Software recommendation - DPChallenge Forums

10/02/2013 12:41:51 PM · #1

So right now, the only editing software I have is LR3 which I really really like. But im limited by not having ability to do layers and masks.

So I was considering Elements 13 and upgrading to LR5. With academic discount, it'd be around $160 or so.

BUT then I realized PS CS6 would be $179 with academic discount! Now im torn!

LR5 + Elements 13 or CS6.

What to do?

10/02/2013 12:43:58 PM · #2

I'd say CS6 in a heartbeat.

MarkB

Canon EOS-60D

10/02/2013 12:45:32 PM · #3

I'd get CS6 while you still can and upgrade Lightroom at a later date.

10/02/2013 12:52:08 PM · #4

Do LR and PS play nicely together?

I know absolutely ZERO about PS, so nervous about making that my sole editor.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

10/02/2013 12:56:40 PM · #5

PS Creative Suite Version 2 is available for free.

I'd say go use that for a couple of weeks, then decide if you need to upgrade. Frankly, there's very little difference between CS2 and the most recent release.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

10/02/2013 01:01:29 PM · #6

First, if you are not familiar with Ps, it is a really big learning curve. But you can short-cut that a bit using tutorials. honestly, CS6 is a great product. If you can still pick up the perpetual license, I'd say go for it. Going forward, realize that you won't be upgrading, because it's all subscription based :-P
As far as Lr playing nice with Ps, yes, it does. A lot of folks use the Edit in > Photoshop functionality in Lr. I don't. I import, cull, do my global and (limited) spot corrections, then export. I do this on a per-project basis. I then fire up Ps, and so what I need to the images for that project.
More and more these days, I'm finding that my basic editing needs are met well by Lr, but of course there are still applications where Ps is indispensable.

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

10/02/2013 01:01:50 PM · #7

For the basic editing I do, I can't help but wonder if Elements would be sufficient.

Layers. Check.
Masking. Check.
Cloning. Check.
Adjustment layers. Check.

Without using Elements or PS I suspect these are what I would be using 99% of the time.

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

10/02/2013 01:09:56 PM · #8

I don't know about the current versions of elements, but I outgrew elements awhile ago. It's a stripped down version, and they stripped too much out. I'd go ps6 -- no question. It's like a computer. When I buy a computer, I buy as much power as I can afford, because then I can keep it for quite awhile and have the power I need. Don't short yourself.

10/02/2013 01:33:52 PM · #9

I suspect having my entire Nik suite available would be nice, rather than in LR where its edit > export > edit > export as you move through different Nik modules.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

10/02/2013 02:07:23 PM · #10

Originally posted by Garry:

I suspect having my entire Nik suite available would be nice, rather than in LR where its edit > export > edit > export as you move through different Nik modules.

Quite correct. And LR will continue to be available as a stand-alone program, whilst Photoshop is going cloud-only from this point forward. If you want to OWN Photoshop, now's your last chance.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

10/02/2013 02:08:34 PM · #11

Lightroom and elements get you most of the way there, but once you have photoshop you will suffer if you don't have some of the fine tuning that is only doable in that program.

However since my old laptop died, and Adobe has changed their business to a subscription only sales model, they have cut support for their enduring licence to the point that I have spent hours trying to activate my existing licences on my new computer, and have had no help whatsoever. My existing licences can not be applied to my new rig, so I am limping by on 30 day trial licences as I try to get Adobe to recognize their obligation to support the licences they have sold me in the past, but they have no intention to support anything but the Creative Cloud in the future.

I think it is clear that the future is either pay them on a monthly basis or find another software provider to work with.

I have hopes now that NIK has been bought by Google that they might come up with something more robust than Picasa, but in the meantime I think I will be going back to Capture One and just abandon Adobe completely since it seems clear that they will only support the folks who can pay a serious monthly fee.

10/02/2013 02:14:18 PM · #12

Originally posted by BrennanOB:

I have hopes now that NIK has been bought by Google that they might come up with something more robust than Picasa, but in the meantime I think I will be going back to Capture One and just abandon Adobe completely since it seems clear that they will only support the folks who can pay a serious monthly fee.

Not that clear. If you have an existing CS3 or higher license, they will commit to giving you PSCC and LRCC in perpetuity for $9.99 a month. I don't think that's a deal-breaker. I'm sure I average around that much or more on upgrades... But you gotta close the deal before, I think, the end of December.

And yes, that's correct. They actually SPECIFICALLY say that photographers who do this now will never have their price raised. And they sent me a survey after I installed, asking me about my PS and LR habits and what I needed by way of support, and at the end they specifically asked me if I was aware that they had committed to not raising my prices, ever...

10/02/2013 02:15:06 PM · #13

Originally posted by Garry:

I'll say it again, CS2 (free) is perfect for you.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

10/02/2013 02:18:37 PM · #14

Originally posted by Cory:

Originally posted by Garry:
For the basic editing I do, I can't help but wonder if Elements would be sufficient.

Layers. Check.
Masking. Check.
Cloning. Check.
Adjustment layers. Check.

Without using Elements or PS I suspect these are what I would be using 99% of the time.

I'll say it again, CS2 (free) is perfect for you.

It won't run his Niks. Needs CS3+ for that. Also, the awesomeness of CS6 for a photographer is in the radically improved content-aware features.

Message edited by author 2013-10-02 14:19:27.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

10/02/2013 02:36:17 PM · #15

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

at the end they specifically asked me if I was aware that they had committed to not raising my prices, ever...

"as long as the sun shines, as long as the mountains stand, and as long as the rivers run"?

I prefer to control what software I run and what updates I install. Using windows is bad enough with the constant updating clogging up my hard drive. The notion of allowing Adobe to make whatever "improvements" they like to the software I have learned does not thrill me. updating filters and plugins every few years when I upgraded or bought a new computer was bad enough, but having that fun every random update is not my idea of fun. And frankly Adobe is a great product, but I no longer think they want to keep the hobbyist photographer as a customer. It is now much easier to simply illegally download the latest Photoshop by torrent than it is to deal with Adobe.

Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX Aspherical DG HSM for Nikon

10/02/2013 03:04:04 PM · #16

So Robert, so im clear. If I buy PS CS6 now, I will not be required to pay s subscription. I can use it as an ordinary standalone product?

bohemka

Nikon D700

10/02/2013 03:11:26 PM · #17

Originally posted by Garry:

So Robert, so im clear. If I buy PS CS6 now, I will not be required to pay s subscription. I can use it as an ordinary standalone product?

That's correct. Really looking forward to more moody, B&W self-portraits.

10/02/2013 03:14:58 PM · #18

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by Cory:

Originally posted by Garry:
For the basic editing I do, I can't help but wonder if Elements would be sufficient.

Layers. Check.
Masking. Check.
Cloning. Check.
Adjustment layers. Check.

Without using Elements or PS I suspect these are what I would be using 99% of the time.

I'll say it again, CS2 (free) is perfect for you.

It won't run his Niks. Needs CS3+ for that. Also, the awesomeness of CS6 for a photographer is in the radically improved content-aware features.

Try it.

Works fine over here.

10/02/2013 03:20:59 PM · #19

Originally posted by bohemka:

Originally posted by Garry:
So Robert, so im clear. If I buy PS CS6 now, I will not be required to pay s subscription. I can use it as an ordinary standalone product?

That's correct. Really looking forward to more moody, B&W self-portraits.

I'm sure I can indulge you :)

Screw it. Just went ahead and bit the bullet and bought it. Now to figure out how to use it.

Message edited by author 2013-10-02 15:27:11.

10/02/2013 04:14:54 PM · #20

Originally posted by Garry:

Originally posted by bohemka:

Originally posted by Garry:
So Robert, so im clear. If I buy PS CS6 now, I will not be required to pay s subscription. I can use it as an ordinary standalone product?

That's correct. Really looking forward to more moody, B&W self-portraits.

I'm sure I can indulge you :)

Screw it. Just went ahead and bit the bullet and bought it. Now to figure out how to use it.

Heh.. Well, it's a great program, I'm sure you'll have plenty of help from your team!

And if that doesn't work, help threads here are totally like candy. Post some, we like sweets. ;)

Message edited by author 2013-10-02 16:15:38.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

10/02/2013 04:23:56 PM · #21

Originally posted by BrennanOB:

I prefer to control what software I run and what updates I install.

I have control over it. It tells me what it wants to do and asks my permission.

Ja-9

Nikon D750

10/06/2013 11:36:59 PM · #22

So from what I've read...I would first have to buy CS/6 then join the "CC"? (I have Elements 10) or do I just stick with Elements at this point since I'm not able to "upgrade to CS/??"

And Gerry...where did you get your discount...I can't find that one...."linky...linky"