Camera RAW in Photoshop CS6: - How about this for a RAW processor?

fotofanish

New member
I've just started taking RAW pics with my new D3100.
Now, I'm trying to decide the best software for RAW processing.
Lightroom seems to be popular, but if I take it on, I've got a heckuvva lot of learning to do. (Old dog and all that)

So, why shouldn't I use Camera Raw (9.1.1) in Photoshop CS6? I've used Photoshop for years and know it pretty well.

Advice would be welcome :)
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I've just started taking RAW pics with my new D3100.
Now, I'm trying to decide the best software for RAW processing.
Lightroom seems to be popular, but if I take it on, I've got a heckuvva lot of learning to do. (Old dog and all that)

So, why shouldn't I use Camera Raw (9.1.1) in Photoshop CS6? I've used Photoshop for years and know it pretty well.

Advice would be welcome :)
If you don't want/need Lightroom's cataloging features, I can't think of any reason NOT to use ACR and Photoshop. I've tried to love Lightroom a couple times but I kept going back to Photoshop.
.....
 

fotofanish

New member
Thanks, Horoscope Fish. Yeah, you've confirmed up what I suspected about LR. It seems unnecessarily complicated compared with ACR and PS. Maybe it's just another revenue stream for Adobe. On that note, I've just seen a webpage that says ACR 9.1.1 will be the last update, so if we want full features, Lightroom might be unavoidable unless we use the DNG converter and some other app.
 
I used ACR/Photoshop for years and it is great. I recently started using Lightroom mainly for the cataloging features but as I learn to use LR I am finding it is really just ACR on steroids. It does take some study just like Photoshop does to learn how to use it. I still have to go into Photoshop sometimes just to get certain features but most editing can be finished in LR. Also on the ones that I do go to PS to work on I just save it and then return to LR to finish. If you do nothing else then at least start by with importing the files from your SD card onto the hard drive through LR and adding a keyword or two when you do so that you can find them later. I wish I had done that years ago and it would save me lots of time now.
 
Thanks, Don. When you say 'adding a keyword or two' are you referring to the Cataloging feature that Horoscope Fish mentioned?

Yes. Generally I put the place, event or person. Just to be able to look up the photos later. It had gotten to the place with me that I would be looking for a photo and would not be able to find it. Now I can type in zoo and get all my zoo photos or put in my wife's name and see all the photos of her. Just makes it easier to find things.




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fotofanish

New member
Update: Lightroom seems to get a lot of attention on the net, so I thought I should study it up and see what the fuss is about. Now, after a week of intensively studying training videos, I have to admit that it's not as dauntingly complex as I thought. However, I'm making a point of trying to fully understand its basics before I actually grab my 3100 and try some realtime, real-life experimenting, much as I'm tempted to try what I've learned so far. :)
 
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