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diff --git a/wired/old/published/Webmonkey/photos/lightroom_intro.txt b/wired/old/published/Webmonkey/photos/lightroom_intro.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1588d3c --- /dev/null +++ b/wired/old/published/Webmonkey/photos/lightroom_intro.txt @@ -0,0 +1 @@ +Making the leap from shooting JPG files to shoot in camera RAW is a revelation, all of sudden you can effectively go back to the scene, readjusting exposures, changing color tempatures and more. As they say, once you go RAW, you don't go back.
However, Camera RAW images make for a much more complicated workflow. There's no more plugging your camera into a printer and presto -- you images are on paper.
Given the increased complexity of camera RAW images, it's not surprising that whole new crop of images editors have come around to help you deal with the workflow requirements.
Adobe lightroom 2 is the company's latest answer to the Camera RAW workflow problem and offers just about everything you need, from organization, tagging, metadata capture and more to editting, printing and exporting to the web.
So pop the cork on a fresh jug of moonshine and let's get started.
== Overview ==
So what does Lightroom offer that Adobe Photoshop and Bridge don't? The basic premise is that Lightroom is a complete package. Yes you made need to make some fine-grained tweaks in Photoshop, but for the most part Lightroom is where you'll live.
Lightroom also uses the same camera RAW engine that you'll find in Photoshop, which means when you do need to jump over to Photoshop, all your Lightroom adjustments will come with you.
Lightroom uses a database to store all your metadata, and by metadata we mean everything -- from images edits to camera profile, tags and keywords to web export settings -- everything is self-contained within your Lightroom catalog. Natrually you can have multiple catalogs if you like and you can store your images wherever you want (including external drives), the Lightroom database just uses a pointer to the image file.
And the best part is that all your editing is non-destructive. At any point you want it's trivially easy to step backward in time, whether that means undoing the last adjustmment, or heading all the wway back to your oriiginal RAW file, all the history states are always preserved.
== The Lightroom Interface ==
When you first open Lightroom you'll be greated by dark, subdued interface that looks -- regardless of what platform you're running it on -- like it came from the moon. It takes a bit of getting used to, but the black chrome isn't random, it's designed to help youu focus on and get a better look at the color in your images.
Lightroom 2 is divided into what Adobe calls modules. You can swtich between then using the menu links at the top left of the screen. The options mirror the basics of your workflow: Library, Develop, Slideshow, Print and Web.
The first two are the meat of Lightroom and the last three help you get your photos to where ever you want them, be it a slideshow, prints or a web sharing site like Flickr.
The interface itself has four major components -- along the bottom you'll see the filmstrip with holds all the images you're currently interested in -- that could be just one folder's worth, or it could be several, it could also be a quick collection you've put together on the fly.
The main point of the film strip is provide quick access between images without needing to jump back to the Library view.
Above the filmstrip, occupying the bulk of the interface, you'll find Lightroom's main center pane as well as the two side panels. What you see in each of these panes depends on which "module you're using." The sidebars then contain all the actions that apply to that module.
For instance, say you're in the library module, the center pane will show your current images, the left pane your folders, keywords, search box and other filtering tools. The left pane holds some quick editing tools, as well as panels to apply new organizational info -- like keywords.
In general the left pane shows you what you've done and right pane is where you do new stuff. The action happens in the middle.
== Conclusion ==
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