Adobe Products
unclemikey
Registered since 29th Apr 2013
Fri 07-Jun-13 12:44 PM
Visit my Nikonians gallery
|
-
#1. "RE: Adobe Products" | In response to Reply # 0
esantos Nikonian since 10th Nov 2002Fri 07-Jun-13 03:41 PMLet's start with the granddaddy, Photoshop. Photoshop is often called a pixel editor. This means that the program has the capacity to manipulate color values, tone, and image details at the smallest level. It has the ability to make these edits non-destructively by using a layer system. Much like the layers of transparencies you would find in those anatomy textbooks. You can turn those layers on and off, you can adjust their opacity and you can also paint in masks to limit the layer effect to any part of the image. Photoshop also contains a multitude of special effects tools. They are too many to list and describe here, let's just say they round out the tool chest for the graphics professional to the level that just about any effect is possible.
Photoshop Elements is a pared down version of Photoshop sold at a more economical price. It also uses wizards and presets to help the novice. While some claim that Elements can do 90% of what Photoshop can, I have always felt that when you need professional results Elements will leave you somewhat wanting. Additionally, the majority of Elements features and tools only work in an 8-bit color environment while the majority of Photoshop functions within a 16-bit color environment. This can be a significant limitation when dealing with high resolution images that must maintain a high level of quality. Heavy edits on an 8-bit color file can easily introduce artifacts and image degradation.
Lightroom is a combination of image ingestion tool, image cataloging and rating system, image editor, and output generator. It uses some of the basic image editing tools developed in Photoshop but the program was design from inception to be strictly a photographer's tool. Experienced users of Lightroom claim that they can perform over 95% of all their image editing chores in Lightroom and may only use Photoshop for very detailed processes.
Adobe Camera Raw or ACR is Adobe's raw file converter. A raw file is not an image file, it is simply the raw data taken directly from the camera's image sensor. A raw file cannot be viewed as an image until this raw data is demosaic'ed into color values and those values arranged in the traditional RGB format used by image formats. ACR, while predominantly a converter is also an editor. It allows you to adjust the raw values to address contrast, color, tone, color temperature (white balance), etc. Once you make those edits using a preview image for reference you must then convert the file to an image file.
Ernesto Santos
esartprints.com Ernesto Santos Photography
Get my new e-Book "Churches of Texas"See my portfolio.
-
#2. "RE: Adobe Products" | In response to Reply # 1
unclemikey Registered since 29th Apr 2013Fri 07-Jun-13 04:43 PM>Let's start with the granddaddy, Photoshop. Photoshop is
>often called a pixel editor. This means that the program has
>the capacity to manipulate color values, tone, and image
>details at the smallest level. It has the ability to make
>these edits non-destructively by using a layer system. Much
>like the layers of transparencies you would find in those
>anatomy textbooks. You can turn those layers on and off, you
>can adjust their opacity and you can also paint in masks to
>limit the layer effect to any part of the image. Photoshop
>also contains a multitude of special effects tools. They are
>too many to list and describe here, let's just say they round
>out the tool chest for the graphics professional to the level
>that just about any effect is possible.
>
>Photoshop Elements is a pared down version of Photoshop sold
>at a more economical price. It also uses wizards and presets
>to help the novice. While some claim that Elements can do 90%
>of what Photoshop can, I have always felt that when you need
>professional results Elements will leave you somewhat wanting.
>Additionally, the majority of Elements features and tools only
>work in an 8-bit color environment while the majority of
>Photoshop functions within a 16-bit color environment. This
>can be a significant limitation when dealing with high
>resolution images that must maintain a high level of quality.
>Heavy edits on an 8-bit color file can easily introduce
>artifacts and image degradation.
>
>Lightroom is a combination of image ingestion tool, image
>cataloging and rating system, image editor, and output
>generator. It uses some of the basic image editing tools
>developed in Photoshop but the program was design from
>inception to be strictly a photographer's tool. Experienced
>users of Lightroom claim that they can perform over 95% of all
>their image editing chores in Lightroom and may only use
>Photoshop for very detailed processes.
>
>Adobe Camera Raw or ACR is Adobe's raw file converter. A raw
>file is not an image file, it is simply the raw data taken
>directly from the camera's image sensor. A raw file cannot be
>viewed as an image until this raw data is demosaic'ed into
>color values and those values arranged in the traditional RGB
>format used by image formats. ACR, while predominantly a
>converter is also an editor. It allows you to adjust the raw
>values to address contrast, color, tone, color temperature
> white balance), etc. Once you make those edits using a
>preview image for reference you must then convert the file to
>an image file.
>
>
Ernesto,
Thank you for the clarification at least of the difference between the three programs. This does help me to sort things out some. Now, I just have to learn how to use them. I am taking a class this summer in Photoshop at the University of Richmond in July. Don't know how detailed it is but at least for me it will be a start.
What would you recommend to someone who shoots mostly in .jpeg?Visit my Nikonians gallery
-
#3. "RE: Adobe Products" | In response to Reply # 0
danshep
Charter Member
Fri 07-Jun-13 04:48 PM
One option you might consider, is to buy a book on Lightroom, for example.
Ernesto's information is right on. Reading about Lightroom would give you info on organizing your photos, it mentions JPG and RAW, and of course, instructs you on all the features.
You can also download Lightroom free for 30 days to evaluate.
"Today is the tomorrow that yesterday you spent money like there was no"
Visit my Nikonians gallery.
-
#4. "RE: Adobe Products" | In response to Reply # 3
unclemikey Registered since 29th Apr 2013Fri 07-Jun-13 06:00 PM | edited Fri 07-Jun-13 06:01 PM by unclemikey>
>One option you might consider, is to buy a book on Lightroom,
>for example.
>
>Ernesto's information is right on. Reading about Lightroom
>would give you info on organizing your photos, it mentions JPG
>and RAW, and of course, instructs you on all the features.
>
>You can also download Lightroom free for 30 days to evaluate.
>
>
>
>"Today is the tomorrow that yesterday you spent money
>like there was no"
>
>Visit
>my
>Nikonians gallery>.
I have a copy of Scott Kelby's Light Room 4.
Do I download that from Adobe's website?
Visit my Nikonians gallery
G
Upload images
6
Uploading and including images in forums available to members on Silver membership level or higher. Please upgrade to take full advantage.
Would someone please direct me to information that explains the differences or inform me what I need to know or understand.
Thanks in advance and I'm not sure this is the correct Forum for this question.