Sure, that could be done but folks tend to build instructional materials that address the biggest markets and the two most popular photo editing software packages are LR and PS so that's what most of the after market instructional material addresses. There's many approaches to photo editing that do not involve LR or PS so go with what works.Ĭlick to expand.I take it that was a typo and you meant that someone could produce instructional materials for editing photos 'without' referring to LR.
The question of course if whether you need the portability of a laptop for your photo work.Īnyway, there's lot's of valid approaches and though a lot of us use a LR, PS combo for image processing it's not strictly necessary and there are many other approaches. Dedicating a desktop computer for photo processing can get you a lot more processing power at a much lower price than trying to match that with a laptop. Invest in a photo editing computer such as a desktop that doesn't have to be the latest and greatest just with sufficient RAM, a decent processor and enough hard drive space to run newer versions of PS or LR. Pick up either an older or thinned down version of Photoshop such as Elements to run on your laptop which really does just about everything a photographer needs (as opposed to a general graphics artist)
Pick up some inexpensive or even free ware photo processing software and run it on your existing laptop. Seems to me you probably have several options:
These features are very nice but there are other ways to get those jobs done so they're not strictly necessary.
But where LR really shines is in its library management features including extensive keywording, ability to set up arbitrary collections (logical grouping of images) and things like metadata filters (quickly find all images shot with a particular focal length lens, camera or maybe at a particular ISO or shutter speed). The LR editing features are available in other tools though the presentation and controls layout in LR is very nice. I'd also add that the main reason to use LR isn't really for photo editing as much as photo library management. All of this works well for me but may not be want you want.Ĭlick to expand.There's many approaches to photo editing that do not involve LR or PS so go with what works. Additionally, with the subscription, you get access to a "cloud-based" version of Lightroom and some data storage, and you get access to hundreds of fonts as well as video and web-based graphic art software. You can create a variety of books using Blurb in the Book Module to share with others or to page through on a rainy day, and it's nice to see your work in print. You can create slideshows for family, friends, and groups or to post online. In the Develop Module you have all of the development power-house tools to improve your image in a variety of ways. In the Library Module, which is the central "office" of the software you use the database built into the software to use keywords and metadata to sort and find images within seconds. One of the advantages of LrC is that the software actually contains seven software modules in one: Library, Develop, Map, Book, Slideshow, Print, and Web. I do believe that many shots, if not all, can be improved with the use of excellent software and good technique. If the software you are using meets your goals and you are happy with the quality of work that you produce then why change? Having said that, I have been an Adobe software user for many years and do use LrC and PS, but I also use on occasion other software. There are many programs available today that can match what LrC and PS can do, some people have already named a few. "So do I sell a kidney and get a new laptop and a years subscription to LR?"