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Is PS Elements any good for RAW processing and editing? Elements is somewhat cheaper than LR and it also has a wider array of general imaging editing features. I don't do huge quantities of image processing, so I don't really need a pro-level organiser.
I have a Nikon DSLR (NEF) and a Panasonic LX5 (RW2) that I shoot RAW on.
I've been using NX-D for processing the NEFs up until now, but it does have it's limitations. Plus, I don;'t have a satisfactory way of processing RW2 images: I've just been using the iPhoto app on my Macbook, which is limited, to say the least.
Yeah, it's really good, I'm using it right now 🙂 Strictly amature stuff, but mate who is pro uses it all the time, photoshop for the really funky stuff but LR for the majority. you can get a free trial to give it a go
It will process raws bit it's not the ideal tool for the job.
I use dxo for processing then elements for editing:
LR is for developing images; PS is for editing. If you want/need to do any ‘cutting up’, then get PS and live with its dev limitations. Maybe try something free like Darktable for more compact dev controls.
As per earlier comments you are comparing two very different things. Lightroom is brilliant for developing images and making them look as good as possible. It's great if you want to improve your contrast, sharpness, colour intensity etc. Photoshop (or Photoshop elements) is principally an editing program, there are settings for developing but nowhere near as good as Lightroom. You have to decide what you want to do with your images first.
Yep, very different. Lightroom very good for workflow and lots of images. Photoshop better for specific adjustments. Elements is watered down but still works well. Have used all of them and they work very well together but you cant really compare.
Personally, the photography plan which is £7 a month giving you lightroom and full photoshop is really good value.
Lightroom very good for workflow and lots of images. Photoshop better for specific adjustments.
PS is editing - cutting up, adding objects/layers, manipulating specific areas of an image and so on, with somewhat limited and clunky controls for developing. LR is for easily and quickly developing photos - adjusting exposure, colour, contrast, with a few editing features like split-tone, vignette and lens corrections.
Another free option is RawTherapee.
I'm well aware they are two different pieces of software: However, the question is really whether PS Elements is any good at RAW processing.
RAW Therapee: What's wrong with it? It's free, so there must be a reason why people pay for Lightroom, instead?
The differences have been quite clearly described for you up there, but 'any good' seems to really be boiling down to your own needs. Why not just get a trial of each and decide for yourself?
I use PS and Lightroom for different things. I'd hate have not use one of them, but if I did I drop LR and use Photoshop with the NikFX free package to do the Dev stuff.
Photoshop does let you do work on RAW images initially but pretty soon you have to go to .psd
NikFx download here: https://www.google.com/nikcollection/
I’m well aware they are two different pieces of software: However, the question is really whether PS Elements is any good at RAW processing.
It's all relative, but in short, no.
Fair enough, thanks.
I've just tried Raw Therapee and the photos are very noisy, compared to opening them in iPhoto. Perhaps that's why it's not as common as LR.
Dxo made it's name with noise reduction. I believe they have a free trial.
Perhaps I'll give it a go. The odd thing is the photos aren't noisy at all, in iPhoto, but become noisy when opened in Raw Therapee.
What version of Mac OS are you on? iPhotos was scrapped a long time ago. Have you tried the Photos app? I just had a quick look and it seemed OK.
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: 12px; background-color: #eeeeee;">The odd thing is the photos aren’t noisy at all, in iPhoto, but become noisy when opened in Raw Therapee</span>
Sounds like User Error. Raw Therapee is a well regarded raw conversion s/w so I'm sure it doesn't introduce noise where none is present.
I'm in the latest version of the Mac OS.
Regarding user error: I didn't actually do anything. I simply opened up an image in one and then the other.
Have a go with a trial of Affinity Photo - gets excellent reviews and works with RAW files...
https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/photo/
I'm just getting back into photography and I'm going to give on1 raw a go I think, hopefully looks like a simplified best of both worlds. They do a free month so maybe worth a go@
The default profile in RawTherapee is designed to be fairly plain. It shows the image without much processing, so you can start from there to make it look how you want. So it probably won't look much like the JPEG from the camera.
It is worth trying the different profiles, to see if they look better. If you set the profile to "Default ISO High" it will have more noise reduction.
I've downloaded a trial of DXO and quite like it: Is it worth splashing out for the "Elite" version, compared to the "Essentials" version?