Adobe Photoshop vs. Adobe Lightroom Comparison Chart
by Jeffrey Sward
 
Attribute Photoshop with Separate Thumbnail Browser Lightroom
aa Introduced 1987 2007
ab Scope Manipulation, creation, and enhancement of single images. Pixel level perfection. Fine-tuning, retouching, precise local adjustments. Organizing and processing groups of photos. Quick access to frequently used controls.
Batch file renaming => File => Automate => Batch Library view
Brushes Selection from panels Some in histogram tool
Canned Workflow Actions Actions. Sequence most events for replay on next image None
Catalog None. Thumbnail tools such as Adobe Bridge or ACDsee build thumbnail views dynamically from file system. Lightroom catalog is fundamental to functioning of Lightroom, as it is the sole source of edits specifications.
Catalog Corruption Recovery N/A. No catalog. Adobe Bridge and ACDsee generate thumbnail views dynamically from full images in file system Elaborate catalog recovery process necessary. Recovery not always possible.
Clone Clone tool => Histogram => clone
Compositing via layers None
Conceptual Mind's eye True to photography
Content aware fill via select-delete or content aware fill Not available
Create jpg Save as Export
Curves Curves tool Develop histogram
DXO Nik Collection plug-in such as Color Efex invocation Invoke via action or => filter => Nik collection => Color Efex => Develop => Right-click => edit in => Color efex. Requires creation of file copy in tiff format.
File system or separate catalog Files system for Adobe Bridge an ACDsee. File browsers need direct, physical access to the files they display. Files must be on your hard drive, or your computer must be connected to a storage media containing the files for Adobe Bridge to show them. Lightroom Classic uses a catalog database to keep track of the photos and edits. You can preview thumbnails of photos Lightroom Classic has imported even though the image source files may not be accessible by the computer.
Histogram Histogram control Built-in to develop control
Intermediate copies during edit Save as Export or create virtual copy. Some plug-ins will mandate extra copy
Layers Built-in, visible None
Learning curve High Moderate
Levels Levels tool None
Masks Channels None
New layer via copy edit technique Yes No
Nondestructive edits via Layers, particularly adjustment layer Built-in (invisible adjustment layer created automatically)
Original Files Intact Original raw files must be converted to psd for editing. Therefore, the original raw file is always intact. Original jpg files should be converted to psd for editing. Therefore, the original raw (or jpg) file is always intact. A file naming convention would be prudent such as adding _orig suffix to the first psd version. "Save as" the _orig psd file to v1, etc. to preserve original psd file. Such as:

Sample "save as" sequencing:

qp59.raw => qp59a_orig.psd (not changed) => qp59av1.psd (first changed version) 		Your original is always intact. Your edits are saved separately and are applied when viewing or exporting. Exported file commits changes to exported file.
Presets Per control, brush, action, or preferences Develop tool
Raw conversion Camera Raw invoked from either bridge or Photoshop. Save as psd. Camera Raw has many of the same features as Lightroom develop. Built into develop tool. Develop tool has many of the same features as Camera Raw.
Rgb and cmyk binary codes Info window on hover None
Selection Separate process via marque, lasso, subject selection tool, quick selection tool, magic wand No direct process
Selective color control Yes No
Spot removal Spot healing brush => Histogram => heal
Strengths Advanced image manipulation. Text and graphics. Plug-ins and actions. Ease of use. Learning curve. Presets.
Text overlay layer Yes No; Can be gamed using print function
Thumbnail viewer None. Use Bridge product or ACDsee product. Built-in
User base Creative professionals. Photographers as well as photo retouchers, fine artists, graphic designers, compositing artists, etc. Photographers
zz    
 
Articles
 
Corrupt [Lightroom] Catalogue file - about 5 years of work lost (Adobe Community)
Disaster strikes – a corrupted [Lightroom] catalog (The Lightroom Queen)
How Lightroom Classic catalogs work (Adobe)
Lightroom Classic Catalog FAQ (Adobe)
 

Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry commenting on the .44 Magnum

I know what you're thinking. "Did he fire six shots or only five?" To tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?"
 

Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry commenting on the fragile Lightroom Catalog

But being this is a Lightroom Catalog, the most powerful photographic thumbnail organizing catalog in the world, after one significant corruption of the Lightroom Catalog, and all edits for all images will be lost. You've got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?"
 

All written content of this web site is solely the editorial opinion of Jeffrey Sward. All images, graphics, and written content of this web site, including the html files, are creative products covered by copyright law. All content copyright Jeffrey Sward 1975-2016. All rights reserved. No portion of this web site or its constituent elements may be reproduced in any form, by any means, without prior written permission. So there.

 
 
Home
 
Site Map
 
Web Ring of the Nibelung