Comments on: Lightroom vs. Aperture… again http://www.natcoalson.com/blog/2010/02/17/lightroom-vs-aperture-2/ Photography, Lightroom & Photoshop Tips & Tricks, Fine Art Digital Printing, Photo News and Commentary Sat, 17 Dec 2011 14:52:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Nat Coalson http://www.natcoalson.com/blog/2010/02/17/lightroom-vs-aperture-2/comment-page-4/#comment-1720 Nat Coalson Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:18:24 +0000 http://www.natcoalson.com/blog/?p=836#comment-1720 raphy - thanks for your comments. In Lightroom, you Import the pictures to view them (same as iPhoto) and when viewing them you're actually seeing previews rendered by Lightroom. The original files on the hard drive are read "by reference"; the pixel data are never modified. Lightroom has loads of features that make finding and sorting your photos incredibly easy. You can use any and all photo metadata to filter and sort photos in Lightroom. Finally, Lightroom Collections allow you to group your photos any way you want, regardless of how the files are actually organized on the hard drive. I'm sure you'll love Lightroom... good luck! raphy – thanks for your comments. In Lightroom, you Import the pictures to view them (same as iPhoto) and when viewing them you’re actually seeing previews rendered by Lightroom. The original files on the hard drive are read “by reference”; the pixel data are never modified. Lightroom has loads of features that make finding and sorting your photos incredibly easy. You can use any and all photo metadata to filter and sort photos in Lightroom. Finally, Lightroom Collections allow you to group your photos any way you want, regardless of how the files are actually organized on the hard drive. I’m sure you’ll love Lightroom… good luck!

]]> By: raphy http://www.natcoalson.com/blog/2010/02/17/lightroom-vs-aperture-2/comment-page-4/#comment-1716 raphy Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:13:44 +0000 http://www.natcoalson.com/blog/?p=836#comment-1716 Nat, thanks for this post! You're absolutely right about iPhoto. I've been using it for some years now. My library has grown up to 14k images. Now my MBP is out of storage and I need a new solution. LR3 seems like to be the preferred solution around the web, but what really still puzzles me is how the pictures are actually viewed in LR3. What i loved about iPhoto is the simplicity in which you can see your pictures. With the events, albums and so on. it is just really nice to get a short view of nearly all your pictures. How does this work in LR3? For example when I am looking for a picture I don't exactly remember when I shot it. Do I need to browse through all my folders (which would be a bit of a pain) or is it similar to iPhoto where I can work my way through the albums really quickly.... thanks for your answer! Nat,

thanks for this post!
You’re absolutely right about iPhoto. I’ve been using it for some years now. My library has grown up to 14k images. Now my MBP is out of storage and I need a new solution. LR3 seems like to be the preferred solution around the web, but what really still puzzles me is how the pictures are actually viewed in LR3. What i loved about iPhoto is the simplicity in which you can see your pictures. With the events, albums and so on. it is just really nice to get a short view of nearly all your pictures. How does this work in LR3? For example when I am looking for a picture I don’t exactly remember when I shot it. Do I need to browse through all my folders (which would be a bit of a pain) or is it similar to iPhoto where I can work my way through the albums really quickly….
thanks for your answer!

]]> By: Nat Coalson http://www.natcoalson.com/blog/2010/02/17/lightroom-vs-aperture-2/comment-page-4/#comment-1653 Nat Coalson Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:00:21 +0000 http://www.natcoalson.com/blog/?p=836#comment-1653 Bob, Lightroom is a parametric editor, which means it performs image adjustments using text-based (metadata) instructions. Photoshop and Elements are pixel editors; they perform numeric adjustments directly to pixel values. Lightroom excels in image management and organization as well as applying "develop" adjustments to enhance/optimize the majority of your photos. You can fix image distortion, apply dodging and burning, and do basic retouching in Lightroom. However, there may be times when you need something that Lightroom can't do. FOr example, ths use of layers and masks is still specific to Photoshop. For this reason, I recommend also having some version of Photoshop available... and in fact, the combination of Lightroom and Elements is very powerful and may just give you all the tools you'll need to perfect all your photos. Don't let Lightroom's full name mislead you, though... Adobe Photoshop Lightroom does not come with Photoshop or vice versa; they are completely separate programs. Bob,
Lightroom is a parametric editor, which means it performs image adjustments using text-based (metadata) instructions. Photoshop and Elements are pixel editors; they perform numeric adjustments directly to pixel values. Lightroom excels in image management and organization as well as applying “develop” adjustments to enhance/optimize the majority of your photos. You can fix image distortion, apply dodging and burning, and do basic retouching in Lightroom. However, there may be times when you need something that Lightroom can’t do. FOr example, ths use of layers and masks is still specific to Photoshop. For this reason, I recommend also having some version of Photoshop available… and in fact, the combination of Lightroom and Elements is very powerful and may just give you all the tools you’ll need to perfect all your photos. Don’t let Lightroom’s full name mislead you, though… Adobe Photoshop Lightroom does not come with Photoshop or vice versa; they are completely separate programs.

]]> By: Bob Charlton http://www.natcoalson.com/blog/2010/02/17/lightroom-vs-aperture-2/comment-page-4/#comment-1652 Bob Charlton Wed, 27 Jul 2011 01:35:51 +0000 http://www.natcoalson.com/blog/?p=836#comment-1652 Nat, I am an iMac user but I gave up on iPhoto after about 18 months as I watched it get slower and slower to open as the library grew. I opened a new folder in Documents for my photos and have uploaded all new photos there sine then. I also moved all my photos out of iPhoto in that same folder. I have dozens of files and realize that I need some software to help me manage the photos and make it easier to find them I will be moving to a new iMac shortly and it was my intention to purchase Aperture with the new machine. As I read reviews and user comments, I have become less inclined to do that. I have also started investigating Lightroom 3 and found your blog and the ensuing comments of great interest. I notice that Adobe refers to this product (If I am looking at the same product you are discussing here.) as Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3. Does that mean that Photoshop is part of Lightroom and if so, to what extent? I have been using Photoshop Elements 3 for years and been very happy. I have become very used to tools such as Clone, Healing Brush, Dodge and Burn along with Image Rotate, Skew and perspective, not to mention the selection of filters. None of the videos or reviews on Lightroom I have seen mentions anything about these sorts of adjustment tools. Are they included in Lightroom or do I need to get PSE and use it as an external editor to supplement Lightroom? Nat,

I am an iMac user but I gave up on iPhoto after about 18 months as I watched it get slower and slower to open as the library grew. I opened a new folder in Documents for my photos and have uploaded all new photos there sine then. I also moved all my photos out of iPhoto in that same folder. I have dozens of files and realize that I need some software to help me manage the photos and make it easier to find them

I will be moving to a new iMac shortly and it was my intention to purchase Aperture with the new machine. As I read reviews and user comments, I have become less inclined to do that. I have also started investigating Lightroom 3 and found your blog and the ensuing comments of great interest.

I notice that Adobe refers to this product (If I am looking at the same product you are discussing here.) as Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3. Does that mean that Photoshop is part of Lightroom and if so, to what extent?

I have been using Photoshop Elements 3 for years and been very happy. I have become very used to tools such as Clone, Healing Brush, Dodge and Burn along with Image Rotate, Skew and perspective, not to mention the selection of filters. None of the videos or reviews on Lightroom I have seen mentions anything about these sorts of adjustment tools. Are they included in Lightroom or do I need to get PSE and use it as an external editor to supplement Lightroom?

]]> By: Bob Charlton http://www.natcoalson.com/blog/2010/02/17/lightroom-vs-aperture-2/comment-page-4/#comment-1651 Bob Charlton Wed, 27 Jul 2011 01:16:52 +0000 http://www.natcoalson.com/blog/?p=836#comment-1651 Thank you for your article which I have just read. Although brief, your replies to previous comments have filled it out a good deal and has helped me, more than a lot I have read, in trying to decide how I should proceed. I am about to purchase a new iMac to replace an older iMac that does not appear capable of handling the demands of video editing. I have also purchased a Sony a55V camera and it seems that the software to handle Sony RAW files is not supported by my existing machine, whereas the new machine will. I have been using PS Elements 3 for many years and been very happy with it, and intended to purchase the current version for the new computer. I abandoned iPhoto after about a year of adding photos and finding it took longer and longer to open. I started loading photos to a documents file I opened expressly for that purpose and over time, I moved all my iPhoto files into that file. It would appear that I will have no difficulty using Lightroom to manage and edit those files. It had been my intention to purchase Aperture 3 with the new computer, but the more I read about it, the less I am inclined to do so. At the same time, the more I read about Lightroom 3, the more inclined I am to go with it. Visiting Adobe's web site, I see they refer to it as Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3. Does that mean that Photoshop forms part of the Lightroom package? If so, to what extent? I have become quite used to using some of PSE's tools such as Clone, Image Skew, Perspective, Rotate as well as its bank of filters. None of the demonstration videos touches on any of those sort of adjustments and I wondered if they are available with Lightroom, or do I have to have Photoshop as an external editor if I want those tools? Thank you for your article which I have just read. Although brief, your replies to previous comments have filled it out a good deal and has helped me, more than a lot I have read, in trying to decide how I should proceed.

I am about to purchase a new iMac to replace an older iMac that does not appear capable of handling the demands of video editing. I have also purchased a Sony a55V camera and it seems that the software to handle Sony RAW files is not supported by my existing machine, whereas the new machine will.

I have been using PS Elements 3 for many years and been very happy with it, and intended to purchase the current version for the new computer. I abandoned iPhoto after about a year of adding photos and finding it took longer and longer to open. I started loading photos to a documents file I opened expressly for that purpose and over time, I moved all my iPhoto files into that file. It would appear that I will have no difficulty using Lightroom to manage and edit those files.

It had been my intention to purchase Aperture 3 with the new computer, but the more I read about it, the less I am inclined to do so. At the same time, the more I read about Lightroom 3, the more inclined I am to go with it.

Visiting Adobe’s web site, I see they refer to it as Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3. Does that mean that Photoshop forms part of the Lightroom package? If so, to what extent?

I have become quite used to using some of PSE’s tools such as Clone, Image Skew, Perspective, Rotate as well as its bank of filters. None of the demonstration videos touches on any of those sort of adjustments and I wondered if they are available with Lightroom, or do I have to have Photoshop as an external editor if I want those tools?

]]> By: Peach http://www.natcoalson.com/blog/2010/02/17/lightroom-vs-aperture-2/comment-page-4/#comment-1650 Peach Sun, 17 Jul 2011 18:00:30 +0000 http://www.natcoalson.com/blog/?p=836#comment-1650 Your advice is great if one steals software, rendering the cost of buying the product irrelevant. For Honest people, it comes down to relatively short trial periods or the actual purchase of a non-refundable item. Additionally, some people don't have the luxury of unlimited free time to try all of the available editing programs out there to any significant extent. Reading professional reviews by people who do have the time and knowledge can steer one in the right direction much more quickly and cost effectively. Finding ways to save time is important for amateurs and hobbyists who have a family and a real job. Your post actually steered me closer to Lightroom due to your tone. Thanks for helping me decide! Your advice is great if one steals software, rendering the cost of buying the product irrelevant. For Honest people, it comes down to relatively short trial periods or the actual purchase of a non-refundable item. Additionally, some people don’t have the luxury of unlimited free time to try all of the available editing programs out there to any significant extent. Reading professional reviews by people who do have the time and knowledge can steer one in the right direction much more quickly and cost effectively. Finding ways to save time is important for amateurs and hobbyists who have a family and a real job. Your post actually steered me closer to Lightroom due to your tone. Thanks for helping me decide!

]]> By: Eric Siegfried http://www.natcoalson.com/blog/2010/02/17/lightroom-vs-aperture-2/comment-page-4/#comment-1648 Eric Siegfried Wed, 13 Jul 2011 04:38:33 +0000 http://www.natcoalson.com/blog/?p=836#comment-1648 Here is my take on the subject, I am a photographers assistant with 21 years experience and I've learned from a friend of mind, who has been doing digital work since its inception, is that to stop relying on what you see or read everyone else is using and try what works best for yourself and your needs. In other words, stop being like sheep and following what everyone else does and be your own person. We processed the same RAW file into a TIFF using Canon Digital Photo Professional, Aperature, Capture One, Iphoto, and Prieview, (yes I said Preview) and guess which one looked the best in 3 different peoples opinion....Aperature and the Preview Tiff looked better than the others. Also, when printing photos with Aperature vs. Photoshop, the printed images looked much better printing through Aperature over Photoshop. So stop being sheep and test things out for yourself. Don't have the monkey see monkey do mind set. Here is my take on the subject, I am a photographers assistant with 21 years experience and I’ve learned from a friend of mind, who has been doing digital work since its inception, is that to stop relying on what you see or read everyone else is using and try what works best for yourself and your needs. In other words, stop being like sheep and following what everyone else does and be your own person. We processed the same RAW file into a TIFF using Canon Digital Photo Professional, Aperature, Capture One, Iphoto, and Prieview, (yes I said Preview) and guess which one looked the best in 3 different peoples opinion….Aperature and the Preview Tiff looked better than the others. Also, when printing photos with Aperature vs. Photoshop, the printed images looked much better printing through Aperature over Photoshop. So stop being sheep and test things out for yourself. Don’t have the monkey see monkey do mind set.

]]> By: Bill Koplitz http://www.natcoalson.com/blog/2010/02/17/lightroom-vs-aperture-2/comment-page-4/#comment-1626 Bill Koplitz Tue, 31 May 2011 16:02:02 +0000 http://www.natcoalson.com/blog/?p=836#comment-1626 I keep coming back to this question to get opinions on both programs. I've been using them both since they were first released and have gone through all the releases. My work machine was a windows when I was working as a staff photographer and my personal machine is a Mac. There are things that I like about both programs and for me it's still a toss up with no clear winner. But there are things I like and dislike about both programs. You are right though, it's really complicated to try to work with both programs. I keep coming back to this question to get opinions on both programs. I’ve been using them both since they were first released and have gone through all the releases. My work machine was a windows when I was working as a staff photographer and my personal machine is a Mac. There are things that I like about both programs and for me it’s still a toss up with no clear winner. But there are things I like and dislike about both programs. You are right though, it’s really complicated to try to work with both programs.

]]> By: Nat Coalson http://www.natcoalson.com/blog/2010/02/17/lightroom-vs-aperture-2/comment-page-4/#comment-1625 Nat Coalson Wed, 11 May 2011 00:04:35 +0000 http://www.natcoalson.com/blog/?p=836#comment-1625 <a href="#comment-1622" rel="nofollow">@ben corin </a> Hi Ben - Thanks for commenting. From what you describe I suggest you'd be best sticking with Aperture, at least for the time being. With that many images in your library, and the way you're processing and presenting them with slideshows, switching to Lightroom would require a lot of time and energy that could better be spent working on your photos. That said, I strongly recommend that whichever software you choose that you always use the most recent version. Staying with old versions of software to avoid the minor costs or learning curve is a severe hindrance. Get Aperture up to date and keep going with what sounds like the excellent work you've been producing. You can use Aperture to work with all your scanned slides too. Good luck and feel free to keep in touch! @ben corin
Hi Ben -
Thanks for commenting. From what you describe I suggest you’d be best sticking with Aperture, at least for the time being. With that many images in your library, and the way you’re processing and presenting them with slideshows, switching to Lightroom would require a lot of time and energy that could better be spent working on your photos. That said, I strongly recommend that whichever software you choose that you always use the most recent version. Staying with old versions of software to avoid the minor costs or learning curve is a severe hindrance. Get Aperture up to date and keep going with what sounds like the excellent work you’ve been producing. You can use Aperture to work with all your scanned slides too. Good luck and feel free to keep in touch!

]]> By: Nat Coalson http://www.natcoalson.com/blog/2010/02/17/lightroom-vs-aperture-2/comment-page-4/#comment-1624 Nat Coalson Tue, 10 May 2011 12:15:07 +0000 http://www.natcoalson.com/blog/?p=836#comment-1624 John - congratulations on your gift of Lightroom and thanks for your comment. The main thing to keep in mind is that Lightroom is a database program. When you import pictures, Lightroom creates records with information for all the images, including their location on disk. THE ACTUAL IMAGE FILES ARE NOT STORED IN THE LIGHTROOM CATALOG. After importing pictures to Lightroom, if they get moved, deleted or renamed from oustide Lightroom (in your file system, such as Mac Finder or Windows Explorer) then Lightroom can't find them. LIGHTROOM ALWAYS NEEDS TO HAVE THE CORRECT LOCATION OF THE FILES IN ORDER TO WORK WITH THEM. Files can also show as missing if they were located on a hard drive that is no longer connected. For new users, the Import process and the database concept are always the most challenging to master. It's all covered in my books, and I also teach classes and offer private, one-on-one instruction. Feel free to post questions or comments here, and good luck! John – congratulations on your gift of Lightroom and thanks for your comment.

The main thing to keep in mind is that Lightroom is a database program. When you import pictures, Lightroom creates records with information for all the images, including their location on disk.

THE ACTUAL IMAGE FILES ARE NOT STORED IN THE LIGHTROOM CATALOG.

After importing pictures to Lightroom, if they get moved, deleted or renamed from oustide Lightroom (in your file system, such as Mac Finder or Windows Explorer) then Lightroom can’t find them.

LIGHTROOM ALWAYS NEEDS TO HAVE THE CORRECT LOCATION OF THE FILES IN ORDER TO WORK WITH THEM.

Files can also show as missing if they were located on a hard drive that is no longer connected.

For new users, the Import process and the database concept are always the most challenging to master. It’s all covered in my books, and I also teach classes and offer private, one-on-one instruction.

Feel free to post questions or comments here, and good luck!

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