Non beta Lightroom 3 - at last

[Bill Pierce]

As far as the final digital print, advances in the imaging programs like Photoshop, Lightroom, Capture One and DxO have probably done as much recently to increase the quality of the final image as improvements in cameras.

I find I am using Photoshop less and relying more and more on programs like Lightroom and Capture One that are more limited in what they can do but more targeted at photographers who make relatively straightforward pictures rather than folks like art directors who make many more changes to the original image or composite of images.

Although I still use Photoshop for features that only it has, I tend to do the majority of my work and all of my printing in Lightroom. Basic conversion of Leica and Canon raw files to color tiffs is often done in Capture One with the tiffs then being moved to Lightroom for the rest of the work. Moving from the beta version of Lightroom 3 to the official release is still a learning process, but some of its features may lead me to process more images from raw files directly to final prints using only Lightroom. I need to produce a lot more prints and controlled comparisons before that decision is final.

Since today’s hot topic among digital printers is the release of the non beta Lightroom 3, I thought I’d pass on some bookmarks.

http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshoplightroom/
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshoplightroom/resources.html
http://www.photoshopuser.com/lightroom3
http://tv.adobe.com/watch/getting-started-with-adobe-photoshop-lightroom-3/whats-new-in-lightroom-3/
http://www.computer-darkroom.com/lr3_review/lr3-1.htm
http://lightroom-news.com/
http://www.canonblogger.com/2010/03/23/lightroom-3-adds-video/\
http://blogs.adobe.com/lightroomjournal/

 

[gdmcclintock]

I used to use Lightroom 1 -> Photoshop CS2 as my workflow. Since I moved to CS4, I have not upgraded Lightroom and use the CS4 Camera RAW tools as I used to use Lightroom 1. What am I missing?

 

[chris91387]

bill, i too have somewhat-recently switched from cs4 to lightroom 2 but even more recently have found a slightly better "look" with my d700 raw files going through nikon capture nx2. something about the "reader" aspect of lightroom 2 takes a bit of sharpness away from the images. i'm curious to see what lightroom 3 holds as i'm not a big fan of nikon image capture and would be happy to spend more time in adobe-world.

 

[semilog]

Can't speak to Nikon or Canon files, but for Olympus RAW files LR3 absolutely sings. It is much better than LR2 was.

 

[Bill Pierce]

Although I have just begun to explore the possibilities, it is clear that Lightroom 3's improved sharpening and noise control capabilities really pay off at high ISOs. Much improvement in the appearance of Leica shots at EI 2500. Face it, high ISO was never the M8 or 9's strong point. I think this greatly broadens the use of the cameras.

Now to see what it does for cameras with teeny-weeny sensors like the Canon S90 that also have problems at higher ISO's.

Anybody else exploring Lightroom 3 (or DxO, which is also said to give good results at high ISO's) with information to report?

 

[KEH]

I mentioned this in an earlier post - the noise / sharpening / rendering of LR3 is the only tool that makes high ISO m4/3 nighttime images usable:

Oly EP2, Lumix 20/1.7 wide open, ISO 800, 1/3 stop underexposed. You can't really see it on the screen, but the image is sharp, with a fine grain to it.

Cheers,
Kirk

 

[Bob Baron]

I've been using LR2 and PS CS3; I never did upgrade the PS to CS4. I found I was doing 95% of my work in LR and didn't see the need. Now that I'm ready to upgrade to LR3 I'm wondering if I'm also going to have to upgrade to PS CS5 for those few times I really need something in PS.

Anyone have any experience that will help me decide? Are there real substantial downsides to using LR3 and PS CS3?

--Bob

 

[martin s]

I've been using LR2 and PS CS3; I never did upgrade the PS to CS4. I found I was doing 95% of my work in LR and didn't see the need. Now that I'm ready to upgrade to LR3 I'm wondering if I'm also going to have to upgrade to PS CS5 for those few times I really need something in PS.

Anyone have any experience that will help me decide? Are there real substantial downsides to using LR3 and PS CS3?

--Bob

It shouldn't matter, all Lr does is forward your file to Photoshop - where you edit and save it - now Lr 're-imports' the file, stacks it with the original, and that's it. Not a lot of compatibility required.

martin

 

[Bob Baron]

It shouldn't matter, all Lr does is forward your file to Photoshop - where you edit and save it - now Lr 're-imports' the file, stacks it with the original, and that's it. Not a lot of compatibility required.

martin

Thanks for the quick response, but I'm not altogether sure you are correct. I somehow came to think Photoshop in some fashion recognizes and/or interacts with the adjustments made to the raw file by Lightroom and I'm wondering if LR3 makes some changes that CS3 won't be able to handle.

--Bob

 

[martin s]

Thanks for the quick response, but I'm not altogether sure you are correct. I somehow came to think Photoshop in some fashion recognizes and/or interacts with the adjustments made to the raw file by Lightroom and I'm wondering if LR3 makes some changes that CS3 won't be able to handle.

--Bob

Hey Bob,

I do not think they interact. All Lightroom really seems to do is re-import the PSD/TIFF.

Let's say you import a file into Lr and you apply some vignetting (still within Lr). Now you export that file to Photoshop; you can choose between the original file (no vignetting) or the edited file - once opened in Photoshop that's what you get - with no option to modify e.g. the intensity or size of said vignette (w/o applying a new one).
If you apply new adjustments within Ps and you save that file you won't be able to modify those changes within Lr either. A vignette created in Ps won't be modifiable by the Lr-Vignette-Dialogue. But you can open up the PSD file in Ps again and modify it that way.

I hope that's correct and makes sense, it's passed midnight here and I rarely make sense that late.

Cheers, martin

 

[Bob Baron]

Since posting my question I've found this, which (including the
responses) I guess contains the answer(s):

http://www.lightroomqueen.com/blog/...-using-an-older-version-of-acr-and-photoshop/

or

http://tinyurl.com/23645am

--Bob

 

[jtzordon]

What features does CS5 have that LR doesn't for photo editing that people actually use?