Which Program Is Proper for You? • PhotoTraces
Which program is greatest, Adobe Digicam Uncooked vs Lightroom? And which do you have to use to your images workflow?
On this article, I’m going to share a radical comparability of those two packages. I’ll focus on all the important thing options, from modifying capabilities and file varieties to digital asset administration and integration.
By the point you’re completed, you’ll know which program is best for you – and I’ll even clarify how one can successfully combine each packages into your modifying workflow.
Let’s get began.
What Is Adobe Digicam Uncooked?
Adobe Digicam Uncooked (ACR) is a RAW file converter. It turns a RAW file right into a extra versatile file sort, resembling a TIFF, JPEG, or perhaps a PSD – so that you could simply preview, share, or edit your work.
ACR started as a Photoshop plugin, permitting photographers to open RAW information, convert them in Digicam Uncooked, then proceed with modifying in Photoshop. However it quickly turned a everlasting fixture of the Photoshop atmosphere (manner again in 2003, when Adobe first launched Photoshop CS).
Since then, Digicam Uncooked has gone by means of loads of iterations. As we speak, it provides lots of of modifying choices, together with fundamental publicity changes, fundamental coloration changes, and focused (native) changes through brushes and filters. Whereas ACR can’t match the expansiveness and depth of Photoshop, and whereas it’s technically nonetheless a Photoshop plugin, it now packs the ability of a standalone editor.
What Is Lightroom?
Lightroom is a picture modifying and digital asset administration (DAM) program supplied by Adobe.
Not like Adobe Digicam Uncooked, Lightroom is cut up into a number of modules, every with a chosen perform. As an example, you get a picture library (for importing and organizing pictures), a Develop module (for making edits), a Print module (for making ready pictures for print), and extra.
Lightroom was initially labeled “Photoshop Lightroom,” with the aim of high-volume picture processing that simply wasn’t doable in Photoshop. Word that Lightroom’s builders took the (already current) Adobe Digicam Uncooked and caught it into Lightroom’s Develop module – so the modifying options in each packages are functionally similar, with the identical sliders, the identical adjustment instruments, and as of the newest main replace, the same modifying structure.
In different phrases:
In relation to modifying, ACR and Lightroom are primarily the identical program.
That stated, there are some vital variations, particularly in terms of workflow and digital asset administration (and I focus on these in depth beneath).
The Benefit of Nondestructive RAW Enhancing
Each Digicam Uncooked and Lightroom are nondestructive RAW editors, which suggests they alter RAW information with out overwriting the unique picture.
So in case you improve the publicity in ACR or Lightroom, you’re not truly brightening the unique pixels; as an alternative, you’re writing the adjustments to a picture catalog (Lightroom) or to a sidecar file (ACR).
The unique RAW picture is at all times stays untouched.
Why is that this vital?
It means that you would be able to make as many adjustments as you wish to your information, but you’ll by no means destroy the unique. The whole lot is reversible. In case your tastes change otherwise you make a mistake, you possibly can at all times reset the edits and begin over.
Additionally, ACR and Lightroom (together with Lightroom Basic, Lightroom, and Lightroom Cellular) all acknowledge each other’s catalogs and sidecar information – so you possibly can edit in a single program, swap to a different, and head into a 3rd with full continuity.
And since ACR and Lightroom presets are the identical, you possibly can import any Lightroom presets into ACR and vice versa.
What Are the Benefits of Lightroom?
As I defined above, Lightroom and ACR provide similar modifying packages.
However Lightroom provides a degree of performance on high of its modifying:
Digital asset administration.
In Lightroom, you possibly can import information of all kinds (together with each RAWs and JPEGs), then you possibly can manage them into completely different collections, give them key phrases, rankings, flags, and far, way more. And after organizing, you possibly can transfer into the Develop module to make edits, then again into the Library module for additional group, and so forth.
It is a big deal. It’s a approach to hold all the photographic workflow – from group to modifying to exporting – in a single place, and that is invaluable for newcomers, fanatics, and professionals. Plus, Lightroom isn’t simply a digital asset administration program, it’s the digital asset administration program, one which outperforms many of the different choices available on the market and is utilized by loads of world-class professionals.
Evaluate this to Adobe Digicam Uncooked, which incorporates zero group capabilities. You click on to open a file, you edit the file in ACR, and also you put it aside, export it, or proceed on to Photoshop. There’s no organizing pictures into folders or collections or anything. (You possibly can add a star score, nevertheless it’s not particularly helpful except you utilize Adobe Bridge, mentioned beneath.)
What Are the Benefits of Adobe Digicam Uncooked?
As you’re now conscious, Adobe Digicam Uncooked is generally only a portion of Lightroom that converts information for Photoshop.
However this does include some advantages.
For one, ACR doesn’t use a catalog; picture edits are saved alongside the unique RAW file. This may be helpful if you wish to share RAW information with one other pc – as an alternative of sending your RAW file plus the entire Lightroom catalog, you possibly can simply ship the RAW file and the sidecar file (which is conveniently positioned proper subsequent to the unique RAW).
(You can make Lightroom do that, nevertheless it takes some setup, plus it takes up further cupboard space.)
And two:
Adobe Digicam Uncooked is made for Photoshop, so it’s extremely straightforward to start out in ACR, do some modifying in Photoshop, after which (through Adobe’s Digicam Uncooked filter) make further adjustments in Digicam Uncooked.
Sure, Lightroom does provide Photoshop integration. However it’s not almost as handy because the ACR-Photoshop workflow, so for individuals who plan to spend a lot of time in Photoshop, ACR is very interesting.
Digicam RAW + Bridge vs Lightroom
For these of you who like Adobe Digicam Uncooked however are annoyed by the dearth of DAM capabilities, there’s a answer:
Adobe Bridge.
Bridge was launched again in 2005, and it’s simply a picture organizer – so it might probably act because the DAM companion to ACR’s modifying.
For photographers preferring to not use Lightroom, Adobe Bridge is a lifesaver. You possibly can manage pictures in Bridge, then do RAW conversions and fundamental edits in Adobe Digicam Uncooked earlier than making main changes in Photoshop.
Plus, Adobe Bridge is a picture organizing program that’s fully free.
Methods to Use Lightroom and Digicam Uncooked Successfully
Adobe Bridge is nice – however what if you wish to follow Lightroom for picture group, however you additionally need to have the ability to entry Adobe Digicam Uncooked? What do you do?
You possibly can mix ACR and Lightroom by means of a useful little workflow:
First, you import and manage your pictures in Lightroom.
Then, you may make fundamental changes within the Lightroom Develop module.
When you’re able to do higher-level changes, you possibly can right-click on a picture and choose Edit In > Open as Sensible Object in Photoshop.
Your file will open in Photoshop. You may make any Photoshop changes you want. And you’ll additionally use the Digicam Uncooked filter, which helps you to entry ACR inside the Photoshop interface.
Adobe Digicam Uncooked vs Lightroom: Conclusion
Adobe Digicam Uncooked and Lightroom are each glorious packages. The bottom line is to find out which one works for you.
Should you spend most of your time in Photoshop, ACR (plus Bridge) may be the higher alternative. However in case you want Lightroom’s modifying and group capabilities, you possibly can at all times work successfully with Lightroom and Photoshop – and, whenever you want it, the Digicam Uncooked filter!