CS3 + Lightroom or CS3 only?

Travis Ingle · 7th of May 2007 (Mon)

I have heard that the RAW editor in CS3 is much improved over CS2 so it makes me wonder if there would be any reason to get Lightroom if I am getting CS3 anyway if I am not going to really take advantage of anything else Lightroom has to offer other than RAW processing.

Sorry for the somewhat dumb question but I am still very new to post processing and am just curious if it is worth getting these items as a bundle vs. buying CS3 only if I am going to wish I had Lightroom later on down the road.

Thanks

ssim · 7th of May 2007 (Mon)

Lightroom is more for persons that are working towards a total workflow solution. If you are happy with th CR2 converter in CS3 and you don't see yourself using alot of the other options that Lightroom has to offer then it probably isn't for you.

Life is full of choices and you may very well be wanting Lightroom down the road somewhere. You can always add it at that point.

Galaxy99 · 8th of May 2007 (Tue)

I never get into lightroom even I have it. Now I have CS3, I use CS3 all the way for my PP workflow.

cosworth · 8th of May 2007 (Tue)

Lightroom doesn't do what I need. Simple.

Dchemist · 8th of May 2007 (Tue)

I like many of the aspects of Lightroom. I use it routinely to manage images from the CF card and move them to the computer while renaming them into a single folder. I also like it if I want to "tweak" a large number of images from an event shoot to post to the web or generate a set of proof prints. This is quite easy and much faster than using CS3. CS3 is still the choice if you want to really optimize and image. You can download Lightroom as a trial and this might be the way for you to get some exposure to it. Good luck, Dennis

sOid · 8th of May 2007 (Tue)

I like Lightroom alot, but it still has bugs and some other options would be great (like a synchronize function between my laptop and desktop).

But if I had to choose, I'd use CS3 for sure. Just download the trail and try it out

davidcrebelxt · 8th of May 2007 (Tue)

For me its the other way around... getting LR has saved me from having to spend the extra money to get CS3.

But I'd wondered this since they announced that the CS3 Raw conversion and LR's would be very similar, why would anyone need both? Not for Raw conversion particularly, unless you like the way the tools are implemented. My conclusion: Mainly for workflow and organization... so if you have a good comftorable workflow using CS3 that works for YOU, you proably wouldn't need to get Lightroom...

So unless you're planning to get it later anyway, and you can still find it for a discounted price... you may want to hold out until you see the need.

Travis Ingle · 8th of May 2007 (Tue)

Thanks for the replies. After looking into CS3's new ACR it looks like my two favorite 3 favorite features from Lightroom are already there so that's good (recovery, vibrance, fill light).

Lord_Malone · 8th of May 2007 (Tue)

I use both, but one could survive without the other. You can choose to use LR exclusively to streamline your workflow, or you can use ACR, Bridge and CS3 if you're already used to that set-up. I now use LR almost exclusively, but still find significant use for CS3. It's the best of both worlds IMO.

sando · 10th of May 2007 (Thu)

LR makes the workflow easier to understand. I still use CS2, though only when there's something I really cant do in LR.

7th of May 2007 (Mon)	#1
Travis Ingle Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 270 IMAGE EDITING OK	CS3 + Lightroom or CS3 only? I have heard that the RAW editor in CS3 is much improved over CS2 so it makes me wonder if there would be any reason to get Lightroom if I am getting CS3 anyway if I am not going to really take advantage of anything else Lightroom has to offer other than RAW processing. Sorry for the somewhat dumb question but I am still very new to post processing and am just curious if it is worth getting these items as a bundle vs. buying CS3 only if I am going to wish I had Lightroom later on down the road. Thanks

7th of May 2007 (Mon)	#2
ssim POTN Landscape & Cityscape Photographer 2005 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: southern Alberta, Canada Posts: 10,761	Re: CS3 + Lightroom or CS3 only? Lightroom is more for persons that are working towards a total workflow solution. If you are happy with th CR2 converter in CS3 and you don't see yourself using alot of the other options that Lightroom has to offer then it probably isn't for you. Life is full of choices and you may very well be wanting Lightroom down the road somewhere. You can always add it at that point. __________________ My life is like one big RAW file....way too much post processing needed. Sheldon Simpson \| My Gallery \| My Gear updated: 20JUL12

8th of May 2007 (Tue)	#3
Galaxy99 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: So. Cal Posts: 1,141 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: CS3 + Lightroom or CS3 only? I never get into lightroom even I have it. Now I have CS3, I use CS3 all the way for my PP workflow. __________________ Gear List

8th of May 2007 (Tue)	#4
cosworth I'm comfortable with my masculinity Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Westminster, Canada Posts: 10,924	Re: CS3 + Lightroom or CS3 only? Lightroom doesn't do what I need. Simple. __________________ jasonhollister.com Think your camera is noisy at high ISO? Click here People will always try to stop you doing the right thing if it is unconventional

8th of May 2007 (Tue)	#5
Dchemist Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Woodbury, Connecticut Posts: 1,632 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: CS3 + Lightroom or CS3 only? I like many of the aspects of Lightroom. I use it routinely to manage images from the CF card and move them to the computer while renaming them into a single folder. I also like it if I want to "tweak" a large number of images from an event shoot to post to the web or generate a set of proof prints. This is quite easy and much faster than using CS3. CS3 is still the choice if you want to really optimize and image. You can download Lightroom as a trial and this might be the way for you to get some exposure to it. Good luck, Dennis __________________ POTN Book Vol4 Astronomy Image Manager and BC Member 20D, 5DMkII, 50F1.4, 100F2.8 macro, 135F2, 17-40F4, 70-200F2.8, 24-105F4, 580EX

8th of May 2007 (Tue)	#6
sOid Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 207 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: CS3 + Lightroom or CS3 only? I like Lightroom alot, but it still has bugs and some other options would be great (like a synchronize function between my laptop and desktop). But if I had to choose, I'd use CS3 for sure. Just download the trail and try it out __________________ Gear Flickr Photoblog

8th of May 2007 (Tue)	#7
davidcrebelxt Goldmember Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Missouri, USA Posts: 2,935 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: CS3 + Lightroom or CS3 only? For me its the other way around... getting LR has saved me from having to spend the extra money to get CS3. But I'd wondered this since they announced that the CS3 Raw conversion and LR's would be very similar, why would anyone need both? Not for Raw conversion particularly, unless you like the way the tools are implemented. My conclusion: Mainly for workflow and organization... so if you have a good comftorable workflow using CS3 that works for YOU, you proably wouldn't need to get Lightroom... So unless you're planning to get it later anyway, and you can still find it for a discounted price... you may want to hold out until you see the need. __________________ David C. Equipment: Canon Dig. Rebel XT; 18-55mm EF-S; 28-105mm EF; 50mm 1.8 EF Sigma ef-500 DG ST, Elements, Gimp, Lightroom http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcrebelxt

8th of May 2007 (Tue)	#8
Travis Ingle Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 270 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: CS3 + Lightroom or CS3 only? Thanks for the replies. After looking into CS3's new ACR it looks like my two favorite 3 favorite features from Lightroom are already there so that's good (recovery, vibrance, fill light).

8th of May 2007 (Tue)	#9
Lord_Malone Cream of the Manpanties........ Inventor Great POTN Photo Book Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 7,670 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: CS3 + Lightroom or CS3 only? I use both, but one could survive without the other. You can choose to use LR exclusively to streamline your workflow, or you can use ACR, Bridge and CS3 if you're already used to that set-up. I now use LR almost exclusively, but still find significant use for CS3. It's the best of both worlds IMO. __________________ ~Spaceships Don't Come Equipped With Rear View Mirrors~

10th of May 2007 (Thu)	#10
sando Goldmember Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Derbyshire, England Posts: 2,863 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: CS3 + Lightroom or CS3 only? LR makes the workflow easier to understand. I still use CS2, though only when there's something I really cant do in LR. __________________ - Matt Chesterfield Wedding Photography \| Twitter \| LinkedIn \| Facebook 5DmkII \| 17-40 \| 24-105 \| 580EXII

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