Why Do I Need Lightroom 3?

[Beanymonster]

Hi all,
I currently use Photoshop CS5 for editing my photos but I am reading a lot about photographers using Lightroom 3 as well as Photoshop.

My questions would be - why would someone need both? what does one do that the other can't? Money is not a problem but also wouldn't want to waste it on something not really needed so any comments are welcome

thank you

[Woody]

Originally Posted by Beanymonster

Hi all,
I currently use Photoshop CS5 for editing my photos but I am reading a lot about photographers using Lightroom 3 as well as Photoshop.

My questions would be - why would someone need both? what does one do that the other can't? Money is not a problem but also wouldn't want to waste it on something not really needed so any comments are welcome

thank you

Well, Beanymonster,

The two programmes do different jobs.

Lighroon is a workflow mamager and file handling programme, with some editing functions. whereas CS5 is an image manipulation tool, with limited or no file handling capabilities.

I use both but mainly Lightroom to process my raw files and tart them up a bit.

Cheers,

John W

[graciousness]

Originally Posted by Woody

Well, Beanymonster,

The two programmes do different jobs.

Lighroon is a workflow mamager and file handling programme, with some editing functions. whereas CS5 is an image manipulation tool, with limited or no file handling capabilities.

I use both but mainly Lightroom to process my raw files and tart them up a bit.

Cheers,

John W

John, what are you doing hiding here?!? Whereyabeen?!!

Beanymonster, you'll find that most people use 90% Lightroom and 10% Photoshop for post processing. If you're really well versed in Photoshop, however, then I guess there's no point spending another $150 on Lightroom for you.

However, you'll be amazed at how much quicker your workflow is using Lightroom in comparison to Photoshop only. Not that I'm a Lightroom user as I use Aperture, but the idea is still the same.

If you're still in doubt, download the 30-day trial version of Lightroom and see for yourself.

[zona5101]

I agree with Graciousness. I learned on PS and thought why LR? It isn't as powerful and all that. Ha - I do the vast majority of post work in LR. I only go into PS when I need layers or other post processing manipulation (as opposed to correction). Maybe that's a way to look at it...for corrections (90% of edits) I use LR, for manipulations (10%) I use PS CS5.
Then there's the cataloging, key-wording, filtering and all that stuff that is easier in LR than bridge or PS...

[Beanymonster]

Many thanks to all three of you. I have been reading around what the software can do but your explanations have made the most sense and have cleared things up a lot. I will do as suggested and install the 30 day trial.

Thanks again