Lightroom and Photoshop Tutorials, Tips and Training by Laura Shoe

Reminder: Lightroom Fundamentals Workshop July 24-25th in Seattle

Jul 152010

I still have some spots open for this workshop next weekend at Studio R in Seattle — I hope you can join us! We will be using Lightroom 3.

Lightroom Fundamentals

In this two day hands-on workshop, learn the fundamentals of Lightroom 3, concentrating on the Library and Develop modules where you manage, edit and enhance your images. Learn how to organize, backup, manage, edit and enhance your images, and how to work through large shoots efficiently with collections, presets, and synchronized settings. Discuss where Photoshop or Photoshop elements may still fit in your workflow, and learn how to move between Lightroom and Photoshop or Elements. No prior experience with Lightroom is necessary; limited to 8 students; laptop computer with Lightroom 3 (paid or free trial version) required. $300. 9 am – 5 pm. Continue reading »

Lightroom 3: What is that Exclamation Point Below My Photo?

Jun 282010

If you have upgraded to Lightroom 3, when you look at images in the Develop module that you have adjusted with a previous version of Lightroom, you will see an exclamation point in the bottom right:

This is a signal to you that the image is continuing to use your settings from the old (pre-Lightroom 3) processing technology. The image therefore should look the same to you as it did when you worked it in an earlier version of Lightroom. Continue reading »

Lightroom 3: New Blur Brush and Filter

Jun 202010

Looking to blur out a background to reduce distractions? In Lightroom 3, use the adjustment brush with Sharpness at -100. If this is not enough blur, do it again: click on New to start a new adjustment, and paint a second time.

Also consider using the graduated filter with -100 Sharpness to simulate a shallower depth of field where the sharpness drops off gradually. UPDATE: If you blur out an object that you want to keep sharp, use the adjustment brush and paint back over the object with +100 Sharpness to restore its sharpness!

Is this cool, or what?

Here’s a video on how to use the adjustment brush in Lightroom.

Free Demonstration: What’s New in Lightroom 3

Jun 112010

I will be giving a free demonstration Tuesday, June 15 at 5:30 pm at the Ballard Library in Seattle. Come see what’s new in Lightroom 3!

Lightroom 3 Resources

Jun 082010

I was going to compile a list of Lightroom 3 resources for you, but there are many out there already. Click HERE for a very good one from Wade Heninger. And HERE is another by Sean McCormack at Lightroom-Blog.

Introducing Lightroom 3 Custom Print Layouts

Jun 072010

See updated content HERE.

Hot Off the Press: Lightroom 3 Released!

Jun 072010

Adobe announced at 9 pm PDT tonight that Lightroom 3 is now officially for sale at www.adobe.com. You can see Adobe’s official list of feature additions and enhancements from product manager Tom Hogarty HERE.

Adobe continues to show that they are committed to continuing to make our post-processing workflow as efficient and painless as possible and to building in powerful new functionality, even when it reduces our dependence on their flagship Photoshop product. Frankly I wasn’t excited when the first Beta release of LR3 came out. Since then Adobe has built in much more, making the upgrade well worthwhile for most of us, in my opinion.

I will have posts going forward explaining in detail new features. For now, here’s a list of the most exciting additions for me:

1. Very much improved color and luminance noise reduction. You may think twice about continuing to use your third-party plug-ins. Here is a quick comparison (click on the image to see it bigger; no sharpening applied after NR):

Photoshop CS5 Videos from Mark Johnson

May 132010

For 10 days starting today, talented Photoshop instructor Mark Johnson presents videos on new features in Photoshop CS5. See today’s excellent video on content aware fill and content aware spot healing. If you can’t tune in each day to watch the video for freee, you can buy the whole set of 10 videos for $9.95 — a great deal.

Click HERE to watch.

A Tip for Zooming When In Survey View

May 042010

I love Survey View for viewing and comparing several images side-by-side. In the Library Module, select multiple images, then click on the Survey View icon in the toolbar

Survey View

or type the shortcut N.

In Survey View, your mouse is not the zoom tool, so it is not quite as easy to zoom in on one of the images. However, it isn’t hard either:

Double-clicking on the image opens it in Loupe view.
In Loupe view your mouse is the zoom tool: click to zoom in, click again to zoom out.
Double-clicking on the image again jumps it back to survey view. (Thanks for the tip, Kit!)

That’s it!

UPDATE: Winston wrote in response to this: Why not just use the Z key? Why not, indeed! In Survey View, click on the image to select it, then type Z to zoom in, and Z again to zoom out. This also works in Grid and Loupe view, and in the Develop module. It is humbling to reveal to my readers that I don’t know everything, but ultimately rewarding, as I continue to learn little Lightroom tricks I didn’t know about! Thank you, Winston!