January 2009 Archives
Collections were a great idea in version 1 of Lightroom. It was so good, in fact, that Adobe decided to expand collections in Lightroom 2. Now you can access your collections in all of the modules via the Collections panel that appears in the left panel set in every module. But did you know that collections come in different flavors? We're all familiar now with collections, collection sets, and smart collections. But you can also create slideshow collections, print collections, and web gallery collections. They even have their own distinct icons so you can tell them apart!
The introduction of localized adjustments via the Adjustment Brush in Lightroom 2 is just beginning to reveal many creative uses. One possibility that may not be readily apparent is the ability to colorize or hand paint old black and white photos. We've all seen many Photoshop tutorials on how to apply this classic and nostalgic technique. But now, it's possible to do directly in Lightroom.
1. The initial preview created by the camera, seen briefly in Lightroom
2. The initial preview generated by Lightroom
3. The state after applying the General - Zeroed Develop Preset
4. None of the above
Workflow is a personal thing. There is no right or wrong workflow. Oh yes, there are more efficient and less efficient workflows. But if a more efficient workflow just doesn't fit the way you approach your art, well then, it won't be so efficient! Therein lies one of Lightroom's real strengths. It is very flexible and can accommodate nearly all workflow styles.
