Which software

[DLatham]

I'm trying to decide which to buy, photoshop6, lightroom4 or photoshop elements. I will be shooting medium and 4x5 as well as
Digital landscape, and some studio.

[mrchile]

If you want to add graphics like text, elements and to a greater extent, CS6 will be your choice.
If you just want straight up photographic editing, then get Lightroom4.

[WRon]

In my experience, if you can afford Photoshop CS6, buy it and learn to use the parts of it that you need the most. On the other hand, you may wish to try Photoshop Elements. You can download trial versions of both from Adobe's website. You may also wish to give Lightroom a try. A trial version of it can also be downloaded. Many photographers use Lightroom and Photoshop; it's up to you.

[StanH]

I've found that some of the things I find most useful about Lightroom involve the way it deals with large numbers of files. If you're going to be shooting film, especially large format, you'll likely be better suited with Photoshop. It'll give you much more accurate local adjustments with its brushes and you won't get much use out of the file management. At least not as much as if you were shooting thousands of frames all the time.

Adobe gives the trials away for free for 30 days, so it can't hurt to try them and see which one works best for you.

[JudoJohn]

I use Paint Shop Pro and like it very much. I had PSE before, but I like Paint Shop Pro better- it's easier to use, IMO.

[WRon]

Great, JJ; if PaintShop works for you, go for it. I've tried PaintShop Pro as a trial before and it's pretty good, especially for the price. My problem is that I've used PS Elements and PS for so long that the user interface with PaintShop requires me to readjust my instincts, as it were. I could do it if I had to, but I'm okay with Photoshop and Elements.

[BlurMyReality]

PS isn't intuitive at all. If you have no prior experience with graphic programs and you are going to use the program for editing photos only, I'd strongly reccomend choosing LR4 instead. ACR + Bridge combination is very similar to LR's Library + Develop modules, but that workflow just doesn't work for me.

[Khloe_May]

I use Lightroom 4 and Photoshop CS5. Lightroom is for my batch editing and is great because you don't have to do the dreaded "file, open, save" junk. You can also put together proof books and web stuff with it. I use Photoshop for my fine retouching/tweaks and for when I have to design collages/cards/books.

However, I have had experience with both programs for years so to me they are easy to navigate. I do remember when I was learning about Photoshop in college and it was a bit overwhelming and challenging. I highly recommend downloading the trial and spending some time trying to learn the programs first. You can do it!

[mark william]

I suggest you to buy lightroom4

[WRon]

I suggest you to buy lightroom4

Or you can download Lightroom 5 beta from Adobe for free for now, until it's released sometime in May.