It’s the reason why making a comparison between Lightroom and Camera Raw is so difficult – you’re comparing a plugin to a full-fledged software program. Lightroom, on the other hand, is a one-program solution. That said, if you want to use ACR, you need another software program to host it. And in recent updates, Lightroom and ACR have started to look quite similar. As such, both programs share the same RAW processing technology. Lightroom was based on Adobe Camera Raw and was initially released in 2007. It can be supported by Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Bridge, and After Effects. Adobe Camera Raw vs Lightroom: overviewĪdobe Camera Raw was first launched in 2003 to develop RAW files. Whether you know Adobe Camera Raw or not and whether you shoot in RAW format or not (I hope you do!), this article can help you choose which editing program works best for you. So what’s the difference? Keep reading to find out! You can also correct perspective, fix lens distortions, and apply effects such as a vignette or split toning. Both of them allow you to process your photos and make adjustments to color and exposure. That’s also why some people haven’t even heard of Adobe Camera Raw even though they’re using it it’s the program designed by Adobe to develop RAW files, so it’s integrated into all Adobe photo-editing programs, including Lightroom.Īs you read through this article, you’ll notice that ACR and Lightroom look very similar. Are you trying to decide between Adobe Camera Raw vs Lightroom but you keep getting confused? This used to happen to me, too – because to understand ACR and what it offers, you have to understand the program that hosts it (either Photoshop or Bridge).

Open in camera raw