[Cat©]

Anyone have both, and what are the main differences?

I thought it was a completely different product and went to buy it but then the guy said it was just like CS5.1, so now Im lost.

[mummy26]

Just because no one else has answered

Lightroom was developed specifically for photography whereas photoshop goes beyond that. Think of lightroom as a program that you use to develop your digital film. Lightroom is basically a RAW converter similar to the RAW converter in photoshop but it also allows photo management. Photoshop has tons of extra tools, filters and other features that Lightroom hasn't got.

I have just photoshop as it suits my needs better than Lightroom would. You cant do HDR in Lightroom or photo manipulation or stitching of panoramas etc.

Im not the best person to be replying, I've never used lightroom, had a few demos at camera club. I just hate seeing a question unanswered. I'm sure someone else can offer better comparisons

[Cat©]

Thanks Ali, that's pretty much what I needed to know

I won't buy it then as I have CS 5.1 and will upgrade to 6 in a few weeks. Happy with that, just have to watch a few more hundred utube vids to work out how to use it better! lol

[ILBB]

Ali has answered the question quite comprehensively - but just to add that Lightroom is also for file management and workflow (adding info to the metadata for file retrieval etc). Most professionals use Lightroom more than Photoshop as it does most of what they need - as most photos need tweaking and not huge or elaborate editing. Whereas they would only take a photo to PS generally for some major surgery. If you have CS5 then just wondering why you would want to upgrade?

[Abbygirl]

I have CS5 and love it. I mainly use it for graphic design, as I pretty much do most of my photography PP in RAW. It is awesome having it there if I need it for photo editing though....
I haven't bothered with Lightroom

[mummy26]

Thats what David Harradine said when he gave us the Lightroom demo at Camera Club. That Photoshop was for surgery. I have never bothered with it, too stuck in my ways

[Cat©]

Hmmm now Im wondering.

I have Photoshop Premier Elements as well and use that for most file control etc, it does what I want but not when I want to clone things out etc. Its a bit behind there, well at least harder to use anyway for that kind of thing.

I downloaded a trial version of lightroom so shall try that, I do find photoshop a bit overwhelming, but elements a bit basic and like coreldraw etc.

As to why upgrading to V6......why not. Saves adding in addons/upgrades that are included in the new version.

I do find CS5 very memory intense, wonder if lightroom would be less? My laptop keeps freezing if I have CS5 and flickr up at the same time! lol

This post has been edited by Cat©: 26/04/2012, 01:35 PM

[Tessied]

I love Lightroom because it simplifies working with photos in so many ways. I use photoshop for some things, as to me they work perfectly hand in hand. Lightroom's file management is absolutely amazing, and I find it is much quicker and easier to do 'MOST' of what you need to do to a photo in Lightroom.

[Cat©]

Thanks Tessied, that gives me more reason to look at it. I do find photoshop a bit OTT for when I want simple barely at all enhancing.

[ILBB]

If you just want to make minor adjustments then go to Camera Raw in PhotoShop. When in Brigde - right click and choose to open in Camera Raw. The editing functions of Camera Raw are almost identical to those in Lightroom. There are no layers and mainly sliders and very easy to get the hang of.