Years ago I bought Elements 6 & Lightroom 6 at the same time because I was uneducated about what they were capable of. Unfortunately, it's years later and I'm still befuddled. I've been using Elements, but I don't know how to use layers and such-- just basic editing but I'm learning.
I'm getting a new computer in the next few days and I'm wondering which to install (I'll upgrade to the newer version as soon as I can afford it). I want to learn more about editing. I'm getting better at selecting fewer, better quality photos rather than editing tons of the same image. I'll soon be using RAW format now that I'll have the hard drive space. I still have a long way to go with improving my photos and editing, but I want to be using the right tools.
Which do you all use? Why? What are the strengths and weaknesses as you see them?
I am sure you will get lots of feedback on your question and I will be reading the responses w interest... I am also very much a novice when it comes to editing... I have PSE... And I'm learning as i go... partly w the help of a book recommended by someone here, and partly w the help of others here :). I looked up Lightroom recently and it seems that it can work alongside PSE, that they aren't necessarily different tools to do the same work... But like I said, I will be interested to see what others have to say...
@herussell Install both. You shouldn't choose one between them, they serve different purposes. Elements is a pixel level editor, lightroom is a workflow tool that also does editing. Check out the search function, this question pops up here every week, so there are several threads for you to look back on.
@northy Thanks, Northy. I guess I just don't understand the difference in functions.
@bradleynovak Thank you for your input. I did do a search first, but looking at the tab now, I see I typed Photoshop wrong-- my bad :) If you don't mind, what do you mean by "workflow tool"?
@herussell I'm a Lightroom fan (not sure there's a v6 yet??), as it's very intuitive and repays limited attention with fantastic results. However, one thing I would say is that "the right tools" are the ones on your camera, and the ones in your head. All the photoshop in the world will not make a bad image good.
Photoshop Elements 10 will probably do everything you want. Try a free download before going for Lightroom. Lightroom may just have the edge on raw if that is very important to you. You can also try Picasa from Google very very good for free.
@herussell It's an organizational tool just as much as it is an editor. You can make changes to multiple photos at once and create collections. It's made to speed up the editing process.
@peadar agree to disagree, I've made several crappy images quite lovely =)
You could try downloading free trials of each and find out which one fits you best right now. I use LR 4 and I would LOVE PSE and find that I need it professionally, but for fun, I don't NEED it, it would just be fun. However, as a hobbyest and photography lover LR4 does everything I could NEED. (The sync button is so AWESOME!!!)
Software is very personal I am finding out, so free trials are a great way to play to find your perfect fit. Good luck!
@herussell Hi Hope - "Workflow" refers to the process of how you download the image from your camera, sort it, and store it. Lightroom (and Apple Aperture) are two apps that help you do this, as @bradleynovak said.
PS and PSE are true editors, meaning you can manipulate the "photo" at a pixel by pixel level, if you so choose. "Layers" allows you to do edits without altering the original data, by adding the changes on top of them. This way you can change things and not lose any of your original stuff.
From this point of view, both Lightroom and Aperture will do the same thing if you are working from a RAW file. It just more transparent - the programs record a series of directions that tells itself to make those changes and show them, each time you view the image. You can alter, revert and delete any or all of the actions you take and the original data remains. Does this help?
I am using Elements 9 and use Adobe Camera Raw (it is part of the more recent editions of PSE). I do most of the editing in ACR and then use PSE to tweek little things. I think you will be fine with PSE 10. Also, Adobe current upgrades allow you to upgrade from a few editions back, but this has a time limit, then you will only be able to upgrade the previous edition.
If you want to start usings layers and more advanced toils in PSE I suggest going to your local library and seeing if they have the Photoshop Elements for Dummies book. It gives good explanations of how to use the different tools (and the author doesn't assume that you know everything already). I found it very helpful when I first started editing my pics.
@peadar Thank you. You're right, I meant Elements 6. I agree with you that editing isn't a substitute for good photography. I've seen too many examples of bad editing making a bad photo worse. That said, I would like to improve with both my photography and my editing :)
@godders Thank you. It's good to know Lightroom will help with RAW. I'm hoping to try raw soon.
@juliehill Thank you, Julie. That seems to be the consensus-- try them both. I think I will :)
@bradleynovak Thank you. I wish I'd understood that years ago. I appreciate you taking the time to help me understand this.
@cfitzgerald You're right, software is so personal. I wish Adobe explained their software better so I could see which would work better for me. I do think I'll install both.
@emsabh That is a great explanation. Thank you. What you said helped me to better understand what @bradleynovak said. I think I will download both and play with them, but I feel like I understand more of what Lightroom is for after these explanations :)
@chapjohn Thank you. I forgot that the Adobe software might not open the raw without additional software. You've given me a direction to go when I get that far.
@mstipe :) Thank you. I think that's what I've decided to do after reading everyone's feedback
@dancingkatz I tried that several years ago, but my library didn't have anything helpful. They tend to be slow about things like that, so I'll check again. If the library doesn't have it, I feel more comfortable buying it if it helped you. I hate to buy tech books without seeing them, but it's better hearing that someone else found it helpful. "Toils" sometimes is correct when learning new software :)
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@bradleynovak Thank you for your input. I did do a search first, but looking at the tab now, I see I typed Photoshop wrong-- my bad :) If you don't mind, what do you mean by "workflow tool"?
@peadar agree to disagree, I've made several crappy images quite lovely =)
Software is very personal I am finding out, so free trials are a great way to play to find your perfect fit. Good luck!
PS and PSE are true editors, meaning you can manipulate the "photo" at a pixel by pixel level, if you so choose. "Layers" allows you to do edits without altering the original data, by adding the changes on top of them. This way you can change things and not lose any of your original stuff.
From this point of view, both Lightroom and Aperture will do the same thing if you are working from a RAW file. It just more transparent - the programs record a series of directions that tells itself to make those changes and show them, each time you view the image. You can alter, revert and delete any or all of the actions you take and the original data remains. Does this help?
@godders Thank you. It's good to know Lightroom will help with RAW. I'm hoping to try raw soon.
@juliehill Thank you, Julie. That seems to be the consensus-- try them both. I think I will :)
@bradleynovak Thank you. I wish I'd understood that years ago. I appreciate you taking the time to help me understand this.
@cfitzgerald You're right, software is so personal. I wish Adobe explained their software better so I could see which would work better for me. I do think I'll install both.
@emsabh That is a great explanation. Thank you. What you said helped me to better understand what @bradleynovak said. I think I will download both and play with them, but I feel like I understand more of what Lightroom is for after these explanations :)
@chapjohn Thank you. I forgot that the Adobe software might not open the raw without additional software. You've given me a direction to go when I get that far.
@mstipe :) Thank you. I think that's what I've decided to do after reading everyone's feedback
@dancingkatz I tried that several years ago, but my library didn't have anything helpful. They tend to be slow about things like that, so I'll check again. If the library doesn't have it, I feel more comfortable buying it if it helped you. I hate to buy tech books without seeing them, but it's better hearing that someone else found it helpful. "Toils" sometimes is correct when learning new software :)