In this sample video tutorial from my Lightroom 5: The Fundamentals & Beyond video series, I show you all the different ways to view Before and After in Lightroom:
- Working with the History panel
- Using the “\” key
- Toggling on and off specific panel and tool work
- The Y/Y button
I also show you how to change the definition of “Before” so you can compare any previous step to your current work.
UPDATE: This video is also applicable to newer and older versions of Lightroom.
For best quality, hit Play, then click on the Youtube sprocket wheel 
in the bottom right and choose 720/HD.
(For even better quality, consider purchasing the full series.)
Check out my Lightroom Fundamentals & Beyond video series – available for all versions of Lightroom from 3 forward!
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Thanks Laura, great overview!
The ” shotcut sounds real handy – unfortunately, for some reason, it does not work with the national keyboard layout I use (Danish), and I suspect that the same could be the case for other layouts. It seems a bit weird, as you can see, I have no problem typing a ”, but it does not produce the desired before/after effect.
If I switch keyboard language to English it does work, but it is of course a bit confusing to use a keyboard layout (English) that is different from the way the keys are marked up (Danish) …
Any suggestions?
BR Karsten
PS The same issue exist for the [ ] shortcuts in Photoshop, to decrease and increase brush size… There, at least we have the alt+right click alternative.
I got the same problem/request mentioned by “Karsten Qvist” with an “AZERTY” (French) keyboard.
It simply doen’t work.
Even switching to English language it doesn’t work.
I have my OS (Win) installed in English, and I always install LR in English as well, to avoid any problem linked to the translation of the commands.
Any suggestions ?
Many thanks in advance.
I don’t know the answer to this, Salem and Karsten. Here is an old post (2010) on the Adobe forum: https://forums.adobe.com/message/2893327#2893327
I’d suggest posting on lightroomforums.net to see if there is a more direct solution.