Capture NX vs. Lightroom

[wenrob]

Okay, so you all have convinced me that I need to be shooting RAW. I have had the trial of Lightroom2 for a couple of weeks and like the control I have as well as the ability to use presets. However, my biggest problem is my youngest DD a very fair, fiery redhead. She is very difficult to edit (especially if there are other peeps in the pic) in any program but in Lightroom her hair is turned the weirdest pinkish orange color no matter what I do. I know I can put my camera profile in there (Nikon D40 btw) but have no clue how to do it.
I am getting ready to try out Capture NX and am thinking it may be more compatible to my camera. What are the pluses and minuses of this program? After the academic discount for Lightroom they run about the same price wise. (the don't give one for Capture NX do they?) I'm looking into PSC3 in the distant future (at least 6mos to a year) so wonder if Lightroom would be a mute point?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I want to hear the good, the bad and the ugly about both. Cash is tight so I need to make the right decision.

 

[DueyDooDah]

To add the Nikon profile to LR, go here and download the profiler. Make sure you read how to use it and ensure you are looking at the Lightroom instructions, not the ACR instructions. People get a bit confused by them at times. You also need the latest RAW codec 4.5, which is included in LR 2.

I use these profiles for my Canon. It really makes a difference as a starting point. If you find a setting you prefer, you can make the default for newly imported files. I wish I had known this before I imported all 19,000+ images into LR.

To set the default:

In the Develop module, select a photo
In the Camera Calibration panel, set the image to your preferred profile (I use Camera Standard)
Press the Alt key (the Reset button in the Camera Calibration panel will change to Set Default...
Click on Set Default... and follow the dialog prompts.

 

[dr_zero]

Okay, so you all have convinced me that I need to be shooting RAW. I have had the trial of Lightroom2 for a couple of weeks and like the control I have as well as the ability to use presets. However, my biggest problem is my youngest DD a very fair, fiery redhead. She is very difficult to edit (especially if there are other peeps in the pic) in any program but in Lightroom her hair is turned the weirdest pinkish orange color no matter what I do. I know I can put my camera profile in there (Nikon D40 btw) but have no clue how to do it.
I am getting ready to try out Capture NX and am thinking it may be more compatible to my camera. What are the pluses and minuses of this program? After the academic discount for Lightroom they run about the same price wise. (the don't give one for Capture NX do they?) I'm looking into PSC3 in the distant future (at least 6mos to a year) so wonder if Lightroom would be a mute point?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I want to hear the good, the bad and the ugly about both. Cash is tight so I need to make the right decision.

I just bought PaintShopPro PHOTO X2 (like photoshop) to try out and I have the older version of Capture NX 1.3.
They both have some features I like the, paintshop has effects and frames and adding text etc and does pretty good on photos. Its good for changing colors getting rid of specs and airbrushing stuff out.

Capture NX has been very good and easy to use as far as adjusting the overall picture for color correction and straightening and lighting. I have really enjoyed it.
Its so simple to fix a pic try the auto level on light and it gets pretty close and then you can pick what should be black and it adjust again and then what is white if its there and its usually pretty good!

I have not used Lightroom yet since I have these two but plan on getting the trial to see how it does but Im happy right now.

test image

 

[wenrob]

Duey, thank you! I only have a few days left but I'm going to see if that does the trick.

Dr.Zero, I use Paint Shop Pro X2, is that different then Paint Shop Photo? If not, I can edit RAW in there?

Part of my problem is I got some bad editing advice (from a paid class no less) and now I'm so iffy on editing, a little gun shy as I now have 100's of pics I should go back and re-edit.

 

[wenrob]

Oy, it is the same thing. <smacks forehead smiley> All this time I've had "the power" and didn't even know it. I'm real familiar with it's editing features but for some reason had no idea I could do RAW.

You just saved me 100 bucks, thank you sir!

edit: We posted at the same time. Great pic! No doubt I'll be back w/editing questions, especially, light balance and sharpening.

 

[dr_zero]

Oy, it is the same thing. <smacks forehead smiley> All this time I've had "the power" and didn't even know it. I'm real familiar with it's editing features but for some reason had no idea I could do RAW.

You just saved me 100 bucks, thank you sir!

edit: We posted at the same time. Great pic! No doubt I'll be back w/editing questions, especially, light balance and sharpening.

Rock on!

I just upgraded from PSP 7 to X2 yesterday LOL so Im re learning it all so we can learn together.


Oh the pic! Its not mine I found it online its used to test for color correction