Photoshop Elements or CS or Aperture?

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Photoshop Elements or CS or Aperture?

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JorPet

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When you say that PSE edits are destructive, you are only partially correct. The edits are destructive when you flatten the image to jpg, but as long as it is saved as a PSE project, they are not. So you work the photo until you have it right, save that as a PSE project and then flatten it and save that as a jpg. If you ever need to go back and undo something, you can by opening the project, making your changes and reflattening the image.

The beauty of RAW is that you can't overlay it, so it will always be your "negative" that you can start fresh from if you choose.

Posted 2 years ago #
swame_sp

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thank you worldcrossings, will surely let you know.

@JorPet, For the photographs I would just make simple edits to them with filters. I really do not want add something that was not captured by the camera.

But I would like to add some text and images to the existing jpeg (which is flier for a non profit organization). This is what I'm trying to do, hopefully PSE helps me on the above two.

What would you guys say?

Posted 2 years ago #
swame_sp

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JorPet said:
When you say that PSE edits are destructive, you are only partially correct. The edits are destructive when you flatten the image to jpg, but as long as it is saved as a PSE project, they are not. So you work the photo until you have it right, save that as a PSE project and then flatten it and save that as a jpg.

The beauty of RAW is that you can't overlay it, so it will always be your "negative" that you can start fresh from if you choose.

Thank you JorPet for being kind. Yeah it is destructive if I did not have the PSE project. That's what I was mentioning. I'm perfectly fine with this.

Yes, have to give it a shot at the RAW. I'm eagerly awaiting for buying new DSLR during thanksgiving holiday. It would be either d90 or d7k. More towards former.

Posted 2 years ago #
adamz

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Wacom craft with PSE is +/- $110, while w/o only $20 less - for me the decision is obvious. As for aperture, I use it since I've switched to mac and IMHO it's much better than LR - I like the approach that You can do everything You want any time, not like in LR where You have stages - 1, 2, 3.... (I know You can jump from one part to other but still it's annoying) also aperture has this awesome retouch brush, that saves a lot of time (which I couldn't find in LR, although it was some time ago and maybe the LR3 has it).

Posted 2 years ago #
padlockd

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I vote for Aperture 3 vs Lightroom 3... especially since you're coming from iPhoto, as that will be an advantage to knowing your way around.

Posted 2 years ago #
PB PM

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adamz said:
As for aperture, I use it since I've switched to mac and IMHO it's much better than LR - I like the approach that You can do everything You want any time, not like in LR where You have stages - 1, 2, 3.... (I know You can jump from one part to other but still it's annoying) also aperture has this awesome retouch brush, that saves a lot of time (which I couldn't find in LR, although it was some time ago and maybe the LR3 has it).

Interface is the number one reason I choose Aperture 3 over LR3 as well. LR is so cluttered with with different sections, while Aperture's interface is far easier to use. As others noted, use the 30 day free trial of Aperture 3 and Lightroom 3 and edit the same images. That way you can see which application fits you best rather than letting other people tell you which is better, because only you can figure that out.

Posted 2 years ago #
swame_sp

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Sure guys, makes sense. Will install it a week before I buy my camera so that I can have enough time to play with it. first going towards Aperture 3 trial version. Let me see how it goes.

Posted 2 years ago #
adamz

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but please play also with the new iPhoto, it has some cool/nice features, and comes for free

Posted 2 years ago #
PB PM

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The new iPhoto isn't free adamz, not unless you get a new machine.

Posted 2 years ago #
jonnyapple

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I think PSE is the way to go, swame. With the tablet it's almost free—you could even sell the tablet on.

Lightroom is my baby, but like aperture it isn't designed for what you're wanting to use it for. Check it out when you switch over to RAW. I think you'll be amazed.

Too bad about the gimp.

Posted 2 years ago #
Anaxagoras

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swame_sp said:I already tried installing GIMP on my mac and it crashed very often.

I've used GIMP on my Mac without problem. That said, I've always been uncomfortable that it relies on the X11 subsystem to run (I know, a very sad admission for someone with a lifetime working in IT!). But it could be worth persevering to track down the cause of the crashes.

Since both Aperture and Lightroom offer free trials it makes sense to give them a go before making any decisions to part with your cash. There's little to choose between them; given that you're Mac based you'll probably prefer Aperture. For me, I found to get the very best out of an image you need to dedicate a good deal of time and effort whichever you use, but Lightroom has the edge. Conversely, if you simply want to tweak an image to improve it, Aperture is both quicker and better.

Posted 2 years ago #
proudgeek

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If I could, I'd like reopen this. I'm a long-time (18 years) Mac user who's been using Aperture for about 2+ years (I shoot RAW only). To me, it's great, particularly the super-intuitive UI. However, I have a friend who SWEARS by LR. Tells me I'm crazy for using Aperture. (He's never owned a Mac, so I take it with a grain of salt)
So today he's sending me his copy of LR3 (multi-user license) and insisting I try it. To boot, he's also sending me versions of the NIK plug-ins (which will work on PS, LR, and Aperture). Those I'm psyched to try, even if I end up using them as plug-ins for Aperture.
So here's my question, to those who have extensive experience in both. Does LR do ANYthing that Aperture does not? I've read some posts here touting LR's file management capabilities, but Aperture is phenomenal in this regard in my opinion. In terms of PP, neither are Photoshop, but Aperture does most of what I need to do.
What am I not seeing? I'd kind of like to avoid the hassle of learning a new application, but maybe I'm missing some great life-changing feature. Let the debate begin...

Posted 1 year ago #
mirtos

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I am both a Mac and PC user. Aperture is more like iPhoto, and in some ways much more intuitive, so I can understand why you wouldnt like to learn new software. But it might depends on your workflow, because to be honest, despite Aperture's intuitive nature, I found my workflow of edits made much more sense with LR. I dont think anyone who choses to use Aperture has made a mistake, and you're crazy to use Aperture. Your friend sounds a bit like an "adobe-head", just as people who say similar things about Aperture I consider "mac-heads". Both are excellent pieces of software, both with plusses and minuses. (though if you read the individual communities of either youd think that the "other" one barely loads, from some of their comments).

A couple of things that you will get with Lightroom over Aperture: Larger userbase, more plugins. This is a fact when a software supports multiple OS. More and more plugins is a key component to a longevity of a software like this, in my opinion.

I think some of the lighting and highlights work better in LR than Aperture, but that could just be my imagination.

In fairness to Aperture, though, some of the features in lightroom have been in Aperture for some time. However, now that LR 4 has many of Aperture's features, if I were to choose now, I would have NO problems choosing LR. When I did choose about a year ago, I had a hard time making a call. I feel like I made the right one. Adobe HAS been playing some catch up, but I think they have.

Personally, I prefer a software that is cross platform. For example, if I had a ton of files to edit, I could imagine myself purchasing (or renting) a high end PC for just image processing, and if using LR, id have that option. With Aperture, I'd be limitted to my Mac. As a user who uses both OS's, I appreciate software that works on both. (BTW, I also blast PC only software).

Posted 1 year ago #
proudgeek

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A valid point. But not to go all fanboy on you but I can't see myself using a PC for photo editing. I'm using one for work now (writing) for the first time in my life and let's just say I'm not enjoying the experience. Sounds like there are some things I should at least look at and keep an open mind about.

Posted 1 year ago #
Willis

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I've got both I have Lightroom, Aperture, and we had to bite the bullet and buy photoshop for a recent project. Personally, I think Aperture is far better designed than Lightroom. It's what I do 90% of my editing in. My girlfriend (the real photographer) prefers lightroom. Of course she bought it back in the bad old days before we switched to Mac, so it was the only option. If you edit in a mixed PC \ Mac environment than its the way to go (Adobe is nice enough to include both the Mac & PC version on a single disk which is uncharacteristically nice of them).

Photoshop can do anything, but only after you watch a 30 min tutorial on how to whatever it is you are trying to do. I'd only ever use it as a last resort.

My last PS Elements experience was a few versions ago, so maybe things have gotten better, but if feels like they tried to cram a bunch of consumer oriented marketing gimmicks that compete w/ the real work of layer based editing. For my money, if you want Photoshop Light (or perhaps Photoshop - Useable Edition) you are much better served using Pixelmator, which I think is excellent. I've been using it since Version 1.0, and they have built it into a truly useful product. I only ever bother with Photoshop when I need to collaborate w/ others on something. Or if there is some feature that pixelmator is missing (like CMYK support). It integrates nicely with aperture and you can buy them both for about the same price as lightroom as well, which is a plus.

Posted 1 year ago #
Rx4Photo

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I'm far from being an expert in Aperture or LR even though I have copies of both programs so I cannot write a long comparison of either one.(Got Aperture at no cost to me). What blew me over in Lightroom was Noise Reduction - much, much better than the algorithm in Aperture. At the same time I got LR I also tried Nik Define - their noise reduction plug-in and I liked it also more than Aperture's. Simply put, instead of using Aperture + Nik Define I opted to just use LR for all in one editing.

I've recently started venturing out of LR to Photoshop and I do like the flexability of the curves tool in Photoshop but that's about it.

Posted 1 year ago #
msmoto

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Always ready with my opinion... and it is just like all the rest...
Started in iPhoto on a Mac. Aperture was next. I did not go to Aperture 3, but switched to Lightroom 3 about four, five moths ago. Now on Lightroom 4. Wow, while I cannot speak to the Aperture 3 improvements, I love the ease with which the files are processed in LR4. Import RAW into LR4, converted to DNG. Work on it, can back up and start all over with a click of a mouse. The export is then to various files on the desktop, one with full size imagoes for Flicker and PAD so folks can see the full size, or to an email file with smaller JPEGs. It just seems easier to do this with LR4 than I remember with Aperture. And the ability to literally airbrush or use masks in LR4 is far better than Aperture. Now if Aperture 3 has done all these things plus added all the geometric corrections, then maybe it is as good. But so far I am into LR4 100%.

Posted 1 year ago #
Mike Gunter

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Hi all,

As with everything, it depends upon you and what you do, what kind of time and money you want to invest and what your expectations are.

I teach Adobe software, so upfront, you know where I lean. ;-)

In _my flow_, I happen to use the CS family, but then I'm accustomed to separating in Bridge, then to loading 40-60 RAW images into ACR and doing most of my initial work there, then batching from Bridge, final in PS. It's surprisingly fast, if the light is reasonably consistent from whatever group of photo settings to photo settings there are, and it generally is.

Most of you reading this are 'one person shops' (and there's nothing wrong with that), so what you choose to get what you want is strictly a matter of what _you_ like to get what _you want_ (no matter what or how long - although that can get dicey), but some of you might be looking for work - and for that there is only one clear choice - Photoshop CS5 (soon CS6). You can get some cred from the Adobe Certified Expert program, and possibly get some additional work, depending upon where you live, in the digital darkroom. I certainly wouldn't pooh-pooh the idea.

It isn't a piece of cake, but it is food for thought.

My best,

Mike

Posted 1 year ago #
sevencrossing

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proudgeek said:
. Does LR do ANYthing that Aperture does not? I've read some posts here touting LRs file management capabilities, but Aperture is phenomenal in this regard in my opinion. In terms of PP, neither are Photoshop, but Aperture does most of what I need to do.
What am I not seeing? I'd kind of like to avoid the hassle of learning a new application, but maybe I'm missing some great life-changing feature. Let the debate begin...

I use LR4, As far as I can make out, the file management capabilities of both LR and Aperture are similar

LR sems better at PP than Aperture. So if you do not have CS5 then LR may be a better bet

Most friends with Aperture seem to finish off in CS5

with LR4 I rarely need to use CS5, apart from the major image manipulation, eg removing a black sheep from a wedding photo

In conclusion.

If you already have and are familiar with Aperture and CS5 I would not change

If you are starting from scratch, and do not have CS5 go with LR4

Remember, you can get 30 day free trail of LR then treat your self to a months subscription of Kelby Training and watch Matt Kloskowski lessons on LR4

Forget Elements it is slow and misses all the best bits of LR and CS5

Posted 1 year ago #
PSS2003

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Question - I'm pretty new to photography and I'm running a Nikon 5100, still in Jpeg format but reckon I'll switch over to Raw soon. I've been using iPhoto but its clearly a bit limiting. Question is whether to go with Aperture or PS. I'm keen and I'm being encouraged that I may well have an ability to sell in the future, I'm not so sure and is still really really early days for me!

I'm not great on terminology so I make my apologies now but when you refer to 'layers' in editing, what do you mean please?

Also, if I'm going to consider applying a watermark to photos in the future, will this have any bearing on my software choice do you think?

Posted 1 year ago #
sevencrossing

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PSS2003 said:
Question is whether to go with Aperture or PS. ......
Also, if I'm going to consider applying a watermark to photos in the future, will this have any bearing on my software choice do you think?

Layers and masks are used in Photoshop, and they can be very complicated. Lots of books on the subject

Lightroom does not use layers and, if you starting from scratch, maybe simpler to learn than Photoshop

I dont think Aperture uses layers

Watermarks can be added in Lightroom and Photoshop, I am not sure about Aperture

I use Lightroom and love it

Many professional friends use Aperture are are very happy with it

As far as I can make out. Lightroom is more complicated than Aperture and less intuitive. Aperture is easier to learn but more limited

Hope this helps

As mention many time before down load a free trail and watch the Kelby Training Videos

Posted 1 year ago #
SkintBrit

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Well you'll all be pleased to hear my copy Lr4 is installed on my PC, (can't see how to tell it which drive to store the catalogue/back ups on?) I've finally dragged myself into the 21st century! Haven't tried your Kelby training yet sevencrossing, but two apps for the iPad entitled Lr Basics & Lr4 retouching seem informative, anyone tried them?

Posted 1 year ago #
spraynpray

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SkintBrit said:
Well you'll all be pleased to hear my copy Lr4 is installed on my PC, (can't see how to tell it which drive to store the catalogue/back ups on?) I've finally dragged myself into the 21st century! Haven't tried your Kelby training yet sevencrossing, but two apps for the iPad entitled Lr Basics & Lr4 retouching seem informative, anyone tried them?

Good stuff - the fun begins! Shame we didn't manage to get together Skinty, maybe some other time.

I was talking to Chris Marquardt a few weeks ago (he does Lightroom workshops as well) and he advocated not worrying about setting up LR to have the catalogue in a certain place and the library in a certain place, he says just leave it to look after itself, there is very little point in playing around. I was relieved to hear I wasn't missing a trick.

People who archive for customers that might or might not take copies in the future may want to put the catalogue and library in the same place like a USB key or whatever though.

Posted 1 year ago #
kyoshinikon

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All my non raw editing uses adjustment layers and layer masking (except for the shadow highlights tool which is non destructive in after effects)... That is where the meat is

Posted 1 year ago #
SkintBrit

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spraynpray said:
Good stuff - the fun begins! Shame we didn't manage to get together Skinty, maybe some other time.

Yes, let's try again during the summer hols, it'll be great to meet up.

spraynpray said:
People who archive for customers that might or might not take copies in the future may want to put the catalogue and library in the same place like a USB key or whatever though.

Well I fall in to that catagory. Remember also that I don't want to change the location due to a needless desire to play around with the defaults, my problem is that I have very limited space on my "C" drive. Have you spotted how to change the catalogue and library location?

Posted 1 year ago #