When comparing Lightroom vs Vectr, the Slant community recommends Lightroom for most people. In the question“What are the best graphic design programs?” Lightroom is ranked 13th while Vectr is ranked 17th. The most important reason people chose Lightroom is:
Lightroom allows, for example, organizing images based on folders, color labels, flags, rating, keywords, GPS location, it can automatically create smart albums (albums that automatically update based on set rules) and it can be set to automatically backup, rename based on set rules, apply default processing, add keywords to images on import. It offers that functionality in an intuitive way and allows extensively customizing layout, behavior and workflow of managing assets to better suit your needs.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Excellent asset management capabilities
Lightroom allows, for example, organizing images based on folders, color labels, flags, rating, keywords, GPS location, it can automatically create smart albums (albums that automatically update based on set rules) and it can be set to automatically backup, rename based on set rules, apply default processing, add keywords to images on import. It offers that functionality in an intuitive way and allows extensively customizing layout, behavior and workflow of managing assets to better suit your needs.
Pro HDR support
Can merge multiple shots into one in order to expand dynamic range.
Pro Facial recognition helps find and tag people
Lightroom has built-in facial recognition support that can be used to find the same person in any collection of photographs.
Pro A good number of cameras have built-in lens profiles for lens distortion correction
Lightroom has over 900 lens profiles from all kinds of manufacturers, including major lens brands like Canon, Nikon, Leica, Pentax, Ricoh, etc. You can see the full list of supported lenses here. Lens profiles will in most cases speed up the process of correcting lens distortion down to 1-2 clicks.
Pro Intuitive interface that's streamlined for a photographer's workflow
At a high level the interface is organized into broad groups of tools called workflow modules. Modules like "Library" for asset management and "Develop" for manipulating the photos. Each module displays only those tools that are needed for that task. This allows you to separate concerns between tasks and reduces interface clutter. When you're, for example, developing the image, you're not bothered by interface tools relating to exporting it.
Within each module tools are grouped in a logical manner. Develop module, for example, will group tools relating to basic image adjustment, lens correction, and effects.
And there are a plethora of keyboard shortcuts that improve the workflow speed even further. At all times you can easily navigate between images you're working via arrow keys, quickly compare images before and after making edits with \
, or see side by side comparisons with y
.
Pro Supports tethered capture
You can connect your camera directly to Lightroom and have Lightroom display images as soon as they are captured.
Pro Intuitive
Vectr is simpler than other web design or vector graphics design tools, and has all the features needed to make designs beautiful.
Pro WordPress plugin
Embedded editor in WordPress is perfect for editing / creating: annotated images, watermarks, banners, image-collages, infographics, logotypes.
Pro Grid and snapping
The grid and snap lines in your workspace serve as a visual aid and guideline for the composition and alignment of your designs.
Pro Supports importing various image formats
You may import your previous designs or downloaded graphics and edit them in Vectr as you like.
Pro Supports collaboration
You can send the unique URL to your Vectr project to friends and colleagues for collaboration.
Pro Low learning curve
Vectr has a very low learning curve and would be perfect for beginners. However, it’s absolutely easy to use no matter what your background is. Professional designers will also find a great number of useful tools which may change their designs completely.
Pro Designing offline
Vectr's desktop app works offline for up to 100 edits, and then once you get online it automatically synchronizes all of the projects with your online account. So you can work whenever you want without fearing for your projects.
Pro Free
The app is going to remain free forever.
Pro Cross-platform
You may download Vectr for Mac, Windows, Linux, and Chromebook.
Cons
Con No layer-based image editing capabilities
There are no layers removing any ability to blend images, create composits, overlay text, etc.
Con Hot folder option could be better
It can take a couple of seconds for Lightroom to check the folder for incoming images and that can noticeably slow down the workflow. Additionally, only the last image is imported as active.
Con There's a learning curve
Con Telemetry
Adobe is interested in what you do with "their" software. Just install wireshark and see the story unfold. Don't have that or too difficult? Just take a bank note, scan it. See if you can get it on your screen...
Con Expensive and subscription
As with other software offerings, Adobes portfolio keeps giving. For the customer/ user however, this means that you never own your software, but you rent it. Until the point your landlord throws you out.
Con Proprietary
As all Adobe software it is proprietary, closed source.
Con Requires an Internet connection to work
Must be tethered to an Internet connection at all times, so forget working on planes or other places where you're not online.
