Photoshop Elements with LR2?

[Jim Mohundro]

I've just started using LR and, finally, with the aid of Victoria Bampton and other forum contributors, I've successfully imported my family's digital photos and have begun importing scanned images from color slides of the last 6'+(!) years. I'm about 5'' slides along and have another twoor three hundred to go. As I sit at my computer scanning I have some time to think ahead to actually developing pictures I'll shoot in RAW and polishing some jpgs scanned from the past. I have on hand a Photoshop Elements that was included with my scanner of five years ago. To the extent that I want to do some developing can I use Elements (or an upgrade thereof) or, say, FastStone Image Viewer or Picture Window Pro in concert with LR2 much as Scott Kelby describes that use in conjunction with the full-fledged Photoshop?

 

[Victoria Bampton]

Yes, you can use Elements or other editors - 'external editors' are the phrase you're looking for. Much of the work you'll be able to do in LR's own Develop module, but retouching is quicker in Elements or some such. Obviously Elements offers more limited options than full PS, but it'll do most things you'll need.