As a professional photographer, I am a bit of an odd duck when it comes to the software I use. I have been using Adobe Lightroom (the cloud version) for several years. It’s software that has been described by many as feature-poor, unprofessional, unusable and, by some, even a scam. Evidently I am not in that camp and I feel that a lot of this “hate” is originating in the rocky launch this product had back in 2017. Since then Lightroom (Cloud) has turned into an advanced product with 90% of the features Lightroom Classic has today. While it’s arguably still not for everyone, I think it is the right solution for most people. And today, Adobe has added a local mode – addressing the largest criticism of this more modern version of Lightroom.
Disclaimer: This article is not sponsored in any way. All opinions in this article are my own. If you (dis)agree, I invite you to open a discussion in the comment section.
Adobe Lightroom (Cloud) is streamlined and looks more simplistic but those looks can be deceiving. It houses almost all of the same powerful tools for which Lightroom Classic is known. With the new Local Mode, the biggest criticism against it has disappeared too as you can now use it without needing cloud storage.
A Rocky Launch
Today the most commonly used photo editing software, by professional photographers, is Adobe Lightroom Classic. That version of Lightroom has been around since 2007, when it launched as a barebones photo editing and cataloguing application. I say “barebones” because that’s because it was very limited in comparison to what you get today. However, it quickly grew to into a standard in the industry, with no other comparable products on the market other than Apple’s Aperture which was discontinued not long after.
Curiously enough, in 2017 Adobe launched a new, separate version of Lightroom, which was branded Lightroom CC (CC meaning Creative Cloud) which has since then been rebranded to Lightroom. This new version was built on a new & faster codebase and promised vastly better performance. Better performance is something the Lightroom community had been wanting for years as Lightroom Classic would even grind the most powerful systems to a complete halt. However, at launch Lightroom (Cloud) was lacking a lot of features compared to Classic. It didn’t have features such as HDR & Panorama merge, print module, geotagging, and more. For that reason, it instantly received an overwhelming amount of discontent and, in some cases, even hate. Some photographers mocked this “lesser” version (and still do) but were also worried this “lesser” version would replace Lightroom Classic and Adobe would force them to move over regardless of whether it had feature parity or not.
As we know today, Lightroom Classic is still around but it’s hard to imagine it being for much longer considering how Lightroom (Cloud) has evolved. Much has changed since 2017 and Lightroom (Cloud) has made a lot of progress towards being a true candidate as a replacement for Lightroom Classic.
Adobe Lightroom (Cloud) has come a long way since its rocky launch in 2017. Every new Classic feature is added to it, such as the powerful new masking tools.
How Do Lightroom Cloud & Classic Differ Today?
Let’s get one thing out of the way here: there is a lot of misinformation out there when it comes to Lightroom (Cloud). Most of it is based on old information, due to the lacklustre launch. While the list of differences below isn’t 100% complete, I point out the most important differences to me.
Some differences are insignificant and others can be quite important to some but, maybe not that important to you. Here are a few of the differences that really stand out.
- There are no Map, Book, Print or Web modules in this Lightroom (Cloud). While there is a basic form of geotagging available in Lightroom (Cloud), none of the other modules are available. While the Book & Web modules aren’t very valuable to me, the Print module was on occasion useful for soft proofing images before sending them to the print lab. However, you can still open images from Lightroom (Cloud) and softproof them in Photoshop regardless.
- Lightroom (Cloud) doesn’t have any tethering support. I don’t really use this functionality as a landscape and wildlife photographer but it’s a pretty important feature in some areas of photography.
- There are no catalogs in Lightroom (Cloud). Everything sits in one large database. This is not a downside to me as I prefer to keep all my photographs together. However, some people find it useful to have separate catalogues.
- The Export menu in Lightroom (Cloud) is less advanced but has all the important settings such as file types, resolution, image quality, watermarking and more. One strange omission, to me, is the lack of DPI setting.
- Plugins are nearly non-existent in Lightroom (Cloud). While I don’t rely on plugin functionality, this can be important to you if you use for example, 3rd party denoiser tools or other similar plugins.
- “Smart Collections” aren’t available in Lightroom (Cloud). However, because the Search functionality is vastly superior, I don’t feel like I am missing them. It’s really easy to use the search bar to get to the same result.
In some cases, you will hear that some features are missing while they are in fact not missing at all. They exist in both Lightroom Cloud & Classic, but might be slightly different or named differently. This is the case with “virtual copies” which exist as “versioning” in Lightroom Cloud.
One of the most powerful features in Lightroom Classic is also available in Lightroom (Cloud): the curve.
One of the common “complaints” about Lightroom (Cloud) is that you can’t create virtual copies. However, that isn’t true. This feature is called versioning and it not only allows you create manual versions but it also does so automatically when you make edits.
Addressing Criticism with Local Mode
Adobe has been constantly improving Lightroom (Cloud) with regular updates. Though these updates are not always significant, today is definitely a “big one”. With today’s update Adobe finally addresses one of the biggest criticisms. With Lightroom 7, it’s now possible to use Lightroom locally without using the cloud functionality. This works similarly to Lightroom Classic. There is now a new “Cloud” and a “Local” button at the top left of the window. After selecting the “Local” button, you see a “Favourites” and “Browse…” section, which gives you access to your (external) hard drive. From there you can favourite certain folders and build up your own organisation structure within Lightroom. When editing, Lightroom will save your edits into an XMP file which is stored in the same folder as your original RAW or JPEG file.
This change, which opens up Lightroom (Cloud) to a whole new group of people, is huge! If this trend continues, I believe this could mean that Lightroom Classic will become irrelevant in a few years. The differences between both versions are now smaller than ever and for anyone starting out, there isn’t really a need to step into the complex world of Lightroom Classic.
Aside from “Local Mode” Adobe has also added support for editing HDR photographs as well as a new Lens Blur option. If you want to read all about the latest update, make sure to head over to Adobe’s website.
Two new buttons have been added, which allow you to switch between Cloud and Local access.
Edits are saved to XMP files inside the folder of the RAW or JPEG you are editing.
Even though you work locally, you can also easily copy your photographs into the cloud for access on other devices or simply to keep your work backed up.
Why I Use Lightroom (Cloud) & Think It’s The Better Option For Most People
I have been using Lightroom (Cloud) pretty much since the release. Hot take: I think it’s probably the better option for most people today if you had to choose between Lightroom (Cloud) and Classic. As I’ve shown before in this article, the differences are minimal (and insignificant for most) but what makes it such a good option? There are several big reasons why I use it.
- The cornerstone of Lightroom (Cloud) is that it’s built for storing your files in the cloud. This means that when you open up Lightroom on your smartphone, tablet or other computer, you can continue editing where you left off. This is a massive advantage as I often switch between devices. Not only your files and their edits are synced to the cloud: keywords, albums, presets, … are also available across all your devices. This to me a massive advantage which speeds up my workflow tremendously.
- This also means that all your files are always backed up off-site into the cloud. Many photographers I know store their files on a NAS in their home. But what if your house burns down or some breaks in and steals your NAS? While these are arguably worst case scenarios, they could still happen.
Of course, using cloud storage means you will have to pay a subscription fee. However, if you consider the whole picture, it doesn’t really matter all that much. How much money would you be spending on hard drives, a NAS, your Creative Cloud license and a cloud backup service (Google Drive or Backblaze)? On top of that, you don’t have the convenience of accessing everything, all the time, everywhere. And if you absolutely do not want to use cloud storage, you can now also use the new Local Mode.
Having all my photographs backed up into the cloud gives me extra peace of mind and speeds up my workflow a lot.
The user interface is a lot more sleek and simplified compared to Lightroom Classic. On top of that: it packs all the latest features Lightroom Classic has too.
- The user interface is more modern, sleek and simple. Over the years I have noticed that for many photographers the Adobe Lightroom Classic user interface looks daunting. Having all of these advanced options, most of which you won’t even touch, can be really overwhelming.
- Complementing that simplified UI comes with the advantage that it’s easier to use. This version of Lightroom has been built from the ground up, allowing developers to rethink the application. This version of Lightroom is also faster due to the fact it has been rebuilt using more modern code.
- When I travel, I import and edit my images onto my MacBook Air, which I then leave to sync over the hotel Wi-Fi. This means that when I arrive home, I only have to open Lightroom on my desktop to continue editing where I left off as all of my new images and their edits have synced to my machine at home without me having to import anything again. The time-saving advantages are key here because I can import and edit files whenever I have time on the road.
- It’s also possible to keep a full copy of your library on a hard drive at home for faster editing. While travelling, I don’t travel with my whole library so Lightroom downloads whatever photographs I am accessing on the go. This keeps your library’s footprint on your laptop nice and compact.
- Lightroom (Cloud) is powered by Adobe Sensei, which is one of their AI tools. Sensei automatically keywords images, which means that you don’t have to keyword images to find them anymore. This works quite well and saves you a lot of time if you are big on using keywords.
These are just some of the advantages which are important to me but they likely apply to many people currently using Lightroom Classic.
Thanks to Adobe Sensei you don’t really need to keyword yourself as the search bar is now clever enough to find images based on what you describe.
Adobe AI Denoise feature has also been built into Lightroom (Cloud).
The compare tool in Lightroom (Cloud).
Conclusion
I wrote this article because I felt there were a lot of irrational discussions out there which claim Lightroom (Cloud) to be an inferior product. I primarily wanted to make a case for it because I feel it’s a great tool and the differences today are so minute that most people are actually better off using it instead of Lightroom Classic. While most pros are definitely comfortable with using Classic, and have done so for many years, that doesn’t mean it’s the best solution for most. With the latest update, which adds Local Mode, the biggest argument against it has disappeared. If this was holding you back from using it, there is no better time than now to transition.
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Thank you for considering!
WIth the new local functionality I would jump across from Classic immediately but without “edit in” functionality is still remains crippled software. I don’t need Ps but similar functionality is often useful via external editors.
Hi Colin, thanks for reaching out. It is possible to do “Edit in…” in this version of Lightroom. I use it sometimes with my cloud library. I’m not sure if you can on local files but I don’t see any reason why not.
“ I haven’t actually looked into this. However, it is possible to export photographs with their edits (as XMP files) when exporting. You can essentially just choose “Original + Settings” during the export. I imagine you can then open them again via Local Mode in Lightroom. I hope that helps!”
Can you also export only the XMP files so you can store them with the originals on the local side? The reason i ask this is because i don’t need all my photo’s in the cloud but like the idea of having my edits still on the local side.
I have a catalog of 2006-2023, i would like to have 3 latest years in the cloud and all the other edits local but with the edits i made in the past on the cloud side 🙂
It’s not possible to just download the XMP files – only “originals + XMP”.
Hi Jeroen,
Now that there is the “Local” option in the Cloud version, I am closer to make the decision to move from Classic to the Cloud Version.
One question, though. I made changes to a Raw file (.NEF in my case since I use Nikon cameras) in the cloud version, and yes. A .XMP file was created with the changes. However, when I made changes to a .JPG, a .XMP file was not crated. Where these changes are stored?
Thanks, Jaime
Hi Jaime, thanks for reading and leaving a comment. I am unsure where the JPEG changes are stored as I only have RAW files in my catalogs. I presume there is some kind of catalog file within your Adobe account that keeps those changes if no XMP is present.
Thanks for the article. I am almost convinced, especially now, that Lightroom supports local storage. But where do I find the compare tool in Lightroom cloud, which you mentioned? I have the latest update and this is a feature, that I do not see and sorely miss, as it is my main tool for deciding which photos to keep or not.
Hi Mildura, thanks for reading and commenting! The compare tool is located a the bottom left (the two vertical rectangles next to each other). You can also access it by using Option + C on a Mac (not sure what the Windows shortcut is). I hope that helps!
Jeroen,
Do you know if it is possible to move an Album to local storage? I have a 4TB cloud synced library, and would like to get it smaller… and less expensive. Moving albums i dont need handy on all my mobile devices would solve for this.
Thanks,
Roger
Hi Roger,
I haven’t actually looked into this. However, it is possible to export photographs with their edits (as XMP files) when exporting. You can essentially just choose “Original + Settings” during the export. I imagine you can then open them again via Local Mode in Lightroom. I hope that helps!
Great article !
As a long time Lr Classic user, you definitely make me want to give Lr Cloud a proper go. Though, I’m a bit paranoid about my photo storage so I won’t put all my trust in Adobe’s cloud hosting. I’ll keep my NAS and Backblaze cloud for a little while 😉
Thank you! I totally get your cautiousness – I am too with my photos which is why I keep a local copy on my main desktop! I think now that they’ve added the local mode, it’s very easy to try it out while still using your NAS and Backblaze setup. I look forward to hearing what you thought!
Hi Jeroen.
I think there is another difference between CC and Cloud and that is the keywording. In CC is a easier (for me at least) way to structure your keywords.
BR Tommy
Hi Tommy! It is definitely true that Lightroom (Cloud) doesn’t have keywords hierarchy but I would argue you wouldn’t really need that anymore due to Adobe Sensei. You can also add manual keywords too but you can’t create a keyword hierarchy.