Lightroom AND PScs4x? Worth it?

[metroeloise]

I am only just starting the climb up PScs4x. Been working with Lr for a few months. My question is a continuation of the one posed earlier on workflow integration. They say so but I haven't found a simple "Click to send it back to Lr" button.

I have been chekingout PScs4x tutorials. One was on Camera Raw. As it was moving along a very brief introduction to the basic features of CR I couldn't help but notice the similarity to Lr.

The question: Is it worth it to have Lr if you have PScs4x since with Bridge Camera and Raw you seem to be able to do much of what Lr does.?

[tlfaust]

Hi
I have LR2 and PS CS3 (no plans to upgrade to CS4).

Originally Posted by metroeloise

I am only just starting the climb up PScs4x. Been working with Lr for a few months. My question is a continuation of the one posed earlier on workflow integration. They say so but I haven't found a simple "Click to send it back to Lr" button.

From lightroom, I have <Ctrl>-E setup to export to CS3. When I'm done editing, I <save> in CS3 and am returned with the edited tiff in LR2. Pretty cool.

Originally Posted by metroeloise

The question: Is it worth it to have Lr if you have PScs4x since with Bridge Camera and Raw you seem to be able to do much of what Lr does.?

CS3/4 will do more than LR2. It's just that LR has a workflow that feels more natural to me - more of a photographer's bent rather than that of a graphic artist's - less of a learning curve, I suppose. LR2 is catching up with programs that can attach to (be called from) LR, the graduated filter and the Adjustment brush. Printing is said to be superior in LR2, as well.

Just my 2¢

[metroeloise]

Originally Posted by tlfaust

Hi
I have LR2 and PS CS3 (no plans to upgrade to CS4).



From lightroom, I have <Ctrl>-E setup to export to CS3. When I'm done editing, I <save> in CS3 and am returned with the edited tiff in LR2. Pretty cool.




CS3/4 will do more than LR2. It's just that LR has a workflow that feels more natural to me - more of a photographer's bent rather than that of a graphic artist's - less of a learning curve, I suppose. LR2 is catching up with programs that can attach to (be called from) LR, the graduated filter and the Adjustment brush. Printing is said to be superior in LR2, as well.

Just my 2¢

Thanks for the insight.

Since this is a new purchase I will be going with ps4. I sort of get what you are saying about the different aims of Lr or PS4. Will get into the Camera Raw and Bridge section more just to get to know it. I will be eventually using more graphic programs as I will eventually head into more paint-arty treatments to photo bases. (too! Mostly still a Photog )

I'd like clarification on the Lr-Ps and back integration. If I understand...

Choose edit in Lr2 brings you to Ps4. Do the thing. Hit save and it does and brings you back to Lr?

Just heading out now will try. If that is all, And that would be all it dose need to do from my perspective,.... .... Didn't seem to do that. when you hit save will a dialog jump up? Options to send to Lr? I'm confused.

Thanks.

[tlfaust]

hmmm...
When I Ctrl-E, LR creates a copy and sends it to CS3. When I'm done editing w/ CS3, I Ctrl-S and close the image. The -edit.tiff file shows up in LR.

Did you close out the file from CS4?

[metroeloise]

Originally Posted by tlfaust

hmmm...
When I Ctrl-E, LR creates a copy and sends it to CS3. When I'm done editing w/ CS3, I Ctrl-S and close the image. The -edit.tiff file shows up in LR.

Did you close out the file from CS4?

Well I don't remember just now what I tried. A few thing that seems sensible. I ended up saving and reopening in Lr with an import. Bit awkward. Just heading out and found adeal on a k100d, 240 usd! Nice. want to get something for an IR conversion. Not the greatest time for the purchase... but the deal is sweet.

Will check out the Lr-Ps and back again when I get back again!

thanks!

[tlfaust]

Originally Posted by metroeloise

Well I don't remember just now what I tried. A few thing that seems sensible. I ended up saving and reopening in Lr with an import. Bit awkward.

Yuk - shouldn't have to do that. My edited file shows up in the filmstrip, next to the highlighted photo.

Originally Posted by metroeloise

Just heading out and found adeal on a k100d, 240 usd! Nice. want to get something for an IR conversion. Not the greatest time for the purchase... but the deal is sweet.

OOOhh - fun! Go get 'em!

[mel]

I guess I work differently. I have Lightroom and CS4. If I take something into PhotoShop, I usually don't have a need to fiddle with it in LR again. I use LR for the prelims, basic photo editing, then if I need more I pop it in to PS and carry on from there. My LR copy is still there in LR but I treat my PS edit as and entirely different animal. I haven't had any reason to edit an image in LR after I've edited it in PS, unless I'm making a different version of the same image. In those cases I work with the LR version.

[tlfaust]

If you use a final sharpening and framing add-in in PS, for example, then the item would need to get re-imported into LR...

Sorry for the confusion

[metroeloise]

Originally Posted by mel

I guess I work differently. I have Lightroom and CS4. If I take something into PhotoShop, I usually don't have a need to fiddle with it in LR again. I use LR for the prelims, basic photo editing, then if I need more I pop it in to PS and carry on from there. My LR copy is still there in LR but I treat my PS edit as and entirely different animal. I haven't had any reason to edit an image in LR after I've edited it in PS, unless I'm making a different version of the same image. In those cases I work with the LR version.

I can see saving the post PS into a directory and all but... If I am thinking correctly then if I return to Lr with the PS edited version then that version is included in the Lr data base and is also available for more versioning. This becomes a big deal as the handling of noise in one Huge reason to go to Ps. Eventually want to make composites and can see having Lr as a coordinator vis data base and tagging system being a good thing.

Then again the other part of the question is since there is Camera Raw and Bridge does it make redundant the use Lr at all. Just make it my business to learn how to do it all within Ps?

Originally Posted by tlfaust

If you use a final sharpening and framing add-in in PS, for example, then the item would need to get re-imported into LR...

Sorry for the confusion

Yes this is what I am talking about. I do much that is low key and it will be better processed though Ps.

Any more ideas, Suggestions, Anecdotes?

Thank you.

[creampuff]

metroeloise, I get the feeling you're still unsure of the integration of Lighroom and Photoshop CS4. One key is to open the file as a Smart Object in Photoshop or open it as a Virtual copy.

You can view this Adobe video to get a better understanding of how to work files between Lightroom and Photoshop.
http://tv.adobe.com/#vi+f1584v1019

Hope this helps you get a better grasp of things.

[mtngal]

Thanks very much for that link - I hadn't watched that video and it clarified a number of things for me. Last month I switched from PC to Mac, LR1 to LR2 and CS2 to CS4. I've been feeling a bit lost with all those new toys, and feel like I've just scratched the surface (though I've learned quite a bit already).

[metroeloise]

Originally Posted by creampuff

metroeloise, I get the feeling you're still unsure of the integration of Lighroom and Photoshop CS4. One key is to open the file as a Smart Object in Photoshop or open it as a Virtual copy.

You can view this Adobe video to get a better understanding of how to work files between Lightroom and Photoshop.
http://tv.adobe.com/#vi+f1584v1019

Hope this helps you get a better grasp of things.

Oh yeah! This helps. Will work with the Ps lessons here and in other places.

Here is the next big question: Lr Plus Ps or does camera raw and bridge make Lr redundant? Thinking of getting Lr anyways and use it until I am ready to move only to Ps. Then the data base... is it compatible? Does it even ever make sense to move to only Ps? Then what is the role of Camera Raw and Bridge?

[mel]

Camera Raw seems to be just a different way of doing what Lightroom does. I, however, prefer the way LR does it so I use LR for that stuff, then PS for the other, more advanced and complicated stuff.

[metroeloise]

Originally Posted by mel

Camera Raw seems to be just a different way of doing what Lightroom does. I, however, prefer the way LR does it so I use LR for that stuff, then PS for the other, more advanced and complicated stuff.

Thanks for sharing, Mel. My thought was since the extra cost can go elsewhere... and camera raw and bridge will do Lr... Yet The way the Lr works is smooth. Now that I found the send it back to Lr button I'm happy with the Lr-Ps interface.

It just may be that I'll re-think this later on. But then again, unless the data bases is the same or convertible, that is a good reason to stay with Lr.

I might ask this in a different thread later on but here is goes now: I have directories spread out over a few hard drives. they are a collection from various cameras and eras of my life. I want to increase the internal hard drives up to 1.5 Tbs. The two current 500 Mbs will be backup. Any advice on how best to consolidate files from all over in a sensible fashion?

[joelovotti]

I'd just like to say I've been using LR for a while and have very few reasons to leave the program for additional editing. LR's interface is just so nice I'd say stay there unless you have to do something you can't and then treat the resulting photo as a separate item.

I really can't improve on what MEL has said in this thread. I just wanted to add a vote for LR and your main photo editing engine.

be well,
joe