I am looking for the best way to learn both LightRoom and PhotoShop

Sirius Glass

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I am looking for the best way to learn both LightRoom and PhotoShop:
  • Adobe Videos and lessons
  • You Tube videos and lesson
  • Books
  • Attend classes
  • A random walk though ones photographs fixing one at a time
What has worked best for you?
 
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brbo

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This is like asking for the best way to learn math or programming.

For start I’d try and identify what you expect to be able to do with LR and PS when you’ve “learned” them.

Maybe first thing you’ll learn is that you don’t need neither LR nor PS?
 

wiltw

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I believe that one first needs to understand fundamental principles behind a program, its organization and usage basics. That can be done in a short amount of time.
Individual TOOLS and their use would come after learning about the fundamentals of a program's organization.
 

Andrew O'Neill

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I taught myself with PS For Dummies, about 20 years ago. I've been using PS for that many years, as I teach photography to high school students. It has a steep learning curve, but for starters, just stick with the basics...contrast adjustment (levels). Sizing. Sharpening (unsharp mask).
I'm afraid I cannot help you with LR. Never used it.
 

Trail Images

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I have used Photoshop since PS2 ?.......I use PS5 to this day. So, for a very long time. As much as I use it, almost daily, it is a never ending "improvement" on older images that I thought were fine.
If you have the basics and are using it I recommend sites were you post and get critiques for assistance.
I have found, to this day, Youtube is a big help when researching a specific issue I'm trying to repair or enhance upon.
Most times I can work things out with that process. However, you need to know the item you're trying address most times to search for the cure.
 
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Sirius Glass

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Adobe's Introductory LightRoom class has provided a good introduction, but I am ready for the next steps. I am using LightRoom Classic.

So far I have dove into the deep end of the PhotoShop pool for fixing dirt spots and distortion removal. I understand layers but since I will not be replacing skies, I think I will need those features very rarely.

I am only using the NEF [Nikon Raw Files] and not the .jeg format. I make a backup of the original raw files, a raw on the LightRoom Classic Version and a Raw version of the latest Photoshop version. Later I will make Raw backups of each custom print version.

The original version of PhotoShop has been surpassed many years ago, so I feel a need to learn the processes from a new clean approach.
 

Trail Images

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Sirius Glass said:
So far I have dove into the deep end of the PhotoShop pool for fixing dirt spots and distortion removal. I understand layers but since I will not be replacing skies, I think I will need those features very rarely.
Click to expand...

SG, I only use old PS and not Lightroom. Most doing digital shooting these days seem to use the later. So far as layers, I use them on every change in PS. It is my understanding that the layers usage prevents harm to the original ongoing image changes. It's not until the end that I flatten all layers and have a final PSD file. I only convert to .jpeg for internet usage, again, as a finished image as it were. Also, it is my understanding that .tiff & .jpeg files are subject to more change abuse than PSD and is the main reason I use it throughout my post processing on each image.
Again, I'm just an old Photoshop user and maybe Lightroom is much more protective on the files than the old PS stuff I use.
 
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Paul Howell

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I use both PS and Correl, started with Correl in the 90s and has been my go to program. I did take a PS class at the my local library, to learn LR used online tutorials. I dont bother much with layers, I archive images in RAW or JEPG depending on the camera, so any changes made to image is not an issue as I have a copy of the original. But, in all truth I use Corral Pro X9 rather than the last version of Paint or PS which I pay for the online version monthly. X9 does just about everything I need it to do in the adjust module, seldom need to go full edit and has been over a year that I used either PS or Paint. So maybe what do you want to do in PS? I guess I should cancel PS.
 

Pieter12

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It really depends on what you intend to do with Photoshop. It is a very powerful program, capable of a wide range of things. Not sure what you mean by "custom print" RAW. Once you make adjustments to a RAW file in Photoshop, the adjustments are saved as part of the file, but can be modified at any time. They only become permanent once you save the file in a different format. You will be needing quite a bit of disk space for all those seemingly redundant RAW files. And a good organization strategy.
 

sruddy

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I imagine it would be different depending on the person. For me a regular class was the best option. I took Photoshop at the community college. Most colleges will do it in two semesters, SRJC takes four semesters, and the instructor is killer. I learned so much I probably could have passed Adobe’s PS Certification Test. Lightroom is pretty intuitive and you may be able to get started in the develop module very quickly by just poking around and or watching a few free videos. There are paid sites like Creative Live that probably have what your looking for and they will give you a bit of free watching to get you hooked.
 

bdial

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I learned Photoshop by getting a couple of tutorial books, 15-ish years ago.
For Lightroom, I attended an in-person workshop held at a local gallery, plus a couple of on-line classes from Hunt’s photo in Boston.
I mostly use Lightroom for cataloging, but also do a bit of basic editing with it. The biggest problem I have with editing in Lightroom is that most of the editing functionality is slightly different than Photoshop. OTH, Lightroom doesn’t make changes to your original files, so you cal always revert to what you started with.
 

blee1996

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I learned LrC and Ps mostly by doing, but also have watched several YouTube videos (e.g. for new features like color grading in LrC). I did buy books about Photoshop, but did not really use them much.

Do you happen to have an intro course by local community college? Sometimes it is much faster to learn when you have a tutor and a few other newbies in the room.
 
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Sirius Glass

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jvo said:
boy, when i saw this question i eagerly waited for the answer that would be that magic bullet.

i'm still waaaaiiting folks!!!!
Click to expand...

Magic bullets will be graciously accepted.
 

MattKing

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Valerie

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I learned quite a bit about LrC from Julianne Kost and Anthony Morganti on YouTube. I do far better seeing processes being done than with reading how to.

Julieanne Kost's Blog | Lightroom Classic Video Tutorials

Indepth tutorials, training, techniques, and shortcuts for working with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.
jkost.com
 

mshchem

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And when you're at Samy's look at a Leica M11. Just a great digital camera, no silly video function. It pairs up nicely to your iPhone. Leica FOTOS app easy. The M11P is highly recommended
 

Lew_B

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I have used a couple of Udemy ( https://www.udemy.com/ ) courses for other software (Affinity Design, Publisher)…..Typical costs are in the $20-$30 range and you get lifetime access…..(looks like Adobe apps courses are more expensive….no surprise there )….read the reviews and listen to the example videos for the course to get a feel for teacher’s style and voice ( some voices can be difficult or annoying!)…… I recommend them for online education…I like that you can self-pace, take notes, follow along, etc. Lew
 
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mwdake

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I think Anthony Morganti as mentioned above.
While there are many people who post Lightroom how to videos on YouTube I find Anthony Morganti’s videos to be very clear and easy to follow; he takes things slowly and is very purposeful on showing each step in the interface.
Take a look at some of his beginner or basic workflow videos.
 

brofkand

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I luckily learned Photoshop in college, but that was back before Lightroom existed. I learned DAM (digital asset management) using Bridge - and still use Bridge, or rather a similar and free replacement called Faststone Image Viewer - today. I never got used to Lightroom. Each to their own!

I also don't shoot RAW so I don't have to keep subscribing to or updating my image editing software every time I get a new camera. Any version of Photoshop is good enough. I actually use Affinity Photo for my editing.

I am not a working pro with thousands of photos to ingest and edit every week. I am a hobbyist artist. If I were a working pro I am sure I'd use Lightroom or some other more advanced DAM.
 
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