Do I need CS6?

I've got LR4 currently, and I've been thinking about adding CS6. I was thinking of purchasing a HDR plugin for LR4, but that costs $100. I can get CS6 Extended for $229 (student edition), so I was thinking that may be a better option since it will allow me to do more editing that I can do in LR4 (like background changes, and more detailed editing). Can anyone help convince me one way or another? I'm just not sure what to do.

Hello William
I have only recently purchased CS6 myself, so I cannot tell you that you do or don/t need it. I will only pass on my reason for purchasing it, maybe it will help your decision.

I have used LR with NIK plugins for a couple of years. They work great and I was very happy with them.
In the last year, I have been taking several classes. It seemed like all of the photogs were using LR and finishing their images in Photoshop - that still did not convince me, I was happy with my images.
Yet, Lately there are things that only a pixel editor could do to help me reach a little further with my images. I fretted over whether to make the move to such a complex and time consuming software as CS6. I took a local class on CS6 to see if I might be able to us it and make the cost of purchase/time of learning worth it.
Well, it is obvious I decided it was worth it. You will need to make the same decision for yourself.

Just beware that Adobe has some strict policies on renewing their products....

One MUST fundamentally first understand that what LR does is NOT the same as what Adobe Creative Suite does. Consider that the range of functions to be found in various software consists of the following
1.RAW conversion (takes .CR2 files to JPG or TIFF)
2.Management of the digital photo database (a.k.a Digital Asset Management)
3.Manipulation of photo zones (areas)
4.Pixel-level photo and graphics manipulation

Now let us look at what each program does...
•Photoshop started as #4 aimed strongly at graphic artists, but then later...

•In creating Creative Suite (CS), Adobe started with Photoshop module as Super #4, and added Adobe Camera RAW module for #1, and Bridge module for #2, and also beefed up the photo manipulation with #3. Bridge has less robust features for #2, compared to what LR can do.

•Adobe bought rights to RAW Shooter as #1, and fleshed it out with #2, to create and launch Lightroom 1. It later added #3 capabilities (Brush) in LR3. Note that LR lacks #4, and most folks use simpler programs like Elements or Paint Shop Pro for pixel-level editing needs, to supplement what LR can do.


So when you consider 'LR or CS?', one needs to carefully consider the breadth of software capabilities that will be needed.

The most commonly used RAW convertor on POTN is Lightroom; the RAW conversion within CS is #2. https://photography-on-the.net/forum/...6#pos​t13665896

I don't know if anyone has done a 'which most commonly used pixel editor on POTN' thread.

CS is far, far more expensive than LR, in both the initial purchase and later in updates. LR updates are typically $99, while CS updates are considerably more expensive...per the Adobe site, if you currently own CS 5.5, upgrade to CS6 Design Standard costs $275! The fact that you initially might have purchased CS at a student price has absolutely no bearing on the cost of later upgrades.

If you own LR, you can easily add pixel-level editing capabilities (like Photoshop has) via inexpensive programs like Elements or Paintshop Pro,

Wilt wrote in post #15516868
If you own LR, you can easily add pixel-level editing capabilities (like Photoshop has) via inexpensive programs like Elements or Paintshop Pro,

I would also suggest adding PSE now, for the following reason: The current version of PSE has quite a few of the most frequently used features from CS, and it will take you a significant amount of time to explore those tools and become proficient at them. By the time you "outgrow" the capabilities of PSE, Adobe will have released one (or more) new versions of CS. PSE has become a very capable tool, and some people find that it is more than enough for their particular photo-editing needs.

While I use CS far more than any other tools, I can still get by with an old version of elements (PSE4) that I have on an old laptop. If I had the current version of PSE on a decent laptop, I'd be golden. Instead, I do most of my work in CS3 (I will probably upgrade to CS6, but that is not an urgent necessity for me right now).

Will Elements do HDR? Thanks for the replies so far.

Elements does have an HDR tool, but I no longer have/use Elements, so I can't comment on its features.

By the way, the Canon software Digital Photo Professional also has an HDR feature, which you could check out.

I would go with CS6 myself because you get HDR capability and a whole lot more. Layers and blending modes are so much more powerful than anything you can do in lightroom. The two are also pretty tightly integrated so you can start in lightroom, make your edits, take it to CS6 and do some more and finally back to Lightroom for the finishing touches. From an HDR standpoint, I would say the Nik HDR software is better than the Photoshop alternative, but it really depends on where you want to go with HDR. If you are just looking for the ability to make natural looking HDR pictures, then CS6 does pretty well (and you can also go the blending route as an alternative). If you want to test the artistic extremes of the method, then CS6 is lacking.

One advantage of CSPS for HDR is that you can take the 32bit file back into LR4.x for further processing. I'm not sure if you can do it from CSPS5 or if you need version 6 for that. I saw that on one of the Adobe TV channels that I was watching yesterday. One of the Julienne Kost programs I think.

Alan

BigAl007 wrote in post #15519900
One advantage of CSPS for HDR is that you can take the 32bit file back into LR4.x for further processing. I'm not sure if you can do it from CSPS5 or if you need version 6 for that. I saw that on one of the Adobe TV channels that I was watching yesterday. One of the Julienne Kost programs I think.

Alan

To use the HDR, Pano, Blend and Smart Object tools with CS5 from Lightroom, you need a special upgrade for Camera Raw -- it's version 6.7.0.339. You have to download and install it, it's not an automatic update.

I personally find LR4 to be a mega waste if time if you don't need the massive catalog system. If you only work on your best select photos, and not massive batches, then CS6 is a much more logically organized system. I've been using Photoshop since version 3 back in the 90's. CS6 can take 1/20th the amount of time to get better results.

Does the latest version of elements allow for full 16bit editing? If not, that Iis one more reason to go with CS6. Also, CS6 supports really aggressive multithreading on multi-core computers.

Anytime you can get CS6 at a student discount and your a photographer, there should be no question about whether or not you should get it. If you can afford to spend $230 this is such a great program that you should invest in it if you plan on doing any editing. LR is great for organizing and handling very minor adjustments, but CS6 is my go to program for most things.

I have actually found since using LR4 that I only need to use PS for less than maybe 5% of my shots. Even when having to use PS I still bring the PSD file back into LR for final "output". Printing from several versions of PS has always been hard work and softproofing was even worse. LR4 just makes printing, softproofing and everything else a doddle. Making sure output colour spaces are correct for the intended use is simple.

Tony I have that version of ACR with my CS5 but have not tried the integration with panos/HDR's etc. What did confuse me at first is that as a smart object it supports Process 2012, but without being able to adjust anything that would change tones set with the 2012 controls. So you cant use local brushes on the smartobject RAW layer without reverting the process level. I did not realise that you could though still use other tools while retaining the latest process version.

Alan

Al, it's true that you're stuck with the old process version in ACR, oh well. I'd just be "smart" about how you do it!

But the "smart filters" in PS could be a benefit if you are used to working with smart objects.

But, have you verified that the other modes are availible in the LR->Photoshop functionality? The the Pano, HDR and Blend modes are available (not greyed out)? That was a relief when the ACR update enabled those!

Thank you for the replies everyone. I'm not sure which way to go right now. I can get the student/teacher price at any time, so that's not an issue. I'm just curious as to whether or not I'll take advantage of all CS6 has to offer.

whmeltonjr wrote in post #15526640
Thank you for the replies everyone. I'm not sure which way to go right now. I can get the student/teacher price at any time, so that's not an issue. I'm just curious as to whether or not I'll take advantage of all CS6 has to offer.

What's keeping you from trying the 30 day CS6 trial? It is fully functional.