks as efficiently as possible.

1) It is not in the cloud. Only the installers for the software are in the cloud. And only the images YOU DECIDE to put in the cloud are there. The rest are local, on your hard drives or SSDs. But ALL the software runs locally, except for a few Photoshop neural filters.

2) There are TWO Lightrooms. The "cloudy" one, Lightroom, which used to be Lightroom Mobile, does rely on the Adobe Cloud service to move your images among all your computers, smartphones, and tablets. I don't use it, so I won't mention it again. But Lightroom CLASSIC, the one developed for professionals and now at version 11.0.1, runs mostly on your local computer. It can USE the Adobe Cloud, but most of us don't bother doing that.

3) Lightroom Classic and Photoshop are designed to work together.

Lightroom Classic is a "hub" of your workflow:

> It is an IMAGE DATABASE (Adobe calls it a catalog-based image library).
> It is a CULL EDITOR (It uses a light table motif to allow you to locate images quickly. Then you can view them individually, or compare a couple side by side.)
> It is a RATING TOOL (Use 0-5 stars to rate your images)
> It is a METADATA tool (Add details about your images individually or in bulk, to aid in searching the catalog for them later.)

> It has a NON-DESTRUCTIVE, PARAMETRIC editor. (You see proxies of your images. Raw files are developed in LrC using Adobe Camera Raw, the same as they would be in Adobe Bridge ACR or Photoshop ACR. The same ACR serves all three, with different interfaces in each of them. The proxies change dynamically as you make changes on screen. ORIGINAL FILES ARE NEVER ALTERED. They remain in place, as LrC stores instructions for use during Export, Print, Post to Web, or Edit in Photoshop — or another external editor — operations.)

When you need more tools than Lightroom Classic has, hitting Command+E starts Photoshop, hands it a TIFF or PSD of your image (created right then, based on instructions stored in Lightroom). You make changes in Photoshop. When you save the file, it is stored on disk, BUT it shows up in Lightroom Classic, next to the original in the catalog! The same can happen with your other imaging application. You can configure LrC to use as many external editors as you wish.

In short, there is no argument: It's not "Lightroom Classic vs. Photoshop," but rather, "Lightroom Classic AND Photoshop." They are completely different toolsets with different purposes.

LrC was designed to do most of what professionals do to manage their images' basic development and editing after a session. Photoshop is meant as a FINISHING tool for retouching, color separations for offset printing, adding text, applying layer effects and filters, and more.

Photoshop is a "black hole time sucker." You can fall into an image and spend hours on it, before you realize you need to get real work done. Lightroom was aimed at keeping working pros on schedule by just doing the essential tasks as efficiently as possible.