I process in ACR, how is LR better?

[chip]

My question is directed to anyone who used to do their processing in Adobe Camera Raw (a reasonably up-to-date version) and now uses Lightroom instead.

I currently do all my processing in ACR and I'm happy with it, the majority of my files never even reach Photoshop... just the 'specials', but I keep hearing how Lightroom will cut down my processing times even further. Anything that frees up my time is worth investigating, but so far I'm not convinced!

Whenever I speak to a Lightroom user they tell me "it does this, it does that, it does the other", but ACR has come on in leaps and bounds and I find myself saying "but I can do that in ACR". I'm not hearing anything that will significantly improve my existing workflow.

In Bridge, I can do all the importing/tagging that I need. I have a simple method of filing that I don't want to change. I use photocart for my online galleries so don't want to use LR for that.... I just want to speed up my processing if it is possible.

So any former (fairly recent) ACR users who have converted to LR who can tell me what the key improvments were that made it worth the £££ and time invested learning new software?

Only when/if I hear some real nuggets will I download the trial (I did try it previously, before I upgraded CS4)

Thanks,

Chris.

 

[Chappers]

The develop module in Lightroom is the same as the one in Photoshop. So you'll have the same controls in ACR as within Lightroom.

The only real difference is speed. Lightroom allows you to quickly move from one image to another,plus you have all the controls in one pane. Have a look at one of the Lightroom tutorials on the web. Look at the develop module.

Lightroom has other aspects apart from image processing, such as cataloguing the images, and a very good print module.

The point is if CS4 works for you then fine. If you constantly handle hundreds of images then Lightroom may be the answer. Bear in mind the Lightroom package costs around £220, so it has to do a lot for you to justify the price.

To be honest the only way you'll find out is to download the trial version and seee for yourself. But if it's a small number of images you work with then ACR in CS4 may be more than adequate.

 

[AliB]

If you treat your images individually then ACR and CSx are still good but not as quick. Think about not even having to open images to make the changes. That's kind of how LR works.

For batch operations you really can't beat LR. Want to WB every single image from the speeches at a wedding? No problem! Shoot them all on the same WB to start with and just select the lot and WB then in LR. Job done.

 

[specialman]

I don't use CS4 so can't comment on what changes have been made to ACR since CS3, but then again I only use LR2, which has been superceded.

I can remember starting out with raw files in ACR and feeling like I'd just found some unimagineably amazing tool that could help me no end to get miles more from an image than anything in the drop-down adjustments menu could ever provide. Cherrypicking a dozen or so shots from a shoot and treating them individually was a joy and more than anything, the results were so much better than anything else.

However, moving over to LR2, it's like that same feeling again, only with the added bolt-on of being able to access your images from thousands without really having to move the cursor more than a few inches. No saving required, no opening bridge to find stuff and then opening in PS... LR has everything in one place.

It's not saved me money by any means because I'm not a commercial photographer who's time is precious (and valuable) but it has saved me time (which is valuable , what with having a child etc). It's also helped me look at and experiment with processing much more freely because I can edit, edit, edit and edit again without every feeling like I've lost sight of the original.

 

[razor777]

Hmm I use CS4 Extended and have blanched at the eye watering ugprade price so was indeed wondering what the advantages of LR over PS was for the average photographer. To be fair I hardly ever use any of the features in CS4E but then again I've already invested a lot of money into it.

Out of interest, do the third party PS plugins such as Photomatix HDR etc also work with LR?

 

[chip]

Thanks for the replies.

I do process hundreds (and more!) of images each week in ACR, but despite having a nosey around the LR tutorials, I'm not convinced it will speed me up significantly.

Adjusting batches in ACR is very easy, no need to open PS during processing, no need to save until you want to convert to jpeg/tif are all features I already enjoy with ACR.

Whilst I can see a few benefits, not enough for me to shell out the £££ at this time

Thanks anyway

Chris.

 

[magicaxeman]

Hmm I use CS4 Extended and have blanched at the eye watering ugprade price so was indeed wondering what the advantages of LR over PS was for the average photographer. To be fair I hardly ever use any of the features in CS4E but then again I've already invested a lot of money into it.

Out of interest, do the third party PS plugins such as Photomatix HDR etc also work with LR?

If your happy with just CS5 and not extended (do you really need the motion and 3D tools?) then the upgrade is cheaper than lightroom.
Is the upgrade worth it? yes, I was running CS3 and had tried CS4, but I love CS5 especially as you now get both the 32 bit and 64bit versions on the same disc allowing you to install both for those plugins that wont run on 64bit.

 

[razor777]

So you can upgrade CS4 Extended to CS5 normal? Ooo! I thought I had 'locked' myself into only being able to upgrade CS4 Extended - I'll do some checking first though as I would hate to spend another few hundred quid only see to some dreaded message stating 'This version of photoshop is not eligible for upgrade.'

 

[antonroland]

The develop module in Lightroom is the same as the one in Photoshop. So you'll have the same controls in ACR as within Lightroom.

The only real difference is speed. Lightroom allows you to quickly move from one image to another,plus you have all the controls in one pane. Have a look at one of the Lightroom tutorials on the web. Look at the develop module.

Lightroom has other aspects apart from image processing, such as cataloguing the images, and a very good print module.

The point is if CS4 works for you then fine. If you constantly handle hundreds of images then Lightroom may be the answer. Bear in mind the Lightroom package costs around £220, so it has to do a lot for you to justify the price.

To be honest the only way you'll find out is to download the trial version and seee for yourself. But if it's a small number of images you work with then ACR in CS4 may be more than adequate.

The first honest and sensible answer to this question I have ever seen... THANK YOU!!

I shall now proceed to read the rest of the thread

 

[antonroland]

Thanks for the replies.

I do process hundreds (and more!) of images each week in ACR, but despite having a nosey around the LR tutorials, I'm not convinced it will speed me up significantly.

Adjusting batches in ACR is very easy, no need to open PS during processing, no need to save until you want to convert to jpeg/tif are all features I already enjoy with ACR.

Whilst I can see a few benefits, not enough for me to shell out the £££ at this time

Thanks anyway

Chris.

Another very sensible reply, thank you!

 

[antonroland]

So you can upgrade CS4 Extended to CS5 normal? Ooo! I thought I had 'locked' myself into only being able to upgrade CS4 Extended - I'll do some checking first though as I would hate to spend another few hundred quid only see to some dreaded message stating 'This version of photoshop is not eligible for upgrade.'

Surely, even CS2 (which I still use ) is eligible for upgrade to CS5, right? at a nominal fee, of course...:bang:

 

[Musicman]

Surely, even CS2 (which I still use ) is eligible for upgrade to CS5, right? at a nominal fee, of course...:bang:

It's a question of which edition you have. ISTR Adobe being a bit picky about 'downgrading' from a more fully featured edition in the past.

You certainly can't upgrade from a CS Suite package to an individual application such as Photoshop if you find you don't need everything else further down the road (but you can upgrade from an individual app to the suite).

@ razor777 : You can check for upgrade paths yourself using Adobe's Upgrade Eligibility Tool, but it looks like you can upgrade from PS CS4 Extended to plain vanilla PS CS5.

 

[antonroland]

Thanks for that and off to check for myself too...I have CS2 Photoshop (stand alone) since it launched...there was no extended before CS3.

I have a bid on a good looking CS3 on fleebay...maybe I'll creep up bit by bit.

TBH, the whole Lightroom thing is lost on me...I am a hobbyist with old but very good cameras and the occasional paying job.

I definitely won't take out top dollars for my bit of workflow and then have to juggle between 3 platforms...DPP, PS CSX and LR...for that very reason I also have not bought every PS upgrade either...

No thanks!