I have Paint Shop Pro X5 with Topaz plugins and Elements 11 with Nik package plugins. Is there some reason I would just LOVE to have Lightroom? Photo organization is nearly non-existent on my computer so is LR worth the money for that or should I just get my act together and figure out an organization plan?
Lightroom???
- Thread starter Lscha
- Start date
Fred Kingston_RIP
Senior Member
I thought Elements had an organizer ??????
Whiskeyman
Senior Member
I can't answer your question because I don't use Topaz Plugins or Paintshop Pro. I do use Elements 11, Lightroom 3, and PhotoShop 4 to a fraction of their benefits.
You could try the 30-day free trial of Lightroom 4 currently available on the Adobe website, and really determine if it would help you. If you don't like it, you don't have to buy it.
WM
You could try the 30-day free trial of Lightroom 4 currently available on the Adobe website, and really determine if it would help you. If you don't like it, you don't have to buy it.
WM
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Yeah, I heard that too!
I don't use Elements as much as PSP. Did I mention maybe I should get my act together?Lightroom is an excellent portfolio organizer that will give you the ability to categorize all your images as well as store and back them up as a complete catalogue. Even though I use Photoshop for most of my editing, I absolutely need LR simply for the easy of organization. That should be more than enough of a reason to own a copy
(...did that help your rationalization?)
(...did that help your rationalization?
)Yes, Dave, that helps. I am taking about 50 to 100+ pictures a day and all in raw. I am running out of room on my computer (149 GB) even after I filled up a 64 GB thumb, ordered another one and deleted hundreds today. This is cutting into my shooting time but I guess it needs to be done. I did move all my barns to a folder called 'barns'. That's a start.
I am taking about 50 to 100+ pictures a day and all in raw. I am running out of room on my computer (149 GB) even after I filled up a 64 GB thumb, ordered another one and deleted hundreds today. This is cutting into my shooting time but I guess it needs to be done. I did move all my barns to a folder called 'barns'. That's a start.In addition to LR I would suggest you dispense with the smaller backups and use 3TB external HD's. The price per GB can't be beat. I'm working on my 3rd drive and shopping for a 4th. Every now and then Amazon will lower the price of the Seagates down to the awesome price of $99, at which point it's a no brainer.
Another thing LR has is the print module and the web book (although I've not yet used the web book) and for back up ability is nice. I allows both the back up of your images as well as their catalogue data that is comprised of all the non-destructive changes that you make.
Another thing LR has is the print module and the web book (although I've not yet used the web book) and for back up ability is nice. I allows both the back up of your images as well as their catalogue data that is comprised of all the non-destructive changes that you make.
Yes, Dave, that helps.
There are a couple of features of Lightroom that you might find useful based on these comments. The first is to have separate catalogs. An example of this is I have one for images from Europe. The second feature is Collections. Within the Europe catalog, I have defined country Collections based on the metadata. If you look at the lower left corner of the screenshot below, you can see the collections in use. If you look at the grey box near the top, you can see how you can also use metadata to further refine selection.
I just set up directories and subdirectories using Windows Explorer and my own little system for organizing things. I organize things by subject type, nature, scenic, people, etc, then build sub directories based on type and date. It works for me but your mileage may vary. Whatever system that makes sense to you is what you should use.
As for Lightroom, I downloaded the 30 trial a couple of months ago on a lark and to be honest I was not impressed. I removed it from my computer after about a week of fiddling with it. PS5 allows me to do so much more than Lightroom that I could not see spending any more money on a graphics program.
As for Lightroom, I downloaded the 30 trial a couple of months ago on a lark and to be honest I was not impressed. I removed it from my computer after about a week of fiddling with it. PS5 allows me to do so much more than Lightroom that I could not see spending any more money on a graphics program.
Yes, Dave, that helps.
Good thing I wasn't sipping anything when I read that...:applouse:
I have PSP5 and Lightroom and now I have all my pictures in one huge folder called "My Lightroom Pictures" sheesh.
The biggest problem I am having is coming up with clever names like "Barn" without being redundant like "Red Barns, brown barns, barns falling down, barns about to fall down."
I have so many folders with the word motorcycle in it that it is getting to be a chore to be creative while going insane.