Post Processing Software Confusion

Can someone please give me a description of what each of these software programs do? Do you need them all or are the capabilities similar enough that one will handle most post processing needs of a hobbyist photographer?

LightRoom
Elements
PhotoShop
DPP

I'm not including CS because it's too expensive for me.

Thanks.

In general, many use lightroom to catalog and postprocess photos globally.
That has changed slightly with LR5 with some welcome additions.

Specific changes, selections, masking, compositing, complex cloning and retouching, has to be done in Photoshop/Elements.

I would download the LR5beta and play with that to start with.

DPP is a raw converter/processor. - It takes a RAW file from your camera, allow you to do some limited editing and then lets you create a jpg. It comes for free with you your Canon camera.

Photoshop(PS) and Photoshop Elements(PSE) do the same thing. They are image editors for modifying your photos. They both include a way to organize photos. The difference is that PS is a much more professional grade tool than PSE.

Lightroom is an image management tool and non-destructive editor. It is primarily made for working with RAW(cr2) files from your camera.

I do 99% of my editing/management in Lightroom.

Download the beta for free and try it out.

Thanks for the insight. That helps clear things up a bit.

dalto wrote in post #15922491
I do 99% of my editing/management in Lightroom.

A side question if I may, is all of Adobe software going to the subscription model?

the jimmy wrote in post #15925315
A side question if I may, is all of Adobe software going to the subscription model?

My understanding is that everything in the creative suite except acrobat is subscription only.

Acrobat and Lightroom are available both ways.

Other tools like PSE are only available in traditional model.