Been doing some research, and not really finding a comparison. My question is, if you could only get one or the other, which one is more versatile...does Elements do things Lightroom can't or vice versa? Just wondering if someone has a comparison.
Thanks
Posted by Paul DeCesare on August 25, 2009 at 3:51 PM
Cynthia, I just came across this articletoday, very interesting timing! I have Photoshop CS4 and wondered what LightRoom would gain me. Turns out LR is an excellent compliment to either PS or PSE, but not really a replacement. But read for yourself, this article is well done.
Posted by John Mumaw on August 25, 2009 at 6:57 PM
If you're working with RAW images, then I would choose Lightroom as the RAW editor is much more robust than what Elements offers. If you aren't working with RAW images, then Elements is the right app, IMO.
I'd probably choose lightroom no matter what you are shooting. I'm not sure, but I doubt Elements has the Digital Asset Management features of Lightroom. If you're shooting a lot of images, or just want to have them organized and searchable Lightroom is the way to go.
You can't use layers in Lightroom, but you can do targeted adjustments (exposure, brightness, saturation, etc) to various parts of an image; stack these up and you get some of the flexibility of PS or Elements. They are non-destructive, much like the dedicated image programs.
There is some ability to do mid-tone contrast adjustments (using clarity) - not sure if you can use Tony's masks in Elements, if that is important to you Lightroom will let you down.
Capture sharpening in Lightroom uses algorithms similar to the pixel genius plug-in for photoshop as is quite robust but the output sharpening is somewhat limited (or so I've heard). If you soft proof your images you can't do that in Lightroom (I'm not sure if elements will do this for you).
I do 95% of my work in Lightroom. I round trip to Photoshop to soft proof when printing at home or through Mpix and then to output sharpen. Ra
Posted by Kent Staubus on August 25, 2009 at 9:41 PM
I've used PSE 7 and have been using a trial LR. I think PSE is a lot more versatile. If you shoot Nikon, download the free Nikon View for NEF-->Tiff conversions.
+1 for Lightroom. I shoot raw and do all my post processing in Lightroom.
Posted by Bill Brennan on August 26, 2009 at 12:56 AM
Cynthia, as mentioned, each has some power that the other doesn't. If its an either or purchase decision, go with LR. Take the time to learn to use all of its power. Then download a trial version of PSE to see if it can give you additional power to accomplish your objectives. Have fun.
Thanks for the input...read the article, and it seems to be comparing an old version of Lightroom, because I think currently you can adjust individual parts of photo. Since I'm a novice at this, I suppose if I got PSE7 over what I use now Canon DPP I wouldn't be disappointed...anyone ever compare these two?
Posted by David Bostedo on August 26, 2009 at 11:35 AM
...I doubt Elements has the Digital Asset Management features of Lightroom.
That's true - Lightroom is a very robust DAM application. But before I got CS4, I found the DAM features of Elements to actually be very good. In fact, I really wish I still had the Elements organizer over Bridge. (Now that I'm using ACR a lot, I use Bridge, since Elements is primarily a JPG app. At least Version 4 was.)
Ok, since we are at this topic. I've been using the CS2 version, but I had problems with my computer and after formatting it, I couldn't get ACR to work at all. Because of that, I've been temporarily using DPP, which I don't really like that much. I've been thinking about upgrading to CS4, inspite of the cost. Should I get the Lightroom 2 with it, or should I continue with bridge and ACR? Anything else you'd suggest?
Thanks
Posted by David Bostedo on August 28, 2009 at 5:17 PM
Well Lightroom and CS4 ACR are essentially identical in terms of functionality Beatriz. There are some differences in the layout, but they're pretty similar. So the difference is whether you'd be happier with CS4/Bridge, or with CS2/Lightroom. I don't really know how to answer that for you.
Posted by John Mumaw on August 28, 2009 at 9:43 PM
I've been using the CS2 version, but I had problems with my computer and after formatting it, I couldn't get ACR to work at all.
Save your money and try reinstalling ACR 3.7 from the Adobe Download page. Be sure to follow the directions carefully!
Having said that, ACR and Bridge are vastly improved in CS4.
I've always maintained that if you own Photoshop and have mastered the Bridge, then you simply don't need Lightroom, which just replicates Adobe Camera Raw and Bridge for the most part. PS has so much more to offer digital darkroom users than does Lightroom.
Discussion
12 repliesThanks
You can't use layers in Lightroom, but you can do targeted adjustments (exposure, brightness, saturation, etc) to various parts of an image; stack these up and you get some of the flexibility of PS or Elements. They are non-destructive, much like the dedicated image programs.
There is some ability to do mid-tone contrast adjustments (using clarity) - not sure if you can use Tony's masks in Elements, if that is important to you Lightroom will let you down.
Capture sharpening in Lightroom uses algorithms similar to the pixel genius plug-in for photoshop as is quite robust but the output sharpening is somewhat limited (or so I've heard). If you soft proof your images you can't do that in Lightroom (I'm not sure if elements will do this for you).
I do 95% of my work in Lightroom. I round trip to Photoshop to soft proof when printing at home or through Mpix and then to output sharpen. Ra
Kent in SD
Bill Brennan
That's true - Lightroom is a very robust DAM application. But before I got CS4, I found the DAM features of Elements to actually be very good. In fact, I really wish I still had the Elements organizer over Bridge. (Now that I'm using ACR a lot, I use Bridge, since Elements is primarily a JPG app. At least Version 4 was.)
Thanks
Save your money and try reinstalling ACR 3.7 from the Adobe Download page. Be sure to follow the directions carefully!
Having said that, ACR and Bridge are vastly improved in CS4.
I've always maintained that if you own Photoshop and have mastered the Bridge, then you simply don't need Lightroom, which just replicates Adobe Camera Raw and Bridge for the most part. PS has so much more to offer digital darkroom users than does Lightroom.