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 12/05/2009 06:38:35 AM · #1
Questions/open discussion on Lightroom 2.

I just got this second version of Lightroom and have yet to really find all the new stuff available to me, but am slowly working on learning it. I do have some questions and would be interested in finding out how some of the rest of you use this software.

My normal process is to use this horribly expensive package as a screening tool - to sort through all the raw images in the Library mode and do a first then second pass to throw stuff out. I have to admit I love it for this - very intuitive and easy to use, and nice big viewing area to check out the pictures. You can zoom in if you need to, then zoom back out, and can compare two shots side by side to see which is the better of the two to keep.

After that, I will change to the Develop mode then try out some of the presets. If I find one I like, I'll apply it, tweak it, then export the file to Photoshop to finish processing it. Here is where I have a question: is there any way within Lightroom to create and/or save a jpeg version without going into Photoshop? This would be something I could post to the web, use in a challenge, use for printing, etc. I've yet to figure a way to do that.

Also, I can see how to use the crop tool while maintaining the aspect ratio as shot (ie if shot at 4x6, it'll maintain that) but is there a way to use the crop tool at a pre-determined aspect ratio, such as 8x10?

If anyone has tips or tricks for LR, or more questions, post 'em here. I plan to take some time this week to try to really learn how to make better use of this tool!
 12/05/2009 07:06:22 AM · #2
I hardly ever open Photoshop unless I need to do anything in layers or for spot editing. When I do I export it temporarily and then re-import it to LR.

If you right-click on an image and select "export" you will get a dialogue box up. here you can decide where you want the file, resolution, sharpening and size etc. I have a folder set up for DPC entries and have set it for "longest side" to be 800 px so that it also resizes on export. Once it's in the DPC entries folder it's ready for submission. If you do need to edit in PS it's easy to 'loan' it out to PS while still in LR so you can crop edit and the file before resizing and exporting.
It is also possible to spot edit in LR but I don't believe this is the strength of LR so I use PS when needed.

And if you do use for example Photomatix it works best if you use the LR plugin so that Photomatix opens the file from LR and re-imports it to LR when done. It is (at least for me) by far best to open the file in LR and do the final save/export from LR. Everything else I do is 'in between'.

Hope this isn't to confusing! :o)
 12/05/2009 08:07:06 AM · #3
I will try the right click thing for exporting - but when you say "loan it out" to PS, how do you do that?

Also, is the LR plugin for Photomatix something you need to download from them? It sure would make life a little easier than opening separate programs sometimes...

Thanks kindly for your assistance!
 12/05/2009 08:14:53 AM · #4
When you right click, the drop down shows "edit in" with an arrow. If you select that and you have photoshop, it will be one of your choices. You will then decide whether to use your original, a copy, or a copy with your LR changes.

When you work in Photomatix from LR, you are actually exporting your images into photomatix which you do through the Export button in the lower left in Library mode. When you are finished with Photomatix it exports your new image back to LR.

Message edited by author 2009-12-05 08:15:36.
 12/05/2009 08:16:30 AM · #5
Originally posted by Melethia:
I will try the right click thing for exporting - but when you say "loan it out" to PS, how do you do that?


I mostly use LR as well and only 'loan it out' to PS for more detailed editing, NIk Software, borders stuff like that. When in LR if you click 'Photo' - 'Edit In' you can then edit either a copy or the original in PS (i usually always use a copy). Anything you then do to that copy in PS, when you save it will be saved in LR.
 12/05/2009 08:17:16 AM · #6
OK - the "edit in" is what I do now - but I then just save it in Photoshop. Had not seen the option to export to Photomatix.... lots to learn.

I do recall reading something I think Yanko posted about using Lightroom to edit and resize/upsize for stock submissions. My first attempt at Alamy was unsuccessful based on "too soft" and I think that had to do with the way I tried to upsize in Photoshop. So maybe I'll see what I can do with Lightroom.
 12/05/2009 08:20:48 AM · #7
BTW, to answer your earlier question, the Export button is how you can create JPEGs from lightroom as well. Unlike Photoshop, you can't select the actual photo size as in save for web there, but you can select compression on the 0-100 scale. It will also allow you to put your JPEG's in a subfolder if you wish.
 12/05/2009 08:30:32 AM · #8
Originally posted by photodude:
When you work in Photomatix from LR, you are actually exporting your images into photomatix which you do through the Export button in the lower left in Library mode. When you are finished with Photomatix it exports your new image back to LR.


I wouldn't use the EXPORT button for Photomatix work though. If you have the Photomatix LR plugin you should select it as you see on the screenshot from my installation:



ETA: You will then be presented with an option asking you whether you want to re-import it to LR after Photomatix processing

Message edited by author 2009-12-05 08:31:36.
 12/05/2009 08:51:21 AM · #9
I tried exporting to Photomatix but ended up with error messages and frozen programs, though it does tell me I have the LR plugin installed. I think it is because the files are from the 7D - is that a possible reason? I may try with earlier files from my 30D...

From what I've seen, I still need Photoshop to resize and sharpen my entries for DPC, but I shall keep playing. At some point it may be more complicated than it's worth! :-)
 12/05/2009 08:57:34 AM · #10
When you get to your final image and want to resize, right click the image you are working on, select edit in photoshop. When it opens in photoshop, click save for web and resize and save. Once you get the hang of it youll love it. BTW, I hope you didnt just buy it because LR3 is in Beta and will prob be released in just a few weeks.

Also, check to see if Photomatix has any updates for new Raw formats.
 12/05/2009 09:00:38 AM · #11
I did just buy the upgrade - had LR1 but it wouldn't handle the 7D files. Talked to the Adobe salesman on the phone and asked if I should wait for LR3 and he said not to, that it is in Beta but not scheduled to be fully released until next summer or fall.

As for format updates, I don't think Adobe has come out with the "official" update for the 7D yet, but I haven't checked in the past few weeks. So far, CS4 and LR2 are opening the files, so I'm happy.
 12/05/2009 10:23:24 AM · #12
Originally posted by Melethia:
From what I've seen, I still need Photoshop to resize and sharpen my entries for DPC, but I shall keep playing. At some point it may be more complicated than it's worth! :-)

Lightroom has sharpening, and the export dialog will resize up or down.

I only ever go into Photoshop now if I need to do something like perspective or lens distortion correction.
 12/05/2009 01:16:27 PM · #13
Originally posted by Melethia:
Questions/open discussion on Lightroom 2.

I just got this second version of Lightroom and have yet to really find all the new stuff available to me, but am slowly working on learning it. I do have some questions and would be interested in finding out how some of the rest of you use this software.

Melethia... my prediction is that the more you learn about it and the more you use Lightroom(LR) the less you will go to Photoshop(PS). Eventually, you will hardly ever use Photoshop.

Btw, I own the current versions of both products. It irks me some that PS is so much more expensive and I use it so infrequently now.

All normal image editing can be done faster, easier and more intuitively in LR than in PS. That includes a huge variety of localized changes that you must use layer masks for in PS. In addition to that all LR editing is non-destructive, even spot editing. And to top it off, extensive image post processing with LR adds almost nothing to the size of the post processed master file whereas each layer you create in PS doubles the size of the image. My files are over 20 Megs to start so I find this feature most welcomed over PS.

LR has increased my throughput of images by leaps and bounds and because of its organizational features all my images are even better organized than ever before. That is because LR's image keywording feature is so easy to use. And my old folder organization method dovetailed perfectly into LR. I never skipped a beat moving over to LR.

The biggest headache for me, and might be for you, is the use of Ctrl-Z to undo edits. In PS if you hit Ctrl-Z it undoes the last action and if you do Ctrl-Z a second time it redoes the action. That is a common way in PS that I use to flip back and forth to decide if the last action I took was an improvement or not.

But in LR Cntl-Z just keeps undoing action after action. I frequently forget that and undo things I did not intend to undo. :)
 12/05/2009 03:22:47 PM · #14
I highly recommend Scott Kelby's book for LR2; it is well worth the cost. Although the Lr interface is pretty intuitive, there are a *lot* of things that Lr can do that are not immediately apparent, and Kelby's book does a great job of covering them.
He also does a good job of covering how to best configure Lr for your particular needs.
 12/05/2009 04:03:35 PM · #15
Originally posted by Artifacts:

The biggest headache for me, and might be for you, is the use of Ctrl-Z to undo edits. In PS if you hit Ctrl-Z it undoes the last action and if you do Ctrl-Z a second time it redoes the action. That is a common way in PS that I use to flip back and forth to decide if the last action I took was an improvement or not.

But in LR Cntl-Z just keeps undoing action after action. I frequently forget that and undo things I did not intend to undo. :)


Try using virtual copies when you want to try out diffenet edits, you can then compare them side by side. They are, as it says, virtual so no file size issues.
 12/05/2009 04:13:56 PM · #16
Originally posted by TrollMan:
Originally posted by photodude:
When you work in Photomatix from LR, you are actually exporting your images into photomatix which you do through the Export button in the lower left in Library mode. When you are finished with Photomatix it exports your new image back to LR.


I wouldn't use the EXPORT button for Photomatix work though. If you have the Photomatix LR plugin you should select it as you see on the screenshot from my installation:



ETA: You will then be presented with an option asking you whether you want to re-import it to LR after Photomatix processing


One more option. From the Library or Develop Modules control click on each of the photos you want to send to Photmatix (assuming you have a series of exposures). Now right click on one of them and choose Export from the bottom of the pop up menu. A dialog will then pop up asking you a few question on how to handle the files or file. If you chose just one file then it will only export to Tone Mapping. If you chose a series of files it will combine them and the go to Tone Mapping.
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