PSE or Lightroom

Hi, just wondering if Lightroom is easier to use than PSE for just playing with your colours and generally up lifting your photos, i have Elements 11 and must admit i find it a bit hard to use for just the minor things and the videos i have seen on Lightroom seem to show it being a lot more user friendly, is this the case?
Thanks.

I use LR for processing RAW shots that I then export to Corel Paint Shop Pro for tweaking.

PSP is a great programme as it caters for those looking for a quick fix and those who wish to exert more control. I would assume that PSE is similar?

But LR is really, for me anyway, a RAW processor.

Why not try a free download of LR and PSP and have a play!

All the best.

Hi Brian, with Simonmac on using LR and although PP is not my strong point you are right in that the number of video guides on the net does make the learning curve less painful. Its been a long time since I used PSE but I think whatever you use its a case of getting accustomed to the work flow and I do find LR for me does make more sense.

Brian

I've just started using Lightroom as my Raw processor and tool for making basic adjustments to levels, colour balance, etc. For for detailed stuff i still use PSE (v. 12 in my case). While I'm still in the learning phase with Lightroom, I think that it has a lot going for it, BUT I will still need PSE (or similar) for some of the detailed stuff particularly around cloning. Lightroom is very good for organising images and making 'batch' changes to a number of images - it's far better than PSE for this.

Overall, I don't think that it's a case of one being clearly better than the other - they do slightly different things, but are complimentary.

Phil

I use Lightroom for 'developing my photos' (which is of course where it got it's name/ digital version of the film darkroom). I might be old fashioned in this area, but I shoot RAW on my DSLR and 'process' everything through to the final output I'm after. My 'workflow' doesn't include any of the on camera JPEG adjustment options, as I do all of that in post.

I don't preach about this though, everyone is free to use their camera as they want. I'm all about the final image and aren't particularly worried about how you got there (unless I find it really cool and will bug you for more info about how you achieved the image )

I use photoshop for manipulating my photos, ie:

https://www.pentaxuser.com/photo/user-17064/star-wars-pic-90194
https://www.pentaxuser.com/photo/user-17064/epic-eagle-85819
https://www.pentaxuser.com/photo/user-17064/a-moonlit-shag-78576

And for any attempts at texture etc.
https://www.pentaxuser.com/photo/user-17064/whiskey-jug-collection-71757
https://www.pentaxuser.com/photo/user-17064/st-paul-s-cathedral-dome---gladiator...

Bottom line is Lightroom doesn't do layers, for which you'll need Photoshop or other such editor. Everything manipulated in Photoshop will then be polished in Lightroom, either before or after the manipulation.

Whereas Photoshop does everything including graphic design etc, Lightroom is tailored specifically for developing photos, and managing things that photographers might want managed.

I hardly ever go near photoshop, unless there's something that requires manipulating further than the included clone type tools in Lightroom allow.

Very well put

I use PSE. I read a couple of books when I first got it many moons ago, and now know it pretty well. With the help of add-ons (or even without) you can achieve a lot with PSE.

There is a vast online resource for both LR and PSE to help you understand them both.
I know some people who do indeed use both since PSE can do things LR can't and vice versa.

I once bought LR in a sale, along with a how to book, but tbh after reading the book the thought of moving my catalogue over to LR and working out how to do things in LR, which didn't feel very intuitive to me, put me off and I never got into it. I don't have the money now for a subscription so will be sticking with PSE.

Thanks all for the reply's, i think i will probably give PSE a bit longer and try to get into it a bit more with the help of you tube and PSE 11 for dummies as some light reading!!! and if i find it to complicated for just the easier bits i might give Lightroom a go.