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Moving on from Photoshop


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Since photoshop will soon be totally a cloud based  photo editor, (I will not be moving in that direction) I will soon be forced to hunt around for alternatives, if I continue to shoot in"raw".  

 
 I've used Photoshop for decades and I've become so set in my ways. So, are there good stand alone raw converters out there that update in a timely fashion as new camera models come out? Then I could open images in old trusty Photoshop after they are converted. 
 
Should I just move on to Lightroom? Need advice.     
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Maybe you should just go with the time and get that cloud subscription, I pay 120 euro per year for Adobe Creative Cloud photo package (Lightroom and Photoshop) For this money I always have the latest version of the software package, and it's always compatible with my computer. Too me this is better than the 'buy a new software package every now and then for 900 euro' 

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Well for now at least, LR is offered as a standalone (without CC), and one can always move between LR and Photoshop (non-CC) as desired.  I suspect LR may move to the CC model at some point...Adobe made it harder to even find the standalone version on their site for those seeking to upgrade from LR 5.

 

This is very personal matter, much debated around here, since folks tend to get comfortable with the software that they invest the most time with.  I have an old version of Photoshop still, but now use LR for most of my needs.  Others of course differ.

 

Jeff

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Initially I was opposed to the idea but it's not like if i'm to connected to the internet I can't still use CC.

I too don't see the problem with CC. Fortunately I  have an academic subscription which is very cheap.

 

Otherwise, as Jip said, just use your current software.

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Even though CC is named "Creative Cloud", it is really not cloud-based.  The software and your images reside on your hard drives.  CC should be named CL, Creative Lease.  Since I lease my MacPro on a two year refresh cycle, leasing software is a natural.  Unfortunately Lightroom is missing many features of the full Photoshop that I use and I don't like the Lightroom Import/Export paradigm anyway.  The situation I could not stand is that Adobe drops full Photoshop because no one buys upgrades and they can't pay the software engineers to keep it going.  Just ask Aperture users about how not buying upgrades worked out in the long run.  If you just use an older stand-alone version of Photoshop CS or Lightroom, you may find that at some point you can't get raw profiles for new raw formats.

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Should I just move on to Lightroom? Need advice.     

 

Photoshop is mostly a photo editor (you change pixel data), while Lightroom is mostly a raw file developer (you don't change pixel data).

Lightroom is usually enough for me, but for some pictures I need Photoshop.

 

Which operating system are you using ?

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Maybe a good moment to move to Capture One Pro? You can still use your current version of Photoshop as an external editor.

Bonus will be nicer colours and a smidgen better detail. Get a 30-day evaluation copy.

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+1 I believe Capture One is far superior in its raw processor and find the controls expansive and intuitive. New versions also make export and import to Lightroom/Photoshop very easy so that you do there what you are used to doing -- including adding in third party processes. 

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Should I just move on to Lightroom? Need advice.     

 

 

If you still like using Photoshop I would get stand alone Lightroom, you have essentially the same RAW developer with it, and there may be a function of Lightroom itself that you may like (can't think of any myself). But you keep yourself in the Adobe loop.

 

Steve

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You mentioned that it feels like you're just renting software. This is true, but the software (Lightroom and Photoshop) is fully installed on your computer. If you ever decide not to pay any more then all that happens is that you can't change anything with those programs. You can still look at and export your pictures and edits.

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There is a vast difference in resulting image quality between CS3 and CS6, especially in the raw developing, noise control etc. I would advise nobody to use such obsolete versions of Photoshop as main editor. Combining with new C1 versions like you do helps of course, depending on the amount of Photoshop one uses. Reverting to more modern programs, which do not even need to be expensive, is advisable in general.

For PC there is for instance Picture Window.

 

There is not much cloud about PSCC, though, it just picks up updates and checks subscription, that is all, no data get moved up to the sky ;).

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I just use PS3 for contrast and color tweakings and don't need anything else besides C1 but YMMV. As for the cloud, will it still work in the poor house when i'm barkrupt? :D Forget it i'm the kind of old bloke who never rents anything he can buy. :rolleyes:

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You mentioned that it feels like you're just renting software. This is true, but the software (Lightroom and Photoshop) is fully installed on your computer. If you ever decide not to pay any more then all that happens is that you can't change anything with those programs. You can still look at and export your pictures and edits.

But that's why some have suggested buying the standalone LR version, and just sticking with his current PS version.  That way there's no 'renting', with full use of both versions, at least in their current states (with LR likely subject to free interim versions until LR7).

 

Jeff

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