Adobe Photoshop Lightroom

Popular programs in Graphics Editors

What is Adobe Photoshop Lightroom

Most people familiar with digital photography are well aware of the highly popular Adobe Photoshop software program that is the industry standard for digital photo processing and enhancing. A smaller and more affordable program, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5, is similar but does not bear the burdensome cost or licensing requirements of its popular and costly big brother.

The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 program is available for free download on a trial basis with a permanent version plus free upgrades available for a monthly fee after the trial period expires. Lightroom 5 is a more consumer-friendly version of the industry-standard Adobe Photoshop program used by nearly all professional photographers and media. Lightroom 5 provides many of the same editing tools as Photoshop and can be RAM-intensive. The more RAM, the happier the program will be when running.

Lightroom 5 offers a new interface for users and breaks up the program into seven basic areas. Users can take advantage of a library feature, create books and maps, put together a slideshow and make photos ready for the Web. Developing and printing areas also are available for editing photos and preparing them for print or online media. A large monitor helps when using Lightroom 5, which provides a lot of information on its home screen and works best with larger screens.

For most people, Lightroom 5 will suit virtually all of their digital photo-processing needs. Those familiar with Photoshop should find it easy to navigate and use. New users can utilize free tutorials to help get them started and to maximize their potential use of the potent photo software. Once mastered, Lightroom 5 gives users the tools they need to edit and prepare their digital photos for virtually any use. Whether using for professional purposes or personal interest, the software program is very versatile and handy.

One of the great advantages of Lightroom 5 is its mobility. It can be used on laptop computers, desktop computers and iPads. While iPad screens are generally small for the program, the ability to download them while on the go creates even more storage space for more photos. If any media cards are getting near full, the files can be downloaded and edited using iPads and free up the memory space on the camera's memory cards.

The versatility of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 for Windows 8 users makes it one of the most popular downloads for photo-editing software. Learning to use it is fairly easy for first-timers and a breeze for Photoshop veterans.

Pros:

• Full photo management capability

• Lots of great editing tools

• Many ways to publish photos

• Designed for professionals

• Affordable photo-editing software

• Compatible with iPad

Cons:

• Confusing interface for first-time users

• Requires a lot of RAM for faster processing

• Intended for use with other Adobe Software

• Large screen needed for best results

• Monthly subscription fee