Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic for Dummies

Edit, organize, store, and share photos  

Whether you are brand new to photography, a devoted enthusiast, or a seasoned pro, there’s a version of Lightroom for you. 

Lightroom For Dummies is the book to help you learn which version of Lightroom is right for your needs. The main focus of the book is on using Lightroom Classic, but also includes an introduction to Lightroom CC. All with the goal of helping you get started on the right foot toward taking your photographic workflow to the next level. The book is a great starting place to help you improve your family photos or add advanced Lightroom skills that aid your career. Look inside to find the steps to navigating the software and getting top-notch results.

• Deciding which version of Lightroom is the best fit
• Take control of your photo library with Lightroom Classic
• Importing, organizing, and finding photos 
• Editing and sharing your photos 
• Producing a slideshow, book, print, or web gallery
• Gain a foundation for getting started with Lightroom CC

Get ready to spend less time in front of the computer and more time behind the lens!

Rob Sylvan has been answering Lightroom questions on the KelbyOne Help Desk since Lightroom 1.0 was released in 2007. A photographer, writer, and educator, Rob teaches Lightroom and Photoshop classes at trade shows, conferences, and camera clubs around the US. He's also an adjunct faculty member at New Hampshire Technical Institute.

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

How This Book is Organized 2

Part 1: Getting Started with Lightroom Classic 2

Part 2: Managing Your Photos with Lightroom Classic 3

Part 3: Working in Lightroom Classic’s Digital Darkroom 3

Part 4: Sharing Your Work with the World 3

Part 5: The Part of Tens 3

Conventions Used in This Book 3

Icons Used in This Book 4

Beyond the Book 5

Where to Go from Here 5

Part 1: Getting Started with Lightroom Classic 7

Chapter 1: Getting to Know Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 9

The Two Versions of Lightroom 10

Understanding the Creative Cloud 11

Creative Cloud Photography Plan 11

Figuring out whether Lightroom Classic is right for you 12

Knowing whether you need the new Lightroom 13

Introducing the Lightroom Classic Interface 14

Getting what makes each module unique 14

What the Lightroom Classic modules have in common 18

Controlling the Lightroom Classic interface 21

Using Lightroom Classic’s secondary display view 23

Getting Up and Running 25

Preparing for installation 25

Chapter 2: Working with Catalogs 27

Understanding How the Catalog Works 27

One catalog to rule them all 28

Knowing where the catalog is located 29

Choosing which catalog to open 31

Caring for the Catalog 32

Backing up your catalog 33

Optimizing your catalog 36

Managing the preview cache files 36

Exploring the Metadata options 40

Working with Multiple Catalogs 42

Transferring data between catalogs 42

Exporting a catalog 43

Importing from a catalog 44

Chapter 3: Lightroom Classic Basics That You Should Know 47

Configuring Lightroom Classic Preferences 47

General preferences 48

The Presets preferences 49

The External Editing preferences 50

Setting up additional external editors 52

The File Handling preferences 53

The Interface preferences 54

The Performance preferences 56

The Lightroom Sync preferences 58

The Network preferences 58

Local Storage versus Cloud Storage 59

Local storage 59

Cloud storage 59

What if I stop my subscription? 60

Getting Familiar with File Formats 61

Supported file formats 62

Making sense of bit depth 63

Understanding color spaces 64

Part 2: Managing Your Photos with Lightroom Classic 67

Chapter 4: Tackling the Lightroom Classic Import Process 69

Knowing How the Import Process Works 69

Exploring the Import Dialog 70

Importing Your Photos into Lightroom Classic 74

Employing an effective import workflow 74

Putting it all together 82

Auto Import 84

Shooting Tethered 87

Chapter 5: Viewing and Finding Photos in the Library 91

Exploring the Library Module 91

Getting to know the panels and tools 92

Becoming familiar with the menu options 94

Creating a custom identity plate 95

Choosing the Right View for the Task 98

Working with thumbnails in Grid view 99

Taking a closer look in Loupe view 102

Using the Panels to Access Your Photos 105

Getting the 20,000-foot view from the Catalog panel 105

Using the Folders panel like a file browser 106

Grouping photos into collections 110

Creating Multiple Versions with Virtual Copies 114

Chapter 6: Getting Organized with the Library 117

Evaluating Photos 118

Survey view 118

Compare view 120

Flags, Ratings, and Color Labels 121

Using flags to pick the winners and losers 122

Deleting photos from Lightroom Classic 124

Using ratings to rank images 125

Applying color labels 126

Filenames and Metadata 127

Batch renaming with filename templates 127

Creating metadata templates to embed information into each image 128

Keywording 130

Adding and organizing keywords 131

Using the Keyword List to find photos 135

Using the Painter Tool 136

Finding Photos with the Library Filter Bar 136

Chapter 7: Exploring the Library Module’s Advanced Features 139

People View 139

Finding faces 140

Tagging faces with names 141

Adjusting Your Photos in the Library 144

Considering the Histogram 144

Making adjustments with Quick Develop 145

Merging Photos into HDR and Panos 147

Photo Merge to HDR 147

Photo Merge to Panorama 149

Photo Merge to HDR Pano 151

What is DNG? 153

Types of DNG 153

Converting to DNG 154

Putting Photos on the Map 156

Getting oriented to the Map module 156

Map module basics 157

Part 3: Working in Lightroom Classic’s Digital Darkroom 159

Chapter 8: Editing Photos in the Develop Module 161

Exploring the Develop Module 162

Getting to know the panels and tools 162

Becoming familiar with the menu options 164

Understanding the view options 164

Applying settings to other photos 167

Development Essentials 169

Using the Histogram panel 170

Making basic adjustments 172

Choosing a starting profile 173

Controlling color casts 176

Adjusting tonal range to bring out the best 178

Making images pop 180

Customizing panel order 180

Chapter 9: Solving Problems and Saving Time 183

Fixing Common Problems 183

Stronger compositions through cropping 184

Removing spots and healing blemishes 186

Correcting red-eye problems 189

Correcting pet eye problems 191

Graduated Filter 192

Radial Filter 198

Adjustment Brush 199

Presets, Snapshots, and History 201

Saving time with presets 201

Freezing time with snapshots 203

Going back in time with the History panel 204

Chapter 10: Taking Your Photos to the Next Level 205

Working with Contrast and Color 206

Mastering the Tone Curve 206

Enhancing and changing colors 210

Creating black-and-white images 211

Adding color to shadows and highlights 214

The Devil’s in the Details 215

Applying capture sharpening 216

Dealing with noise 220

Correcting lens distortions and vignetting 222

Reducing chromatic aberration 223

Transforming perspective distortions 225

Creative Effects 227

Creative vignette applications 228

Creative grain applications 230

Modifying the Calibration Settings 230

Part 4: Sharing Your Work with the World 233

Chapter 11: Exporting Copies and Using External Editors 235

Exploring the Export Dialog 236

Creating Copies of Processed Photos 238

Employing an export workflow 238

Saving settings as a preset for reuse 252

Configuring Your External Editors 253

Basic Editing in an External Editor 257

Advanced Editing Options with Photoshop 259

Chapter 12: Designing a Book 263

Exploring the Book Module 263

Getting to know the panels and tools 264

Becoming familiar with the menu options 265

Setting Up a Book 266

Employing a book workflow 266

Some things to keep in mind 279

Chapter 13: Producing a Slideshow 281

Exploring the Slideshow Module 281

Getting to know the panels and tools 282

Becoming familiar with the menu options 283

Creating a Slideshow 284

Employing a slideshow workflow 284

Playing the Slideshow for Your Audience 297

Playback 297

Export 298

Chapter 14: Printing Your Work 301

Exploring the Print Module 301

Getting to know the panels and tools 302

Becoming familiar with the menu options 304

Setting Up a Print Job 305

Employing a print workflow 305

Chapter 15: Creating a Web Gallery 323

Exploring the Web Module 323

Getting to know the panels and tools 324

Becoming familiar with the menu options 325

Creating a Web Gallery 326

Employing a web gallery workflow 326

Web Gallery Output Options 334

Uploading your gallery with Lightroom Classic 334

Exporting your gallery 337

Part 5: The Part of Tens 339

Chapter 16: Ten Things to Know About Using Lightroom Classic and Lightroom Together 341

Why Would You Use Them Together? 342

Know Before You Go 343

Setting It Up 343

Lightroom Classic Preferences 344

Syncing Collections from Lightroom Classic 345

Making Collections Public 346

All Synced Photographs 346

Collections or Albums? 347

Lightroom for Mobile Interface 347

Change is a Constant 348

Chapter 17: Ten Things to Know About Organizing and Editing in Lightroom 349

Help & Support 350

All Photos and Filtering 350

Segmentation and View Options 351

Adobe Sensei Search 351

Adding Photos from Camera Roll 352

Apply During Import 354

Creating Albums and Folders 354

Applying Ratings and Flags 356

Edit Photos Anywhere 356

Export Copies 358

Chapter 18: Ten Things to Know About Using the Lightroom Mobile Camera 361

Shooting in Raw Mode (DNG) 362

Shooting in Professional Mode 362

Using Shoot-through Presets 364

Helpful Overlays 365

Self Timer, Burst Mode, and Remote Trigger 366

Last Photo Preview 366

Exposure Lock 366

In-Camera HDR Mode 367

Take a Selfie or Switch Lenses 367

Camera Launch Shortcuts 367

Index 369

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The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.