Idea List on Menu for Functionality

This is what we have today for HDR and Panorama stacking. I agree that an expansion would be nice. I'd like to see Focus stacking added and to have these functional tasks moved to a separate menu. 

And we thought Lightroom was a code hog! Wait until you add Focus Stacking, then it'll really slow down! Photoshop does it fine, or get Helicon Focus (which is a LR plugin). Don't do it Adobe!

Like built-in HDR, focus stacking is just an under-the-covers script to save a bunch of manual steps. Tried Helicon and the LR-PS round trip worked better.

If you want a "toy" photo editor, there are several available; some free. Adobe builds high functionality products for those of us who appreciate the features.

Lightroom improvements over the years have eliminated the need for most plug-ins: noise reduction, HDR, resizing, distortion correction, CA removal... Yes it means that it is not the tool for low powered gear or minimum capability. If one doesn't want a powerful product then the free photo editors included with both macOS and Windows will likely work just fine.

Don't get me wrong, Bill, I'm an Adobe LR fan (take THAT Sharky James!) But the plugin architecture is valuable to pros and enthusiasts so that they can use the Nik Collection (HDR Efex Pro is WAY better than doing it in LR), and new things like Luminar 4 that use the kinds of AI tech that LR doesn't have (yet). This also keeps LR from taking over ALL my 64GB of RAM, that I recommend for serious LR users!

My intent would be for this menu to show the BASIC functions of PS not the convoluted methods of some flows.  The basic functions would be listed by the proper name for the function.  Example:  SHIFT.   How does one shift an image spatially?  I know of three ways and they are in three separate places.  The Move tool, Transforms in Edit, and Offset in Filters>Other>Offset.  I want the menu to show them with button to execute for each plus maybe a tool tip with special usage.  Look at Offset, it has option to wrap around the the pixels that will be deleted in the move. 

I'm not always sure where to look to do something very fundamental so end going to a browser and searching.  Talk about a waste of time.   I've been around since ver. 3  so what does a new user think who is working on a pattern and wants to shift it n pixels and wrap the edge around?  The UI for PS is basically software developer in nature not designed to aid the user. The majority of programs we work with are this way. 

Adobe should discover the atoms in their programs as well as the complex molecules.

RONC   

I used to be a big fan of the Nik collection and DxO but IMHO, Lightroom now at least matches them. That is unless one wants over the top HDR. Tried Luminar 4, again no better than Lightroom, mostly a gimmick for those who want surreal results; great tool for making landscape posters to sell at a hobby store. 
 
If Lightroom is eating 64GB of RAM on your machine, I'm wondering if you are using a Mac? I've not experienced that problem on Windows even when editing my huge scanned 4x5 color DNG images. Right now it is at a tad under 8GB with the highest I've ever seen it around 27-28GB on my 64GB machine Windows Pro machine. Just opened a 19MPx14MP image in the Develop module, updating to current version and clicked the Auto button: increased the memory consumption to 15.3GB. Exporting increased it to  19GB. 
 
1961 Ferrari Testa Rosa, I think the one that won Le Mans. Owned by Spencer Buick and taken by me with a 6" Golden Dagor lens when I was about 20. Unknown settings. Downsized to 1024x768 for uploading. 


 

No, it's not "eating 64GB", but I want other apps open also, and it runs better with 64 than it did with 16GB, when I couldn't have a browser and email open. Yes, I was a Mac IT pro for 25 years, and also supported Windows, and I could give you 57 reasons Macs are better than Windows (at least for creatives, which is why most use Macs), but that would be boring for me. But I don't want to get into a religious discussion here, oops, too late!

LR doesn't come close to matching the Nik Collection and Luminar's abilities, but you have to really learn and use them to know that. Try to get what the Bokeh tool in Viveza does in LR, good luck! LR has "lame HDR" and poor AI, by comparison, I never use it. I'm not interested in documenting Nature, or Ferraris, I'm trying to make Visionary Experience into Art, or as you call it "over the top HDR". Bring back the 60s!