What is The Difference Between Lightroom and Photoshop

Table of Content:

• The Basic Difference
• Comparison Table
• Use Case- Photoshop and Lightroom
• Similarities
• What are the basic differences between Photoshop and Lightroom
• Difference Between Features: Lightroom and Photoshop
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Lightroom and Photoshop: The Short Answer

Lightroom is designed for Photographers to make quick edits and photo management. And Photoshop is made with powerful editing features to create mind-boggling designs. Photoshop is more suitable for graphic designers.

Comparison Table: Lightroom Vs Photoshop

	Lightroom	Photoshop
Developer	Adobe Inc	Adobe Inc
Release Date	9 Jan 2006	19 Feb 1990
Free Trial	7-day	7-day
Best for	Photographers	Advanced Photographers and Designers
Compatible Operating System	Windows 10 (64-bit) Version 1909 or later	Windows 10 version 1809 and later; macOS 10.13 and later; iPad 13.1 and later
Price	$119.88/yr	Yearly: $239.88/yr
System Requirements	Read in detail	Read in detail

Use Cases: Difference Between Photoshop and Lightroom

Lightroom is Best For-

• Photographers
• Slide Shows
• Photo Books
• Photo Management

Photoshop is Best For-

• Web designers
• Graphic Designers
• Create web page designs
• Advanced photo editings
• Drawing and Painting

Similarities:

Lightroom and Photoshop have both similarities and differences. Here, I am going to describe the similarities between these two programs.

• Both can handle popular photo extensions
• They can work on RAW photos.
• Both programs allow you to work with brushes and tone curves.
• There is a wide range of filters in both programs.
• You can use amazing effects on any of these programs.

 

What are the Differences Between Lightroom and Photoshop

Disk Space:

Working in Photoshop will take more disk space than in lightroom Because when you edit photos in Photoshop you will have to make 3 different files-

• PSD files where you make all the changes
• Make a copy as a PSD file
• Final copy to share as PNG, JPG, or RAW file.

While on the other hand when you edit photos with Lightroom the original file remains untouched and you don’t need to make a copy. All the changes are saved in a catalog which consumes very less disk space.

Winner: Lightroom

Flexibility to Changes:

Both programs are flexible to changes and both can edit any photo multiple times. But there is a slight difference between Lightroom and Photoshop when it comes to infinite flexibility to changes. Here Photoshop has the upper hand because it allows you to edit through layers.

As we know that using Photoshop we can make edits through layers and all the layers work independently. So, you can make as many mistakes as you want with layers and it will only affect the specific layers. If you mess up a layer beyond repair then don’t worry you can make a new layer and start again and the rest of your editings will remain unaffected.

Winner: Photoshop

Workflow Management

Workflow management in Lightroom is more effective than in Photoshop. Lightroom allows you to access your files through different folders easily. Lightroom can manage the workflow very easily. It allows you to keep control and manage the complete process. Lightroom can handle everything from importing photos for editing to printing the output.

There is a big difference between Lightroom and Photoshop when it comes to managing and controlling files and workflow. You can use Lightroom as an effective photo-organizing tool for desktops.

Winner: Lightroom

What are the Differences Between the Features of Lightroom and Photoshop?

Lightroom Features:

Here are my favorite features of Adobe Lightroom-

• Create presets and use them anytime
• Apply changes to multiple photos at once (batch processing)
• Copy the settings of one image to another.
• It won’t affect your original file.
• Amazing editor for RAW files.
• The crop function is effortless.
• Amazing adjustment tools e.g. brush, vignette, filter, etc.
• Easy library management with filters.
• Revive hazy photos.
• Powerful zoom.
• Texture slider for more detailed editing.
• Apply keywords to multiple images at once.
• Smart collections to effectively organize images.
• Lightroom spot removal tool to clean the spots due to dust particles on your camera lens.

Photoshop:

Here are my favorite features of Photoshop that are very useful too.

• Sharpen feature to reduce photo noise.
• Save photos to the cloud
• Powerful upsampling feature.
• Editable rounded rectangles
• Amazing 3D tools
• Generate CSS code for specific designs.
• Import color from CSS or SVG files.
• Reduce the camera shake.
• Control hue saturation.
• Control editing with layers.
• Create adjustment layers.
• Handy selection tools.
• Advanced pen tools.
• It has a collection of useful Shapes.
• Vector masking
• Smart photo retouching tools
• Use smart objects to save time.

Lightroom and Photoshop both have a lot of features. The features I have listed above are just the ones that I find the most useful. After comparison, anyone can state that Photoshop has more features than Lightroom.

Conclusion:

This was the complete guide on the difference between Lightroom and Photoshop to make a decision. After reading the features and usages anyone can say that Photoshop is a superior product but it has a lot to offer that not everyone needs.

Whereas Lightroom is a great tool for photographers and for people who want easy and specific photo editing features.

You should list your requirements and needs and then observe both of the tools. After this, you will be able to make an easy decision.

As we know that Photoshop is more costly than Lightroom, so if you can do all your tasks using Lightroom then you should choose it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lightroom easier than Photoshop?

Answer: Yes, Lightroom is definitely easier than Photoshop. Lightroom is made for specific uses while Photoshop has almost everything that a photo editor, graphic designer, and web design needs.

Do photographers use Photoshop or Lightroom?

Answer: In the practical world some photographers use Lightroom, Some use Photoshop and some even use both programs. But Lightroom is specifically made for Photographers.

As a beginner, you should start with Lightroom.

Do professional photographers use Lightroom?

Answer: There is a vast majority of professionals who use Lightroom and it is a very efficient tool for all the design needs of photographers.

Which is the best software for editing photos?

Answer: Photoshop is the best software to edit photos. Once you get expertise in this tool you can do almost everything as a professional graphic designer.