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Regardless of the camera, it’s advisable to shoot real estate photos in RAW format so you can improve their quality during post-processing. This Adobe Camera Raw vs Lightroom comparison will help you determine which application suits your budget, versatility, and image processing expectations.
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Instead of using your camera to shoot, edit, and compress files to JPEGs, you can shoot in RAW file format and then use Adobe Camera Raw or Lightroom to process the information from the camera’s sensor.
When you set the camera to RAW format, it will store the captured RAW files with a file extension that depends on its brand. Fortunately, Adobe Camera Raw and Lightroom are versatile RAW file editors that support a wide range of camera models.
Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) is an extra piece of software that comes packaged with Photoshop. Although Photoshop is one of the most popular photo editing applications, it can't open and process RAW files on its own.
Adobe solved this problem by developing and releasing the Adobe Camera Raw in 2003 as a raw file editor for Photoshop. That means Adobe Camera Raw will install as you install Photoshop and run in the background when Photoshop runs.
Lightroom is a standalone image file editor, image manipulation, and organization application developed and released by Adobe in 2007. The latest version of Lightroom offers you full-cycle image editing capabilities, allowing you to work on RAW files and standard JPEGs.
That means you can use Lightroom to carry out advanced photo editing functions such as applying radio filters, red-eye correction, spot removal, and transformation. It also comes with advanced organizational features that can be handy when working on a large collection of real estate photos.
Both ACR and Lightroom are products of Adobe and share some RAW file editing algorithms. However, these applications differ in versatility, pricing plans, and image organizational features.
Considering the primary use of both Lightroom and ACR is RAW file editing, they do share the following similarities in camera model compatibility and RAW file processing features:
Although you can use Lightroom or ACR to open and process RAW files, there are differences in features and algorithms that can significantly impact your image manipulation and organizational results.
Since Adobe Camera Raw comes as an underlying RAW file editing software for other Adobe applications such as Photoshop, After Effects, and Photoshop Elements, it doesn't contain additional photo-editing modules. Typically, Adobe Camera Raw is similar to the Develop module in Lightroom.
On the other hand, Lightroom comes with extra modules to help you edit and organize your photos after processing the RAW files. Some of the modules that Adobe Camera Raw miss includes:
Adobe Camera Raw lacks the Lightroom Library module which helps in cataloging and organizing large collections of photos. In Lightroom, this module can view, compare, organize, manage, rate, and sort photos in your catalog.
Although you can add a color label or star to a photo in Adobe Camera Raw, it lacks the advanced metadata and tagging tools in the Lightroom Library module.
The Adobe Camera Raw developers assume you will continue editing your photos in Photoshop after processing the RAW files. There is no option to print your photos directly from Adobe Camera Raw. Typically, this can be an issue if you don’t know how to use the Photoshop print module.
On the other hand, Lightroom is a standalone application that includes the print module, allowing you to print your photos after editing. You can use the Lightroom print module to specify your printer's photo printing options, page layout, and contact sheets.
After processing the RAW files, you might want to export them in your preferred file format. Again, Adobe Camera Raw assumes that you will continue editing the photo in Photoshop, so it doesn't offer the file export option.
That means you will need to use the Photoshop export menu to export your photo. On the other hand, with Lightroom, you can directly export the photos after you are through with the edits.
Some of the image file formats that Lightroom exports include Camera RAW formats, Digital Negative Format (DNG), HEIF/HEIC, Tagged-Image File Format (TIFF), Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG), Photoshop Format (PSD), Large Document Format (PSB) and Portable Network Graphics (PNG).
Batch editing is an advanced photo editing feature that allows you to apply the same editing effects to a large collection of photos. For instance, if the entire collection of real estate photos look soft or underexposed, you can edit it as a batch instead of editing each photo individually.
The cataloging and photo organization features in Lightroom make it possible to apply effects in batches. You can also apply the effects in one photo and then synchronize the edits across multiple photos.
On the other hand, you can only apply edits to one image at a time when using Adobe Camera Raw. Typically, this can be associated with the fact that you will need to edit the same photo in Photoshop, which opens one image at a time.
Since Adobe Camera Raw is an underlying software for Photoshop, your Windows system needs to meet the following requirements to run Adobe Camera Raw:
On the other hand, your Windows system needs to meet the following requirements to run Lightroom:
Note that the same system requirements apply for the MacOS. However, for the MacOS, the processor needs to be M1 Apple Silicon processor or Multi Core 64-bit Intel processor. The two applications also support MacOS Catalina version 10.15 or later.
The major distinguishing factor between ACR and Lightroom is the accessibility to the software: Lightroom is a standalone program, whereas Adobe Camera Raw must be used through another app from Adobe.
Considering that Adobe Camera Raw works as an underlying software for Photoshop, After Effects, or Photoshop Elements, it is only accessible if you purchase one of those pieces of software. You cannot purchase or subscribe to Adobe Camera Raw as a standalone application.
On the other hand, you can subscribe to Lightroom as standalone software without needing to purchase Photoshop or another application.
Considering that Adobe Camera Raw is directly compatible with it’s parent software, Photoshop, it might be the best option to use under the following circumstances:
Generally speaking, Camera Raw is an out-of-date piece of software. ACR shouldn't be your go-to photo editing software.
Since Lightroom is a high end photo editing application with advanced photo retouching features, it has some strengths over Adobe Camera Raw, making it suitable for the following situations:
Lightroom is the photo editing workhorse of professional photographers, but is easy enough to use by most amateurs and hobbyists.
The Lightroom capability to make photo edits and apply effects in batches makes it a better option, especially when working on a large collection of photos. You can also use Lightroom for advanced photo editing, image organization, exporting, and printing.
On the other hand, you have to be familiar with other Adobe products like Photoshop to benefit from Adobe Camera Raw. However, Adobe Camera Raw might be the best option if you're working on a single photo that you plan to edit further in Photoshop.
It is possible to get identical results when editing RAW files using Adobe Camera Raw and Lightroom. The Adobe Camera Raw vs Lightroom comparison will help you determine which application to use depending on your photo collection and whether you need advanced photo retouching in Photoshop.
