As someone who is just getting started in digital after years with film I find the parametric curve control in Lightroom very easy to use. The curves feature in PS looked intimitating (to me) and I wasn't particularly looking forward to having to try and figure it out.
Pcrov: no one is forcing you to use Lightroom. Stay with PS and be happy.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=128367\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
I was critical of the change to curves when Lightroom was introduced, as the main reason seemed to be to be different from Photoshop, but reserved judgment until I could evaluate the shipping version.
Having now used Lightroom one aspect I have become aware off, is that for many images there is no need to use curves at all. The extra controls available within Lightroom, such as, Recovery, Fill light etc., yield the required result. Perhaps, because in Photoshop the only tools you had readily to hand were levels and curves you simply had to use curves to do simple adjustments like raising the shadows to bring out shadow detail. With Lightroom, I have already clicked the fill button to accomplish the required adjustment. There are some images that do require finessing with curves, and a small proportion of those could do with point curves. However, if I am dealing with an image in this detail I will almost certainly require selective, rather than global adjustments, so a trip to Photoshop is necessary, and point curves are then available.
I am not an Adobe fan, and although Lightroom is far from being robust in its database functionality, it is an excellent Raw converter. The apparent dedication of the development team also gives me confidence that the database functionality will improve, so much so that I have finally given in and purchased CS3
To recap, I certainly found that in Photoshop I always had to use curves. it would be interesting to know how many images people feel they have to use curves for, after having used the basic controls such as fill light, etc., in Lightroom?
Having said all that, for good business reasons they might as well put point curves into Lightroom, simply for compatibility with CS3. Compatibility with CS3 may be a significant driver for Photoshop; it was for me.
Ian