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Author Topic: photos always look better in Photoshop than in Lightroom  (Read 242 times)

kers

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photos always look better in Photoshop than in Lightroom
« on: September 08, 2026, 04:16:55 pm »

My workflow always starts in Lightroom and ends with an exported tif-file 16 bit prophoto.
This tif gets some work in Photoshop.
Somehow the color and rendering always looks better in photoshop.
So in Lightroom I think well this is the best i can get here in Lightroom, knowing it will look better in Photoshop, and it does.

Is that real or am I imagining things?
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Rob C

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Re: photos always look better in Photoshop than in Lightroom
« Reply #1 on: September 08, 2026, 05:18:55 pm »

I only use an old version of Photoshop - CS2 - the alternative being an equally old Nikon programme in which I do (did? have only used the iPhone for this past couple of years) initial conversions from NEFs to Tiffs.

That said, I have come to the conclusion that my stuff looks best on my little iPad. I wonder why? Maybe because at that point of viewing, on that device, I know that there’s nothing more I can do about it, unless I go back to Photoshop and futz about some more. I have concluded that one has to trust one’s gut and just know when enough is enough. Basically, that’s why I dislike those spaces where critics, in their own minds and of their own creation, decide to tell other photographers what to do to “improve” their pictures. Friggin’ arrogance and a monumental mutual waste of time and good relationships.

Why do you use two systems anyway? Does Lightroom offer something that’s initially better than can be found with Photoshop? I’m not trying to be a smart ass here; I simply haven’t used Lightroom to know for myself.

digitaldog

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Re: photos always look better in Photoshop than in Lightroom
« Reply #2 on: September 08, 2026, 05:55:39 pm »

At 1:1 (100%) with the same surround, using the Develop module in Lightroom Classic the two should match exactly. They use the same preview color management.
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kers

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Re: photos always look better in Photoshop than in Lightroom
« Reply #3 on: September 10, 2026, 03:52:35 am »

Why do you use two systems anyway? Does Lightroom offer something that’s initially better than can be found with Photoshop? I’m not trying to be a smart ass here; I simply haven’t used Lightroom to know for myself.

I use Lr for it is much easier to develop a lot of RAW; Also it works differently in the sense it uses vectorbased selections and has am better UI for developing RAW.
Photoshop is on the other hand pixelbased and works better for me retouching in the photo; it also can be automated. Also i know it by heart.


 the two should match exactly;
Maybe it is the different surrounding? menus etc... Or because it is vectorbased I look at a not perfect calculated outcome?
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