I was wondering how other people go about this. Let's imagine you have something like a large event on a lightroom catalog but you want to apply some processing that is only available with Photoshop. How would you do this in a way that doesn't make it crazy to work on those files at a later date and doesn't mess too much with the library ?
If you need Lighroom's Library feature to organize your images so be it. Lightroom is not really a full fledged image editor.
Many of us get by just using Photoshop rarely do I even use the Bridge. Photoshop has superior automation features Scripting and Actions. When these become complex to use you can create a GUI to enhanced their usability by encapsulating some inside Photoshop extension panels.
Many prefer Lightroom's develop module user interface over ACR user interface for setting up setting for Adode RAW conversion engine. However if you open RAW file as smart object in Phtoshop when you need to make versions of RAW conversion for an image you have to use ACR user interface for its a plugin that can be used from the Bridge and Photoshop. Lightroom's develop module is not a Photoshop Plug-in it can only be used in Lightroom. I have no need for two UI over the RAW conversion engine.
Thanks ! Thing is, I didn't want to make it automatic as I want to adjust things very finely. The problem is that then it's a pain to keep everything organized in LR with the copies and so on.
Both Scripting and Action support user interaction there will be many things you will want to be completely automated without the need for your intervention there are things you want control over. Actions and scripts can automate thing up to the point you want control to make fine adjustment. Then can then transfer control to you there to make fine adjustments. Once you make the fine adjustment automation continues to the next point where you want control. This process will continue like that till the whole process is done.
