Do I Need Lightroom?

boliver

I am an avid amateur, don't use Photoshop much...too complicated and technical for me. Rather be taking photos. I have been using Picasa to uplaod and manage my photos online...and it has a basic editor. My question: Given the fact that I shoot JPEG...NOT Raw....is it worth purchasing Lightroom? I have watched a few tutorials, and heard some things from photo friends who use it...mostly good.....I want to be able to do more in depth editing of my photos. I have a website on SmugMug, have sold some photos, etc.....and want to be able to catalog and manage my 3,000 or more photos...but not if it means a really complicated system. The tutorials mostly refer to RAW pics...hence the question...thanks!

arodney

Why not download a demo and give it a shot. It will work for cataloging your images and building web galleries, if you print, the print module is worth the price of admission.

And as Seeker of the Perfect Shot, you might want to through some raw’s at the Develop module! Here’s why:http://wwwimages.adobe.com/www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/family/prophotographer/pdfs/pscs3_renderprint.pdf

aj986s

X2 on trying the demo. LR3 does a very nice job of giving you edit capability, including dust removal and graduated filters.

Keep in mind that RAW greatly increases your ability to amend the final product, versus JPG. JPG deletes what it considers to be unnecessary data, such as extremes of light and dark, in order to compress the file size. RAW often gives you access to details that JPG removed.

MarkR

x3 on LR3, AND I know where Macedon, NY is.

RobSylvan

Before you jump into the trial, I highly suggest watching this short video tutorial on understanding the relationship between the Lightroom catalog and your photos. It is an oldie, but a goodie.

colourbox

The steps for correcting are going to be essentially the same for JPEG as for RAW. What you lose with JPEG is less precision and quality with white balance adjustments, less ability to reduce noise, recover highlights, open up shadows, but the steps are still the same. If you shoot pretty good JPEGs close to what you want, not needing extreme corrections, you might find that it's just fine.

Everything about organization will be the same between raw and JPEG. You can keep the organization simple if you want, like just folders. You can then add on more organization as you are comfortable. Maybe get into keywords, then a couple months later you do full IPTC, then get into collections and virtual copies...but you don't have to do all of it at once.

Art Scott

agreeagree with all of the above.......I do 99.9% of all my processing in LR3.....that is weddings, portraits, landscapes well hell....EVERYTHING.....but i process raw files.......i left shooting jpg several years ago, whn I actually learned that raw was about the same as a negative or slide was to me when i started shooting .........raw is the original digital negative, in my opinion, jpeg was the original digital polaroid in a sense......

Richard

+1 on downloading the trial version and giving it a whirl. If you have 3000+ pics already, you definitely will benefit from the catalog database, though I wouldn't necessarily import all of them until you are committed to using it. As an editor for JPGs, it is less powerful than Photoshop but much simpler to use. And if at some point you decide to start working with raw files, the tools are identical, so you won't have to learn a bunch of new stuff.

Pupator

I'm also an avid amateur. I use LR3 to process 100% of my images, all taken in RAW. I'd strongly encourage you to switch to RAW and then, if you do, to get Lightroom 3. You'll be amazed a what shooting RAW will allow you to do - particularly in the areas of noise removal, shadow lightening, and white balance. It really is worth it.

Tracker

I would suggest investing a little time here...Adobe TV ...which reminds me, I need to go back and watch some more It's Adobe's video tutorial site for LR and it's helped me get more out of LR. Playing with the demo AND watching a couple of the tutorials should answer the big question for you. Good luck!

DonRicklin

And if you are shooting jpeg because your camera doesn't produce raw images, maybe time to upgrade that, too........



Don

Photog4Christ

I went to a Scott Kelby seminar a couple of years ago. He said that he does most of his work in LR (he gave a percentage, but I can't remember what he said). He said he only opens PS for the fine details.

I just went to a workshop by Art Suwansang. He demonstrated LR3. I think after that workshop everyone went to B & H online and ordered a copy!

(I'm waiting to see what I get under the tree)

mercphoto

I'm a huge Aperture fan and have basically been able to stop using iView Media Pro for cataloging and PS CS for most of my editing. LR will do this all for you as well. It is one-stop-shopping: import, keyword, tag, catalog, organize, edit, adjust, email, export...

arodney

Well how about LR for $100 off?
http://direct.adobe.com/v?xPvnccnEclHTHW

Tracker

If you're in the education system, you can get the real deal at a substantial savings under their educator program.

BradfordBenn

Also I believe that SmugMug has a discount code.

aj986s

richy wrote: »

I love lightroom but for me it makes sense as it saves me time which = money. Not sure but doesnt photoshop elements have a cataloging system? that would be a cheaper alternative thats not as complicated as full photoshop and cheaper than lr. Definately try both or at least lightroom. Lightroom killer tips is a great blog to read. Non destructive editing is also a great reason to buy LR.

If you do A LOT of pictures, LR's cataloguing process is MUCH better than either PS's Bridge or that which comes with the PSElements. But, know that LR will interface with a variety of photo applications, including Elements, for doing any post-processing that can't otherwise be handled in LR. There's a feature in LR where you can right-click a picture and select "Edit In..." where it will list the photo apps that have been setup/recognized. And it will edit either your original or a copy.

boliver

Thanks for the LR# feedback!!
Thanks everyone, for the great responses to my questions about LR3! I will definitely give it a try, and check out the SmugMug discount code.....given that I am now shooting jpeg, I think I will try the trial version (after watching the tutorial video) , and consider switching to RAW. I have always been too afraid to take that step becaise my editing skills in Photoshop were so bad....but maybe if LR# is less complicated, as some of you say, I will take the leap. Thanks again for the encouragement and info!!

PilotBrad

Who is this boliver imposter!?!?!

Sorry, saw the username and had to comment! Click my SmugMug link below to see why.