In conjunction with the Photoshop workshop I attended the other day, I also took part in a Lightroom workshop. I am a frequent user of the Adobe software so understand many of the basic functions from crop to visual adjustments. However features like Library and Print were fairly new to me, so the workshop provided me with a greater understanding of these.
The first stage of using the software brings you to the Library tab where you are able to import your images. This tab allows you to create organised folders for your project, as well as sorting the files by attribute or rating, either selected through the program or applied on-camera at the time of shooting. Here you are also able to view and adjust the metadata which is the information ingrained into the image file both before and after export. This is particularly useful when using the images online as this data will follow the file wherever it goes.
The next major tab is the Develop tab which enables you to edit your photos. I chose to use a RAW file, which is a type of photographic format that retains the most information from the camera, enabling advanced control over its appearance and adjustments.
As can be seen in the image above, on the left is the original photo and on the right is the edited, working progress version. The edits are made using the panel on the far right, including adjustments such as Basics, Curves, HSL / Colour and more.
Below is the finished image.
Another useful feature of Lightroom is the ability to apply Presets which are pre-loaded edits that can be applied to any photo. This will automatically apply adjustments that could be made manually, giving you an adjustable filter on your images. These can be found either in the default presets list in the software or across the internet.
Below is an example of an image with a preset applied to it, as well as some minor adjustments to fine tune it to my liking.
Finally, you have the option to set up your images for print. The software provides an extensive range of options for this, enabling you to find and apply the correct changes to your image for the perfect final print.
In addition to this, you are able to transfer the files directly to Photoshop to make retouches and edits before moving back into Lightroom with your adjusted image. This enables the user to work efficiently and non-destructively across a series of software, making a vast array of adjustments and edits to their imagery.
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