Which photo editor is best for a new guy: I want to poke around RAW shooting but my Photoshop Elements does not seem up to the task. I see a lot of chatter about Lightroom, but hate to...

CurleyB Loc: MAITLAND FL

I want to poke around RAW shooting but my Photoshop Elements does not seem up to the task. I see a lot of chatter about Lightroom, but hate to commit to the price unless I know I will get my money's worth. A couple questions about Lightroom. How bad is the learning curve for an average computer user? Are there simpler/cheaper alternatives out there that I am not seeing; or should I just pull up my big boy pants and wade in? Camera is a D750, computer is a PC and should be able to handle the workload.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Did a RAW editor come with your camera?

BebuLamar

I think they have a free period. It's used to be 30 days but I think the trial period is shorter now. Any way download and try it. If you like it you can decide if it's worth your money.

brent46 Loc: Grand Island, NY

You can get free downloads of View NX2 and Capture NX D from Nikon. They are both excellent raw editors and can convert edited images to JPG. The learning curve on either program is not to bad.

bleirer

I moved from elements to lightroom/Photoshop. It is well worth the $10 A month. That said Elements does a good 80% or more of what Photoshop can so. Elements kind of combines the most useful parts of both Lightroom and Photoshop into one interface. Both elements and Lightroom and also Photoshop use the same Adobe camera raw program, they just package the interface a little different. The develop tab in Lightroom behaves the same as the ACR opening page when you open a raw file in elements. In fact if you use the Adobe camera raw filter in photoshop, it looks exactly the same as the one in elements.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The thing about the Adobe subscription is you get a "complete" solution on day 1 with the first monthly (or annual) payment. It will take 2- to 6-years before the cumulative monthly cost of the software begins to approach, in total, what you'd need to spend for separate products that provide the same total capability. Too bad you cannot recover / reuse some of the money spent on PSE toward the subscription.

Where you can continue to leverage PSE was mentioned above. Use the free-to-you Nikon software for your initial RAW conversion, creating 8-bit TIFFs that are finished in PSE. Depending on the PSE version, use also the PSE library tools to manage (find / search / keyword) your images for quick access.

Consider too that you've invested in a premier Nikon DSLR, and likely lenses, to maximize your image creation capability. Shouldn't you have software tools that are equal in capability?

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

bleirer wrote:

...if you use the Adobe camera raw filter in photoshop, it looks exactly the same as the one in elements.

I always thought the version of ACR in PS had more features than the version in PSE:
https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/multi/camera-raw-differences-photoshop-photoshop.html

Is this that the same "camera raw filter" you're referencing?

To the OP: what have you been trying to attempt in Elements that isn't working out for you?

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Photoshop Elements 2018 or 2019 should provide all the tools you will need to get a great start on processing Raw images. UHH has a number of highly competent members who have been using it for years. What do you feel is “not up to the task” about it?

CurleyB Loc: MAITLAND FL

CG Cannon's last paragraph said it all. Thanks. Other comments suggested I can probably deal with the learning curve. I'm going to download Lightroom tomorrow. Thanks to all

bleirer

Linda From Maine wrote:

I always thought the version of ACR in PS had more features than the version in PSE:
https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/multi/camera-raw-differences-photoshop-photoshop.html

Is this that the same "camera raw filter" you're referencing?

To the OP: what have you been trying to attempt in Elements that isn't working out for you?

I stand corrected, thank you. Given that knowledge, I'd go with Photoshop. But Linda, don't you use Elements for raw?

P.S. the ACR filter I'm talking about is in photoshop under the filter menu. It looks the same as the one you get when you first open a raw/dng file in photoshop. If you convert a layer to a smart object you can go back and change the settings later if needed.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

bleirer wrote:

I stand corrected, thank you. Given that knowledge, I'd go with Photoshop. But Linda, don't you use Elements for raw?

Yes, I do. A raw file opens automatically in PSE's version of ACR. There are just a few sliders to adjust if you wish, then you open the file into the main editing area. The "expert" module supports working with layers and layer masks.

Looks like the OP has already been swayed by Paul, though

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Linda From Maine wrote:

Yes, I do. A raw file opens automatically in PSE's version of ACR. There are just a few sliders to adjust if you wish, then you open the file into the main editing area. The "expert" module supports working with layers and layer masks.

Looks like the OP has already been swayed by Paul, though

I was thinking it's odd that it turns out that I'm the one that's drank the Adobe kool-aid ... well, maybe after it's been doctored a bit with some Smirnoff ....

Hey Hey Hey

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

CHG_CANON wrote:

I was thinking it's odd that it turns out that I'm the one that's drank the Adobe kool-aid ... well, maybe after it's been doctored a bit with some Smirnoff ....Hey Hey Hey

I'll take my editor with sangria, please 😇 Actually, I was thinking I probably don't have a single photo edited exclusively in PSE. I use Nik Collection a lot. But I'm still curious why a "new guy" wasn't happy with Elements. If one already owns it, seems like a great way to practice basic editing skills.

dwermske

Listen to all the BS from everyone and then download each one and try it for a few days there are plenty of them to try. You have to decide which one meets your specific needs not what someone else thinks you need. Do you want edit only or do you want something that can edit as well as manage your library. If you look at Adobe, they can't even do both with only one program ie. (Lightroom to manage your files and do some editing plus PhotoShop to do the heavy lifting (editing only). Capture One does both very well, Affinity is an excellent editor but does not manage your files, Luminar also does both very well, On1 Photo Raw 2019 also does both very well. There are many more. The point is, that it's up to you to determine what fits your specific needs best, not any of us. We are always somewhat biased toward the program we have already spent money on and time learning. By the way, learning curve is another factor you might want to consider when making your decision. Most all of the good products have trial periods. Experiment then decide.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Linda From Maine wrote:

I'll take my editor with sangria, please 😇 Actually, I was thinking I probably don't have a single photo edited exclusively in PSE. I use Nik Collection a lot. But I'm still curious why a "new guy" wasn't happy with Elements. If one already owns it, seems like a great way to practice basic editing skills.

I use my copy of PSE10 most every day, but just for 'graphic' type stuff like text and arrows / boxes, etc. Beyond analyzing EXIF data, I have a side hobby in meme creation. For low ISO work, say 400 or less, I use only LR6. I have been using Topaz Adjust for landscapes and images that benefit from a single image HDR approach. As an existing LR owner prior to the subscription model and having not changed cameras to need a new RAW editor from Adobe, I've been able to stand pat with my existing tools. My day for a new camera will come, but I'm not rushing.