Adobe photo editing software has dominated the photography industry for many years. A decades ago, photo manipulation and editing were quite impossible without this software. Now there are many image editing software in the photography industry. But so far, Adobe’s software has seized the hearts of most people.
Maybe you are using Photoshop for many days or you are a beginner in image editing. Whatever it is, first you need to understand what software does what and when to use them. Then you can make the perfect use of them. So, it is important to know the difference between the software very well.
Both Lightroom and Photoshop is a major photo editing software of Adobe. They both are very popular among photo editors. But as a new graphic designer, you may not have enough resources about them. Maybe you are still thinking and can’t decide which one would be best to start editing. To make you relief, today I’m going to tell you everything about Lightroom vs Photoshop.
Remember Lightroom and Photoshop both are paid image editing software. They will cost you a good amount of money. But there are many alternatives to them. If you want to use other image editing software rather than Adobe’s, it would be a great idea. I’m ensuring that there is a lot of free drawing software. They are completely free, easy, and contain almost all the features of Photoshop. It will be easy for you to choose the best one if you read our 15 best free drawing software reviews.
Are you still want to know about Lightroom vs Photoshop? Okay then, let’s explore every detail about them.
Adobe Lightroom
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom was launched in 2006. It is a part of the Adobe creative suite tools. It has a photoshop tag in its name, but it is not as powerful as Photoshop. Its main purpose is to maintain workflow. Lightroom organizes and manages dozens of photos at a time. It contains databases of images, navigate between photos making work easier.
Lightroom is a subset of Photoshop with specific features. They are not available in Photoshop. It is an image management software that reads image metadata. Such as camera info, time & date, ISO, shutter speed, white balance, etc.
Lightroom also has a catalog where it gathers and writes image information. It is very easy to browse hundreds of photos and choose the best ones in Lightroom. There are tagging and indexing options for finding photos.
In the fight Lightroom vs Photoshop, Lightroom wins for its photo organizing features.
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is the most powerful and popular image editing software. Creative graphic designers use Photoshop to create multimedia, 3D design, animation, and more.
In the past, Adobe Photoshop was created as a simple photo editing tool. Over the decades it has evolved into a giant editing platform. Now it has many features and capabilities. Now graphic designers, architects, animators, publishers, photographers all are dependent on Photoshop.
Are you planning Photography post-production? Do you need Photo retouching? Want to remove the photo background or make a ghost mannequin? All this are possible only in one software and that is Adobe Photoshop.
In the Lightroom vs Photoshop comparison, Photoshop is a unique image editing tool. But, while Lightroom is a photo management software with limited photo editing options.
When to Use Lightroom?
You can decide to use Lightroom from the beginning of post-processing. If you are a professional photographer and want to handle your workflow, it is the best. You can use it from image management to a smooth finish.
You can use two different options when editing the image. You can edit images in Lightroom which allows you to upload and store your files in the cloud. You can use it directly from online. Besides you can choose Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic. Classic Lightroom is a desktop-based software. It is a raw file editor and an alternative to Adobe Camera Raw.
For editing, basic photos Lightroom is a good option. If you want to adjust exposure, histogram, add gradients, you can use it.
Advantages of Lightroom
Lightroom is not an alternative to adobe photoshop. It is a supportive software for Photoshop. As well as Adobe Photoshop, it has some great advantages in image editing. For basic and easy image editing is better in Lightroom. And you can avoid complications editing them in photoshop. Lightroom vs Photoshop is not the comparison which one you should use. It is a comparison when to use what. If you know some great advantages of lightroom, you may re-think about using Photoshop.
- Lightroom’s interface is so simple and all the options and tools are at the right place.
- Best software for organizing and managing photos. You can import thousands of photos into its library. Then you can put them into folders. You can also mark specific images by labeling them with colors.
- When editing an image, you don’t have to save them every time. Lightroom saves adjustments and edits automatically.
- Lightroom allows you to deal with the large batch of images. It creates organized folders on the desktop outside of the software. So, you don’t have to open new folders to categorize your images.
When to Use Photoshop?
Adobe Photoshop is a unique software for manipulating complex photos. There is no limit editing in Photoshop. Photoshop contains unlimited options, features, and functionality.
Photographers and graphic designers prefer Photoshop to manipulate or enhance their photos. Lightroom only focuses to organize and processing photos. Photoshop thrives into photo manipulation and enhancement. Photoshop ensures pixel-level perfection in the photos.
So, in Lightroom vs Photoshop, Professional image editing requires the Photoshop most.
Advantages of Photoshop
The abilities of Photoshop for photo editing are uncountable. It is the leading editing software within the photography industry. It is not possible to finish writing about the advantages of Photoshop. Let’s know some very important and unique advantages of Photoshop.
- Photoshop works with layers. Layer editing allows edits to affect different portions of the image. Editing with layers, you never harm your original image.
- In adobe photoshop you can remove objects whether it’s an entire apartment or a simple skin blemish.
- Every tool in Photoshop performs a unique task. Such as the Photoshop pen tool, lasso tool, healing tool are amazing for editing images.
Which one is Better?
Maybe it is clear for you to decide which one is better by now. Both Lightroom is important for image editing. They are unique in their unique work. But I have already said that Lightroom vs Photoshop is not a comparison about which one to choose. It is a comparison when you should use them.
For your basic image editing, you should choose Lightroom first. After the basic editing, you can do better in Photoshop.
Conclusion
Lightroom and Photoshop both are paid image editing software. So, you will always receive updates from adobe. If you want to stick with adobe, I will suggest you use both the software. Lightroom will give the perfect workflow. But Photoshop will allow you to limitless creation and editing. In Photoshop everything is possible with photos. The only obstacle is your imagination.
Lightroom is a cloud store-based workstation. It allows you to edit your images online and store your files in the cloud. But, Adobe lightroom classic is a desktop-based software.
Post-production starts after you finished shooting the photo or videos. In post-production, your photo may need correction and enhancement. Photography post-production services work for fixing your photo and make them lovely.