In today’s digital world, photo and video editing is common across social media platforms. Users can apply various editing applications in professional and non-professional photography. Expert photographers mostly use Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop software for editing. However, common users would be eager to know about the distinctive features of these two applications.
The purpose of both of these applications is the same. However, their editing features are different. Lightroom and Photoshop software have unique features that can enhance image quality. However, it has some pros and cons as well. Thus, the user has to consider advantages and disadvantages before their use to maximize their benefits.
This article shared all such relevant information to assist users in comparing Lightroom vs Photoshop. Here, unique guidance has been provided for beginners and expert photographers on basic to advanced-level techniques for both apps. After understanding their distinctive features, users can decide on software for their required editing.
Adobe Lightroom
Lightroom APK edits and organizes the image without any disruption. It has great photo management and editing capabilities for digital camera photos and raw images. The distinctive feature that makes it popular is its keyword functionality, which saves the images in different categories and folders.
Through the Lightroom catalog tool, users can save and organize images that they can apply later. The large-scale photo editing tools can edit 99% of photos without using any other application. That’s why this is also known as non-destructive software. Users can undo any alteration by applying the effects.
The dramatic features of Adobe Lightroom save all changes and files in the editing process, allowing users to get back up on any change easily. You can also create folders or categorize them into various groups. It also can edit and copy photos and export them to your desired files.
Lightroom editing and management skills apply to both mobile and desktop applications. However, it doesn’t have the extensive full-blown image manipulation and graphic designing features we see in Adobe Photoshop. We have discussed it in detail in our Lightroom cc vs. Lightroom Classic article; you can check it out for further guidance.
Adobe Photoshop
Initially, when Photoshop was launched in the 90s, it had a few basic editing features, such as cropping to enhance image quality. Later on, it evolved and grown with added features as the technological advanced. Now, it has advanced-level photo editing tools. The app is user-friendly with graphic design, 3d creation, and animator architect features that suit photographers and designers.
The interesting fact about Photoshop software is that it can effectively advance local editing and complex image editing. The basic features of Photoshop perform advanced functions that add an extra layer to your professional journey. Its numerous features give perfect results in photo editing projects.
Lightroom Vs Photoshop Applications
| Features | Photoshop | Lightroom cc |
| preset | No | Yes |
| 3D Editing | Yes | No |
| Library tools | No | Yes |
| Raw camera Processing | yes | Yes |
| Content-aware Fill | Yes | Yes |
| Layers | Yes | No |
| Image cropping | No | Yes |
| Non-Destructive Editing | No | Yes |
| Image/Files Import | No | No |
| Photo Export | No | No |
| HDR Merge and Panorama | Yes | Yes |
| Large Scale Text Editing | Yes | No |
| Adjustment Level | Yes | No |
Features of Lightroom vs Photoshop
Lightroom and Photoshop have the same purpose: to edit and organize images. However, their unique features make them different in functionality. Both apps feature various distinctive functions in photo editing. Here is a comparison of both app’s features that will answer all your queries and confusion about these apps.
Adobe Lightroom Image Editing Tools
Lightroom app image editing tools edit the photos in a suitable design for printing or screening. It edits all JPEG, PSD, heic, and PNG files. The various editing tools have a unique quality as compared to Photoshop. It includes basic editing, trimming, exposure control, color correction tools. Its noise reduction, grading, and lens correction features produce attractive photographs.
Photo Editing in Non-Destructive Mode
One of the most unique features of the Lightroom application is its non-destructive photo editing catalog. It is active during the photo editing process. All the editing details, such as the changes in images like brightness, color tones, and exposure, are saved simultaneously in the catalog tool. Thus, the editing doesn’t affect the original image and remains intact in the catalog.
This feature has a major role in users’ professional photography because users can undo or back up any data when required. Users can easily change the editing design in project work and smoothly perform the editing process without fear of losing the original image. This feature is a game-changer for photographers.
Smart Keywords Search and Library Module
Users can edit many photos in the Lightroom app and quickly check the recently edited images. This feature is also known as the library module editing and is available for free. Users can apply to store, organize, and manage photo listings effectively. It saves the user time and support to maintain the workflow.
Understanding the library module or smart search is like attending a friend’s birthday party, and you do a photoshoot there. You can organize those images in a folder with a name. You can quickly go to a recent photo, copy all the pictures, and put them in that folder for quick access.
You can give this folder a specific name using the same pattern. Users can use keyword tagging tools to gain quick access to the Lightroom app. Next time, you must search the keywords, and the list of related images will appear automatically on the screen. Using this file grouping will add professionalism to your photography.
Image Collection Editing
The effectiveness of Lightroom is that it is applicable to edit more than one image at a time, known as Lightroom Batch editing. Users don’t need to select images one by one for editing. These features attract photographers because Photoshop can’t select all images for group editing. The Lightroom single preset can edit many photos simultaneously within a few seconds.
Lightroom Premium Features can be used for:
- Desktop and mobile
- Raw camera
- Advanced image and video editing
- Exporting and sharing reels and images
You can get further guidance about this amazing feature in our article, How to use Lightroom Batch Editing.
Adobe Photoshop Advanced Features
Photoshop Image Editing Process
Photoshop programs, such as lightning, have editing features that work extensively. The raw camera tool is also available in it. You are to apply the “raw camera filter” at the app’s top menu, and thus, you can edit photos. It has the same capacity to edit and manipulate images as in the Lightroom.
Photoshop Filters
We know that the filter tool has the quality to beautify any image instantly. Various distinctive filters and effects are available in Photoshop application to enhance the photography precisely. Its filtering tools are simple and easy to access for beginners as well as professional editors. The user-friendly filters can be used in professional and non-professional image editing.
Photoshop 3D Features
The demand for 3D and animation has drastically increased in this digital age. It is widely used in digital and printing photography. Photoshop’s distinctive feature includes basic 3D tools that provide easy access for enhancing photo colors and lightening the image outlook. 3D features transform the image into a unique style.
Photoshop layers
The Photoshop layer allows the users to transform the image style without affecting the image’s original quality. These editing features don’t impact the image pixels. It is also perfect for multi-image editing. Thus, its flexibility attracts users to consider Photoshop for editing as it maintains image quality and originality.
Photo Editing Correction
We know that image correction is important in creating a better outlook. Whether it’s an image, size, color resolution, or trimming, all are considered important in professional photography. Photoshop editing features include photo cutting, cropping, image size, resolution, and image rotation. Users can get amazing results by using this app’s image correction features.
Photoshop Propping Feature
The most demanding feature in Photoshop is image cropping. It is used to apply on the image side to remove or cut the background. You can also remove unwanted particles in the image or reduce the image size. It enhances the image impression in the professional journey by keenly cropping the image to give the photo a professional outlook.
Healing Brush/Beauty Brush
Photoshop healing brushes are used to beautify the image and are also known as a beauty brush. Users can find various brush tools in the Photoshop app. It is used for skin color, removing or lightening dark circles, wrinkles, imperfections, spots on the skin, or any other transformation in images. It gives the photos a smooth surface and enhances the skin tone.
Control History
The Photoshop app history control panel saves all the editing records of images and videos during the editing process. This track record is helpful for users who are interested in undoing or backing up the image editing record. You can apply the history panel tool to clear all the changes you don’t want to add. You can also back up the storage if you’re going to save the image changes.
Lightroom Vs Photoshop Features Functions Comparison
| Lightroom | Photoshop |
| Interface | |
| Lightroom has a smooth and clean interface, which is on the price way. Its processes are simple to use and easy to apply. Its workflow is user-friendly, which is why it is best for beginners. | Photoshop has a complex and tricky interface system. It has several options for setting positions, and it is not much easy for users to work on flow, specifically for new users. |
| Editing Process | |
| Lightroom editing is best for both expert and beginner photographers. It’s a simple editing feature. It can edit both photos and videos. It’s user-friendly for both professional and beginner photographers. | Photoshop has advanced-level editing features that are difficult for a non-expert to use. It can’t edit both videos and images. |
| Preset | |
| Lightroom preset has a variety of colors, tones, contrasts, and combinations. It is user-friendly for professional photography. It has an amazing feature that saves users time and energy when selecting a bunch of images in one click. | Photoshop can edit images frequently and continuously. It enhances the photo brightness automatically. It transforms the image into layers and step by step. However, it had limited preset features. |
| Going Monochrome | |
| It is a simple process in the Lightroom development module. After choosing black and white, click on the profile and scroll down the menu bar. On browse, various mono thumbnails appear. The different profiles also appear. You can choose any mono that fits with the image and close the interface feature. Interestingly, mono contains clarity exposure slides for better tune-image results. | For monochrome, photoshop offers different ways and third-party plug-ins. The most reliable mono is the channel mixer; however, in the preset selection menu, you will see various profile mono thumbnails, such as on-camera contrast filters that stimulate. Users can also add film grain. For this, copy the background and click on the filter, then >noise< add noise. |
| Management | |
| The Lightroom app has a more precise and organized editing system. Users can add keywords and hints for quick searches. Users can also enhance quality, repair, export, and print the images. All these retained data are saved for future citation. Amazingly, denoise AI updates enhance the overall outcome of the photo editing. | Photoshop management is quite complex and difficult to learn quickly. However, it is a powerful and more creative app. Users need to know Photoshop editing skills to achieve amazing results in professional photography. |
Lightroom vs Photoshop: White and black Editing
We know black and white effects are more popular in photo editing than other color. To shoot JPEGs, you need to go mono in the camera and to shoot raw; the user converts mono into software. You are lucky if you are using Photoshop or the Lightroom app because you don’t need to switch to any other software for mono. Both apps provide the best quality mono result.
Photoshop App Pros and Cons
Pros
- Advanced interface features.
- Transform the image into a stylish look with beauty brushes.
- Cropping the photo’s unwanted size and resolution.
- Advanced editing can alter photos and videos into various layers.
- Natural and AI-integrated features.
- Advanced editing tools are available.
- Best for editing.
Cons
- Complex interface difficult for newbies to use.
- Errors and security issues.
- Difficult layer editing.
- Cause it slows the system and disturbs the editing process.
- Un-inclusive toolbars.
Lightroom App Pros and Cons
Pros
- Non-destructive features.
- Simple and organized interface.
- Advanced management features on all devices.
- Coul-based storage.
- Keywords search for image and files tool.
- Catalog adjustment.
Cons
- Text layer customization is not available.
Conclusion
After comparing Lightroom vs Photoshop features, you can clearly understand that both apps are perfect for photo editing. They have different unique features required for professional photography. Some features of one app are better than others. Thus, the best option is to use both apps for better workflow.
Lightroom software is perfect for beginners because it has no complex interface. It has basic to advanced-level image-improving tools. It also offers preset tools that edit images and videos within seconds, saving users time and energy. Its non-destructive features don’t change the files permanently; you can get a backup whenever required.
Photoshop is helpful in image layering and local editing adjustment. That’s why both software are required for photo editing. Users may use both applications to get better editing results. Lightroom can be used for basic image and video editing. Users can switch to the Photoshop app if they want to use its advanced-level editing, graphic designing, or 3D animation features.
