


(The Adobe Camera RAW interface is essentially identical to the Lightroom interface. Because Photoshop actually comes with a companion RAW editor, Adobe Camera RAW–and Adobe Camera RAW automatically opens when you attempt to work with a RAW file in Photoshop. Now, does this mean you have to use a program such as Lightroom or Luminar before moving to Photoshop? Which means that, if you shoot in RAW (and I recommend shooting in RAW!), you’ll need to first edit your images in another program, then move into Photoshop to finish the job. While Photoshop is incredibly powerful, and can certainly satisfy most of your editing needs, don’t think that you must choose between Photoshop and Lightroom.īoth programs work well, and both programs, together, will keep your photos looking as strong as possible.Īnd before you start editing in Photoshop, not that the program does come with one warning you should be aware of: Photoshop Is Not a RAW EditorĪdobe Photoshop CC cannot edit RAW files. They’ll start in Lightroom with some basic adjustments, then move over to Photoshop for advanced (often targeted) edits. In fact, many photographers will use both Lightroom and Photoshop to edit a single image. In reality, most professionals use both Photoshop and Lightroom to edit photos.įirst, they use Lightroom for quick and dirty edits, especially if they’re producing an image for display on social media.Īnd then, if they’re ready to do a very in-depth edit, they move over to Photoshop. That advanced editors only work with Photoshop, whereas less-experienced editors stick to more beginner-friendly programs such as Lightroom or Luminar.

There’s a common misconception among photographers just starting out with Photoshop: Should you edit in Lightroom and Photoshop together? When Should You Use Photoshop to Edit Your Photos?
