The Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software from Adobe is a complete photo management and editing suite for Mac OS X and Windows. Perfect for enthusiasts and professionals alike, Lightroom takes a nondestructive approach to photo editing. When editing your photos, the original files are left unmolested. All of your adjustments and edits are stored in a database and applied to an image on the fly, so that you'll always be able to go back to the original image. This lets you perform as many post-processing adjustments on a photo as you'd like, without making permanent changes to the original image.
Lightroom also serves as a powerful organizational tool for your photographs. You'll be able to organize photos to suit your needs using a powerful folder-based data structure. Lightroom lets you store images on multiple storage devices, and it stores low-resolution previews of each and every image in its central database, allowing you to browse your photos even when the original files are offline. You'll be able to search through your images based on any number of criteria, helping to speed the process of locating a specific image.
Lightroom's interface is broken up into five major components: Library, Develop, Slideshow, Print, and Web. Each screen serves its own purpose, and you can go back and forth between them with ease. Of course, there is some overlap in functionality, but for the most part they are compartmentalized.
The Library screen is where you'll be able to organize and browse your photos. You'll have full access to all of the folders in your library from this screen, allowing you to reorganize them as needed. This is also where you'll apply keywords, ratings, color labels, and metadata additions to images. You can create custom searches to create "Collections" based on any of these criteria. There is even a "Smart Collections" function that updates on the fly as additional images meet your criteria. For example, this will allow you to have an up-to-date collection of all images that you have rated with 5 stars. There is also a "Quick Develop" panel which allows you to make minor adjustments to an image, without having to venture into the Develop screen.
The Library also serves as the gateway to import and export images. Clicking "Import" brings up a redesigned screen that will be unfamiliar to users of previous versions of Lightroom. The Import window now expands to fill your entire display. You'll be able to browse through your hard drive or a memory card to locate images for import. You have the option of leaving the images in their original location, copying or moving to a different folder, or copying them and converting to Adobe's DNG format. You can apply Develop settings, add metadata, and add keywords during import -- perfect for users who like to add a keyword for the camera used to capture the photos. You can also rename files and make a second copy to a backup drive during import.
Getting your photos out of Lightroom is just as important as bringing them into the program. When you've finished editing, you can use the Library screen to export them with ease. You have the option of using the "Export" function, which brings up a window with numerous settings -- including image size, sharpening, file format, and the like -- which you can customize. There is also a new "Publish Services" section, which allows you to send images to your hard drive or Flickr with ease. You'll be able to create as many presets for Publish Services as you'd like, giving you one-click access to frequently used export operations. This section can be further expanded by use of third-party plug-ins, available from Adobe's Lightroom Exchange website.
The second major component of Lightroom is the Develop screen. This is where you'll do the vast majority of your photo editing and toning. You can perform any sort of adjustment imaginable here -- color temperature, exposure, black levels, contrast, sharpness, and brightness are just a few examples. You'll be able to make adjustments via sliders or tone curves, discretely modify color channels, and convert images to black and white. Numerous presets are available, allowing you to quickly apply a certain "look" to a photo, and you can create your own presets based on your favorite settings.
The Develop screen also features powerful History and Snapshot functions. History allows you to browse through all of the adjustments you've made to an image, in the order that they were made, so that you can revert back to any stage in the image process. You can create a Snapshot of an image at any time, which saves all of the settings that you've applied -- this allows you to continue to experiment with a photo after you've found a look that you like for it.
You'll also be able to remove dust spots and red eye from photos thanks to Lightroom's spot editing tools. Create image masks to apply graduated filter adjustments to a photo, or use the brush tool to dodge, burn, and make other spot adjustments. You'll also be able to add vignettes and simulated film grain to images, perfect for breathing analog life into your digital photos.
Distortion correction is one of Lightroom 3's most impressive new features. Owners of fisheye lenses previously had to export photos to Photoshop in order to "defish" their images. Now, it can be done from within the program. You can correct for both fisheye and rectilinear distortion, perfect for users of extreme wide angle lenses. Numerous lens profiles are included with the software, and you can save your own presets for your own oft-used lenses.
Lens corrections can also be used to eliminate the keystone effect that can be caused when your camera is not straight-on with a subject when shooting. Of course, basic crop and rotation tools are also available for quick and simple adjustments. If there is anything that can't be handled by Lightroom, it's easy to export a photo to Photoshop CS4 or CS5 for editing -- any changes you make to an image in Photoshop will be automatically reflected in Lightroom.
Lightroom's other three screens are all about sharing your images with others. The Slideshow screen gives you all the tools necessary to create digital slideshows of your images, complete with transitions and music. You can view these from within Lightroom, or export them to a PDF or video file to share with others.
The Print screen allows you to print your images in any way imaginable. It can be adjusted for many standard paper sizes, and it lets you visually lay out photos on them. This allows you to maximize the number of photos on a single page, helping to reduce your printing costs. Lightroom can automatically position photos so that space on a page will be utilized in the most efficient manner. You can adjust prints for different paper types, color profiles, and add a signature plate if desired.
Finally, the Web screen gives you numerous means to output your photos to the web. Adobe includes a number of HTML and Flash galleries, allowing you to create a web gallery without having any knowledge of programming. These can be customized to suit your needs, and third-party galleries are available via the Adobe Lightroom Exchange website.
You must own a licensed copy of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.x or 2.x to be eligible for this upgrade.
Note! Subject to the terms of the software license agreement, the primary user of the computer on which Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 is installed may install a second copy of the software for his or her exclusive use on either a portable computer or a computer located at his or her home, provided that the software on the second computer is not used at the same time as the software on the primary computer. Lightroom is sold as multiplatform software, which means it can be installed on either Mac OS X or Windows.
| System Requirements |
Computer: Pentium 4; Intel Mac Operating System: Windows XP SP3, Vista Home Premium (32/64-bit), Vista Business (32/64-bit), Vista Ultimate (32/64-bit), Vista Enterprise (32/64-bit), 7 (32/64-bit); Mac OS X 10.5, 10.6 Memory: 2GB Hard Drive: 1GB Display: 1024 x 768 Hardware: Optical drive |
| Languages | Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Swedish |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
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Getting better all the time
For many photographers, Lightroom 3 will supplant the use of Photoshop. I don't find that to be the case but, that said, it has grown into one powerful program. Superb for editing and...Read complete review
For many photographers, Lightroom 3 will supplant the use of Photoshop. I don't find that to be the case but, that said, it has grown into one powerful program. Superb for editing and processing RAW images, tweaking colors and minor dust-spotting and image manipulation. I still use PS5 for finer detail work and final image tweaking but, for many users, Lightroom is quickly becoming a one stop imaging tool. And that is not even mentioning it's superb cataloging features, print or web-ready capabilities or slideshow usage. Some users have reported slow import of images. With 8meg of RAM on a quad-core MacPro, that has not presented a problem for me. The sharpening algorithms, while improved, are not as good as PS5's or PixelGenius PhotoKit Sharpener 2.0, my personal favorite. The bottom line? Run screaming from Aperture and embrace Lightroom, you will never regret the decision.
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Most Liked Negative Review
seems faster
Frustrating that Adobe keeps changing basic functions (like importing images from a card or camera) with each version. Naming files is different, again. Boooo.
Does seem to run a tad ...Read complete review
Frustrating that Adobe keeps changing basic functions (like importing images from a card or camera) with each version. Naming files is different, again. Boooo.
Does seem to run a tad bit faster. I would not say that a LR2 user should upgrade as I do not notice a great deal more capability with one exception. My D700 never seemed to show all the images on the card when I hooked it up to LR2. LR3 seems to fix that issue.
I still like LR. So, if you do not have LIghtroom or are running the original version, I'd say purchase or upgrade. If you have LR2, then there is really no need.
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Comments about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software for Mac & Windows (Upgrade):
Note that this is NOT the most current version of Lightroom. I bought this because I want to shoot with my camera tethered to a laptop. However, LR4 will not work with MS XP. Since I am still running XP on my desktop (although my laptop is running MS Windows 7) I could not use LR4 for both. LR3 WILL work on both systems. LR4 supposedly has some intriguing and useful enhancements over LR3. LR4 is probably a better choice if your computer supports it.
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Comments about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software for Mac & Windows (Upgrade):
I love Lr and use it for all my editing from beginning to end! Love the noise reduction.
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Comments about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software for Mac & Windows (Upgrade):
I use the product for cataloging and 'developing'.
It is excellent for quick global photographic and metadata entry, selection processes, and workflow.
Unfortunately, for browing thumbs, it lacks considerably in rendering of thumbs of large or nested directories, making it somewhat worthless in searching by 'thumbs'.
But the good news outshines the drawbacks! With a little setup work - (Keywords/descriptions) this program is spectacular in searching pictures.
I strongly recommend this program, and recommend using its 'keyword' and other 'metadata' field entries upon import, to better experience the well thought out and productive work flow of Lightroom 3.
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Comments about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software for Mac & Windows (Upgrade):
With LR3 you can shoot tethered without a separate 3rd party software. Worth every penny.
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Comments about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software for Mac & Windows (Upgrade):
I love this software. It is easy to use, powerful and the fluidity of my workflow is amazing with lightroom. I can manage, edit, export, and deliver images all in one simple application that makes it easy to switch between tasks and options. I use it for ALL my still photography processing. There is not much this program can't do. It has 99% of the tools I need to get the job done. Its noise reduction has also improved over version 2 significantly in my opinion. The only thing I don't like is the new importer window. Its a little cluttered for me. I liked version 2 better but thats a minor detail.
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Comments about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software for Mac & Windows (Upgrade):
The software came two days earlier than expected and it was a great gift for my husband who already had Lightroom 2. It is very easy to navigate and he loves the added features!
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Comments about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software for Mac & Windows (Upgrade):
Lightroom3 now gives you the ability to "Water Mark" your files.
the "Import" feature is greatly improved and faster.The "Print" module allows you to create custom user templates easily.
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Comments about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software for Mac & Windows (Upgrade):
LR3 helps me organize and edit the thousands of pictures I take each year. The integration with Photoshop for additional editing is seamless. The flexibility provided by using keywords allows me to quickly and easily find related photos. I especially like the ability to apply a set of edits to multiple photos.
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Comments about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software for Mac & Windows (Upgrade):
I had been using Lightroom 1.0 on a limited basis. I just took a class on 3.0 and learned about the amazing breath of this software. It's clearly a very sophisticated program offering a wide array of services. Because of the complexity of the software, I could retake the class to better understand how to use all of its tools. I focused on the organizing and modifying tools. There are others. It's well worth the investment, but be prepared to struggle with the challenge of accessing and using its tools.
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Comments about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software for Mac & Windows (Upgrade):
I like the built in flow for developing my pictures. Very easy to make multiple copies and view effects to different copies. Very easy to sort lots of pics for weeding out. The new import took some getting used to. (Once configured works like the old)
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Comments about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software for Mac & Windows (Upgrade):
Similar layout to vr2 but better. The sharpen function actually works in 3.
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Comments about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software for Mac & Windows (Upgrade):
Having owned the original version, this was a no brainer, necessitated by a new camera. I practically have a new editor for the price of an upgrade considering all the new features since Lightroom I. I shoot raw exclusively, and appreciate the ease with which this program handles the task.
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Comments about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software for Mac & Windows (Upgrade):
There is no substitute for Lightroom. Love it!
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Comments about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software for Mac & Windows (Upgrade):
Photoshop Lightroom 3 is one of the best Raw image editors I have used. It does have a somewhat difficult learning curve only because of the numerous features available within the program. It took me a while to get the hang of the print module but this is my first days with LR, so it was all new to me. I have been using other Raw software in the past. I am pleased with LR.
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Comments about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software for Mac & Windows (Upgrade):
Love the upgrade to Lightroom 3. Love the new features and the noise reduction is amazing!
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Comments about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software for Mac & Windows (Upgrade):
The additions have made process of use easier and new options also makes the creativity open ended.
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Comments about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software for Mac & Windows (Upgrade):
I like all the new features in lightroom 3 especially the shooting tether feature.
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Comments about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software for Mac & Windows (Upgrade):
Everything you hear is true. The noise reduction makes shooting at 128,000 iso with the d3s an actual option. Integrating lens profiles cuts down correction times tremendously. Could have been more improvements in the web and print modules but library workflow improvements make up for it ten fold. Lack of video integration or ability to adjust audio files is disappointing but won't effect most users. Added tethered shooting is a late comer but icing on the cake. A Must for any professional or experienced amateur.
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Comments about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software for Mac & Windows (Upgrade):
great for quick rough starts to a shoot at one time
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Comments about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software for Mac & Windows (Upgrade):
I use Lightroom 3 to manage and process Nikon NEF and Canon CR2 RAW files; importing, tagging, sorting, editing, printing and exporting to my website. I find the new version of Lightroom to be all I need for 95% of my post-processing, only going to Photohop when I need to get down to pixel-level.
What makes Lightroom work so well for me is it's essentially a one-stop-shop where I can download, tag, manage, creatively edit and output all my images and stay in a single application for the vast majority of my work. Lightroom is optimized for photographers, where Photoshop is often over-kill, with way more capabilities than needed for most photographic post work.