NX2 or Adobe Photoshop??

<p>Depends on your style.</p>

<p>I find that LR is enough for me. I think NX is the better one but it is not as tidy as LR - you can import pix, edit and print and export and keyword and organise anyway you please. </p>

<p>For the very few pix I might use PS or and NX. But it is a mess how you collate them back into your main database. The two cannot read each other so you might end up with TIF, there might be a workaround who knows .....</p>

<p>PS there is also PS Elements if you don't use PS much. </p>

<p>What I try to do to limit the messiness is create extra folders like PS folder and a HDR folder and a Pano folder and lump my files there. So those are my messy folders. I don't do much of those, so 98% of mine are elsewhere in LR itself (edit wise).</p>

<p>You might also want to give Bibble ( http://www.bibblelabs.com/ ) a look. I've used NX2 and Photoshop as well over the years, but have settled over the last year+ on Bibble as being right for me as my main tool. I find that it has the mix of capabilities and features that work for me, I like the output that I get, and it does a good job of matching my preferences on workflow in post processing.</p>

<p>While I am a long time user of iMatch (www.photools.com) for the asset management end of things, the just released version of Bibble also includes asset management.</p>

<p>As do the others discussed, Bibble is available for trial download.</p>

<p> Mark</p>

<p>Peter - the 16bit tiff is if you use the 'open with' option and open it in photoshop, not a huge problem, and the presence of blending layers is also interesting.. in the end even using none of the tools other than exposure and colour correction, the level of detail it creates makes it worth using. Although just playing around with it for an hour this evening it has already crashed, and i dont think ive had a crash out of photoshop ever!! ah nikon :)</p>

<p>If you want to try NX2, be aware that it needs a fast processor. I tried it a few months ago, liked it a lot, but it ran waaaaay too slow with my Pentium 4. With my new Core 2 Quad, it's much nicer. I might even buy it this time as soon as the 60 day trial runs out.</p>

<p>NX2 is a good but still a limited program compared to PS. If you are running CS4 like I am, PS will read .NEF files just fine so it goes from a two step to one step process.</p>

<p>My preference is PS CS4. I like the process of digitally developing images on the computer because I am then forced to think about how my shots integrate with that process. I am sure that NX2 is a great program, but I like having the option to coordinate my PS efforts with an entire Adobe production suite. How often will I "need" this kind of workflow? Maybe not that often, but it's nice to know that the software is ready to keep up with my learning curve.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>NX2 is a good but still a limited program compared to PS.</p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>Capture NX is not intended nor ever was intended to replace PS; it can't.</p>

<p>While the U-Point technology is novel and interesting in some ways, it is NOT what sets NX<br>

apart and (above) PS or Lightroom. (nef files only)</p>

<p>The RAW conversion when using Nikon's proprietary RAW file (nef) is not only converted with the camera settings intact, the process itself is<br>

superior when dealing with (it's) own files. The algorithm and codecs are written specifically for nef's.</p>

<p>NX "see's" the Nikon camera settings as they are..as they can be and as if they never existed.<br>

The option is entirely left to the photographer.<br>

This is something I find extremely valueable and something PS can not accomplish.</p>

<p>There may be some people who have a "one size fits all" PP program, I am not one of them; I use and need both.<br>

I shoot Nikon Digital, I need NX for initial processing; and sometimes thats all I need.<br>

Sometimes I need to export as a TIFF to PS for further editing such as text, channel masking etc...</p>

<p>Yes, I agree that NX's interface is a little clunky, but ya get used to it with repetition..it often operates in reverse of PS with some functions, so I;m sure that biases many users against.<br>

I can say personally I do not like PS's interface whatsoever when working on RAW files...Too ham fisted for me.</p>

<p>I make the vast majority of my edits in NX2 and only open Photoshop now on rare occasions.</p>

<p>How about starting for $0/€0? Get the hang of things, and then decide. Maybe this free option does all you ever need anyway - not everybody has a need for many options (let alone full Photoshop); to spend quite a bit on software that doesway more than you actually want/need is a waste; the price difference is easily that of a 35 f/1.8 :-)<br>

ViewNX to get the same quality comversions RAW to TIFF as Capture NX2 can deliver, and Paint.NET if you need further editing. Both free.<br>

Photoshop Elements, already suggested, is also a very good and economic option.</p>

<p>But I like and use Capture NX2 a lot myself. It does nearly all I usually need. Too bad the trial of Capture NX2 stopped working.I had a similar thing with it, but luckily after 21 days, when I was already convinced enough.</p>

<p>Others suggest Lightroom here, and while I haven't used that program, I am using ACDSee pro 3, which I have understood is about the same, but for less money. ACDSee pro 3 keep youd images in order in a database where you can add all sorts of data, and you can also touch up your photos indestructively (the original is stored in a folder in the same folder). I find it very convenient and it has revolutionized my workflow. You can download a 30-day trial.</p>

<p>I used Photoshop years ago when I was shooting film and scanning it. When I ran out of money for film I stopped shooting. A little over a year ago I got a DSLR (D90), tried NX2 and have not used Photoshop since. While I appreciate the power available in Photoshop, I prefer the quick and simple adjustments I can make in NX2. I agree that NX2 is not a model of stability. I often restart after working for a couple of hours as things slow down and can freeze.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>NX2: clunky, not very stable, not good when you take more than one photo per shoot. But, hey, you can get your Nikon color mode to be the same as the camera's! Just like you shot JPG, but with more steps!</p>

<p>I've spent quality time with all these programs. Here's my take. Photoshop and programs like Photoshop, that can do a lot of editing on one photo at a time and have really basic batch processing, are not good on their own. What are you going to use to sort the photos? Windows? Good luck with those NEF files.</p>

<p>NX2 is a (slight) upgrade over that, because it has its own file browser that can at least preview NEFs. But it becomes very clunky very quickly when you want to sort files. It's also not as good as Lightroom because there are too many steps - find the file, open the file, edit the file, save the file.</p>

<p>The photo organizer in Photoshop Elements 8 is an upgrade over that. You can preview, sort (by date, event, people in the photo, etc) and rate photos and move between the organizer and Adobe Camera Raw and the Elements editor.</p>

<p>Lightroom is better still. It manages your file imports, allows you to sort photos in various ways, do things like pull up a display of all photos tagged as flowers that you've rated 4 stars or better, and puts the Adobe Camera Raw functions and some other editing tools in the file browser. You don't need to open the image files - you browse to them, see the preview, make tweaks, and they're saved to LR's database. You can select files in Library view then switch to Slideshow, Web Export or Print view to batch output. You can also use Lightroom and Photoshop or Photoshop Elements together by doing your sorting and tweaking in Lightroom then hitting "Edit In Photoshop".</p>

<p>If you have the money for it, Lightroom is a no brainer. If you want to save, you can go with Elements - the browser is sort of a "Lightroom Light" and the editor is "Photoshop Light", and Adobe Camera Raw is included. Don't bother with NX2.</p>

<p>I've been happy with Lightroom although I also purchased CS4 last year and beginning to learn it. Also kind of gave up on the Nikon software a while back. That's not meant to bash, it's just true. But your actual mileage may vary and what type of OS can be a factor as well. These days, my household runs on Macs but regardless of what you choose, avail yourself of the opportunity to use a trial version of software to see what works best for you.</p>

<p>"NX2: clunky, not very stable, not good when you take more than one photo per shoot. "</p>

<p>I guess you never figured out the batch mode. I often process 150+ photos at a time without problems. Yes, the browser isn't great, but it's pretty easy to integrate IDImager into an NX2 workflow.</p>

<p>Batch modes are great when you need to do the same thing to a number of photos. Which I seldom do. If you want to see, and do work on, a number of photos, it's fast in Lightroom and slow in NX2. If you want to pull up 12 of your favorite B&W portraits, it's fast in Lightroom and in NX2... well, you can't.</p>

<p>If you absolutely need the color to look just like a camera JPG, you can do it a bit better in NX2.</p>

<p>I use Adobe Photoshop CS4 Adobe Camera RAW for processing NEF files. I also have Nikon Capture NX2, but don't use it because the user interface and speed on my computer are not acceptable. I am not sure I would use it if speed were faster because batch processing a large number of images where they all have different settings is impossible with NX2, but very easy with ACR (Adobe Camera RAW). </p>

<p>I typically open an entire folder of NEF files at one time (several hundred) and make adjustments to each image with ACR and then click the "Done" Button which saves the settings for use in processing the files. I then run an "Action" in Photoshop that applies the RAW settings I saved to each image and any other thing I want applied during the processing (PTLens correction, etc) and saves the compled image in a folder I select. I can't do this with NX2. </p>

<p>I also have the ability to develop custom DNG camera profiles for use with ACR for processing the NEF files, you can't do this with NX2. The default camera profile I use was developed using X-Rite Passport and Adobe's free DNG profile editor. I have never been satisified with the RED I get using Nikon profiles and this solved the problem. </p>

 

<p>"Batch modes are great when you need to do the same thing to a number of photos. Which I seldom do. "</p>

<p>I use batch to add my standard editing steps, then I go in and tweak adjustments and make individual edits to each photo. Just because it's added in batch doesn't mean that I leave everything the same, nor do I produce resuts that are the same as in-camera jpgs. </p>

<p>Robert, maybe you did not understand. I make adjustments on each individual image using ACR and then process the images using an "Action" in Photoshop CS4. </p>

<p>Another good thing about Photoshop and its relatives (Lightroom and Elements) is that, because they are industry standards, there are vast resources available for them in the form of books, articles in magazines and on the Internet, and third-party plug-in software.</p>

<p>If you search "Capture NX" under books at Amazon, you get 97 hits, and if you search "Photoshop," you get 17,691. Of course there aren't really that many different books about either program. In both cases the hits include duplicates and things that are out of print or only tangentially related. But the 200-to-1 ratio is impressive.</p>

<p>Ok i tried most i really love PSCS4 but in no way will i ever shell that kind of money out for software thats just insane! So i tried the trial version of Lightroom and hoped it had a similar layout as of PS but it wasnt i didnt enjoy the layout really bugged me. So i shelled out 120$ on NX 2 from B&H and im really loving this program i mean it doesnt have everything i need but it has majority of what i need. Its easy to use and very straight forward which i love what i will miss is being able to put text in the pictures, making a border for the pictures , and working with layers. BTW thanx for all the advice very helpful.</p>