Please rate (1 to 10 scale) these 4 photo editing software packages....

<p>This will be for 90% of the stuff pro's do all the time to touch up photos (crop, color balance/enhance, HDR, archieve, etc.)</p>

<p>A) Lightroom 3<br />B) Paintshop Pro X2<br />C) Photoshop CS5<br />D) Photoshop Elements 9</p>

<p>1 is poor and 10 is excellent</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>You can download 30-day trials of the Adobe products, and maybe PS Pro as well. This is the sort of question that can best be answered from your own experience. I will say, though, that downloading the original beta of Lightroom addicted me, but I still use CS4 for panos, pixel editing, adding text and photo borders: about 2-5% of my workflow.</p>

<p>B) PSP Pro X2 - 8 <br>

D) PS Elements - 7</p>

<p>Can't comment on the other 2.</p>

<p>Rate them on performance, features, ease of use, or performance/cost ratio?</p>

<p>Not sure how useful this is since everyone's experience, needs and skills are different. Plus the main goal of each is different. For example, Lightroom is a workflow tool that provides basic editing. CS5 is a full-scale editing tool used by pros. Elements is a lightweight version of Photoshop that works very well for basic users. (I don't have experience with Paintshop).</p>

<p>For me, all my photos are maintained and cataloged in Lightroom. I do 99.9% of my editing in LR. I also have PSE.</p>

<p>A) Lightroom 3 - 10 <br />C) Photoshop CS5 - 10<br />D) Photoshop Elements 9 - 7</p>

 

<p>What works excellent for me may not work for you. So, as Phil says, try for yourself and see what works for you. And consider there are more interesting packages out there.<br /> One thing to add, 3 of the 4 are more "pixel editors"; they can do all that you list, but RAW editors with some workflow built-in are typically much better tailored at that, in my view. Lightroom fits that description, but also worth mentioning are CaptureOne, or Bibble.<br /> For example, (maybe the newer versions improves it) with Photoshop Elements 6 I could not copy the edits from one RAW file onto a load of others (i.e., batch-change the whitebalance), or zoom in on RAW images I am watching full screen. Such things slowed me down when I wanted to get a bigger number of files done. No, I am not a pro, but with photos from a few weddings, I ran hard into these PS Elements limits, and switched to ViewNX with CaptureNX2 since.<br>

(note: I never do HDR, so none of my software does that actually)</p>

<p>Can’t comment on Paintshop. <br>

Elements and Photoshop are similar in they are pixel editors. One’s got a lot more features, many you may not need (that be Photoshop). Its the premier pixel editor. <br>

Lightroom is a different package. Its not a pixel editor, its essentially a raw editor (parametric metadata editor) for producing pixels you may or may not end up altering in Photoshop or Elements. Its a DAM (Digital Asset Manager) and has modules for printing making it somewhat like a stand-alone print engine (what some incorrectly call a 3rd party RIP). <br>

They do different things at different points in a possible workflow. So while I’d give Lightroom a 10 because I use it the most, and Photoshop a 9+ for the tasks it provides that LR doesn’t, its important to understand what the products are designed to provide. </p>

<p>Lightroom (+ Aperture, CaptureOne, Bibble, etc.) are great for doing that first 85%. That last 15% is where you need the pixel-level capabilities of Photoshop, Elements, GIMP, etc. For example, you mention HDR. Lightroom doesn't really do multiple-image things like compositing, stitching, HDR natively. But it's a champ for batch RAW processing & DAM, then you can use it to launch Photoshop, etc. for those relatively few images that require the defter touch. There are also third-party plugins for PS and Lightroom.</p>

<p>You mention 'pros'. Different pros would have different needs. HDR is more in the realm of the landscape/architecture 'pro' while batch processing large number of images would be something an event shooter would make more use of.</p>

<p><strong>A) Lightroom 3</strong><br>

12* ; ) excellent use by a lot of photographer whatever the skill or knowledge, pro or hobbyist. Excellent pair with CS5 or even Element. I think anyone that shoot digital should use it.</p>

<p><strong>B) Paintshop Pro X2</strong><br>

XX* Cant say anything about this software. I read sometime user talk about it when they compare free software or less expensive one.. no pro i know use it. More use by hobbyist.<br>

<br /><strong>C) Photoshop CS5</strong><br>

1000* excellent. use by a lot of photographer whatever the skill or knowledge, pro or hobbyist. Could be too much for most user non pro, Element is then a better choice for price and quality. The learning curve is extremely steep, could take years to correctly learn how to use it. Overkill for most, this is why i think Lightroom + Element is a better combo in 2011 for most user. Old timer like me cant let Photoshop, and most if not all Pro use it because it is THE standard in the graphic world / photo world.</p>

<p><strong>D) Photoshop Elements 9</strong><br>

12* ; ) excellent use by a lot of photographer whatever the skill or knowledge, more hobbyist than pro use it. Excellent pair Lightroom, but also really good by itself.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>if you are putting Lightroom 3 on this list then Aperture 3 should be as well. And their primary function is a DAM as said before. What editing capability they can do directly is limited (but still powerful) but they are truly powerful when used with PhotoShop or plug-ins like Nik, etc.<br>

As editors only:<br>

Lightroom 3 - 8<br>

Aperture 3 - 8<br>

PhotoShop Elements 9 - 9<br>

PhotoShop CS5 - 10<br>

Nik Plugins - 10<br>

OnOne Plugins - 10<br>

Topaz - 9</p>

<p>With that said I do 90 percent of my editing in either Aperture or Lightroom then export those that need a plugin or PhotoShop for the other 10%</p>

<p>LR = 9<br>

PS CS5 = 3<br>

PSE 9 = 6</p>

 

<p>If I had to choose just one, it would be Photoshop plus ACR. But I don't have to choose just one.<br>

I use Lightroom 3 for 90% of the work up front work and when needed, I go to Photoshop. Photoshop/ACR and Lightroom 3 have some overlap in functionality yet each has unique functionality with different product focuses.<br>

Why ask if you want a hammer or a screwdriver. I want both.<br>

Have not used the other two software packages so no comment on them.</p>

<p>The short and best answer has already been given: download LR and PS from the Adobe web site and try them yourself.<br>

I suggest you go to lynda.com. This is the best way I know to learn about the programs.<br>

I would have said Lightroom 2 without hesitation when it came out, because it does 95% of what most pros need. If you are an event photographer, LR made everything easier. If you are shooting several hundred images and need to get through them, PS was a drudge with CS.<br>

LR 3 is even better, although not shockingly so, but by now, my answer has changed to PS CS5. Why? Because Bridge and Camera RAW, which come with it, have incorporated many of the things Adobe learned from developing LR and, for my working style, I like the Bridge, RAW, PS collection of tools better than LR. And if you need to do more than the 95%, you need PS.<br>

LR is probably easier to learn right out of the box (and this might be a very good reason to choose it over PS). LR is less expensive. <br>

With CS5, you can use Bridge and Camera RAW just as you would use LR for digital asset management (selecting, rating, tagging and organizing your images) and manipulating your images in a non-destructive workflow. This will do most of what you would need to do. And when you are ready, you can use PS. <br>

I have not mentioned the slideshow, print and web features of LR, since I never used them.</p>

<p>10. photomechanic<br>

9. CS2 and Capture NX2<br>

1. all the rest</p>

<p>I'd give a solid 9 to both Lightroom 3 and Photoshop CS 5. Can't comment on the other two. I use Lightroom for about 90-95% of my editing (and Photoshop for the remainding 5-10%). I highly recommend the Nik Software plug-ins, which are available for both Photoshop and Lightroom. Before getting the Lightroom plug-ins, the ratio between Lightroom and Photoshop in my photo-editing was probably more something along the lines of 75-25.</p>

<p>I only use CS5 and it is my third upgrade. It is a 10 and maybe a 12, because it has more capabilities that I have yet to tap.</p>

<p>I see you're still working through this one, Wade. You get some props for doing research, but I'm not sure you're going to get the answer you want until you decide what you want out of the solution. There are some very different prooducts here - and I can only give you my opinion. I am a "dedicated amateur", spending much of my spare time on a photography habit, but turning almost no revenue, so that's a perspective that is important:<br>

A) Lightroom 3 - for just sorting, culling & basic editing - 8, for heaving editing - 5<br />B) Paintshop Pro X2 - as a less expensive solution that does 90% of PS for a fraction of the cost - 9.5; for sorting, culling, etc. - a 6<br />C) Photoshop CS5 - wonderful tool, but I don't need that extra 10% (of what I need)<br />D) Photoshop Elements 9 - for what it does, an 8; for heavy editing - 6<br>

As I mentioned in the previous thread, you already have a copy of PS licensed, and for me that would help me make the call. I don't think a single solution is the way to go - and there are a lot of combinations to choose from. Whatever you choose you'll end up with your personal workflow and style. Also, I've been in the software side of the IT world for 25 years, and the one thing I can tell you is that WHATEVER you choose, somethiing will leapfrog it in the next x number of days. Doesn't matter - choose a workflow and make it work for you.</p>

Though I've used Photoshop for 10 years, three years ago I switched to Lightroom and am far more

productive and get better results for <a href= "http://www.citysnaps.net/">my photography</a>. It's a

much better tool. Today it's rare when I need to drop back into Photoshop.

<p>Hi Wade:<br>

Of the Adobe products, I would rank PS5 highest. You have within it camera raw and the bridge plus you can get some super add-ons like Viveza 2 and Siver Efex Pro 2. PS Elements does an excellent job, but is limited. It comes with bridge and camera raw. I'd put it second UNLESS you don't need the full functionality of PS; otherwise, I would put it first. Lightroom does what Bridge and Camera Raw do, although much better; however, it can't do what PS does such as allow use of layers, masks, selections, filters, smart objects, all sorts of ways to do sharpening, etc. I would rank it third.</p>

<p>Lightroom 3- 8<br>

Photoshop CS5- 10<br>

I do all of my basic editing (sharpness, exposure, masking, light) in Lightroom and then bring it into Photoshop CS5 for the rest. I use Nik Plugins as well which help a lot as well as Topaz. They are an amazing addition!</p><div></div>

<p>Photoshop is the ultimate for editing one image. </p>

<p>Lightroom is a fabulous application for processing a whole shoot (hundreds of images), making changes common to many images (adj. white bal, apply lens corrections, and much more), moderate edits to selected images, selecting, and processing the whole batch for output (export files for screen or print or whatever).</p>

<p>I process most every shoot in Lightroom. I handle a few selected images in Photoshop.</p>

<p>Both 9s or 10s in my book. Hope this helps.</p>

<p>All four programs are very good for what they do. Of the four, the only one I haven't used is PS Elements 9. Lightroom is a great product for people who have to process a great number of images. PS is good for more exacting work on an individual image bases, plus it is used as a full-blown art package by many computer artists. And PSP X2 is a surprisingly capable package, given its price. It's worth noting that the latest version is X3, but being a regular PSP X2 user, I really prefer it over X3 by a rather wide margin.</p>

<p>So it's hard to assign grades. But based on my success tempered by familiarity with each product I'd say:<br>

Lightroom: 8<br>

PSP X2: 9<br>

PS CS5: 8<br>

PS E 9: N/A</p>

<p>PSP X2 would have gotten a 10 from me if it handled 16-bit files better than it does. PS CS5 would have gotten a higher score if its user interface wasn't so damned unfriendly, besides it doesn't do everything it claims to do. I've used LR only lightly and, while I recognize it as a very capable product, I find its user interface confusing so it got an 8, and Elements got an N/A because I've never used it.</p>

 

<p>Lightroom and Photoshop: 10+</p>

 

<p>I only use PS CS5 and love especially the 10-30% I don't us. Overcapacity is a luxury I appreciate - just like with cameras - and cars!</p>