Lightroom or PS elements 7

[jbjwallace]

What is the main diff. in Lightroom and PS elements 7? Is one better than the other? I am using a program from Serrif ( I like ) however I downloaded Lightroom and I think it might soot me better. Thanks......John

[navcom]

Elements is photo editing software and is a simplified version of the full version of Photoshop. It's functionally very similar but lacks some functionality you would get with the full version. For the amateur photography, Elements works pretty well as you might not need everything in the full version.

Adobe Lightroom is not technically photo-editing software like Elements. It's a non-destructive database program designed to allow the photographer to keep track of all his/her photographs. You can import photos into the software and use keywords and categories to keep track of them. As a bonus, you can also do some photo editing as well making it a very powerful program, but that is not it's primary purpose.

I can honestly say that Lightroom is my favorite software package in the world. I don't know what I'd do without it.

[jbjwallace]

Thanks..John

[Snowdust]

I disagree that LR is primarily a sorting and file program and find it quite powerful for editing within it's capability.

I would describe PSE as a great tool to edit through cloneing, cuttings from pictures as well as image adjustments.

Think of LR as what you could do in a darkroom with a negative.

Both have their place and work well together. You can demo each for free for thirty days.

[plangereis]

I have begun my photographic journey using Lightroom 2, and I agree that it is much more than just a file sorting and storage program. You may not be able to do as much with a photo as you would in Elements or Photoshop[ (full version), but you can make adjustments to colour. luminance, sharpness, etc. On top of global adjustments to images, you can also make local adjustments as well, using the gradient tool, and, my favorite, the brush tool. I have done some great mask work using the brush tool. It can be a little fidgety at times, depending on what you are trying to mask, but with practice I have had a lot of fun with it. I guess the bottom line is what you want to do with your photos. If you want to do major manipulations(layers etc) etc, then Elements may be the way to go, but if you want to do only image adjustments, then Lightroom 2 would work well. All I know is that I have not had to use photoshop at all, and have come up with some great photos using Llightroom 2. Good luck!

[fletch]

I think I'm gonna go for LR2 and PSE (I have version 6). I shoot RAW and LR just looks amazing and everybody who uses it doesn't know what they would do without it. I'll keep PSE6 for all my pixel editing needs, which hopefully will be almost zero once I have LR.

[navcom]

Originally Posted by fletch

I think I'm gonna go for LR2 and PSE (I have version 6). I shoot RAW and LR just looks amazing and everybody who uses it doesn't know what they would do without it. I'll keep PSE6 for all my pixel editing needs, which hopefully will be almost zero once I have LR.

You will love LR! I still use Photoshop CS4 for any serious editing (such as extensive layering or masking) but you can do 90% of it in Lightroom.

I guess my original post about the difference between the two was a little off. You guys are right...it is more of a synthesis of a database and Photoshop all in one....kind of like a dark room for digital. I originally purchased it to keep track of my photos and discovered how powerful and intuitive the editing part was after the fact, thus my take.