Lightroom Classic operates on a single-image basis without the option to layer. Templates are available via Adobe Stock and are searchable from right within the starting window when creating a new document. That makes it useful not only for photographers and retouchers but for graphic designers, artists, illustrators and many more. That means multiple images, text layers, adjustment layers and graphics can be combined one atop the other for special composites with plenty of blending options. Photoshop’s main advantage here is that it is a layers-based editor. Lightroom is good at enhancing single images with both global and local adjustments, but Photoshop offers far more precise selection and masking tools. The healing brush also gives a Visualize Spots tick box which converts the image to a high contrast black and white view for noticing sensor or dust spots for removal. Masks can be shown with a colored overlay, (default is red) that can be toggled on or off. As can the healing brush with parameters to change feather and opacity. This can be turned off, however, and the brush can be altered for changes in feather, flow, and density.

The Adjustment brush has an Auto Mask feature which will detect tone and colour from the initial sample point when brushing onto an image so that complex edges can be selectively edited without interfering with surrounding objects. Not capable of layering, Lightroom instead makes selections by using non-destructive local adjustment tools. This saves a lot of time and often does a fantastic job but can also be refined using the Select and Mask options. Object selection is powered by AI to scan an image and automatically detect the subject, making a clean and accurate mask without user input. Other tools include the Lasso tool, Magic Wand, and more recently Quick Selection and Object Selection. These paths can have text added to or simply be used as a layer mask to cut out subjects. Probably the most flexible is the Pen tool, which users can draw, bend, lengthen, or shorten to create working paths. Photoshop is renowned for its selection and masking tools. Photoshop has no equivalent for this, though you can use Adobe Bridge (which comes with it) to browse folders. You can choose to keep all your file organisation within Lightroom’s architecture (leaving local file directories alone) or manually organise them and point Lightroom in the right direction (the former is our favourite way of working). Images can be searched for in Lightroom Classic with a variety of criteria including camera settings, keywords, and ratings. Collections help to divide up groups of images, and Smart Collections go one further with the ability to input rules which allow Lightroom Classic to automatically group images with minimal fuss.

However, delve into the Collections tab and you’re met with a Lightroom Classic-specific set of image folders. In the Library module you can access the same directories that are stored natively on your computer or laptop under the Folders tab. Photographs are stored in the Library and split into Collections and Folders. Lightroom on the other hand is designed for large-scale image cataloguing and management.

It also lists documents saved or shared with you via the Cloud and allows easy recalling of delete files, too. In Photoshop, users can access Cloud-synchronised photos directly from the main window in the Lightroom Photos tab under the Your Work heading.

Lightroom cc vs adobe photoshop