CS5 software confusion?

[The goblin]

Hi

So it looks like I may be tempted over to the other side and upgrading to an iMac. I currently have Adobe photoshop CS5 that I got given.

I have found it for sale for £328, with an option to buy LR3 at 30% off. My question is what is LR3 and what more does it offer? I'm still relatively new to CS5 (had it since last year, I think I've only really been using it properly for three months)

And then I discover Adobe CS5 extended, the design premium, the master collection, ouch my brain just melted anyone know the differences?

 

[pablo_paul]

Lr3 is basically for managing and sorting large numbers of images with some basic retouching tools. 95% of my development time is spent in Lightroom and about 5% in PS which I'm currently learning I don't see that changing much either even when I understand what I'm doing in PS.

 

[The goblin]

Thanks Paul. Do you mean you batch edit in LR?

I've still to figure out the best way to name/ label/ file my photos, I need a decent system!

 

[swanseamale47]

Lightroom has limited ajustments compared to CS5, it's more or less what you get in camera raw in photoshop, although with a better interface + the organiser.
That said it depends on what your doing to an image, many people use nothing else except Lightroom.

 

[The goblin]

I often see comments like 'this & that done in LR then moved to photoshop for so & so'

I think I'll stick with what I know for now.

 

[pablo_paul]

Thanks Paul. Do you mean you batch edit in LR?

I've still to figure out the best way to name/ label/ file my photos, I need a decent system!

basically I manage and edit (batch if I can to save time) anything I can't do goes to PS but even the the psd file will end up back in LR for safe keeping.

Google slr lounge they have a fantastic series of video tutorials that cover all the modules this is how I learned.