Understanding the Differences Between Lightroom Classic (LrC) and Lightroom (Lr)
While traveling, most divers who take underwater photographs bring a tablet or at least a smartphone to either store or do preliminary post-processing of the photos they take while away from home.
I will discuss Adobe's offering in this blog post and how the two products can assist photographers.
If you've explored Adobe's photo editing software suite, you've probably encountered two primary versions of Lightroom: Lightroom Classic (LrC) and Lightroom (Lr). Despite their similar names, these two applications serve specific purposes and are tailored to different types of photographers. Understanding the appropriate use cases for each version can significantly improve your workflow and productivity.
Overview of Lightroom Classic (LrC) vs. Lightroom (Lr)
Lightroom Classic (LrC) is the more robust, desktop-centric application built for traditional photographers who prioritize file management, detailed editing, and comprehensive control over their photo libraries. It’s perfect for those comfortable working with a more feature-rich interface and wanting to keep their images locally on their hard drives.
Lightroom (Lr), on the other hand, is a cloud-based version of Lightroom, which means it’s designed for users who prioritize accessibility, portability, and simplicity. It’s excellent for those who want to access and edit their photos on the go across multiple devices without being tethered to a single desktop.
Let’s break down the core differences between Lightroom Classic and Lightroom across several key categories:
1. User Interface and Design Philosophy
Lightroom Classic (LrC):
- LrC maintains a traditional, module-based interface that has remained relatively consistent over the years. The modules include Library, Develop, Map, Book, Slideshow, Print, and Web, each offering distinct functionalities.
- The Library module focuses on image organization and catalog management, while the Develop module provides comprehensive photo editing tools. Other modules handle everything from geo-tagging (Map) to creating photo books and prints.
- Although the interface can initially seem overwhelming, it offers a wealth of functionality, making it ideal for photographers who prefer working with desktop-based software.
Lightroom (Lr):
- Lr is designed with a sleek, minimalist interface that prioritizes ease of use and accessibility. It consolidates its functionalities into a unified workspace, allowing users to switch between tools seamlessly.
- Unlike LrC, there are no distinct modules. This streamlines the editing experience and reduces the clutter, making it easier for beginners to start editing without getting lost in the interface.
Bottom Line: Lightroom Classic’s interface provides a high degree of control, making it more suitable for detailed editing and photo management, while Lightroom’s simplified design is perfect for users who prefer a clean, modern interface with easy access to essential tools.
2. File Management and Storage
Lightroom Classic (LrC):
- LrC is built around a folder-based structure, meaning that it references photos stored locally on your computer or external drives. When you import images, they are added to a catalog that tracks their location, metadata, and edits.
- This structure offers greater flexibility in managing storage and backing up your photos and the ability to handle massive libraries without constant internet access.
- However, the user is more responsible for maintaining file organization and backups, as photos are not automatically stored in the cloud.
Lightroom (Lr):
- Lr adopts a cloud-based storage model, automatically uploading all photos to Adobe’s cloud servers. This ensures that your images are safely backed up and accessible from any device.
- You no longer need to worry about file organization or losing edits—everything is seamlessly synced across all devices.
- However, cloud storage has limitations, such as capacity (which can be expanded for an additional cost) and slower performance for large libraries with limited internet bandwidth.
Bottom Line: Lightroom Classic is ideal for those who prefer local storage and detailed folder management. It is also perfect for photographers who want automatic cloud backups and easy access from anywhere.
3. Editing Capabilities and Tools
Lightroom Classic (LrC):
- LrC offers more in-depth editing capabilities, making it a preferred choice for professionals and advanced photographers. It includes advanced features like the Tone Curve, Split Toning, HSL/Color panel, and Camera Calibration.
- It supports external plugins, enabling more specialized workflows (e.g., noise reduction or advanced sharpening).
- LrC’s selective adjustments, gradient filters, and precise control over color grading are more robust than Lr's.
Lightroom (Lr):
- While Lr includes most of the core editing tools in LrC, its capabilities could be better. The focus is on simplifying the editing process, so tools like the Tone Curve are less detailed, and advanced options like Split Toning are consolidated.
- One of Lr’s standout features is AI-driven tools like Auto Adjustments and Enhance Details, which use Adobe’s Sensei AI to analyze and improve photos automatically. These features make it easier for beginners to achieve professional-quality results with minimal effort.
- The cloud-based approach also allows for unique features like direct integration with Adobe Portfolio and easy sharing options, which are not native to LrC.
Bottom Line: Lightroom Classic provides more editing tools and options for those who want complete control. At the same time, Lightroom offers intelligent, AI-powered tools that simplify the process without sacrificing quality.
4. Performance and Speed
Lightroom Classic (LrC):
- Performance in LrC can vary greatly depending on the computer’s specifications and the catalog size. It’s known to be resource-intensive, especially when handling high-resolution images or applying complex adjustments.
- LrC’s speed has improved with recent updates, but the application's local nature means large libraries can slow down performance.
Lightroom (Lr):
- Lr’s performance relies heavily on your internet speed since all photos are stored and edited in the cloud. For basic editing and smaller libraries, this won’t be a problem, but it can lag when working with a high volume of images.
- Lr tends to be faster for minor edits and quick adjustments, thanks to its optimized interface and cloud computing resources for certain operations.
Bottom Line: Lightroom Classic generally performs better for detailed local editing, especially on high-end desktops, while Lightroom can be faster for essential editing on the go, provided you have a strong internet connection.
5. Integration with Other Adobe Products
Lightroom Classic (LrC):
- LrC integrates closely with Adobe Photoshop, allowing users to seamlessly open and edit their images in Photoshop before returning to Lightroom. This is a vital feature for professionals who need to make pixel-level adjustments or use advanced retouching techniques.
- LrC also supports export to other Adobe products, such as InDesign or Illustrator, making it an integral part of a broader creative workflow.
Lightroom (Lr):
- While Lr also integrates with Photoshop, it lacks the deep linkage present in LrC. Users can send photos to Photoshop for editing, but the round-trip workflow is less fluid than that of LrC.
- Lr’s primary advantage is its seamless integration with Adobe Spark and Portfolio, making it ideal for users looking to share or publish their work quickly.
Bottom Line: Lightroom Classic offers better integration for professionals using the full Adobe Creative Cloud applications suite, while Lightroom excels in quick sharing and publishing.
6. Catalog Management and Metadata Handling
Lightroom Classic (LrC):
- LrC uses a catalog-based system that references your images without moving or duplicating them, making organizing large libraries with detailed metadata and keywording possible.
- You can have multiple catalogs, and advanced features like Smart Collections, face recognition, and batch processing make organizing extensive collections more efficient.
Lightroom (Lr):
- Lr’s catalog system is simplified. There’s a single library structure; all metadata, edits, and keywords are stored in the cloud. This limits the level of customization you can apply to your organization but makes the management process less intimidating.
- It’s better suited for those who don’t need extensive metadata handling and prefer to organize their images by albums.
Bottom Line: Lightroom Classic’s catalog system is more powerful and flexible, while Lightroom’s cloud-based system is straightforward and designed for convenience.
7. Price and Subscription Options
Lightroom Classic (LrC):
- LrC is typically bundled with the Photography Plan, including Lightroom Classic, Lightroom (Lr), Photoshop, and 20 GB of cloud storage.
- You can expand cloud storage or add other applications to your plan, but LrC is generally more cost-effective if you don’t need extensive cloud storage.
Lightroom (Lr):
- Lr can be subscribed to individually with 1 TB of cloud storage, making it an excellent option for users who rely heavily on cloud access.
- Additional cloud storage can be purchased, making it a more expensive option for users with large photo libraries.
Bottom Line: Lightroom Classic is more budget-friendly for users with minimal cloud storage needs, while Lightroom’s cloud-centric approach can lead to higher costs, especially for large libraries.
Final Recommendation: Which One is Right for You?
Choosing between Lightroom Classic (LrC) and Lightroom (Lr) ultimately comes down to your specific needs, workflow preferences, and technical expertise:
Choose Lightroom Classic if you are a professional photographer who needs extensive control over your photo editing, catalog management, and file storage. It’s ideal for users who work with large libraries and prefer a desktop-centric workflow.
Choose Lightroom if you prioritize accessibility, ease of use, and cloud storage. It’s best for hobbyists, on-the-go photographers, and those who want a seamless, cross-device experience without the need to manage local files.
Understanding the nuances between these two versions can help you make an informed decision and ensure that you’re using the best tool for your photographic journey.
Need more help? Feel free to contact me (bob@robertherb.com) or comment below if you have questions or want additional information. Happy editing, Oceanic Adventurer, and may your underwater photos shine as brightly as the reefs!
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I am excited to announce that I am creating an online training program to teach underwater hobbyists and enthusiasts how to enhance their photos using Adobe Lightroom. If you are interested in this training or need more information, please go to (Underwater Photo Training) or contact me at bob@robertherb.com to express your interest and to be notified about the details and start date of the classes.
Stay tuned and "Follow" for upcoming blogs on underwater photography tips and tricks for more in-depth insights. Please leave your comments and suggestions. Enjoy your diving and shooting experience!
I am eagerly anticipating your valuable feedback and suggestions.
Sincerely,
Bob Herb
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