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Lightroom or Elements for Newbie
Nov 20, 2012 07:28:41 #
I read two threads yesterday that discussed RAW-finishing software - Lightroom and Elements were both mentioned as places to start.
I bought Lightroom with my camera. Now I'm thinking I might do better starting with a simpler program. My assumption is that Lightroom is intense and complex (through great if you know what you're doing) and that Elements could give a me a more concise overview of the process and basic techniques without threatening to drown me in detail. Would anyone say that is a fair assessment? Thanks (again) ! P.S. if this is convered in FAQs, apologies. I didn't seem them.
I bought Lightroom with my camera. Now I'm thinking I might do better starting with a simpler program. My assumption is that Lightroom is intense and complex (through great if you know what you're doing) and that Elements could give a me a more concise overview of the process and basic techniques without threatening to drown me in detail. Would anyone say that is a fair assessment? Thanks (again) ! P.S. if this is convered in FAQs, apologies. I didn't seem them.
Nov 20, 2012 08:03:24 #
IMHO Lightroom should be the first part of your workflow. Use it to process and catalog your RAW images. Yes a lot to learn but worth it in the long term. You will love Lightroom.
Nov 20, 2012 08:28:46 #
I would start with LR. Look at it as a program that allows you to "adjust" your photos, ie. exposure, saturation, sharpness, noise reduction, cropping etc. Elements can do all those things, but the user interface is a bit more complex. Elements can do "editing" like compositing, removing distracting artifacts, moving people closer together, working with layers etc.
In the end, they compliment one another. In my opinion, LR is easier to learn and provides a better photo organizing program. Add Elements when you find yourself far enough along to start to need/want the more complex editing capabilities. You then start your work in LR and Bring the image to Elements from within LR, do the more advanced work then simply bring it back to LR. It works seamlessly.
In the end, they compliment one another. In my opinion, LR is easier to learn and provides a better photo organizing program. Add Elements when you find yourself far enough along to start to need/want the more complex editing capabilities. You then start your work in LR and Bring the image to Elements from within LR, do the more advanced work then simply bring it back to LR. It works seamlessly.
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Nov 20, 2012 11:25:26 #
Nov 20, 2012 13:24:01 #
Okay, great. Thanks for your responses. Since I have Lightroom, I'll take the plunge.
Nov 21, 2012 10:14:26 #
aerides wrote:
Okay, great. Thanks for your responses. Since I have Lightroom, I'll take the plunge.
In terms of developing / processing an image I thing LR is simpler and more straight forward. If I had to use just PS or just LR I would use LR.
Nov 21, 2012 12:05:17 #
aerides wrote:
I read two threads yesterday that discussed RAW-fi... (show quote)
Lightroom is complex compared with some programs but does have a lot to offer. Look on YouTube and you will find more than enough videos to help you at all stages with this program.
A good start is to search for 'OK, I've purchased Lightroom. Now what do I do?' in Youtube where there are 22 videos giving 4.5 hours of video (I burnt them to DVD to watch on TV). The quality is excellent. To show the complexity - and versatility - you get to video 19 before you even start editing.
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Nov 21, 2012 15:13:38 #
jdventer wrote:
In terms of developing / processing an image I thing LR is simpler and more straight forward. If I had to use just PS or just LR I would use LR.
aerides wrote:
Okay, great. Thanks for your responses. Since I have Lightroom, I'll take the plunge.
In terms of developing / processing an image I thing LR is simpler and more straight forward. If I had to use just PS or just LR I would use LR.
Me, too.
Nov 21, 2012 16:01:16 #
Nov 21, 2012 16:10:22 #
[quote=Crwiwy]
I just purchased LR3. Would you burn me a copy of your DVD ?? I would be glad to pay you for your time materials and postage !!!
aerides wrote:
IA good start is to search for 'OK, I've purchased Lightroom. Now what do I do?' in Youtube where there are 22 videos giving 4.5 hours of video (I burnt them to DVD to watch on TV). The quality is excellent. To show the complexity - and versatility - you get to video 19 before you even start editing.
I just purchased LR3. Would you burn me a copy of your DVD ?? I would be glad to pay you for your time materials and postage !!!
Nov 21, 2012 19:30:04 #
aerides wrote:
I read two threads yesterday that discussed RAW-fi... (show quote)
In my opinion Lightroom is MUCH simpler than Elements.
Don't jump out of the frying pan into the fire.
But then I went the other way and spent a year learning Elements before getting Lightroom. I recently got Elements 11 and find it much improved on the user interface. But it still is MUCH more complex than Lightroom. They play together nicely when you are ready.
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Nov 22, 2012 04:06:59 #
[quote=GC likes NIKON]
Much easier - and cheaper to watch online or download the videos.
The first video 'OK, I've purchased Lightroom. Now what do I do? # 1 ' is here;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYDFYQQU2PQ
There are links to the others off that one.
You can get VDownloader free from the internet and this is a great program for downloading YouTube videos and it integrates with some browsers.
To burn off disks I use 'Convert X to DVD' which works very well but there are other programs available.
Crwiwy wrote:
I just purchased LR3. Would you burn me a copy of your DVD ?? I would be glad to pay you for your time materials and postage !!!
aerides wrote:
IA good start is to search for 'OK, I've purchased Lightroom. Now what do I do?' in Youtube where there are 22 videos giving 4.5 hours of video (I burnt them to DVD to watch on TV). The quality is excellent. To show the complexity - and versatility - you get to video 19 before you even start editing.
I just purchased LR3. Would you burn me a copy of your DVD ?? I would be glad to pay you for your time materials and postage !!!
Much easier - and cheaper to watch online or download the videos.
The first video 'OK, I've purchased Lightroom. Now what do I do? # 1 ' is here;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYDFYQQU2PQ
There are links to the others off that one.
You can get VDownloader free from the internet and this is a great program for downloading YouTube videos and it integrates with some browsers.
To burn off disks I use 'Convert X to DVD' which works very well but there are other programs available.
Nov 22, 2012 07:42:47 #
Lighroom is like anything else, keep using it and one day you will come to understand it. The only other program I use is Adobe PS6 for content aware.
Pappy
Pappy
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