ollie Loc: Ogdensburg, NY

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

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

While there is a new(er) "cloud-centric" version of LightRoom available, the other Adobe photographic software packages still operate just like they always have. The big difference is that they are licensed as a subscription package instead of via a one-time licensing fee. They are frequently updated to fix bugs and to add new features.

The cost of the basic Photographer's Package is $10 per month (you have to look for it), although there are more expensive options that provide more online storage. This is what I use plus Photomatix for JPEG HDRs. I've also downloaded some of the free packages, but haven't found much reason to use them and will probably gradually uninstall most of them. It is possible to license LightRoom alone, but the cost is the same as the full package.

Like you, I am generally a post-processing minimalist most of the time, but it is nice to have the other products available when they are needed. Just make sure that your new machine has enough horsepower and memory to run the new versions. With increased capability has come increased hunger for computer resources.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

As noted, the software installs locally to your computer, it operates there against images stored locally. The 'cloud' aspect occurs in two ways:

1) The regular need to connect to Adobe's servers to confirm your subscription status and to download and install any software updates.
2) To allow for cloud-based storage of images, particularly useful in sharing images between your mobile devices and your 'home' workstation.

Your subscription now enables the workstation-based versions of LR and PS and slightly different versions of these software that operate on your mobile devices.

Regarding PS vs LR, if your processing is minimal, this is the generation of the idea for Lightroom, where the majority of images and photographers don't need the power and complexity of PS for each and every image. In today's LR, the editing tools are industrial-strength and industry-standard, fully capable of finishing an image with no additional PS polish.

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

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.

uhaas2009

For minimal use may be Nikon studio is enough....,if you used PS 6 than LR may have a learning curve.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

You may well want Lightroom, but not instead of Photoshop; in addition to Photoshop.

And although you will need internet connectivity occasionally for updates, it is not needed for daily use. Photoshop doesn't require it, and the local version of LR (Lightroom Classic, now just called LRC) doesn't require it.

Lightroom is a light editor, although they have been adding features previously only found in Photoshop. Where LR excels is in organization of your photos. It's a different approach that uses a database rather than merely a pile of folders, but it adds advanced search capability and the ability to produce collections which will allow a single image to appear in different collections without having to duplicate it (and if you re-edit it, the edits apply in all the locations where it will be found). Some people have trouble getting used to the database approach, but it's worth the effort.

jdub82 Loc: Northern California

In my experience Lightroom is not difficult to learn, and it is very user friendly. If you have used any photo editing software previously, adapting to using Lightroom should come pretty easily.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

Why is it always LR vs Photoshop. If you buy the subscription you get both plus fixes and new function. Since you can't buy PS alone get the package and have the option of either. In all honesty I like having all my files and edited outputs in a single place like LR with a an outstanding catalog function. If you don't want to use LR jump into PS. Seems to me having both is the best of both worlds.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I'm still using LR 6 and PS6, and I've installed them on many computers over the years, both Mac and Windows. There is no cloud involved with mine.

Below are lots of links about processing software, but some of these are probably old. I like ON1. It has gotten good reviews.

Affinity
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/software-review-affinity-photo-1-5-2
http://www.shutterbug.com/content/affinity-photo-software-review-has-photoshop-met-its-match#d1c5lY5EQ03QoLjh.97
http://www.diyphotography.net/affinity-photo-can-give-adobe-run-money/
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/affinity-photo-1.5,review-4257.html

Others
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-lightroom-alternatives
http://digital-photography-school.com/a-beginners-guide-to-choosing-the-right-post-production-software/
https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/photo-editing
https://www.reviews.com/photo-editing-software/
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-photo-editing-software,review-1972.html
http://www.redmondpie.com/best-adobe-photoshop-alternatives-for-windows-and-mac-list Affinity
http://www.shutterbug.com/content/affinity-photo-software-review-has-photoshop-met-its-match#d1c5lY5EQ03QoLjh.97
http://www.diyphotography.net/affinity-photo-can-give-adobe-run-money/
https://photographypro.com/photo-editing/

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Buy your lenses and cameras, subscribe to your software.

Expattyke

I use Lightroom almost exclusively. Here’s my workflow:

1. Take pics with Olympus mirror less, Canon SX620 P&S.
2. Use the respective apps on my iPhone to load images to Photos app.
3. Launch Lightroom on the phone, which imports images from camera roll.
4. LR syncs images to cloud.
5. If I’m doing a simple edit to post on social media, or send in a messaging app, use LR on the iPhone, and share from there.
6. Launch LR Classic on my laptop, which syncs with the cloud.
7. Perform more complex editing, establish collections (albums), and share from the laptop.
8. LR Classic uploads edited images to the cloud so they are accessible from anywhere.

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

Based on your statement about the editing you do, will the Nikon app that came with your camera do the job?

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

If the functionality of LR 6 meets all your needs then fine. I guess you either don't know about, or don't use any of the newer function in both LR and PS. The new masking function alone in LR is a major upgrade all for pennies. :) :)

No cloud involved with mine other than it's account verification once a month or so. At least with LRc, I hope you do think and of the files are in the cloud.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

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.

ollie Loc: Ogdensburg, NY

thanks to all for the valuable input