Similar programs to Lightroom 2?

startingjourney

So i've downloaded the trial version of lightroom and I can't figure out how to do anything even though I looked at 5 books in a bookshop. The trial doesn't seem to have everything as the regular version or maybe it's just me that doesn't see everything.
I am very familiar with Aperture but I do not own a mac currectly and have no plans to buy one now or in the near future. Is there another popular good program that pro photographers use? I don't want to be stuck with gimp or something similar.

dwayne_bradley

Never used it but...
Microsoft has Expression Media 2 that you can find here:

http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto/expressionmedia2/default.aspx

I'm a Mac person so I really can't offer up much on the PC side.

Thanks,
Dwayne

Thunder Rabbit

Howdy.

The trial version of LR2 should be fully functional. And it's a great program. Before you abandon it, you might give the local dudes (and chics) in the know a chance to help out a little.

It's pretty simple to learn, but it looks funny to most folks at first. Where are you getting hung up? We'll try and nudge you in the right direction.

Photog4Christ

The trial version of LR is 100% fully functional (during the trial period or until you pay for it). IMHO, there is no other program that compares to LR. I use LR 95% of the time. I very seldom go into PS, but I do use PS for advanced editing.

What five books did you look at?

There are TONS of ** FREE ** tutorials available for LR. Just Google Lightroom Tutorial.

You may want to head over to The Lightroom Forums. I'm sure you'll get plenty of help over there.

colourbox

If books aren't working, maybe one of the many free Lightroom tutorial videos on the Web would help. The Lightroom trial should be 100% complete, only thing missing is a serial number.

You say you're familiar with Aperture...that's probably the one program that's closest to Lightroom in concept right now. Expression Media can be competitive in the area of photo management, but last time I checked it has no raw editing capability that is worthy of even washing the feet of Aperture or Lightroom, which both have world class raw editors.

pathfinder

When I first approached Lightroom I found many of the books less than helpful also. What worked for me was this video series ( costs about the same as one of the books and is quite clear and helpful ) -- http://www.luminous-landscape.com/videos/LR2.shtml

Anthony

startingjourney wrote:

[,,] ... I looked at 5 books in a bookshop... [..]

I recommend googling --- lightroom - tutorial - Julianne Kost.

Anthony.

paddler4

Initially, I also found LR kind of obscure, and for awhile I only used it for very basic stuff. However, it really is quite a good program and is worth a little time before you give up. The online tutorials I have seen are pretty good, and Scott Kelby has a basic book that I found helpful.

I don't know many programs, but I don't know any that are similar. LR combines the functions of a basic RAW postprocessing program with many, but by no means all, of the editing functions you would find in something like Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro. I use it in part because I love the non-destructive edits and the history and snapshots it can keep. However, even for fairly basic editing, I often find it not quite enough. In particular, its constrast controls are very weak in terms of the control they offer. I shoot only raw and run everything through LR, but I most often do a little work in Paint Shop Pro at the end.

startingjourney wrote:

So i've downloaded the trial version of lightroom and I can't figure out how to do anything even though I looked at 5 books in a bookshop. The trial doesn't seem to have everything as the regular version or maybe it's just me that doesn't see everything.
I am very familiar with Aperture but I do not own a mac currectly and have no plans to buy one now or in the near future. Is there another popular good program that pro photographers use? I don't want to be stuck with gimp or something similar.

theNOIZ

startingjourney wrote:

So i've downloaded the trial version of lightroom and I can't figure out how to do anything even though I looked at 5 books in a bookshop. The trial doesn't seem to have everything as the regular version or maybe it's just me that doesn't see everything.
I am very familiar with Aperture but I do not own a mac currectly and have no plans to buy one now or in the near future. Is there another popular good program that pro photographers use? I don't want to be stuck with gimp or something similar.

I'm still learning all the bells and whistles in Lightroom. I've used the videos on Lynda.com for help.

justus

Lr2
I too, was a little dismayed when I first started working with Lightroom 2.
So different from Photoshop and I felt completely lost in how to save edited photos the way I used to, etc.

Scott Kelby's book "Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book for Digital Photographers" was my salvation, and I've learned my own workflow from reading the book. Easy to understand and easy to apply.

Don't give up on Lightroom just yet! Give it a chance. I especially appreciate Lightroom's ability to save exporting settings so I can save photos in the proper size and resolution for magazines, uploading to Smugmug and to stock sites that I contribute to. Makes my life so much easier! Try the book. See if it helps!

Ric Grupe

Anthony wrote:

I recommend googling --- lightroom - tutorial - Julianne Kost.

Anthony.

Yes! I totally agree.

Look here.

BinaryFx

Regarding the OP - off hand, this is the only thing which comes "sort of close" (or not):

http://bluemarine-old.tidalwave.it/

http://bluemarine.tidalwave.it/

For outdated software and an old camera, the old Pixmantec Raw Shooter Essentials or Raw Shooter Pro software may also be another option.


Hope this helps,

Stephen Marsh

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~binaryfx/
http://prepression.blogspot.com/

MarkR

BinaryFx wrote:

Regarding the OP - off hand, this is the only thing which comes "sort of close" (or not):

http://bluemarine-old.tidalwave.it/

http://bluemarine.tidalwave.it/

For outdated software and an old camera, the old Pixmantec Raw Shooter Essentials or Raw Shooter Pro software may also be another option.


Hope this helps,

Stephen Marsh

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~binaryfx/
http://prepression.blogspot.com/

The OP could also check out the pre-release of Bibble 5, which is finally stable and has most of the major functions working. I haven't looked at the DAM too closely, but the raw conversions appear quite good, and very fast! With the caveat that it has been "coming" since 2006 or so, and final release is still a ways off.