Post Processing Software Advice

Hi everyone,

I'm not sure if this is the best forum to post this question so if it is better suited elsewhere please let me know. I'm looking for recommendations on what post processing software to purchase. I had planned to use Photoshop and Lightroom but in light of Adobe's move to do subscription only for products 2018 and on I'm not so sure now. I don't currently own Photoshop or Lightroom (although I previously used an older version of Photoshop - 2007 or 2008 I think?) I don't plan on using cloud storage, I prefer to back up locally. Here are some options I've come up with:

1. Do subscription service choosing the non-cloud version (classic cc?) that has both photoshop and lightroom

2. Same as above except use photoshop plus a different program (like ON1) for RAW color correction, etc., (instead of lightroom)

3. Use Photoshop Elements (perhaps get an older version like 2015 edition) and use ON1 as plug in with ps15. This would avoid the Adobe subscription fee and would provide an easier version of photoshop to grasp since I am in still a beginner in regards to working with RAW files.

4.??

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Hi amylynn

I'm one of those who signed up for the Adobe subscription soon after it was set up (about ?2 years ago) and have one for LR and PS.

I have to say I have found it a good deal and am very happy with it.

I've been using LR since it's inception and think it just gets better and better. I rarely use PS and then mainly for, eg, removing largish distracting elements of an image. But PS remains "good to have". There may be other editing/cataloguing programs out there but I'm yet to be convinced that there is something that is significantly better than LR for both tasks. As with any relatively complex software program, once you have committed the time to learning to use it to its best advantage, there is a reluctance to switch!

So sorry, this doesn't answer your direct questions but I thought it worth you having a view on the Adobe subscription issue.

Agree with TimG.

I import my RAW images applying a User Preset on the way in that does 90% of the processing I need - they are easy to set up and use.

I agree with everyone else. Do option #1, (Lightroom Classic and Photoshop) it's the option for serious photographers. Lightroom CC is trying to play in the Apple/Google space and while its probably great for that, it's not for me. You can often find a one-year renewal deal for about $85 once or twice a year. That's about what I was paying for Lr upgrades in the old days and never had Photoshop.

Thank you everyone for the feedback. If I go with Lightroom & Photoshop CC do I have option to save locally or am I forced to use cloud storage? I prefer not to use cloud except on rare occasions when it might be useful (like vacation or something.)

Amy

You can store locally - I never use the cloud for storage.

I too am a long time LR user, since version one. I do not think there are any other programs currently doing digital asset management (DAM) to the degree that LR does. I probably spend more time doing DAM work than post-processing; entering keywords, titles, captions etc. This may not be important in the beginning but once you have a large number of images, e.g. I have about 1/2 million images in my LR library, it is indispensable. It is a very good idea to work on DAM from the beginning!

Do you know about Creative Live? https://www.creativelive.com/

They are currently doing a LR boot camp. The basic stuff was last week. There are 3 weeks to go including this week that are more advanced but there is some re-capping of earlier material as well. It might be well worth your time, about an hour or so each work day to watch these. Each day's lesson gets repeated until the start of next day's lesson to accommodate time zones around the planet. It is free during the live broadcast (next three weeks). The previous week's material is presented again on the weekend.

I have been watching it and have learned new stuff even though I am an old hack at it. For example, I did not know about customizing the bottoms of the side panels - I now have my logo there. I do not agree 100% with the way the presenter, Ben Willmore, uses LR, such as how he sets up his folders. This is largely due to some of the peculiarities of the way I work. Nevertheless it is a very useful class to watch and learn new stuff.

I too am a long time LR user, since version one. I do not think there are any other programs currently doing digital asset management (DAM) to the degree that LR does. I probably spend more time doing DAM work than post-processing; entering keywords, titles, captions etc. This may not be important in the beginning but once you have a large number of images, e.g. I have about 1/2 million images in my LR library, it is indispensable. It is a very good idea to work on DAM from the beginning!

 

Do you know about Creative Live? https://www.creativelive.com/

They are currently doing a LR boot camp. The basic stuff was last week. There are 3 weeks to go including this week that are more advanced but there is some re-capping of earlier material as well. It might be well worth your time, about an hour or so each work day to watch these. Each day's lesson gets repeated until the start of next day's lesson to accommodate time zones around the planet. It is free during the live broadcast (next three weeks). The previous week's material is presented again on the weekend.

 

I have been watching it and have learned new stuff even though I am an old hack at it. For example, I did not know about customizing the bottoms of the side panels - I now have my logo there. I do not agree 100% with the way the presenter, Ben Willmore, uses LR, such as how he sets up his folders. This is largely due to some of the peculiarities of the way I work. Nevertheless it is a very useful class to watch and learn new stuff.

Amy

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I started with Lightroom 1 and have now the current versin of CC.
I tried some other software but always returned to Lightroom, probably because i am lazy and like LR.

Regarding Photoshop, i have now LightRoom, Photoshop and Illustrator as a bundle plus Photoshop and Premiere Elements, so i use Photoshop as heavy editing solution.

You can safe some money downloading the opensurce, freeware GIMP, a very nice and old Photoshop clone.

Chris

I'll chime in with the same preference as everyone above. Lightroom Classic CC as part of the photographer package (with Photoshop) is the way to go. Best practice is to store at least two copies of your raw files on external hard drives. Cloud storage is far too slow and not an option on most international dive trips.

There are also a few things to consider before jumping in, primarily file naming structure and organization of your library (folder structure). Many do this by year and location, but it's all personal preference. Erin Quigley is another great resource for Lightroom.

Good luck!

I use Affinity Photo on my iMac and iPad. (There are Windows versions.) I switched from Photoshop about 18 months ago to have the iPad based resource

I just was rading a article about the newly and after 6 years of development released GIMP 2.1.0
There is a lot of changes, including much faster engine, etc.
As it is free i think it's a good solution for doing stuff Lightroom is not enough but Photoshop is too expensive.

Chris

Sounds like everyone is pretty much on the same page, but another +1 for lightroom classic.

Yea, I'm "stuck" with Lightroom 5.7 that I bought using educational discount on a DVD to install on either Mac or PC (I've done both). I really like it, and just refuse to pay for subscriptions to stuff I should be able to buy and "own". Besides, I like having my photos on my hard drives and my backup systems and not floating somewhere "in the cloud".

Yea, I'm "stuck" with Lightroom 5.7 that I bought using educational discount on a DVD to install on either Mac or PC (I've done both). I really like it, and just refuse to pay for subscriptions to stuff I should be able to buy and "own". Besides, I like having my photos on my hard drives and my backup systems and not floating somewhere "in the cloud".

Just to clarify a point, the LR subscription does not mean you have to have your images on a cloud. Ive got 45,000 sitting on my iMac (with several backups!) which I can work on through LR Classic. I dont use a cloud at all.

Darktable is a very nice alternative for lightroom. It's open source and works great for me. It used to be Linux only, but since last year there is a Windows version as well!