LR or Elements for a beginner

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Ami-Jane

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Hello everyone.

Been having a read of the forum for a little while and just started doing a beginners photography course. Would like to start getting in to editing my photos using "proper" software.

What would be best/easiest to get to grips with for a beginner... Lightroom or Photoshop elements - before people say both I don't have the money to buy both I'm afraid.

The college are using a old edition of photoshop (CS3) but only used it really for one week briefly.

Thanks
 
Elements is fairly easy and if college is using CS3 it will probably help you to keep to a similar platform.
 
thanks guys - next question would be do I go for the newer elements 11 or for the 10 which will now be a bit cheaper due to the new one out??
 
Can't think of any reason to go for 11.
 
theres nothing wrong with 11, but 10 will do everything you need so why spend more ?
 
I use both LR and PSE and I would say that Elements is the one to go for first, although it's a difficult decision.

Photoshop does allow much more editing, such as layers and cloning, which most people will need at some stage.

LR, does have some features make life a whole let easier (workflow etc), there are workarounds in Elements for these.
 
Thanks - now downloading the Elements trial - what's the "premier elements" all about?? something you really need?
 
elements premiere is for editing video - you don't need it unless you are going to do that as well as stills
 
oh don't need that then! Bonus as that's a bit more expensive than the other one
 
newbie here.. im going to get elements first of after reading others advice on this forum, but if install one copy on my main pc where i will be doing most of the editing can i also install it on my laptop for when i am away or are you limited to one installation per purchase?
 
just finished downloading the trial which asked me if I had a licence code. Guessing if you get the actual software depends how many licences you get. If you get more than one I'm guessing yes you can put it both on a PC and laptop. Can't imaging you would be able to use the one code more than once but may be wrong!
 
hmm this could become costly. maybe i should contact adobe as my pc is almost in need of replacing. dont want to have to buy it three times!
 
you can only have it on one machine at a time - but you can still put it on a replacement machine so long as you disinstall it from the old one.

in practice theres not much stopping you putting it on more than one machine at the same time, but thats software piracy
 
I used Elements for years and it was fantastic but I've tried LR but never seen the Light *no pun intended ;)*

Don't see the problem with just browsing your photos in Windows and editing them in Photoshop. IT's much mroe powerfull.
 
Well been having a play with Elements for a couple of hours now and having great fun! Making big differences to my pictures :)
 
The main purpose of LR for me is as a raw converter - I know you can convert raws in photoshop with an appropriate plug in , but ive always found it easier to run them through LR with actions, then do any intensive post in either Photoshop or Elements
 
May be worth investing in a decent book on Elements/Lightroom/Photoshop. Learning from scratch can be very frustrating. Scott Kelby does well laid out books that don't assume you already know some stuff. And it may be worth seeing if your local college offer a short course.
 
big soft moose said:
you can only have it on one machine at a time - but you can still put it on a replacement machine so long as you disinstall it from the old one.

in practice theres not much stopping you putting it on more than one machine at the same time, but thats software piracy
Click to expand...

Actually, you are allowed to install it on 2 machines. As long as both are not being used at the same time.
I have it installed on my laptop, and on my desktop.

Here is an extract from the licence agreement:

"2.4 Portable or Home Computer Use. The primary user of the Computer on which the Software is installed may install a second copy of the Software for his or her exclusive use on either a portable Computer or a Computer located at his or her home, provided the Software on the portable or home Computer is not used at the same time as the Software on the primary Computer."


Hope this helps to clarify.
 
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you clearly have a different licence to the one I have - mine says installation on one machine only.

Its definitely something at check at time of purchase
 
Mine came with installation on three machines? Bought the disc from a store so maybe that's the difference?
 
Theres lots of different licences - at work we have a blanket licence for as many machines as we want as long as they are used by our staff and volunteers

usually the fewer machines its licenced for the lower the total price , so if you only need it on one machine a single licence is the way to go
 
It seems we are both right.
Elements 10 has the licence I quoted from above, i.e. install on 2 machines, providing they are not being used at the same time.
Having looked at the licence for Elements 11, it seems it specifically state 1 machine only, unless additional licences bought.
 
jon ryan said:
May be worth investing in a decent book on Elements/Lightroom/Photoshop. Learning from scratch can be very frustrating. Scott Kelby does well laid out books that don't assume you already know some stuff. And it may be worth seeing if your local college offer a short course.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jon will def look in to a book - just having fun messing around at the moment but will need to know what else it can do as I'm sure I'm merely scratching the surface! :)
 
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