Why do we all end up using Lightroom?

pwm2 wrote in post #17128015
But why not use Lightroom for content management then, and Photoshop for the editing? Because Lightroom is clearly better at content management than Photoshop is.

Other than the capability of seeing images on "off-line" drives why is LR clearly better than Bridge for content management?

D Thompson wrote in post #17128085
Other than the capability of seeing images on "off-line" drives why is LR clearly better than Bridge for content management?

Have Bridge got a database?

Shooting wrote in post #17127996
Not me, I tried it and hated it. Why process in Lightroom and then you have to go into Photoshop for other editing and special effects work you cannot do in Lightroom. Why use 2 softwares when you can do them all in one - just my idea anyway. I don't need Lightroom and will never go to it, doesn't impress me one bit.

pwm2 wrote in post #17128015
But why not use Lightroom for content management then, and Photoshop for the editing? Because Lightroom is clearly better at content management than Photoshop is.

Exactly. Lightroom is an amazing content management/mild touchup software wrapped all into one. I can even export straight to FTP and/or Facebook to share with my family.

pwm2 wrote in post #17128161
Have Bridge got a database?

But how does that make LR better than Bridge other than seeing images on off-line drives? You can set ACR up to save the settings in a database rather than xmp file, but I assume that's not what you're referring to. If you set up a decent folder hierarchy in Bridge and use keywords, collections, and smart collections then how does LR outdo it other than off-line images? Just curious.

I like LR. It is easy to use and does everything I need it to perfectly adequately. I have no inclination to spend time learning something else which does the same thing... I'd rather be at the beach.

Shooting wrote in post #17127996
Not me, I tried it and hated it. Why process in Lightroom and then you have to go into Photoshop for other editing and special effects work you cannot do in Lightroom. Why use 2 softwares when you can do them all in one - just my idea anyway. I don't need Lightroom and will never go to it, doesn't impress me one bit.

Well, one reason might be an unwillingness to subscribe to the cloud. Seems like a lot of people will be looking for alternatives to PSCC or spending the rest of their lives with whatever PSCS they have now. Since, so far as is known now, a version of LR will remain on perpetual license, that will be the only way they can stay abreast of improvements in ACR.

tzalman wrote in post #17128942
Well, one reason might be an unwillingness to subscribe to the cloud. Seems like a lot of people will be looking for alternatives to PSCC or spending the rest of their lives with whatever PSCS they have now. Since, so far as is known now, a version of LR will remain on perpetual license, that will be the only way they can stay abreast of improvements in ACR.

They've dropped the idea that Lightroom will move to cloud as well. They're market testing with cloud mobile that was integrated with Lightroom a few months ago. Just so you know... The CC is the future of the product.

And you'll have no choice but to join because you can't upgrade your gear and still have the ability to work with the new camera CR2 files unless you have the latest version.

CRCchemist wrote in post #17129326
And you'll have no choice but to join because you can't upgrade your gear and still have the ability to work with the new camera CR2 files unless you have the latest version.

You will as long as Adobe still provides the DNG converter. Of course, there's always DPP along with a host of other RAW converters.

That's not what pwm2 is talking about. Lightroom runs an sqlite database under the hood; its that database that enables you to view/manage files while they are off-line. That can't be done in ACR/Bridge.

At one point there were significant differences between Lightroom and Bridge. Then the gap started narrowing but recently it has widened again.

Here are some of the significant advantages of Lightroom over Bridge as I see it:

1. Smart Previews - allow you to edit files that aren't connected to your computer....once reconnected the editing is updated in your files. In previous iterations of Lightroom you could only edit metadata and view image previews while offline; now you can edit both metadata and image content without having to carry around your files; all you need is a copy of your catalog.

2. Match Total Exposure - a totally underrated feature that allows you to take a series of similar raw files and change the exposure to match a reference file. So if for example you shoot a 3 or 5 shot bracket and one shot is the ideal exposure. You can select the bracket with the one shot as the reference, and Lightroom will change the calculated exposure for the other shots. This is a big deal for people who shoot events, sports, etc where you might need to shoot in bursts.

3. Virtual Copies - allow you to create multiple versions of a single file with little disk cost (a VC occupies about 5 kb space). ACR/Bridge has Snapshots but its not the same thing as virtual copies...A snapshot is a capture of your file settings at a specific point in editing and you can't revert a snapshot to the original file settings as you can with a virtual copy. Incidentally Lightroom also has Snapshot feature.

There are also lots of other features like geotagging and the Book features that aren't available in ACR/Bridge.

The only places I see where Bridge/ACR is superior to Lightroom is in the Output module when making proofs (although in newer versions of Bridge its removed and is now a separate download) and the speed in generating file previews. And that's because Bridge is a file browser whereas Lightroom is a database. Also Bridge's workspaces are customizable while Lightroom's are not.

D Thompson wrote in post #17128709
But how does that make LR better than Bridge other than seeing images on off-line drives? You can set ACR up to save the settings in a database rather than xmp file, but I assume that's not what you're referring to. If you set up a decent folder hierarchy in Bridge and use keywords, collections, and smart collections then how does LR outdo it other than off-line images? Just curious.

I was pretty sure that wasn’t what pwm2 was referring to but wanted to clarify. I guess I’m just questioning his statement “Because Lightroom is clearly better at content management than Photoshop is”. Take away the off-line drive capability and I’d guess they’re pretty close as far as content management itself. The off-line drive capability just doesn’t seem that big of a deal to me. Neither does (#1) Smart Previews that allows you to edit off-line images. I guess they’d be handy if you use more than one machine, but I only use one pc. I have backups on off-line drives, but it’s a simple thing to power them on if I need something from one of them.

#2 Match Total Exposure is a nice feature, but that’s more toward editing than content management.

#3 Virtual Copies versus ACR Snapshots – ACR Snapshots also allow multiple versions with little disk cost because the info is stored within the xmp file. Pretty simple to revert to the original file settings in ACR – simply hold the Alt key which will change the Copy button to Reset which resets back to the settings originally opened in. Of course if you click Done before resetting your original settings are gone. However, a simple thing to make the original settings the first Snapshot.

I’d rather have the editing power of Bridge/ACR/PS than what few differences LR offers. I know lots of people use both and that’s fine, I just don’t feel the need to have LR when I’ve used CSx for so long. Granted at some point in the future I may have to make a decision to go CC or LR, but not yet.

D Thompson wrote in post #17129359
You will as long as Adobe still provides the DNG converter. Of course, there's always DPP along with a host of other RAW converters.

Oh!! Use the DNG converter. Brilliant!!!!!

D Thompson wrote in post #17129822
I was pretty sure that wasn’t what pwm2 was referring to but wanted to clarify. I guess I’m just questioning his statement “Because Lightroom is clearly better at content management than Photoshop is”. Take away the off-line drive capability and I’d guess they’re pretty close as far as content management itself. The off-line drive capability just doesn’t seem that big of a deal to me. Neither does (#1) Smart Previews that allows you to edit off-line images. I guess they’d be handy if you use more than one machine, but I only use one pc. I have backups on off-line drives, but it’s a simple thing to power them on if I need something from one of them.

#2 Match Total Exposure is a nice feature, but that’s more toward editing than content management.

#3 Virtual Copies versus ACR Snapshots – ACR Snapshots also allow multiple versions with little disk cost because the info is stored within the xmp file. Pretty simple to revert to the original file settings in ACR – simply hold the Alt key which will change the Copy button to Reset which resets back to the settings originally opened in. Of course if you click Done before resetting your original settings are gone. However, a simple thing to make the original settings the first Snapshot.

I’d rather have the editing power of Bridge/ACR/PS than what few differences LR offers. I know lots of people use both and that’s fine, I just don’t feel the need to have LR when I’ve used CSx for so long. Granted at some point in the future I may have to make a decision to go CC or LR, but not yet.

There's another pro photog here that has your workflow of ACR -> Photoshop. I know it's because he has heavy edits with his line of work and Lightroom just provides for your basic editing. Nothing wrong with it. When I showed him my Photo Mechanic -> Lightroom workflow, he didn't like it. I can't do his workflow because I need to geotag everything and input IPTC data before editing, and I only perform minimal edits. So I wouldn't do all the fun photoshop stuff even if I wanted to.

CRCchemist wrote in post #17130798
There's another pro photog here that has your workflow of ACR -> Photoshop. I know it's because he has heavy edits with his line of work and Lightroom just provides for your basic editing. Nothing wrong with it. When I showed him my Photo Mechanic -> Lightroom workflow, he didn't like it. I can't do his workflow because I need to geotag everything and input IPTC data before editing, and I only perform minimal edits. So I wouldn't do all the fun photoshop stuff even if I wanted to.

Oh I know I'm in the minority of non-LR users here. I started with PSv6 and started using Bridge/ACR when they were added. It's a workflow that suits me and as yet there is nothing that LR offers that I see value in. I also like the Adobe Photo Downloader, accessed from Bridge or create a shortcut, which allows me to rename and copy files to a second drive upon import.

It seems that a lot of comparisons of LR versus PS fail to include features in Bridge and ACR. They both have a lot of features available. Anyway, use whatever works for you.

I, too, am in the minority with Dennis.

As with Dennis - whatever works for you is what is best for you!

kirk

D Thompson wrote in post #17131205
Oh I know I'm in the minority of non-LR users here. I started with PSv6 and started using Bridge/ACR when they were added. It's a workflow that suits me and as yet there is nothing that LR offers that I see value in. I also like the Adobe Photo Downloader, accessed from Bridge or create a shortcut, which allows me to rename and copy files to a second drive upon import.

It seems that a lot of comparisons of LR versus PS fail to include features in Bridge and ACR. They both have a lot of features available. Anyway, use whatever works for you.

Well, I know (through my friend) that Adobe Camera Raw is actually 90% identical to the develop module of Lightroom. It just doesn't have the little brush, the spot remover, and the radial and graduated filters. It has everything else. So it's just about the same thing and Bridge is 90% identical to the library module of Lightroom too.