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It can be time-consuming to make the same adjustments over time, especially when editing a large collection of images. Fortunately, Photoshop and Lightroom allow you to automate the process. The following Lightroom presets vs Photoshop actions guide will help you choose an automation method that will suit your needs.
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Both Lightroom and Photoshop are complex and versatile photo-editing applications that come with features that allow you to automate editing and speed up your workflow. The files that carry the automated settings are known as Presets in Lightroom and Actions in Photoshop.
Adobe Lightroom presets are files that instruct Lightroom to apply specific filters and adjustments to an image or a collection of images. Usually, they are adjustments you make using the Lightroom tools and filters, and then you save them for later use.
Most of the presets revolve around basic settings that you might be doing over and over, such as contrast, color, shade, and exposure adjustments. Lightroom saves the presets as independent files, and you can change their location or even transfer them between computers.
Photoshop actions refer to a series of recorded instructions and commands on the Photoshop tools and filters, which you can play to apply in a systematic manner. Keeping in mind that editing in Photoshop is based on layers, these commands are also based on layers.
However, since it’s not a single adjustment, the commands and instructions are not recorded on a single layer. Usually, the actions will be in a set of layers, with each layer containing some commands. Typically, it’s like a set of shortcuts or Microsoft Excel Macros that lets you automate tasks.
Since Photoshop actions and Lightroom presets are saved settings of the application’s tools and filters, they have the following similarities and differences.
Although presets and actions are based on different applications that use distinct algorithms, the following similarities make them deliver consistent results.
Although both actions and presets work by saving the tools and filters' settings, they are based on different user interfaces, making them have the following usability and speed differences.
Although both Lightroom and Photoshop are developed and owned by Adobe, they are distinct applications that perform tasks using distinct algorithms. As a result, even the saved settings differ, with the ease of use depending on the overall usability of the software.
For instance, the user interface of Lightroom is easier to understand, as most adjustments are in the form of sliders in the basic panel. As a result, the presets are more straightforward to understand and use as they display their settings in the form of sliders in the same panels.
On the other hand, the usability of Photoshop is based on layers, which is a complicated concept, especially for beginners. As a result, actions are based on a group of adjustment layers, making them have a steeper learning curve.
Previews are generally a display of how the edits and adjustments affect the image. Lightroom generates photo previews when you hover the mouse over the preset, allowing you to see how the photo will look after applying the presets.
Typically, this gives you a chance to decide whether to apply the preset or not or whether to make custom adjustments on the preset. Note that the custom adjustments you make on the preset settings don't affect the saved preset unless you save them.
On the other hand, Photoshop doesn't generate previews, and steps in the actions have to be completed before you see the resulting image. Usually, this can be time-consuming, especially if you have a collection of actions you want to try out.
Destructive and non-destructive edits refer to how the edits affect the original image pixels. Destructive edits are when you tamper with the image pixels, and you can't recover the initial image, while non-destructive edits are when you work on a different version of the photo while retaining the original one.
Since Photoshop is a destructive editor, the Photoshop actions affect the image pixels when you play them, affecting your original image. That means you will need to create a backup image in your hard drive or create a duplicate layer before you apply the edits.
On the other hand, Lightroom is a non-destructive editor and stores the edits as separate files without affecting the original image. That means applying the presets doesn't affect your original image. Typically, this gives you room to play around with presets without fear of losing your original image.
Layers are like stacked sheets of images, allowing you to adjust the transparency of the image on top to see the image below. Since Photoshop edits are based on layers, the adjustments are contained in different layers.
This allows you to carry out more complex edits by adjusting the settings of some layers or even lowering their opacity to make their effect less intense.
You can also add a layer mask to limit the edits and effects on certain photo areas. On the other hand, Lightroom doesn't work with layers, and you will not have opacity or masking controls.
Lag time is the application's time to execute and complete the commands. Although the execution time varies depending on the computer resources, Lightroom presets tend to execute instantly.
On the other hand, since Photoshop actions are in the form of a recording, it takes some time for the steps to be executed systematically. Usually, this makes actions take longer to complete compared to presets.
The bulk editing capability is the major distinguishing factor between Lightroom presets and Photoshop actions. In most cases, you will want to use presets or actions to automate tasks and speed up your workflow.
Lightroom supports bulk import, where you can import a large collection of photos. This allows you to apply the preset on all the imported images, a single image, or selected images.
On the other hand, Photoshop opens and edits one image at a time. As a result, you can only apply the actions on a single imported image. That means you will need to repeat the process on all photos.
Lightroom presets are best to use when editing a large collection of photos, with lightroom presets you can enhance real estate images with a simple click, or if you are a beginner unfamiliar with using layers or creating custom Photoshop actions. They are also the best if you want to try different edits without affecting your original image.
Photoshop actions are the right choice if you want to make complex adjustments, such as masking and applying edits on particular photos, like overexposed windows in real estate interior photos, or adjusting the opacity to reduce or increase the impact of specific adjustments.
Lightroom presets are better as they allow you to apply edits on a large collection of images at a single click, giving you the real value of automated editing. The preview feature lets you see how the resulting images will look, allowing you to try different presets before deciding which one to use.
With the above Lightroom presets vs Photoshop actions, you will know which application offers the best automation feature that will allow you to carry out complex edits such as masking or editing an extensive collection of images in a single click.
