[pschlute]

With LR Classic and the cloud based LR, the Develop module has never distinguished between raw files and picture files (JPEG TIFF etc). You edit both in the same way. The Camera Raw engine is working away in the background, but you notice no difference between editing both types of file.

Photoshop has always made a distinction and still does. Camera Raw is a plugin for Photoshop. Open a raw file in PS and a new window opens which is the Camera Raw interface. You must use the controls in that to process a raw file, not the standard PS editing tools.

What has changed in the last 12 months or so is that the Camera Raw interface in PS has changed dramatically. It now resembles the LR tools almost entirely.

The other thing that changed is the ability to open a picture file in PS eg. JPEG in Camera RAW and edit using those tools instead of PS tools.

What works best will depend on the users own workflow and how confident they are with each product. I learned editing in PS Elements and so am used to working with layers and masks, and find the LR "brush" system a little complicated. So most of my editing is in PS, although for RAW conversion itself I still favour Silkypix DSPro.

Pictures below of the LR Develop module and the PS Camera Raw interface. For those who have not used PS for a while note the big change in the look and how it resembles LR controls.

Attached Images

   

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Last edited by pschlute; 05-09-2021 at 10:59 PM.

[5ks]

Paintshop Pro is actually pretty good, and considerably better than Photoshop Elements.- - - -
Its one major weak point is very poor raw processing capabilities, but if you've another raw processor, free or paid like RawTherapee or DxO Photolab, then Paintshop Pro could be very much a substitute for Photoshop.

I used Paintshop Pro a lot until Adobe introduced their Photography plan. I still use it occasionally, as it comes with both 32 and 64 bit versions together, and the 32 bit version works with my older scanner software for scanning slides and negatives, but Photoshop doesn't.

Yes, the RAW processing with Paint Shop Pro sucks. I'm not sure about the latest versions though, because I haven't tried it for a long time. That was the main reason for me, originally, to buy (a stand-alone version of) Lightroom, which I like very much. I shoot mainly RAW, and most (> 90 %) of my photos are transformed to JPG with only Lightroom. But when I need something more (manipulating, retouching etc.) I use Paint Shop Pro. It's by far good enough for my purposes, and relatively inexpensive.


I appreciate Photoshop as I've seen so many outstanding photos produced with it. But I still don't like the idea of falling in the subscription only deal. I find it a trap.

[Mooncatt]

Looks like this has not been discussed in a few years.

I need to invest in a program. Can I just buy one of these? They seem to be the most popular. Lightroom seems like it's more popular, just looking at YT videos.

Does either have an advantage with a Pentax user?

Any thoughts, suggestions, etc??

If you have a specific need that only one of those programs provide, then it may be worth investing. If you are just getting into editing, I would suggest looking into the many free alternatives first. I personally use RAW Therapee (for raw developing similar to LR) and GIMP (for touchups similar to PS).

[madbrain]

Maybe there's something in between? Maybe some folk actually like using LR & PS? Maybe they like, for less than a bought coffee a week, the chance to use the market leading product to develop their photos? I do. How long does the enjoyment of a Starbucks last?

Agree. I think Lightroom Classic is a good program. Far easier to use than the free alternatives. It has an excellent print module, also.
I don't use Photoshop at all. Too complicated for me. I still haven't explored all the possibilities of Lightroom.
That said, I don't drink coffee and have never paid for it.

---------- Post added 05-12-21 at 04:32 PM ----------

I don’t know, do you? Affinity works for those of us not bent over the Adobe tunnel. I’ve bought and used 3 versions of Photoshop, and I don’t like Starbucks.
So Affinity Photo works great.


Hang up and DRIVE!

Affinity photo doesn't provide an alternative to Lightroom, though. It's only an alternative to Photoshop.

---------- Post added 05-12-21 at 04:36 PM ----------

Paintshop Pro is actually pretty good, and considerably better than Photoshop Elements. Photoshop Elements only supports 8 bits per colour channel which can result in nasty banding with some editing. Paintshop Pro, like Photoshop, supports 16 bits per channel. It also supports Photoshop plugins, and for anyone who's a bit of a geek, scripting, so you can create automation. Image cataloguing isn't too bad either.
Its one major weak point is very poor raw processing capabilities, but if you've another raw processor, free or paid like RawTherapee or DxO Photolab, then Paintshop Pro could be very much a substitute for Photoshop.

I used Paintshop Pro a lot until Adobe introduced their Photography plan. I still use it occasionally, as it comes with both 32 and 64 bit versions together, and the 32 bit version works with my older scanner software for scanning slides and negatives, but Photoshop doesn't.

I also have Paintshop Pro too (2018 version). I use it rarely. It is a lot simpler than Photoshop.
But it is not an alternative to Lightroom. The only thing Corel has is After Shot Pro for catalogging and RAW development. I used it for years. It is very fast. But it has a lot of bugs that were never fixed. Corel also provided very few new camera/lens profiles for After Shot over the years. After Shot is basically useless for printing, too.

That's why I moved to Lightroom. I really hate the subscription model, but the updates are worthwhile (new cameras, lens profiles).

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Last edited by madbrain; 05-12-2021 at 04:39 PM.