Best Reviewed
Photo-Editing Software
- Best photo-editing software for most Adobe Photoshop Elements *Est. $80
- Free photo organizer Google Picasa *Est. $0
- Free photo-editing software GIMP *Est. $0
- Pro-level photo editor and image manager Adobe Photoshop Lightroom *Est. $275
- Professional graphics software Adobe Photoshop *Est. $665
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- Eases workflow for busy pros
- Compatible with PCs and Macs
- Non-destructive editing
- Handles more than 140 RAW formats
- You'll likely still need Photoshop CS3
- Multi-monitor use could be better
- Web interface could be better
Reviews say Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 is not a substitute for Adobe Photoshop CS3 (*est. $620) as a photo-editing software, it is a supplement that solves workflow problems for busy photographers using PCs or Macs. Lightroom lacks some of CS3's heavy manipulation tools, so as one reviewer says, "You won't be uninstalling (standard) Photoshop, but you may be seeing less of it." The emphasis is on easing the input, organizing, editing and outputting of photos – although some say it is not as adept at multi-monitor use as the Mac-only Aperture (*est. $230), and it's less simple for web use than it ought to be. On the plus side, there is non-destructive editing of more than 140 RAW formats, so you'll always have an original to go back to.
PC Magazine and CNet.com offer the best reviews, published three days apart and both recommending Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.0. PC World's review is short and a bit cranky, decrying the need to purchase both Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom 1 for a total outlay of about $900. We found about 70 user reviews at Amazon.com. More than two-thirds like Lightroom, and negative reviews are all over the map, citing various bugs.
| Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 (Win/Mac) [OLD VERSION] | |
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Our Sources
PC Magazine gives Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 a rating of "very good" as a solution for busy photographers' workflow problems: "You won't be uninstalling (standard) Photoshop, but you may be seeing less of it."
Review: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 Review, Galen Fott, Feb. 20, 2007
2. CNET
Reviewer Lori Grunin says that while Lightroom 1.0 doesn't replace Photoshop as editing tool, it's saved her hours on the workflow end and thus has made her more aggressive about retouching photos. She refers to it as "the cat's pajamas."
Review: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom v1.0 complete package (PC & Mac) Review, Lori Grunin, Feb. 23, 2007
Reviewer Alan Stafford gives the Adobe Photoshop Lightroom a "very good" rating and says the organizational tools are just great. But he's peeved "that it's an extra expense" and not included as part of other Adobe products.
Review: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Review, Alan Stafford, March 1, 2007
4. Amazon.com
About 70 owner reviews give Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 a good average score. About 20 percent of the reviews are negative, but they are all over the map, citing various bugs and compatibility issues with either the computer or with other Photoshop products.
Review: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 (Win/Mac) Reviews, Contributors to Amazon.com
This roundup blurb gives Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 an Editors Choice rating, saying it's not a standalone program for serious retouchers, but the workflow programs and non-destructive editing make it an important addition to the arsenal.
Review: Editor's Choice 2007: Imaging Software, Debbie Grossman and Jonathan Barkey, July/Aug. 2007
6. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
The overview is free online and has some decent observations. Behind the subscribers-only wall is only a brief mention of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.0, saying it's too new to be included in ratings.
Review: Photo Software, Editors of Consumer Reports, July 2007
Photo-Editing Software Runners Up:
4 picks by top review sites.
3 picks by top review sites.
2 picks by top review sites.
Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 Ultimate
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