Today’s Question: When it comes to applying targeted adjustments in Photoshop, do you recommend using Camera Raw or Photoshop?
Tim’s Quick Answer: For targeted adjustments I would choose Camera Raw if you prefer a more streamlined workflow that is a little simpler, and choose Photoshop if you want to be able to exercise maximum control over the specific shape of your masks.
More Detail: Both Camera Raw and Photoshop provide features that enable you to define a specific area of the image and then apply adjustments that only affect that area. While the core concepts are the same, the user experience and capabilities are somewhat different.
Camera Raw provides a simpler set of tools for defining areas of an image. These include totally automatic options for creating selections of the sky, the key subject, and the background. There are also semi-automatic options for creating selections of objects or people, along with more manual controls such as for gradients and painting to define areas.
Photoshop includes similar selection tools, along with additional options that provide more granular control over the process of defining the area of the image you want to adjust. However, the more powerful capabilities of Photoshop come with an additional degree of complexity.
Put simply, Camera Raw is easier to use when it comes to applying targeted adjustments. If you’re able to get a good result using Camera Raw, whether it is for initial raw processing or using Camera Raw as a filter later in your workflow, it is probably better to take advantage of the easier workflow with Camera Raw. However, if you’re not satisfied with the results you’re getting with Camera Raw, you can absolutely get a better result with Photoshop. Doing so, however, might involve a bit more knowledge of the specific features involved and effort to refine a selection or mask to perfection to get the results you’re after.
