I’m looking for software for editing my pictures, and organizing my growing photo library.
At first, I was using only the Sony Utility software that came with my point and shoot. It was really easy to use, and it served its purpose. That was until I decided I need to learn about shooting RAW files and editing them.
From there I ventured into the confusing world of the Canon Digital Photo Professional software. Man was I confused. I had resisted using it for so long, but had to learn to embrace it. And, I did! Slowly but surely, it started to get so much easier to use, and make sense. It is my go to software for editing now.
When I got my Canon film scanner, it came with Photoshop Elements 5. Once again, I resisted the software. It did however became a secondary source when I had to learn how to resize my images. Since then, I have toggled between the two of them.
The problem is, I want to learn more about editing and I want a better organizational system. Today I downloaded trial versions of both Photoshop Elements 9 and Lightroom 3. Both seem to have their purpose, and both have organizational systems. I have them both for 30 days to try, and play with before I decide what to buy.
I played with both today, and because of its familiarity, I am leaning towards the Elements program. Lightroom feels so complex, and I am not sure I want to even try to wrap my head around it. Although, it has so many options for editing. I’m really at a loss here.
If anyone has some great insight, I’d love to hear from you!
sorry I can’t help you with the software issue, but I had to comment on the vein in Brody’s neck and the scary growl. I had to call Glen in here to see this. great picture Krista made me laugh a ton.
I’ve got Elements 8 and love it. I considered going with Lightroom or the full Photoshop (CS4 or 5) but was afraid I’d be in over my head. Very glad I went with PSE8 – it’s still has a ton of features & so many people are making actions for it now. You should check out everdayelementsonline.com if you haven’t already. Amanda does some great workshops for it.
I’ve heard that Lightroom is better for organization but users sometimes still have to use Photoshop for certain things (I have no idea what for, though)
Hope that helps & thanks for your sweet comments on my blog!
-S
You currently have Photoshop Elements 5 (PSE5), and are thinking of upgrading to PSE9. I don’t know how they differ, or how much they differ. I originally used PSE2 and upgraded to PSE7. I didn’t notice a lot of changes, or at least not for what I use the program for. I haven’t used PSE7 Organizer.
Have you done tagging in PSE5 Organizer? I have heard that the tagging can be a little buggy. It has been recommended to tag and save your edited image as a pdf first, and then save as a tif and/or a jpg.
As long as you are comfortable using PSE, and feel it does all that you need and require, I would stick with it. You could always buy Lightroom at a later date.
I am using Photoshop. I should learn Lightroom to organize my pictures… but I need time to learn the program.
Wow…dito on the neck vein! He looks ANGRY! You’d almost think Owen was torturing him!
I have both and been a user from PSE2 – 8 and Lightroom 1 through 3. I very rarely use Photoshop Elements.
Elements (PSE8) has a good organizer, but it will only edit in 8bit loosing significant details. Lightroom3 has a better organizer.
Further I find PSE it poorly supported. With lightroom, you get updates all the time. With the 2 element products (photoshop and Premier) you get no updates unless they really screwed something up. They prefer you license the new version which comes out every year.
In fact lately I have been using Gimp (freeware, kinda hard to learn) instead of PSE for edits that lightroom cannot do (which is very rare).
Due to the vast volume of photos I have and take, I also like LR because it doesn’t bloat my drives up. All edits are stored as instructions in the database or in sidecar xmp files. Instructions for a computer can add up to mere kb. Where as if you edit in PSE and want to save your work for future edits, you have to save as PSD or Tiff file. Some of my scanned images are 50mb without edits, and after adding layers etc can double or triple in size. I would rather that size a file be for the exceptional edit and not the majority.
LR3 is my vote by a long shot. I will admit it has grown a little more complex than originally done, but you can hide the edit tools you don’t use to simplify your interface.
That’s my 2 cents.
I’m a photoshop lover myself!
I have PSE 9 which for the cost is great, I’d like to try Lightroom but can’t justify the cost – not for the full version. I find PSE9 does all I need, just a bit clunky on the tagging sometimes…
I’ve been thinking about getting Lightroom so I downloaded the trial of Lightroom 3. SOooo glad I tried it before buying. WAY TOO CONFUSING for me! I’ve used PSE3 through PSE7 and love the program so I’m sticking with it. I do all my organizing in my Windows using subfolders and find it really easy. As far as editing, for me, everything in PSE so much easier than Lightroom — staying with PSE and loving it.