wnagel Loc: Fair Oaks, CA

I use a Nikon 750 and just purchased a Canon Pixma 100, great rebate. I want to get maximum results but need help. What are the advantages of Lightroom over PSE?

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

This has been covered.

From an editing point of view - Lightroom is a raw converter used for global editing. Photoshop and PSE are bit map editors that cannot directly edit raw files but will edit the converted images (jpeg, tiff, psd, png). Both PS and PSE have Adobe Camera Raw, but the implementation in PSE is pretty thin.

But to summarize - if you want maximum results you'll need a parametric raw editor/converter AND a bit map editor. That would be either Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop, or Lightroom and Photoshop. ACR is part of both PSE and Photoshop, but while the editing is done in both using a 16 bit workflow, the results are typically better with Photoshop.

There are many who get decent results with PSE, but if you push your limits, you will find some hard limits with PSE that you won't find with Photoshop.

The develop module in Lightroom is a streamlined version of Adobe Camera Raw. LR also has a variety of capabilities with publishing, adding GPS data to images, It will convert raw files to the most common formats and you can softproof and print them directly from LR. And it has extensive image management tools. You get them both with the subscription for $10/mo. I would not waste a nickel on buying outdated software just so you can say you have "perpetual license" to use soon-to-be-orphaned software. Best to get current and stay current with Photoshop/Lightroom CC.

wnagel Loc: Fair Oaks, CA

Most helpful, thanks. I knew a Hogger would get me on the right track.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Both have their advantages! Lightroom is strong on cataloging images, while PSE is rather week at it, but PSE does allows you to get really creative in your processing (if that's to your liking) LR is rather limited with that! LR also has a very nice raw converter, while PSE does not (it has one, but it is not very useful)!

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Lightroom is the Big League, PSE is Pop Warner.

wnagel Loc: Fair Oaks, CA

Great analogy

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

Photoshop+Lightroom is a 12 string guitar with all twelve strings playing.

PSE is a 12 string guitar, but only 6 are strung and playable.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Right on Gene as usual!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Some links -
https://photographylife.com/lightroom-vs-photoshop-elements/
http://improvephotography.com/29429/photoshop-elements-vs-lightroom-making-right-choice/
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/adobe-photoshop-buying-guide,review-2617.html

wds0410 Loc: Nunya

Here's what I figured out. You need to be Jimmy Page to effectively use PS/LR and I'm no Jimmy Page and on top of that I'm tone death.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

I would not choose one or the other. Lightroom and Photoshop are designed to be used as a workflow system. In such a system, the photos are first loaded into Lightroom for sorting and culling out the picture that will not be used. The remaining photos are then edited in Lightroom. If additional detailed editing of a localized area is required, for example using layers to work on an isolated part of the photograph, the Lightroom edited photo is exported to Photoshop as a PSD file for the finish up work and then saved as both a PSD file, which contains all the Lightroom and Photoshop edits, and files in any other format you need such as jpg.

I would suggest that you subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud. For $9.95 a month. You get both Lightroom and Photoshop along with any updates and new versions as soon as they are released so you always have the latest and greatest. Also, Adobe provides free video tutorials that cover everything from how to start using LR and PS through the most advanced techniques. I would start learning LR first and then PS as your skills progress.