Is Lightroom the best option?

[Ratpack]

I am in need of a good photo editing software and it appears Adobe Lightroom may be the best option. I need it to be somewhat simple to use as I do not wish to sit in front of it for hours trying to figure out what to do. I understand it will work with the Google NIK collection which I just downloaded this week. So I guess I am asking what is the general opinion of Lightroom here on the DIS?

 

[photo_chick]

Best is relative to what you need. I don't classify Lightroom as editing software. I use it for asset management and processing RAW files. All of my real editing (aside from setting RAW processing details) is done in Photoshop. You might check out Photoshop Elements. Adobe has free 30 day trials of all.

 

[havoc315]

I am in need of a good photo editing software and it appears Adobe Lightroom may be the best option. I need it to be somewhat simple to use as I do not wish to sit in front of it for hours trying to figure out what to do. I understand it will work with the Google NIK collection which I just downloaded this week. So I guess I am asking what is the general opinion of Lightroom here on the DIS?

It depends on the editing you want to do. *Technically* Lightroom was originally designed more as a cataloging software, with excellent raw processing. But they keep adding editing features to it. For many people, it can easily fulfill all your editing needs, especially in connection with something like Google Nik. For example, it will do all your basic global adjustments (contrast, saturation, etc), it has red-eye removal, it has cropping, it has "spot" removal (for removing dust spots but can also be used to remove blemishes, etc), it now has panorama stitching and HDR creation. Has B&W conversion. All as non-destructive edits, so you always retain your original unedited image.
Personally, I use lightroom for 95-99% of my editing. I occasionally go into photoshop when I need to do something more advanced, such as removing significant objects, or working with layers.

 

[bob100]

I am in need of a good photo editing software and it appears Adobe Lightroom may be the best option. I need it to be somewhat simple to use as I do not wish to sit in front of it for hours trying to figure out what to do. I understand it will work with the Google NIK collection which I just downloaded this week. So I guess I am asking what is the general opinion of Lightroom here on the DIS?

Adobe Lightroom is probably the best editing option before you get to Photoshop. I use an older version of Photoshop but will eventually upgrade with PS or Lightroom

www.flickr.com/photos/mmirrorless

 

[Geoff_M]

Best is relative to what you need. I don't classify Lightroom as editing software. I use it for asset management and processing RAW files. All of my real editing (aside from setting RAW processing details) is done in Photoshop. You might check out Photoshop Elements. Adobe has free 30 day trials of all.

Lightroom very much a major editing tool. I use nothing but Lightroom to edit my photos, be they RAW or JPEG. From what I have seen, as long as you don't need layers and don't want to make "photo illustrations" out of your images, and such, Lightroom will work beautifully. But, I realize that everyone has their own needs and can develop different workflows that work for them.

 

[photo_chick]

Lightroom very much a major editing tool. I use nothing but Lightroom to edit my photos, be they RAW or JPEG. From what I have seen, as long as you don't need layers and don't want to make "photo illustrations" out of your images, and such, Lightroom will work beautifully. But, I realize that everyone has their own needs and can develop different workflows that work for them.

I think maybe the way I see it comes from a difference in how I see and label my workflow. There's processing, which for me is global adjustments to things for output like exposure, contrast, cropping, etc. Then there's editing which for me is making major changes to an image. I don't use Lightroom for that. I also like to work in layers for major adjustments these days. I tend to use the open as a smart object in PS option from Lightroom as well. Again though, best is relative to what you need. If all you want is to make global adjustments then LR is a great tool for that.

This is why it's great that you can download the free trials of everything. That way you can try it all and find what works for you.

 

[Geoff_M]

I think maybe the way I see it comes from a difference in how I see and label my workflow. There's processing, which for me is global adjustments to things for output like exposure, contrast, cropping, etc. Then there's editing which for me is making major changes to an image. I don't use Lightroom for that. I also like to work in layers for major adjustments these days. I tend to use the open as a smart object in PS option from Lightroom as well. Again though, best is relative to what you need. If all you want is to make global adjustments then LR is a great tool for that.

I agree that it's a matter of perspective. To me, if you want to be a graphic artist that uses photos as a base medium, then I think it's PS all the way. For me, cropping, adjusting exposure, setting white/black levels, changing white balance, recovering shadow detail, sharpening, noise reduction, spot/red-eye touch-up, vibrancy, clarity, saturation, vignette correction, CA removal, etc. are all I need... and LR covers all of that. On top of that, my wife now uses the Book module to make keep-sake books for vacations and our son's sports teams. PS is a great tool, but I encourage you not to undersell LR. Additionally, I love the fact that it's a non-destructive editor in case I want to made multiple crops of an image without have to make physical copies of each image.

To the OP, I encourage you to watch some Lightroom tutorials (B&H has several good ones on YouTube) and see if you think that LR does what you need and makes sense to you. That's what I did after I heard a lot of people in a professional photo community that I belong to talk about switching to it... and I made the jump from PS to LR. Your result may vary, but give it a look.

 

[klmall]

Good question Ratpack!

I think everyone posting above has made valid points concerning what editing is; LR's organization features etc.

As for my use of LR, I go against the crowds so to speak and use LR for processing all my raw photos and most of the editing but not for cataloging. Since I started rather late in the game using LR a few years ago after many years of using Photoshop Elements I still find it easier sometimes to use PSE for fine editing and various filters. As I get more skilled at using Lightroom I do find myself using PSE less and less.

When people ask a question like yours I always suggest thinking about giving LR a trial using the freebie trial period (although I read recently that this freebie time has become very limited). Think about how you will use the software (processing, editing, cataloguing etc.). Do a search for articles about what people find difficult to use about LR and so on.

Here is a link to a fairly comprehensive listing of "Best Sites for Adobe Lightroom Tutorials, Training and Presets" that I refer to with my LR questions.

And be sure to ask any other questions that you think of concerning LR!

 

[Ratpack]

I have downloaded the trial but with only 7 days to try it, it is hard to find the time to do more than scratch the surface. I believe I have narrowed my choices down to either LR or PSE. Just need to decide which one to buy.

 

[havoc315]

I have downloaded the trial but with only 7 days to try it, it is hard to find the time to do more than scratch the surface. I believe I have narrowed my choices down to either LR or PSE. Just need to decide which one to buy.

Or the best option... for $9.99 per month, get Lightroom PLUS full Photoshop (not just the downscaled version), and always get the newest edition of both. To me, this is a great option... If you plan on buying the updates as they come out anyway, this ends up being cheaper, and you get both products.

 

[Ratpack]

Or the best option... for $9.99 per month, get Lightroom PLUS full Photoshop (not just the downscaled version), and always get the newest edition of both. To me, this is a great option... If you plan on buying the updates as they come out anyway, this ends up being cheaper, and you get both products.

That is an option as well, but if I understand correctly, once you stop paying the monthly fee, the software then will not function. I could be terribly wrong, but that is how I read the description when I looked at it.

 

[havoc315]

That is an option as well, but if I understand correctly, once you stop paying the monthly fee, the software then will not function. I could be terribly wrong, but that is how I read the description when I looked at it.

That is correct, you are subscribing to it, on a monthly basis.
So it's $120 per year.
Lightroom 6, standalone, is $140.
Photoshop Elements, which is a scaled down partial version of Photoshop, is $70.
They also are constantly doing minor updates, and full updates every 1-2 years.
Lightroom charges about $80 for an upgrade.

If you just want to buy one piece of software, and use it for 5 years, without ever upgrading it and adding the new features, etc.. Then it can be much cheaper to just purchase.
But getting Lightroom plus FULL Photoshop for $120 per year is a good value. Just a couple years ago, you had to pay hundreds of dollars for each version of photoshop.

 

[photo_chick]

That is an option as well, but if I understand correctly, once you stop paying the monthly fee, the software then will not function. I could be terribly wrong, but that is how I read the description when I looked at it.

First... the trials are 30 days, not 7.

Ok, I've had a CC subscription since they first started back in 2012. I have the education rate which gives me everything... PS, LR, Premiere, AE, Illustrator, and more. And if you use those things it is totally worth it. I love that I'm never out of date and I can use my software on 2 computers. Really more than that if I want to take the time to sign in on a different computer. If you want access to more than just LR or Elements it is the way to go in my opinion. However, if you only want LR and or Elements and are OK with not being current on your software a subscription to CC may not be a good value. The one caveat, Adobe stops supporting the RAW formats for new cameras in old versions. This means that if you have an outdated version of Lightroom and you get a new camera you may not be able to use your RAW files with your old software. In other words they want you to stay current with your software.

As far as ending a subscription... If you have a CC subscription and stop you will still be able to use the software for 30 days.

 

[Ratpack]

Unless it allows me to continue, the trial ends in 4 days. It pops up each time I open LR and I have only had it a couple days.

 

[Ratpack]

Anyone have a way to try photoshop? I am trying to download the trial through the Adobe cloud and it keeps failing. I would like to try it before I decide what I would like to get. Also, if the cloud fails this much on the trial, I am weary of using it long term. Maybe I have something set incorrectly, LR took numerous tries before downloading as well.

 

[photo_chick]

Unless it allows me to continue, the trial ends in 4 days. It pops up each time I open LR and I have only had it a couple days.

That's strange. I just downloaded it a few weeks ago on a new computer at my house and was too lazy to switch my CC account over. It gave me 30 days for both PS and LR. I'm surprised if they changed that recently because the Adobe trials have been 30 days for a very long time. The only way I know of to legitimately download Adobe products for the trial is from Adobe. As far as use, the cloud never gives me any issues. Like I said above, been using it since 2012. But once you download it and install it then it does not use the internet except to ping your registration. It's installed on your machine. So if you have internet problems with the download they should not be a factor when you're using it. There are also provisions for using it offline where it only has to check in once every 30 days.

 

[Ratpack]

Finally got PS to load and it says the same thing, I can use the trial for 7 days. I am using the Cloud to download, maybe there is another way to get the trial and it will last 30 days.

 

[photo_chick]

Finally got PS to load and it says the same thing, I can use the trial for 7 days. I am using the Cloud to download, maybe there is another way to get the trial and it will last 30 days.

I go straight to the PS page and download it. But it's all the same thing now since they have discontinued CS6 for purchase and are moving to an all subscription model. I just googled it and apparently in early May of this year they shortened the trial so it must have been just after the last time I downloaded it. That is so not a good move on Adobe's part. It's been 30 days forever.

 

[Docsknotinn]

Lightroom is probably the single best editing option for basic to moderate processing. I have CS5 extended and I rarely use it. AFAIK you can still buy Lightroom and down load it from disc with out being tied to some monthly fee. (BH Photo) Photo shop is quite complicated so if that's where you want to start and you've never used PS you might consider Photoshop elements. At least this way you are not tied to a subscription and it's still a very powerful processing software.
For me LR is the Bees kness.

 

[opusone]

I use LR for just about everything, including 90-95% of my editing. The other 5-10% of my editing is done in Photoshop.