CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

This is a great point and the industry standard is a 30-day trial, free of charge, although you'll probably get an email every day encouraging you to purchase ....

While you evaluate the software, spend some quality time on the vendor's site and / or utube watching all the free content available. I can spend 6- to 30-seconds enduring an advertisement before the <skip> button is enabled to watch useful videos that are otherwise free. Remember who you like and dislike and continue with those who give content that fits your needs.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

There are some very real differences between Lightroom and Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, but the difference is not so much in the editing abilities as it is in the Digital Asset Management abilities. Just about any program, although there are exceptions of course, on the market will allow you to edit your RAW image in a way that will enhance the image. How well you know your software and are able to use it is the difference in the end in many cases. Having said that, I do use Lightroom and Photoshop, among other programs, to achieve the results I want. If you do go with LR, I recommend that you read the Help Manual found online in reference to the Library Module before you begin working with the program. Then, open a catalog and experiment prior to actually importing images into it, other than a few test images to see how the application works. You can delete this catalog without impacting your original images at all.

srt101fan

Linda from Maine uses Elements. You might just want to look at some of her posted images. Just sayin'.....

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Appreciate the shout-out, but unless someone is into artistic interpretation, it could take awhile to find a pic to relate to

(Download)

bleirer

I don't get why you call it BS?

BebuLamar

You like it sweet!

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I had the same thoughts. But Utube video's and Lightroom tutorials are very good. The lightroom tutorials take you one step at a time.
With anything new there will be a learning curve. How much you want to learn is up to you. Yes, it seems overwhelming at first, but take it one step at a time and you will learn quite a bit.

duane klipping Loc: Bristow iowa

I used Corel Paintshop Pro. I also have Aftershots. On1 and a few others and have spent no where close to what Adobe would be for 5-6 years. I steer clear of anything that requires a subscription and an internet connection to use. Paintshop Pro always runs specials and may time you can get it for under 50 and only upgrade when you want. A nice way to save on the wallet and have money to spend on other things gear related.

jlg1000 Loc: Uruguay / South America

You can also try Darktable. It is opensource and free... By learning it, you'll get your feet wet in the editing maters and you can later better decide which path to follow.

Currently, I use Capture Pro 12 and ON1 Photo Raw 2019.2. Both are very capable, include all Lightroom features plus many Photoshop features on a single package and need a single parent payment. Both have a 30 day free test period.

joncogar Loc: WV

Download the free program GIMP and install. Then download and install the RAW plugin. Restart your computer and open the program. Now you can open RAW photos and edit. It's a good program to learn the editing basics.
https://www.gimp.org/

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Curley, listen to Brent. Free ain't bad, both are fully compatible with your camera and both are very easy (IMHO) to learn. That should really be your first move.

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

Well, if you are wanting more from a product like PSE, you have half the learning curve under your belt. The good news is that the Lightroom/Photoshop bundle, which is still at $10/mo, is a tiny commitment - in the big picture.

Regarding Lightroom's learning curve - it will either completely baffle you or you'll get it immediately. The editing part is easy - well organized and a pretty set workflow with just a small set of options. Working on raw files doesn't get any easier that Lightroom. But most people get stuck trying to use it as a file browser, which it is not. LR's organization and image management is catalog-based. That makes it possible to search for and find images with blazing speed, and move things around easily. What you have to remember is that LR has extensive file management tools, but sometimes you may be tempted to do some simple management outside of LR - which is not a problem as long as you update files and folders in the catalog. The biggest complaint comes from trying to skip that step, either deliberately or by not knowing any better.

I do not suggest stand alone versions because they are out of date and will not be upgraded - ever. The subscription model, which brings both programs to you for $120/yr is far more economical than the old price of $1000 for PS and $300 for LR for their so called perpetual licenses.

I use both, along with a bunch of other programs, on a PC with 32 gb ram and 6 TB of storage, with a dual display setup. I built it in 2011, and updated it a couple of times, to add ram, a better graphics card and more internal hard drives storage.

While you can get free or cheap stuff - I would suggest you build on your knowledge base and stick with Adobe. It's still the photo editing that others strive to emulate.

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

Fairly recently I made the switch to Adobe and among the Adobe tools I do like Lightroom the most. I think of it more as a file management tool than as an editor, though I do use it for preliminary editing.

I tend to do binge photography, for example when taking a trip and returning with several hundred images to sort through, organize and select a few to actually show people. For the final editing phase I tend to use Topaz studio though for a few special situations I may turn to Photoshop, but for all of the preliminary organizing I use Lightroom.

Lightroom's editing functions are really pretty simple to learn and use but its capabilities in this area are pretty primitive. Its file management features are pretty sophisticated and that is what takes some effort to master.

DaveJ Loc: NE Missouri

Hi CurleyB,
I was where you are about 8 months ago. I've been using Photoshop Elements 2018 .It handles my RAW files just fine. As many, I struggled some at first.So much to learn. From a post about 3 months ago by someone on UHH, I "discovered" in my Adobe Camera Raw in Elements the magic AUTO button. It has a system where it moves many of the sliders to correct your photo and I have found it is a Good starting point for me to begin my post processing. It is not the end all for PP, but helps you start. Perhaps since you own Elements , try it before starting to learn something new? What version of Elements do you have. I read thru the link by Linda above(she gives great advise along with Paul (CHG_CANON) and some of the items it says are missing in Elements RAW are within the editor of Elements, such as color sampler tool and spot removal.
HTH,
Dave

khorinek

When I got Lightroom, I watched a lot of YouTube videos. It helped me a lot.