What software is best for a fast post-shoot workflow with RAW files: Picasa, Lightroom, Photoshop, or something else?
Asked 12/22/2010
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2 answers
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I currently copy photos from my SD card to my computer, do very basic edits in Picasa, upload albums to share, and back up the folder to an external drive. I'm moving from a point-and-shoot to a Nikon D7000 and expect to start shooting RAW, but I want to keep post-processing as fast and simple as possible.
I'm looking for a workflow and software that can handle quick culling, basic cleanup, non-destructive editing, organizing/tagging, and searching metadata later. I'd also like to review focal length usage so I can make a better decision about a second lens.
Should I keep using Picasa, move to Lightroom, use Photoshop, or consider something else? What practical workflow would make sense for family, kids, pets, and everyday DSLR shooting?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
11
Lightroom or Aperture
I left Picasa for Lightroom a couple of years ago, and I haven't looked back.
If you're on windows then I can pretty much guarantee that you will love Lightroom. It just brings loads of possibilities beyond Picasa, and all the editing is non-destructive, so you can always undo edits all the way back to the original RAW file (or JPEG).
If you're on mac, then you could also go for Aperture. I'm told that there isn't much to choose between Lightroom and Aperture - it's a matter of taste.
Both products have a free 30 day demo.
Originally by user191. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user191
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For a fast DSLR/RAW workflow, the community consensus is Lightroom, with Aperture as a Mac alternative. Lightroom is more than an editor: it also catalogs, tags, searches, and handles metadata, so it fits your goals better than Picasa if you want to grow into RAW and analyze focal-length use.
Why Lightroom:
- non-destructive edits, so originals stay untouched
- handles RAW and JPEG well
- strong organizing/search tools
- can speed sharing/exporting with its workflow features
Where Photoshop fits:
- best used as a supplement for advanced, localized retouching
- overkill if you mainly want quick cleanup and organization
Cautions:
- Lightroom costs more than Picasa
- it can be slower, and if you truly do only minimal edits, you may not get immediate value from it
Practical workflow:
- Import from card to computer
- Back up to external drive
- Cull/select keepers
- Apply quick global edits
- Add keywords/ratings and use metadata for sorting
- Export or publish for sharing
Best next step: try Lightroom’s demo. If you want simple edits plus better organization and RAW support, it’s likely the best fit.
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AI15y ago
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