What do you like better CS5 or Lightroom?

Hello Everyone,

At some point I really need to invest in the best editing program.

Here is a list of my needs:

--Batch Editing (by that I mean-making several images Black and White, or resizing several at once, and the main batch editing would be changing the white balance to several at once.

--Face recognition---I do a lot of events where I have to burn a CD for several people and I find it hard to tell the people apart from one another. I am not even sure if there is a program that would do this.

--organizing and storing images and folders

--I do a lot of portrait sessions and anything that can make the skin softer and teeth whiter and remove fly away hairs is great for me.

--I'd like some templates for weddings or books (right now I create my own templates)

--I would like several choices of different FONT to add to some of my designs

--I would like the program to be user friendly

--I would like the best program for the money spent

Your feedback is appreciated. So far, I got one vote for CS5.

Please when you reply, state WHY you think your program choice is best.

Thanks so much in advance!

Cheers, Tracy DePaola

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tracy DePaola on December 16, 2011 at 10:52am

John,

Thanks for that input-it is things like that which really help me. I am always one to learn from others.

Thanks so much.

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Permalink Reply by Janna Slaback on December 28, 2011 at 5:41pm

Yes, Tracy, I agree with John Brunjes about Lightroom being a space hog. I wasn't aware that the "libraries" of photos were being saved on my hard drive even though I specifically have an external drive on which I put all my RAW photos in unedited folders and edited pictures in another folder. I had no idea that Lightroom was "backing up" the libraries by putting it on my hard drive. Easy to fix! Just know that is what happens and remove the libraries once they are saved. :-)

Your photos are SO amazing and I feel a bit strange about even offering "advice" ... but nonetheless, I love Lightroom for the capability to "sync" multiple photos at the same time. So for example if I noticed that the white balance was wrong on, say 50 of the photos, in one click I can correct it on all 50 photos. Pretty sweet!

I'm looking forward to seeing more of your work and learning heaps from you!!

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Permalink Reply by Nikocarol on December 29, 2011 at 10:09pm

I have Lightroom 3,CS5 and both are amazing...Lightroom is sleek and organizes. If you do "straight" photography...meaning just straighten,crop,color correction then Lightroom is for you ..if you want to do more creative work ..then CS5 is the program which it is only limited by your knowledge and imagination.

I have been using CS/3-5 for years and just learned lightroom and I wonder what took so long...however first starting takes time because you have to group your images which is the sleek part of this program.

The price forAdobe Photoshop CS5 is $650.00, Lightroom is $299.00 and can be purchased for sale prices of at least a 100.00 off that price. Maybe that will help determine what program you use. I love Photoshop but that might be because I am very familiar with that program.

Good Luck!

Lightroom is easier...it does not do what Photoshop can do.

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Permalink Reply by Sergey Sokolov on December 31, 2011 at 2:08pm

definitely CS5 !!!

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Permalink Reply by Reg Warboys on December 31, 2011 at 5:32pm

Elena is right tracy, both, LR is great for batch process if the images where taken the same time under the same conditions.

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Permalink Reply by Troy Alexander on January 6, 2012 at 12:59pm

I absolutely LOVE my CS5x Suite especially Photoshop but I really do not like Lightroom. Sure, it is cool to have Lightroom but I have found at least three other software programs that do at least everything Lightroom will do but are a LOT EASIER TO LEARN AND USE.

I PAID for Lightroom so I have a reason and incentive to use it BUT I just believe in getting the desired result in less time. I have used Photoshop for 10 years now and I am Adobe certified but more importantly my clients love the photos I deliver to them. Since Photoshop is so popular most true photo management programs integrate very nice with PS just as Lightroom does. Some people feel that if you own PS you must have LR. Not true.

I recommend Zoner Photo Studio 14 Pro or ACDSee Pro. All I have to say is, once you try them you most likely will stay with one of the two. Zoner cost the least but probably does more than both ACDSee or Lightroom so I have stayed with Zoner.

Hope this helped.

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Permalink Reply by Studio Laurent on January 9, 2012 at 10:23pm

Just so you know... Adobe launched today the public Beta version of Lightroom 4, which means the full new version will probably be available in the next 3-4 months or so.

http://blogs.adobe.com/photoshopdotcom/2012/01/lightroom-4-beta-now...

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Permalink Reply by Nyk Boogie on January 11, 2012 at 12:58am

I have both, but I use Lightroom more. I also use Aperture a lot more than Photoshop.

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Permalink Reply by Robert Davis on January 19, 2012 at 6:26pm

Hi Tracy,

WOW! You really asked a loaded question. I use Photoshop CS5, have been using PS since way back in 5.5. Can't think of any other program I'd rather use, and yes I've tried those others, deleted them, moved on. I'm a pro so making my images be the best they can be I'm very dependant on PS CS5, and soon CS6. I'd be happy to have a more lengthy dialog with you on this subject if you so desire.

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Permalink Reply by M. Torres on January 22, 2012 at 4:30pm

Portrait Pro. is also pretty good and easy to use. I use CS the you tube videos and Photoshop CS5: Top 100 Simplified Tips and Tricks (Top 100 Simplifi... help alot. I have not used lightroom.

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Permalink Reply by Tracy DePaola on February 16, 2012 at 10:07pm

M. Torres,

I did check out the portriat pro and it looks pretty amazing and simple. I want to review a bit more about it, but I am thinking right now I mainly need editing for softening the skin and making the eyes look really crisp--I think it works from the sample video I watched. I am so bad at making decisions--so all these bits of information really helps.

Thanks

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Permalink Reply by dennis sowell on February 14, 2012 at 9:17pm

Tracy, Ive been using Photoshop Elements for years, and recently have "taken the plunge" to purchase 'Photoshop CS 5 Extended', which BTW I got at a bargain price (bestwholesalesoftware.com) for an affordable $79.00 Plus S&H, they offer the disc, by mail, which is far superior to downloads! I am just npoow learning to use it inplaces where it differes significantly from PS Elements 10, but they are built the same and function much the same! Likely 90% of all Photo after processing takes place on one of these two Programs worldwide, I'd guess! I dont know how much of youer needs would be met by these two programs?

I also have the free "beta version" of of Adobe Lightroom 4.0, which is free until its been published?But its been of no help wjatever to me

I dont know whether it will be to you or not !

I tell you all of this to then share with ou that I've had lots of ups and downs with learning to use "Photoshop Products" in general over the years, and I both love them and hate them for thier complexity and stubborness, but I can at least figure out how to use them unassisted......though I would call neither of these three "user friendly" in truth!!

If any are its the Photoshop Elements 10, its the baby brother to the CS programs!

I had thought, and heard that PS "Lightroom" would bea usable program, from outward appearences anyways It looked as though it might nbe the onme to use! Fancy advertising can do alot of misleading!

This may have been what drew me to PS Lightroom, But I've tied eveything I can think of, (and I'm not entirey 'dense)', you know!

I cant make lightroom work for me no matter what. It makes me feel sort of incompetent, but I know better.I'm just not particullaly suited to some programs! . Others I do fine with, perhaps you can relate!

I dont know whether you have found or not the software you were in need of, or if this bit of infovcan be of anay help yoto your choices, but its all Ive got and hope you will do well with whatever.

I suggest you try Adobe's free trial downloads and see for yourself! Perhaps you can get some help from others and learn to fly with them in short order, especillay I would think the" Elements 10" its the olly Prgram Ive paid full price for at $95.00 USD . I did this knowing it was worth the money, having iused former versions myself for ten years sstarting with Elements 3, and it has been very worthwhile!

Good Luck,,dennis!