dkguill Loc: Elkhart, IN

Yesterday I reluctantly subscribed to Photoshop CC 2015.5 after avoiding it since its inception in favor of just keeping my Photoshop CS6 version. I knew that subscribing would make both Photoshop CC and Lightroom CC available to me, but I didn't know that they would FORCE me to download Lightroom CC before I could install Photoshop CC. After both programs were installed on my computer I began to wonder WHY they forced Lightroom. My previous experience with earlier Lightroom versions left me completely cold. Now I just need to know - Do I need Lightroom in order to use Photoshop CC/Adobe Camera RAW? It occurred to me that Adobe may have somehow setup Photoshop CC so that it used Camera RAW from Lightroom. Otherwise I see no reason for them to have made me install Lightroom in the first place. I regularly monitor this forum for accurate and useful information. So far it has confirmed my suspicion that LR is another word for "trouble".

Thank you in advance for any clarification you can provide for safely erasing my newly acquired "trouble" .

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

The simple answer is PS CC 2015.5 or CS6 will open your RAW files without going through LR. The ACR program is built in (I just opened a Canon .CR2 file directly with no problem - it opens into a dialog box that gives you very much of the LR capability for light and color balance, but doesn't have all LR's bells and whistles - when you get done with the sliders, click on Open Image at the bottom). When you've completed your editing, be sure to save the image as a .jpg, .png, .psd, or .tiff file (the later 3 have non-destructive features that will retain most of the RAW data).

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

No, you don't have to download it or install it. But you might want to seek someone's advice on how to make it work for you. It is MUCH faster and easier to use than Bridge and ACR. I typically demystify brand new users regarding how to best work with Lightroom in about an hour. Once you've gotten past the initial phase you'll be wondering why you waited. Besides, you already have it if you want it.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

"FORCED" you to download Lightroom before you could download Photoshop???

You are free to download and install all or part of the subscription package, however the cost is the same....I myself signed up for Lightroom to replace Apple's Aperture... getting Bridge and Photoshop was icing on the cake ;)

Now I would not be without Lightroom & Photoshop for their obvious complimentary strengths.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

LR can be intimidating - if you want to learn about its capabilities, I can send you a few links that are videos and text introductions and training - let me know if you want them...

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Unless msomeone presses a gun against your head you do not have to do anything you do not want to.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

You can still use bridge to utilize PS CC 2015.5 BU if you learn the capabilities of LR you will start there

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

I do 95% of my PP work in Lightroom and only switch to PS when there is a specific need. Saying that, yes there is learning curve with Lightroom but the time spent will be well worth it as it will ultimately speed up your workflow, at least it has for me.

wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I didn't know that they would force you to either. But if you like, you can just uninstall LR. But you are still paying the $9.99 for the subscription no matter what so why not just keep it on your computer and use it now and then. Unless you are nearly out of hard drive space, I can't see why you wouldn't just keep it.

TheDman Loc: USA

I ditched it because every time I plugged my CF card into my computer it would automatically try to launch LR, and when I would exit it would annoyingly prompt me to back up my catalog which didn't even exist. Easier to just uninstall it.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

That was completely under your control to determine what application is launched when you connect a camera or insert a card - it always has been and probably always will...not trying to be a smart ass, just saying.... instead of blaming an application, fault the real problem.

m_aronson Loc: San Jose, CA

If you are going to get serious about photography, you really should obtain and learn how to use software that does cataloging and post-processing. Lightroom and Photoshop are good choices. When I import photos from an SD card I use Lightroom to assign a folder number, brief event description, date and a sequence number to each image. Each file name now is unique. Now I can find a photo in 20 seconds on my hard drive or in Lightroom if I need to do more work on it versus hopelessly looking for the weird file numbers assigned by camera. Lightroom can do a great deal of the post-processing needed by RAW files. 95% of my post-processing is done in Lightroom. I dislike the user interface of Adobe Camera RAW in Photoshop versus the logical work flow of the Develop module in Lightroom.

Lightroom can do a lot. Taking an adult education class will help boot strap you, and YouTube videos can help a lot. Once learned, you will find it to be an essential part of your workflow. Lightroom does not handle "layers", an incredible capability of Photoshop. Its one of the 10% of functions in Photoshop that are useful to hobbyist photographers. I only use Photoshop for compositing photos (e.g., for custom birthday cards) or to remove objects (e.g., a garbage can that ended up in an otherwise great photo, power lines that ruin a landscape photo). This is one very sophisticated, complex program intended for professional graphic designers. However, a class or one of the "classroom in a book" texts will teach you how to use the essential functions. Once learned, you can do some really creative and fun things with your photos that can not be done in camera.

TheDman Loc: USA

It sure was, and I made my choice. I had two choices at that point - either change the association and leave Lr sitting there cluttering my hard drive, or just uninstall it and fix both issues at once. This the uninstall.

PhotosBySteve

If it were not for Lightroom I would have given up on digital photography a long long time ago. I have in excess of 80,000 images cataloged in LR. I can find any one or any group of images in a matter of seconds, thanks to LR.