Elements vs On 1?

April 3rd, 2017
I have just downloaded elements 15 as a trial! I am not sure if I should buy it or if On 1 as a standalone is the better option. Does anyone apart from Joys Focus use them? What would the recommendation be. Would lightroom be an option? I look into all the free ones that were recommended but found the apps on my cell better. Thanks in advance 😉
April 3rd, 2017
Ps, I do not have the capacity for photoshop on my pc.
April 3rd, 2017
I do all my editing in Lightroom. I also use the Google Nik collection, which is free and works as a plug in to my Lightroom. I've just never become comfortable in Elements, though I have an older version for the stray photo manipulation project I might want to try to do. I struggle with using layers and masks there and find it so frustrating. For me editing is much simpler in Lightroom. I also very much like how Lightroom catalogs photos, and how you can edit one out of a batch and then sync the others for a quick edit of multiple photos.

I think it depends on what you want to do in your editing. If you are doing photo manipulations (merging photos, cloning, erasing and such) then Elements with it's layers is what you will want. If you are focused on editing, Lightroom, particularly when combined with the free Nik collection, most likely has all you need and does a super job.
April 3rd, 2017
@aecasey Thanks so much for your input! It's always difficult trying something new 😉
April 3rd, 2017
Have you looked at Affinity? Or is that the same issue...too much for you computer?
April 3rd, 2017
@houser934 That's a new one to me! Will deffo look into it! Thanks for your input 😊
April 3rd, 2017
I just used Picasa and iPhoto when I first started. Then I took a workshop and the instructors recommended Lightroom. It was an easy transition and I just used the basic editing tools in there for at least a year before I got more adventuresome. Now I can use the filters, tone curve, and adjustment brushes quite easily. I've tried to convert my daughter-in-law but she signed up for Adobe's Creative Suite when she first started. She loves using the layers and masks in Photoshop and, even though her library is not as well organized, she just can't get used to Lightroom.

There are a lot of people on 365 that use GIMP. It's free. I don't know much about it, but it's pretty popular. You can also edit for free in Pickmonkey. You just upload your photo here to 365 and then go to the lower right and click "edit with Picmonkey." The expanded Picmonkey editing is free for 365 Ace members when you do it through 365.

If you are interested in photo manipulation, you could also look at Affinity. It's Serif's answer to Adobe's Photoshop Suite. It's $49.99 with no subscription. I downloaded it when it was in Beta and it's very nice. It's layers and masks though, as it does photo manipulation as well as editing, and I just can't seem to learn layers and masks. You might check it out though. I found it more user friendly than Adobe's Elements.
April 3rd, 2017
Thanks so much for your input! Picmonkey is no longer an option as it is not free! I will check the other options. Much appreciate your advice 😊
April 6th, 2017
Hi Diana

If you just want to tweak your photos Lightroom is very popular but you will have to catalogue your images.

If you want do more than tweaking i.e. change the sky, add an element to your image, change the background, On 1 or Element will do it but you will have to use layers and masks. On 1 comes with some training videos, plus there are a lot of videos on YOUTUBE to help you learning.

Topaz is also very good for artistic processing.

Personally I use Photoshop and On 1
April 7th, 2017
@claudiet Thanks a lot for your input Claude! My pc does not have the capacity that photoshop needs! I also do not want to pay monthy, and need a program with a once off payment! Would Lightroom be an option? Could I use On 1 on it's own? Thanks
April 7th, 2017
@aecasey What version of Lightroom do you use April? I'm looking into that option now! Thanks
April 7th, 2017
@ludwigsdiana I had been working with Lightroom 4 until January when my computer crashed. I bought Lightroom 6 and then got the free upgrade to 6.8 from Adobe which I needed to convert the RAW files from my camera (my old camera broke in December, and when I replaced it Lightroom 4 wouldn't read the newer format of RAW files).



April 7th, 2017
Thanks for your prompt reply! Hope it is all working for you now. I do not shhot raw and just have a small camera TZ 70, soon 80. I was told that lightroom is more for proffesionals. Could I use it too? I want to download a trial and see. There is also a Lightroom CC! Do you know it? Thanks so much, I really appreciate your help 😊
April 7th, 2017
@ludwigsdiana
Lightroom could be an option but don't get cc as you will have to pay monthly. I like On One and it will give you everything you want, but I am not sure if your computer will be powerful enough. I would suggest that, if you can get a free trial on any software download them and try them all, then decide the one you are more comfortable with.
Good luck.
April 7th, 2017
You're a star Claude, thanks a mil! That is what I am doing atm and decided elements is not for me! So much easier editing on my cell 😉 I will now try lightroom and on 1, then decide. 💐
April 10th, 2017
@claudiet Hi Claude, could you please help me with On 1 photo 10? I have no clue as how to export to 365. If you could please let me know how and what settings you use! I would appreciate it very much 😊
April 10th, 2017
@ludwigsdiana
Hi Diana. I usually go to One 1 from Photoshop and return to Photoshop then save the image on my hard drive.
One 1 has also the facility to save images. Once it is saved in whichever folder you use, you should be able to upload it onto 365 using the upload tab and follow the instructions. I hope this makes sense.
How did you upload your previous images?
April 11th, 2017
I used a trial of lightroom yesterday for the first time! Two fellow 365'ers guided me through the process! I would not have managed on my own! It is so much easier using my cell. Thanks for your input Claude, I will try it and keep you posted 😉
May 6th, 2017
@aecasey Hi April, I have Lightroom now and am baattling to get used to it. Could you please tell me when you export to 365 what settings you use? E.g pixel count etc. I do remember you saying you use long edge, but not the pixels etc. I would so appreciated your help so that I can finally dare to post 😉 Thanks in advance.
May 6th, 2017
@ludwigsdiana Hi! Hang in there! Lightroom is totally worth it. First suggestion, though ... why don't you consider shooting in RAW? I checked and your camera does shoot in RAW. RAW captures so much more information, and gives you so much more to work with in editing. When a camera stores a JPEG the camera is making the editing decisions. When it stores in RAW those editing decisions become yours. Even better, Lightroom is a non-destructive editing program. So, when you edit a RAW in Lightroom the original image is still there. You can edit it different ways according to your whim of the day. I would really encourage you to change your camera setting and start shooting in RAW. Here's the manual for the TZ70 and how to set it to RAW https://www.manualslib.com/manual/980390/Panasonic-Lumix-Dmc-Tz70.html?page=142#manual
May 6th, 2017
@ludwigsdiana Now ... on to your real question ... how to export. Lightroom does not export directly to 365. What I do ... in "Export Location" I set it to export to my Desktop. "File Naming" I check "rename" and I give my photos a custom name (butterfly, cat, whatever....). Under "File Settings" my format is set to JPEG, Color Space is sRGB, Quality is at 70. Under "Image Sizing" I "resize to fit" with my long edge at 1,024 pixels. I see my "pixels per inch" are at 240. I'm not sure why I picked that, but that's where mine are. Then, under "output Sharpening" I check "sharpen for screen" . I also remove my personal info and location under the metadata ... and I don't watermark so I leave that unchecked.

Then, when I want to upload to 365 I just hit "upload" and then do a drag and drop of the photo from my desktop to 365.

Does that help?
May 6th, 2017
@aecasey You're a star April, thanks so much for your help! I always used to believe you cannot teach an old dog new tricks! Will do my best, thanks a lot 😉
May 6th, 2017
@aecasey Thanks so much April, meanwhile I changed to the TZ80? Does the same apply?
May 6th, 2017
@ludwigsdiana You can shoot RAW with the TZ80 but I'm having trouble figuring out how to set it. I think you go Menu ... Record ... Quality ... and then pick JPEG or RAW or maybe a JPEG/RAW option. When I first started with RAW I wasn't sure I knew how to use it, so I set my camera to record both JPEG and RAW on each image. It takes up more card space, but it was more for learning. After I decided I liked RAW I was able to set my camera to just record RAW.
May 7th, 2017
@aecasey Hi April, thanks so much for your advice! I set my camera to both raw/jpeg. As I am very new to this, I will have to see what the diffence is. Will the jpeg ones still be the same and I can send them without editing? Do I have to change the settings when I import them, or does lightroom take the raw ones? Sorry to be such a nuisance but you are the only one who is able to advise me. I really do appreciate your input very much! Thanks a mill 💐
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