The core essence of comparing Lightroom (raw converter developer) vs. Photoshop (raw converter plus pixel manipulator) is like comparing apples to oranges.
I like Lightroom for the ease of use, the presence of print, book, and map modules. Photoshop, however, is indispensable for my photo restoration work.
I have a Macbook Air mid-1012 model with 4gb ram. LR made my computer whirr up excessively upon import. Capture One is much more graceful in how it behaves with computer resources. Roundtripping with PS is easy with Capture One.
For what it's worth, I use PS only along with Bridge. I make my own folders and sub-folders and store my photos there as I download them. Each folder has the year and location in the title. I can tag each photo with keywords and find everything very easily in Bridge, so I have never felt the need to use LR. Nothing wrong, however, with those who do - there are many ways to create a library.
Wow! Thank you for a wonderful article.
Both are very useful if not essential tools. I use PS and rarely use LR only because I have used PS it for so many years and I am used to it and know how to use it. LR doesn't have all the functionality as PS such as layers, layer masks and smart objects (the last time I looked). For most people learning either is somewhat challenging but once learned they are both great tools.
DirtFarmer
Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA
edhayes wrote:
Both are very useful if not essential tools. I use PS and rarely use LR only because I have used PS it for so many years and I am used to it and know how to use it. LR doesn't have all the functionality as PS such as layers, layer masks and smart objects (the last time I looked). For most people learning either is somewhat challenging but once learned they are both great tools.
That is correct. LR is a basic editor. It's strength is the organizational tools and the ability to handshake with PS.
Amphoto, thank you for the very informative article.
Amfoto1, Great post on LR and PS. Wonderful examples. Thanks
cr1218 wrote:
I have a Macbook Air mid-1012 model with 4gb ram. LR made my computer whirr up excessively upon import. Capture One is much more graceful in how it behaves with computer resources. Roundtripping with PS is easy with Capture One.
Having a computer 1006 years old is quite challenging, which is why I take this matter seriously.
I've come back and read some of the replies here a couple times and am pleased to see that most have found my original post useful and informative. It was my intention to try to put to rest some dispute about which program is "better". My answer is "neither.. they serve different purposes"... But that's not necessarily the right answer for everyone.
I agree... a Lightroom AND Photoshop workflow isn't the answer for everyone. Some folks manage fine just using one or the other... and that's great. Still others will find that Elements can do all they need (and is a lot easier!).
And I didn't try to include the multitude of alternatives such as On1, Affinity, DXO (which I'm not terribly familiar with)... Or the camera makers' own editing & organizing software (of which I've mostly just used Canon DPP)... Or the very extensive subject of plug-ins.
There are lots of possibilities and all the different software have their strengths and uses. There's something for everyone! I probably should try more of them myself.... but I'm in my 60's and probably won't have time!
Cheers!
It all comes down to, what do you want, a Pixel editor plus Raw converter developer or just a Raw converter developer.
DirtFarmer
Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA
Fotoartist wrote:
It all comes down to, what do you want, a Pixel editor plus Raw converter developer or just a Raw converter developer.
Too simplified.
They do different things and the raw converter/developer also has Digital Asset Management.
I need both.
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