A long time ago, there was only a Lightroom. But since Adobe switched to cloud-based and subscription-based services, Lightroom has gone through two changes: Lightroom Classic and Lightroom (which used to be called Lightroom CC, where CC stands for “Creative Cloud”). Most photographers use Lightroom Classic, which only works on desktop computers. Lightroom, on the other hand, is a cloud-based editor that saves your original photos in Adobe’s cloud.  

It depends on what Adobe package you buy, but you should be able to download both Lightroom CC vs Lightroom Classic. Which means you should use something other than both of them together. These programs are very different from each other, even though they share some features. 

What Is Lightroom Classic?

Lightroom Classic is the version that has been around since the beginning of the program in 2007. It works like any other PC app and keeps the information about your photos in a catalog file that is not part of your photo files. Lightroom Classic picture files can be kept anywhere, but the hard drive or an external drive on your computer is where they are kept most of the time. 

If you are a photographer, Lightroom Classic has everything you might need to organize and print from a huge collection of photos on your hard drive(s). You can also make web albums, books, and slideshows with it. There are different modules for organizing, developing, and printing. These modules have everything you need to take an image from being imported to being exported, no matter what level. 

Map, Book, Slideshow, and Web are some of the other modules that are used less. The writing and organising modules are what people use the most. Even though it’s on your computer, you can sync your pictures with Lightroom CC in the cloud if you have a Creative Cloud subscription.

What Is Adobe Lightroom CC?

Lightroom CC was made for photographers who want to be able to view their photos online and on different devices, as well as have access to powerful tools for editing and organizing them. When you use Lightroom CC, all of your files are kept in the cloud, not on your computer or device. That means you can get to your files from anywhere with fast internet. 

People who want to edit their photos from their phone or iPad can use it very well because of this. One thing that could be clearer for new users is that Lightroom CC is in the cloud, but the app itself is on your computer. 

Features Of Lightroom CC And Lightroom 

“Lightroom” and “Lightroom Classic” are both powerful photo editing and management software developed by Adobe, but they have some differences in features and target users. Here’s a simplified comparison:

Lightroom:

These are the features of Lightroom;

Cloud-Based: 

Lightroom is software that lets you edit and organise photos in the cloud.This means that your photos and edits are stored in Adobe’s cloud, allowing you to access them from various devices.

Simplified Interface: 

Lightroom offers a more streamlined and simplified interface compared to Lightroom Classic, making it easier for beginners to use.

Sync Across Devices: 

Since Lightroom stores your photos in the cloud, you can sync your edits across different devices seamlessly.

Lightroom Classic:

These are the features of Lightroom Classic;

Desktop-Based: 

Lightroom Classic is a desktop-based photo editing and organizing software. Your photos are stored locally on your computer’s hard drive.

More Advanced Features: 

Lightroom Classic offers a wider range of advanced editing features and tools compared to Lightroom, making it more suitable for professional photographers and advanced users.

Greater Control: 

With Lightroom Classic, you have more control over your photo organization and file management, as your photos are stored locally on your computer.

Better Performance: 

Lightroom Classic typically offers better performance and speed, especially when working with large catalogs of photos.

What’s Different Between Lightroom CC vs Lightroom Classic

What really makes them different is this:  

Where You Edit: 

Lightroom Classic only works on a PC, but Lightroom can be used on any device to edit. 

How To Store Photos: 

In Classic, your pictures are saved on your computer. Since Lightroom saves them online, you need enough space in the cloud.  

Putting Photos In Order: 

Lightroom’s automatic tags make it easy to find pictures quickly. Classic lets you have more flexibility, but you have to organize things yourself. 

How To Choose The Best Version For Your Photography Needs 

Lightroom For Photographers On The Go 

Cloud-based Lightroom is great for shooters who are always on the go and taking pictures of new things. The cloud storage in this version lets you change your photos from any device. If you have an internet link, you can get to your whole photo library from anywhere. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that if you need a good internet link, it might be hard to get to and change your photos.

This is a great version for casual shooters and people who like social media. Because it’s simple, you can improve the look of your photos right away without having to learn a lot. If you share updates and information online a lot, the cloud-based editor makes it easy to make changes and share them right away!  

Lightroom Classic For Editors Who Care About Details 

Lightroom Classic is designed for shooters who like to edit while sitting down. It keeps all of your photos on your computer so that you can view and edit them even when you’re not online. This version is great for changing in-depth, where every little thing counts. Because it has so many editing tools, it can meet the needs of both professional and skilled photographers! 

Photographers who work with a lot of shots will save money and time by using Lightroom Classic. It can be expensive and inconvenient for people with slow internet access to store a lot of high-resolution pictures in the cloud. This Classic version has a feature that lets you store and handle large photo libraries locally. 

Picking Out Your Option

Which one you should choose, Lightroom or Lightroom Classic, relies on how you work and how you take pictures. 

The cloud-based Lightroom is perfect for you if you like being able to edit photos from anywhere and finding it easy to store files in the cloud. It works well for photographers who value freedom and ease of use over advanced editing tools. 

Lightroom Classic is likely the best choice for you if you like to edit your photos in great detail and keep them on your computer. It’s made for shooters who want to edit their pictures in a lot of different ways and organize them in their own way. 

What’s best for you should depend on what you need to change and how you like to edit. Each version is made to fit a different type of photography and workflow.

 Final Words

Many experts will find that the cloud-based version of Lightroom could be better than the desktop version in a few ways. Not even color labels, virtual copies, or a history panel for plugins? In that way, it’s definitely limited. 

But casual shooters, who are Lightroom’s main audience, don’t need or want most of those things. If professional shooters wish to, they will choose Lightroom Classic over them. Some shooters, like professional photographers with a lot of followers on social media, will use both at the same time. 

It’s not a surprise that Adobe split Lightroom into two parts in the end. The only annoying thing is that the names of the two types of software are so identical. There are also times when photographers just say “Lightroom,” but they mean Lightroom Classic! But I hope that this piece has helped you understand the differences and choose the right one for you. Leave a question in the section below, and a skilled photographer from Photography Life will get back to you! 

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)