PS Elements 12 or Lightroom 5, or ?

audiobomber · 02-01-2014, 06:33 PM

Originally posted by snofox

PSE12 in conjunction with Lightroom 5 is a dynamite combination, and unless you are really into graphics design, PSE 12, because it adds layer capability to LR5, may well be all that most us need. I would recommend it strongly to the OP.

Other than cataloguing, what does LR5 add to PS12?

millsware · 02-01-2014, 09:06 PM

I will throw in another vote for GIMP. It's not quite as user-friendly as photoshop, but it works great for simple stuff (Levels, curves, desaturate, etc.) and it is free, so if you don't like it, you didn't lose anything.

One downside is that it can't directly handle raw files, so you will need to process first if you shoot raw. I typically open in Silkypix to make sure white balance is correct and to pick the best color profile, then develop to jpg and finish in GIMP.

I tried Lightroom, but didn't like how different everything was. I also tried PS Elements, and would probably go with that if I was going to pay.

dansamy · 02-01-2014, 09:23 PM

I am currently using a trial of LR5 and trying to like it, but I just really don't like doing very much to pictures in any of the programs I've tried.

**Miguel** · 02-01-2014, 10:40 PM

Originally posted by audiobomber

Other than cataloguing, what does LR5 add to PS12?

LR enforces a managed workflow. It's a more efficient and whole solution. You can templatize (presets) specific activities. Technically LR has a little more functionality than the version of ACR that Elements offers. I find LR printing to be easier and better too. There are a few pixel-level fixes and magic that Photoshop does that LR does not do, but I only use Photoshop under 10% of the time these days. The asset management piece is very strong, but it depends how many images you need to manage and what you do with them.

M

**jatrax** · 02-01-2014, 11:27 PM

Key to Lightroom is templates and presets. It quickly becomes tiresome and tedious to process hundreds of files individually, but setup correctly it is just a few clicks. But you have to do the work to get things set up first.

If you only work on a few images and don`t care about keywording and retrieving images then Lightroom is probably overkill. But if you process groups of shots from events, trips, model shoots, then it is the way to go.

snofox · 02-11-2014, 05:24 PM

Originally posted by audiobomber

Other than cataloguing, what does LR5 add to PS12?

For me, nothing much. It's what PS12 adds to Lightroom: layers. If it weren't PSE12, I would have to use onOne Perfect Layers I suppose. But I gotta have layers. Once I got onto them, I can't live without them.

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02-01-2014, 06:33 PM	#31
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by snofox PSE12 in conjunction with Lightroom 5 is a dynamite combination, and unless you are really into graphics design, PSE 12, because it adds layer capability to LR5, may well be all that most us need. I would recommend it strongly to the OP. Other than cataloguing, what does LR5 add to PS12?

02-01-2014, 09:06 PM	#32
millsware Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 70	I will throw in another vote for GIMP. It's not quite as user-friendly as photoshop, but it works great for simple stuff (Levels, curves, desaturate, etc.) and it is free, so if you don't like it, you didn't lose anything. One downside is that it can't directly handle raw files, so you will need to process first if you shoot raw. I typically open in Silkypix to make sure white balance is correct and to pick the best color profile, then develop to jpg and finish in GIMP. I tried Lightroom, but didn't like how different everything was. I also tried PS Elements, and would probably go with that if I was going to pay.

02-01-2014, 09:23 PM	#33
dansamy Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,450	I am currently using a trial of LR5 and trying to like it, but I just really don't like doing very much to pictures in any of the programs I've tried.

02-01-2014, 10:40 PM	#34
Miguel Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Near Seattle Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,743	Originally posted by audiobomber Other than cataloguing, what does LR5 add to PS12? LR enforces a managed workflow. It's a more efficient and whole solution. You can templatize (presets) specific activities. Technically LR has a little more functionality than the version of ACR that Elements offers. I find LR printing to be easier and better too. There are a few pixel-level fixes and magic that Photoshop does that LR does not do, but I only use Photoshop under 10% of the time these days. The asset management piece is very strong, but it depends how many images you need to manage and what you do with them. M

02-01-2014, 11:27 PM	#35
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Key to Lightroom is templates and presets. It quickly becomes tiresome and tedious to process hundreds of files individually, but setup correctly it is just a few clicks. But you have to do the work to get things set up first. If you only work on a few images and don`t care about keywording and retrieving images then Lightroom is probably overkill. But if you process groups of shots from events, trips, model shoots, then it is the way to go.

02-11-2014, 05:24 PM	#36
snofox Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fredericton New Brunswick Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 334	Originally posted by audiobomber Other than cataloguing, what does LR5 add to PS12? For me, nothing much. It's what PS12 adds to Lightroom: layers. If it weren't PSE12, I would have to use onOne Perfect Layers I suppose. But I gotta have layers. Once I got onto them, I can't live without them.