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

So, how much time is "enough", how much time does one need "to figure it out"?
Trial period of 30 days, at least an hour each and every day, many days much more than that.
Used Adobe's own guide < http://helpx.adobe.com/pdf/lightroom_reference.pdf > (this is the current one, no longer have the one from back then); used many YouTube videos, kept asking my cousin who is a wizard with LR and used to teach it as well as PS; borrowed some books from the local library....
The end result, as I said: LightRoom and I were not made for each other!

Not every computer user will like to use every program that "everybody" uses. If that were so, there would only be one program of each kind, wouldn't there? It's got nothing to do with smarts or patience.


Again, how much is enough time?
If you like LR, and obviously you do, more power to you. I absolutely agree that you should keep on using it. But please, don't tell me that I haven't tried hard enough or didn't put in enough time or ....
LR is for you, but not for me. An automatic transmission car may be for you - I prefer a stick shift. Country or island living may be for you, I prefer the big city.

JohnTxNC

No one has mentioned "non-distructive" editing

Lightroom edits a "make-believe" copy of an image .... And when you've completed the editing, you export those changes into the original and save the file under a different name. The original file stays as fresh and pristine as the day it came from your camera. Three years later, if you want to tackle the image again, you can pick up where you left off or start fresh.

As far as the benefits of keywording and such, I have not used that element of Lightroom and it's starting to show .... I've got to force myself to use those features more.

I will say this..... "Cloning" and the blending aspects of LR are NOT the same as PS, and trying to do that style of work in LR can be frustrating.... PS and LR are two different programs but they do work well together.

Bill_de Loc: US

Really ??? Is it possible you didn't read before you wrote?

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JaiGieEse Loc: Foxworth, MS

Well, to be more accurate here - it must be said that, according to your statement, LR does not meet your needs. Well and good. Please do find an alternative that suits you and go with that. But your lack of feeling for LR does NOT mean that LR sucks.

I use a Nikon. Others insist that Canon is better. I drive a Chevy truck. Some say I ought to get a Ford. I use a Mac. Others prefer PC's. Who's right? ALL of us. It all boils down to the best approach being you use what works best for you.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

You may or may not like Lightroom, you may prefer the design and approach of other software, you may or may not think it adds value for you. All valid points . But I reiterate that it's not difficult to learn if enough effort is put in. How much effort? I can't say. It varies by the individual. But for me I was comfortably up and running, had developed a workflow, and was using a significant number of features with no major issues after perhaps five or six hours of reading, viewing videos and hands on experimentation with the important functions. Over the years, of course, I've put in much more time doing all those things to become a much more advanced user, but the effort necessary to become productive was really only a few hours.

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

I guess it's one of those "love it - hate it" things. I use it about 95% of the time.

Clyde141

I've had Lightroom since before it was Lightroom. I originally used the software that Adobe bought to use as a basis for their development of Lightroom and received LR1 free since I had owned the original software. I've updated to every new version so I have had the advantage of using it as it has improved and changed over the years. As with Photoshop, I am still discovering things LR will do that I didn't know about. I guess my advantage was that I was also just starting to get serious about photography when LR came out. It takes a while to learn although its RAW converter is the same as Bridge if you are taking Raw files into Photoshop. I know there are things Photoshop will do that LR will not, but there is plenty of online instruction available to help you learn the basics and gradually move on from there.

The Library setup can be confusing if you don't do it right. For example you must always be sure that the LR catalog file (*.lrcat) info and your LR photo files are coordinated (for lack of a better word). I had the hard drive on which my LR photos were stored crash. I had backups. I had to make sure that when I re-created my LR photo files I put them on a hard drive with the same name as the one that had crashed so LR catalog could find them. If you run into a problem there is plenty of help online via whatever search method you use.

I use the Adobe subscription to LRCC and PhotoshopCC. I believe I have recently read that Adobe is going to soon stop supporting PS6. I know there are things LRCC and PhotoshopCC will do that the non-CC versions will not do. Guess it is all a matter of choice and money although I believe the subscription price works out to about the same or less than updating was before the subscription method started. if they raise the CC costs I'll have to decide what to do then.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

It truly IS great software, but it is also complex. One does not learn its finer points in a month of daily use. The same is true of Photoshop. High end pro tools take education, training, and years of practice to master. Heck, I've used Photoshop since 1990, and Lightroom since 2005. I'm STILL learning something new, every time I use them!

anotherview Loc: California

Ditto:

rthompson10

Still trying to figure out layers in Photoshop- its a foreign concept to me- I must have a mental block :). Need someone to hold me hand and pat me on the head if I figure it out LOL

RT

anotherview Loc: California

The struggle is worth it, please believe me, to learn Photoshop layers. With layers, you will gain more control over the processing of your photographs.

I suggest you learn just one use of layers to begin. Branch out as you become comfortable with this initial use.

You could also attend a workshop or two to become familiar with the basics of Photoshop.

Good luck.

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

I was up-and-running with PSE version 7 in about 3 hours after I installed it. Now working with version 14, I still love working with it. I've installed some add-ons, so I can do much more with it.
I've often been asked why I don't get the "real" Photoshop or LR - that's easy to answer: PSE and I like each other and I can do everything and more, that I want to do with it.

My favourite passtime with PSE: Restoring old photos!

BIG ROB Loc: Princeton, NJ 08540

What is the primary alternative software for people who don't want to use LR? LR is THE prime software that everyone uses...what is in second place...(other than Photoshop).

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

I've never looked for an alternative, but quickly Googling brought up this:
http://havecamerawilltravel.com/photographer/lightroom-alternatives

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/51472832

http://thenextweb.com/apps/2015/07/18/10-alternatives-to-photoshop-offer-powerful-editing-and-photo-management-controls/#gref

RRS Loc: Not sure

I'll have to agree with you. I've been learning LR now for about a month and the jury is still out. I have been a PS user for years and love it. I also have books and a very good CD on LR. I never had this much (fun/frustration) with PS or any other software! How I stored my files never gave me a problem with finding anything. I never flagged any files and it seem too time consuming to have to write something above each file or even as to what the shoot was. I keep my files on an external drive and my catalog on the C drive. I still take some files to Topaz and DXO, not as much to PS any more but it sure has changed my work flow. I am thinking about uninstalling it.