Thinking up purchasing a new computer but I need a bit of advice.
I don't wan't to purchase CS4 (price is just crazy). Will lightroom 2 do basic editing (raw files). After I have saved that file to a PS extension can I open it is CS2 (I currently use this)?
I recently purchased a D300 and the rumor is CS2 can't open the RAW D300 file which is why I would need CS4, but purchased Lightroom 2 saves me nearly $400.
So to summerize:
I have a D300, want to adjust RAW files in Lightroom 2 then convert to a PSD extension and open in CS2, doable?
Daniel, you can download the free DNG converter from Adobe and convert your raw files to DNG. Then you can open them in CS2 and CS3.
Since you already have CS2 (presumably a legal copy) you can just purchase the upgrade to CS4 which is much less expensive than the full license.
And yes, Lightroomhas a lot of the global editing capabilities, but if you want to do local edits you still need Photoshop.
Guy
Posted by David Chauvin on December 28, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Daniel,,,,,,Lightroom is $300 for a new license from Adobe. The PS CS2 to CS4 upgrade is $200. In my opinion, the upgrade to CS4 will give you much more bang for the buck for processing. Camera Raw has some really nice new features including some local adjustment capability. The Lightroom advantage is strictly in the file management area.
Guy's not completely correct about the capabilities of Lightroom. With the introduction of 2.0, Lightroom has some local adjustment capabilities. There's an adjustment brush which can be used to "paint in" changes in exposure, contrast, color, clarity, sharpness, brightness, or any combination of those parameters. There's also a gradient tool (think grad ND, for instance).
But, as David C. wrote earlier, an upgrade to PS CS4 is less expensive than buying Lightroom outright. And, with ACR 5.0 (which is part of PS CS4), you get the same adjustment tools that are in Lightroom. (Adobe works to ensure ACR and Lightroom have similar tools, or at least understand each other, in order to ease working in both Lightroom and Photoshop, should the occasion arise.) Considering your situation, I'd say the only reason to buy Lightroom instead of upgrading to PS CS4 is to get Lightroom's added cataloging capabilities and ability to track changes in files.
Posted by Robert Fisher on December 29, 2008 at 8:22 AM
Dave, while LR 2.x does have some local adjustment capabilities, if you really want to do local adjustments, do them well and have the greatest amount of control, you do need to go to PS. The local adjustments in LR are pretty wonky.
Posted by John Mumaw on December 29, 2008 at 9:55 AM
Another vote in upgrading to CS4 to get the most bang for your buck.
If you want to spend $0, then upgrading your RAW files to DNG files as mentioned earlier is the way to go.
Discussion
5 repliesI don't wan't to purchase CS4 (price is just crazy). Will lightroom 2 do basic editing (raw files). After I have saved that file to a PS extension can I open it is CS2 (I currently use this)?
I recently purchased a D300 and the rumor is CS2 can't open the RAW D300 file which is why I would need CS4, but purchased Lightroom 2 saves me nearly $400.
So to summerize:
I have a D300, want to adjust RAW files in Lightroom 2 then convert to a PSD extension and open in CS2, doable?
Thank you or the help
Since you already have CS2 (presumably a legal copy) you can just purchase the upgrade to CS4 which is much less expensive than the full license.
And yes, Lightroomhas a lot of the global editing capabilities, but if you want to do local edits you still need Photoshop.
Guy
But, as David C. wrote earlier, an upgrade to PS CS4 is less expensive than buying Lightroom outright. And, with ACR 5.0 (which is part of PS CS4), you get the same adjustment tools that are in Lightroom. (Adobe works to ensure ACR and Lightroom have similar tools, or at least understand each other, in order to ease working in both Lightroom and Photoshop, should the occasion arise.) Considering your situation, I'd say the only reason to buy Lightroom instead of upgrading to PS CS4 is to get Lightroom's added cataloging capabilities and ability to track changes in files.
If you want to spend $0, then upgrading your RAW files to DNG files as mentioned earlier is the way to go.