Feature
Compare feature differences between Lightroom Classic and the Lightroom Ecosystem
Many thanks to Victoria Bampton, the Lightroom Queen, for her assistance in creating this feature comparison.
Storing photos
|
Lightroom Classic |
Lightroom Ecosystem |
---|---|---|
Original files (photos and videos) stored locally |
Yes |
Optional |
Store original files across multiple different hard drives |
Yes |
Yes (in the Local section) |
Original files can be uploaded to cloud |
No |
Yes |
Original files downloadable on-demand |
N/A |
Yes |
Automatically manage local storage |
No |
|
Work with multiple catalogs |
No |
Import
Feature | Lightroom Classic | Lightroom Ecosystem |
---|---|---|
Browse, organize, and edit photos in the file system without needing to import |
No | Yes |
Import raw, JPEG, PSD, PSB, TIF, DNG, HEIF, PNG, and some video formats |
Yes | Yes |
Add to collection/album | Yes | Yes |
Change sort order/filter photos in Import dialog | Yes | No |
Add metadata during import | Yes | Copyright only |
Apply camera defaults during import | Yes | Yes |
Apply develop presets during import | Yes | Yes (Raw only) |
Rename photos during import | Yes | No |
Import from iPhoto/Photos | iPhoto/Aperture only | Photos only |
Import from Photoshop Elements | Yes | Yes |
Tethered Shooting & Watched Folders | Yes | No |
Viewing photos
Feature |
Lightroom Classic |
Lightroom Ecosystem |
View photos in Grid view |
Yes |
Yes |
View photos in Loupe/Detail view |
Yes |
Yes |
Zoom in on photos |
Yes |
Yes |
View photos in Survey view |
Yes |
No |
View photos in Compare view |
Yes |
Yes |
Secondary screen |
Yes |
No |
Organizing photos
Feature |
Lightroom Classic |
Lightroom Ecosystem |
Organize using folders on the hard drive |
Yes |
Yes |
Organize using Collections/Albums |
Yes |
Yes |
Quick Collection/Target Collection |
Yes |
Yes (Target Collection only) |
Stack photos |
Yes |
Yes (desktop only) |
Rename photos |
Yes |
No |
Delete photos |
Yes |
Yes |
Restore deleted photos |
No |
Yes, within 60 days |
Viewing and adding metadata
Feature | Lightroom Classic | Lightroom Ecosystem |
---|---|---|
View EXIF/IPTC metadata | Yes | Yes |
Star ratings | Yes | Yes |
Flags | Yes | Yes |
Color labels | Yes | No |
Title, Caption | Yes | Yes |
Copyright | Yes | Yes |
Edit capture time | Yes | Yes |
Add other IPTC metadata | Yes | No |
Keywords | Yes | Yes |
View GPS | Yes | Yes (desktop only) |
Add GPS | Yes | No |
Face recognition | Yes | Yes |
Write metadata to files | Yes | Yes, only when saving a copy |
Finding and filtering photos
Feature |
Lightroom Classic |
Lightroom Ecosystem |
Change sort order |
Yes |
Yes |
Set custom sort order |
Yes |
Yes |
AI-based text search without tagging |
No |
Yes |
Filter based on metadata (keywords, camera, etc) |
Yes |
Yes |
Save filter criteria as a Filter Preset |
No |
|
Smart Collections |
Yes |
No |
Editing photos
Feature | Lightroom Classic | Lightroom Ecosystem |
---|---|---|
Lens Blur |
Yes | Yes |
HDR Edit and Output |
Yes | Yes |
Point Color |
Yes | Yes (desktop & web only) |
AI-powered Denoise | Yes | Yes |
Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, Shadows, Whites, Blacks | Yes | Yes |
Tone Curves | Yes | Yes |
Clarity, Dehaze, and Texture | Yes | Yes |
Color Adjustments | Yes | Yes |
Color Grading | Yes | Yes |
Sharpening, Noise Reduction, Grain | Yes | Yes |
Lens Corrections | Yes | Yes |
Chromatic Aberration/Defringe | Yes | Yes |
Geometric Corrections | Yes | Yes |
Camera Calibration Sliders | Yes | Yes |
Cropping and Straightening | Yes | Yes |
Remove Tool, including Generative Remove powered by Firefly |
Yes | Yes |
Red-Eye Correction tools | Yes (manual only) | Yes (automatic and manual) |
Pet Eye Correction tools |
Yes | No |
Masking - Gradients and Brushes | Yes | Yes |
Masking - Range Mask | Yes | Yes |
Masking - Select Subject | Yes | Yes |
Masking - Select Sky | Yes | Yes |
Masking - Select Objects | Yes | Yes |
Masking - Select People | Yes | Yes |
Masking - Select Background |
Yes | Yes |
Post-crop Vignette | Yes | Yes |
Photo Merge
Feature |
Lightroom Classic |
Lightroom Ecosystem |
Stich a panorama |
Yes |
Yes (desktop only) |
Create an HDR file |
Yes |
Yes (desktop only) |
Editing tools
Feature | Lightroom Classic | Lightroom Ecosystem |
---|---|---|
Copy/paste settings to multiple photos | Yes | Yes |
Apply Profiles | Yes | Yes |
Apply Presets | Yes | Yes |
Create Presets | Yes | Yes |
Premium Presets | Yes | Yes |
Adaptive Presets | Yes | Yes |
Recommended Presets (Powered by AI) | No | Yes |
Sync Profiles and Presets to the cloud | No | Yes |
History | Yes | Versions |
Before/After preview | Yes | Yes |
Reference view | Yes | Yes |
Snapshots | Yes | Versions |
Create copies | Virtual | Duplicate |
Masking Brush presets | Yes | Yes (pre-installed only) |
Viewing and editing videos
Feature |
Lightroom Classic |
Lightroom Ecosystem |
Play video clips |
Yes |
Yes |
Clip beginning/end |
Yes |
Yes |
Make color/tonal adjustments |
Yes (limited to the Quick Develop panel) |
Yes |
External editors and plug-ins
Feature |
Lightroom Classic |
Lightroom Ecosystem |
Send to Photoshop |
Yes |
Yes |
Send to Photoshop Elements |
Yes |
No |
Send to other external editors |
Yes |
Yes (mobile only) |
Third-party plug-ins |
Yes |
No |
Export
Feature | Lightroom Classic | Lightroom Ecosystem |
---|---|---|
Export as new file name | Yes | Yes |
Export file formats | Original/DNG, TIF/PSD, JPEG, PNG | Original/DNG, TIF, JPEG |
Export color space | ProPhoto, Adobe RGB, sRGB, Display P3 | ProPhoto, Adobe RGB, sRGB, Display P3 |
Export with resize | Yes | Yes |
Export with Content Credentials |
No | Yes |
Export photos with a border |
No | Yes (mobile only) |
Specify pixels per inch/cm | Yes | Yes |
Export with output sharpening | Yes | Yes |
Export with watermark | Yes | Yes |
Export with specific metadata | Yes | Yes (mobile only) |
Publish Services | Yes | Connections |
Send to Facebook | No | Yes (mobile only) |
Send to Flickr | Yes | No |
Share an Album
Feature |
Lightroom Classic |
Lightroom Ecosystem |
Link access - Anyone can view |
Yes |
Yes |
Link access - Invitation only |
No |
Yes |
Invite others to contribute photos to the shared album |
No |
Yes |
Invite others to edit photos in the shared album |
No |
Yes |
View comments and likes within the app |
Yes |
Yes |
Recieve centralized notifications for all activities |
No |
Yes |
Allow others to download full-size JPEGs |
No |
Yes |
Learn
Feature |
Lightroom Classic |
Lightroom Ecosystem |
Get hands-on experience with interactive tutorials |
No |
Yes |
Browse interactive tutorials |
No |
Yes |
Search for tutorials and learning content |
No |
Yes |
Get a personalised feed for tutorials |
No |
Yes |
Follow your favorite photographers |
No |
Yes |
Discover
Feature |
Lightroom Classic |
Lightroom Ecosystem |
Discover inspirational photos |
No |
Yes |
Discover edits from the community |
No |
Yes |
Edit photos for other photographers and allow them to edit yours |
No |
Yes |
Get a personalised feed |
No |
Yes |
Follow your favorite photographers |
No |
Yes |
Block or unblock photographers |
No |
Yes |
Search for discover content |
No |
Yes |
Download free presets from the community |
No |
Yes |
Contextual Help
Feature |
Lightroom Classic |
Lightroom Ecosystem |
Find help for a tool or feature within the app |
No |
Yes |
Access guided tutorials within the app |
No |
Yes |
Search resources using keywords |
No |
Yes |
Books, Slideshows and Prints
Feature |
Lightroom Classic |
Lightroom Ecosystem |
Create books |
Yes |
Sync photos to Blurb BookWright |
Create slideshows |
Yes |
Yes (basic) |
Print to a local printer |
Yes |
No |
Order prints |
No |
Yes (WHCC or Printique) |
Web |
||
Soft Proofing |
Yes |
No |
Multiple Computers/Devices
Feature | Lightroom Classic* | Lightroom Ecosystem |
---|---|---|
Use on secondary desktop | No | Yes |
Access photos on mobile device | Yes, with synced Collections | Yes |
Access photos in a web browser | Yes, with synced Collections |
Yes |
Share Lightroom Web galleries | Yes, with Web module or synced Collections with Lightroom Web |
Yes |
*Lightroom Classic syncs Smart Previews when uploading images to the Lightroom Ecosystem. |