Adobe Lightroom
Adobe Lightroom is an imaging software that's excellent for keeping track of large numbers of photos, and also provides an extensive range of processing and manipulation functions. I'm working on version 2.3 as I write this; the 3.0 beta was just released. The program's broken into five intuitively designed modules: Library, Develop, Slideshow, Print, Web.
Making web galleries is ridiculously easy, and printing is much more intuitive in Lightroom than Photoshop (at least CS2, my current version). Now that there are graduated filters and advanced cloning/spot removal in Lightroom, I only do really serious retouching in Photoshop. I'm not sure if it's as useful for processing jpegs as it is RAW files (I don't shoot jpegs), but the RAW converter is comprehensive and a pleasure to use. The keywording and metadata functions are great for retrieval, and you also have the option of duplicating everything you import from your CF/SD cards onto a second drive for instant backup. It also converts RAW files directly to DNG (best for long-term storage) upon import, if you choose.
Lightroom's one of my all-time favorite pieces of software. I don't enjoy the pixel pushing aspect of photography a fraction as much as I enjoy taking pictures, but it's less painful with Lightroom. I haven't used its main competitor, Aperture, but have been told by friends who've used both that Aperture doesn't offer image manipulation capabilities on par with Lightroom.
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Corinne Thomas
Agreed. Lightroom is one of the most intuitive photo editing programs I have ever used. It would be a great tool for those with little background in photo editing and don't need the complexities of Photoshop. The 3.0 beta is pretty awesome.
And it does well with JPEGs. :) I mainly process JPEGs while my husband processes RAWs.
Dice Yamaguchi
One of my favorite feature is LR’s multithreaded functionality. I’ve had as much as 7 operations running at the same time. No more waiting for one operation to finish before beginning another! It’s also integrated well with Photomatix Pro for HDR creation.
Grimgold
Ha! People that know stuff I don't. Help out a neophyte here, pleeeaasssee? Ok, I'm begging. Reired guy, multiple skills, have done art/cartooning for years. What is the best way to start/learn using mycomputer for producing catoon/graphic novel format type art stuff? Primarily black and white. Just point me to some software, if you could. And thank you!
Nick
Grimgold, have you checked out your local community college? Many offer digital art and desktop publishing classes.
grimgold
Appreciate the advice. Problem is I have a chronically ill wife who pretty much requires me being here for her. She is in the latter stages of MS. That is why I'm unable to get out and do stuff.
Tom
Grimgold: I find deviantart.com invaluable. You need to do some sifting, but there are countless tutorials from some talented people. One of my favorites, and a good one for getting started with digital painting/cartooning is http://fox-orian.deviantart.com/art/Wacom-Photoshop-Painter-Guide-85536306
which is an in depth tutorial for using a touch-sensitive tablet (a must) to ink art in your computer. Let me know if I can help in any other way.
ogg
Grimgold, start off with something free (gimp & pixia) and get a wacom tablet.
Start drawing & getting used to the new media.
Many tutorials on the net, use google.
As you get more experienced you can upgrade to the better features available in the more $$$sive apps like painter, photoshop, etc.
Kevin Kelly
@ogg: I second ogg's advice.
billy
so if the new beta is great should i hold off to buy lightroom 3 when it comes out? Really looking to up my post processing from iphoto.
Mike
Lightroom is a great product, but you lose some credibility comparing it to Photoshop CS2. CS4 has been out for quite some time ( over a year? ), CS5 is in beta.
elon
@ Mike:
One of the reasons I haven't bothered to upgrade from CS2 is because I spend so much of my time in LR, and haven't felt CS2 holding me back in any way. That and the expense, of course. Upgrading LR is a lot cheaper. I should have mentioned in the review that I value LR so much because it makes me feel less obliged to keep up with Photoshop updates.
Anyone want to compare printing in CS4 to LR?--es