Decisions decisions ....................helppppppppppppp!

bywhacky

bywhacky

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Name
Liz
Edit My Images
No
Recently moved to shooting raw - wish I did it ages ago. Currently use pse12 but keep thinking should add lightroom 5 to my editing tool kit for raw editing.

Read and researched till my fingers throb and my brain frayed at edges.

Would welcome input from others on this - I do not want to use cloud services at adobe, prefer to have it on computer and not work online and more than happy with pse 12 at present for layers (which currently learning).
 
I use LR5 for the vast majority of my processing. I've also got PS CC (previously PSE 11), but I tend to use that solely for editing jobs that LR can't handle.

I don't use Adobe's cloud services, and I don't work online. LR and PS work together well.
 
LR5 is a good replacement for PSE's organiser and works well with the PSE editor for fine tuning. You can try it for free and it's still available for a one-off payment. When I used PSE I'd work in LR5 as much as possible so I could work in a 16 bit editor, only moving to the 8 bit PSE for the final stages. LR5 plus the Nik Collection is a really useful combination too.
 
Best option is to download a 30 day trial of Lightroom and see how you get on. But before you do watch some of the video's from Adobe first. That'll give you some idea as to how it works . Lightroom uses a catalogue to keep track of images and edits. I would suggest you start of with a small dummy one first, import 30-50 images and play around with that. Work out you structure with this smaller catalogue.Then either continue with it, or make a new one with your revised structure.

I tend to use
Year
Project
Sub Project(s)
As my filing structure. You may want to be different. Also look at keywords, they can often help finding a few images from thousands.

The develop module in Lightroom is a dream to use. I now rarely move into Photoshop, usually when some cloning needs to be done. I'm sure Elements would do just as well.
 
I've not used lightroom, and I'm sure it's very good, but there are other alternative raw converters. In particular, take a look at Phase One Capture Pro 7 (just over £100, or there abouts). I swear by it! It has superb local adjustments control and the processing engine is is also very high quality. They offer a 30 day trial....... For polishing, it has to be photoshop, but get cs6 while you can, it will be all you need for many many years to come (it works, and already has near to infinite possible uses). The nik collection is considered essential. Most of it you will not need/use, but what you will use, will make your images far stronger, whilst reducing overall processing time.
 
Don't forget the student version can be had for about fifty quid, even at full price around a ton its worth having. The cheaper price also applies for someone who works in a school/college/university education role.

I'm still using LR3 with PSE 9, does all I need although might upgrade one day possibly when LR6 is released as long as its a standalone version (upgrade bit more important if you have newer cameras than my old 5D's MkI and II )
 
Red Base Black said:
take a look at Phase One Capture Pro 7 (just over £100, or there abouts)
Click to expand...

Aargh! You got me all excited as I thought it must have been significantly reduced in price...alas not.

It currently appears to be on offer at €137 + 25% VAT - which is around £141. Still, a great saving over the normal €229 + 25% VAT = £236 (ish). But alas, not cheap enough for me to give it a whirl. So I'll stick with Lightroom 5, which I highly recommend,...but then I haven't played around with others either so I could be very misguided, but I'll remain happy in my ignorance. :-)
 
For RAW LR5 is one of the best around, you can do all your adjustments in LR5 including cropping, grad filter and lens corrections as well as colour calibration. Then save them as a Tiff and do any final editing like cloning, healing tool or filters like high pass to finish of your images in elements 12. LR5 is a must imo.
 
tijuana taxi said:
Don't forget the student version can be had for about fifty quid, even at full price around a ton its worth having. The cheaper price also applies for someone who works in a school/college/university education role.

I'm still using LR3 with PSE 9, does all I need although might upgrade one day possibly when LR6 is released as long as its a standalone version (upgrade bit more important if you have newer cameras than my old 5D's MkI and II )
Click to expand...


I looked at student versions but to activate product you need to verify that you are a student with appropriate information from your place of learning - and currently not a student - though considering studying later in the year
 
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