| Attribute |
Photoshop |
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 |
| 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 |
Psd files stand alone |
Catalog database control edits for all images in catalog. |
| 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 |
Built-in (invisible adjustment layer created automatically) |
| 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 feature 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 |
| Shop healing brush |
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. |
Built-in |
| User base |
Creative professionals. Photographers as well as photo retouchers, fine artists, graphic designers, compositing artists, etc. |
Photographers |
| zz |
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