Photoshop Vs Lightroom: Which Is Better For You
Updated on November 2, 2022 in Photo Editing by Nishant Shrimali
Adobe is a leading creative tool that has a range of tools used by professionals across the world. From photo editing to creating illustrations and animations, there are 56 tools.
Among these are two photo editing tools – Photoshop Vs Lightroom. Yes, two. Both the tools are very popular, are used by professionals, and helps in editing photos.
And that is the reason why people can get confused between Photoshop vs Lightroom.
Since both, Photoshop vs Lightroom are good tools, Which is better for you?
In this guide, we are trying to break down just that. We’ll be learning from scratch what these tools are, what are their capabilities and when to use Photoshop vs Lightroom.
Without taking any more time, let us get started with the article.
What is Photoshop?

Photoshop is an end-to-end photo editing and graphic designing software. It allows you to edit, manipulate and even create photos from scratch. It is surely among the most powerful photo editing software that can edit files of various formats, and have advanced tools layer, mask, clipping path, and more to edit your images.
It was first introduced in 1990, and at that time it was a simple photo editing software. Over the years, Photoshop kept introducing new and dynamic tools in it.
Even today, new updates are rolling out every year, improving the present tools and delivering exceptional photo editing experience for professionals.
Its latest version is Photoshop 2022 – 23.3.2
Photoshop Image Editing Capabilities
Photoshop is an advance, industry-standard photo editing software used by professionals. Photoshop vs Lightroom, is a tool that has more features and capabilities. Some of them are:
- Camera Calibration
- Lens Corrections
- Histogram
- Tone Curve
- Lighting adjustment
- Selections tools
- Layers
- Masking
The list of features and capabilities of Photoshop is caped by your expertise and imagination. That means, from basic photo editing to advance image manipulation and graphic designing, Photoshop is the ultimate photo editing software.
When to use Photoshop?

You should Photoshop when you are looking forward to advancing photo editing. Like selecting a particular section to edit, remove or add to the image.
Photoshop is an advanced photo editing tool that requires at least an intermediate level of photo editing skills if getting started.
Hence, in Photoshop vs Lightroom, you can use Photoshop for basic to high-end editing.
What is Lightroom?

Lightroom is a photo editing and creative image organization software. Where Photoshop comes with a lot of options, and tools, Lightroom focuses on simpler and most common tools used by photographers.
It focused on adjusting the image settings like exposure, saturation, cropping, straightening, etc.
Making it easy for beginners especially to get started with image editing without getting intimidated by advanced tools that you’ll usually find in Photoshop. Lightroom was initially released in 2007.
Its latest version is Lightroom Classic (11.3.1)
Lightroom Image Editing Capabilities
The reason why Adobe introduced Lightroom photo editing software is that Photoshop was too advanced. That being the reason, the Lightroom software focuses on photo editing and image organization.
Some photo editing capabilities of Lightroom from Photoshop are:
- Camera Calibration
- Lens Corrections
- Histogram
- Tone Curve
- Lighting adjustment
In addition to these photo editing tools, Lightroom excels in image organization. Managing and searching for a photo in Photoshop doesn’t have the best experience (maybe because it’s not what the tool is about).
On the other hand, Lightroom is a prime tool to organize your photos and search for them.
When to use Lightroom?

Lightroom is best for basic photo editing software, mainly used and focused on adjusting the setting of the photos.
If you are a beginner with no previous experience in photo editing, Lightroom can be a great place to get started between Photoshop vs Lightroom.
Photoshop Vs Lightroom – Which To Start With?
If you are a photographer or someone just getting started with photo editing, the best software between Photoshop vs Lightroom will be Lightroom.
Why?
Lightroom is a photo editing software that has eliminated advanced features and focused on core photo editing. That means, without getting overwhelmed you can focus on improving the photos.
Next, when you are comfortable with these tools and are set to move towards high-end editing and manipulation, get started with Photoshop.
Because you already of good understanding and practice of some tools here, it will be easy to get started now.
Bonus Read
Photoshop Vs Lightroom is a comparison between the photo editing skills between a beginner and an intermediate. If not this, it is about the results.
As we saw, Lightroom is all about tweaking and adjusting the setting of the photos. Whereas Photoshop has all the abilities of Lightroom along with the ability to manipulate images.
Learning, training, and advancing Photoshop skills can take years. And since there are new updates every year, there is always advancement.
Keeping up with this can field can be a lot if you have other focuses as well.
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