Lightroom offers a lot powerful editing tools, and you can often finish a photo without ever touching Photoshop. This helpful video tutorial will show you five tips to ensure you are getting the most out of Lightroom.
Coming to you from Gareth Evans with Park Cameras, this informative video dives into five valuable Lightroom Classic tips that can significantly improve your editing workflow. Evans covers a range of techniques, from simple quality-of-life improvements to more advanced masking strategies, making it relevant for photographers of all skill levels. Understanding these tools and incorporating them into your editing process can streamline your workflow and elevate the quality of your final images.
The video begins with quick tips that can save you time and frustration. Evans demonstrates how double-clicking a slider's name resets it to zero, eliminating the need for manual adjustments. He also highlights the benefit of holding Alt while using the Whites and Blacks sliders, revealing clipping areas and allowing for precise control over tonal values. Additionally, he emphasizes the usefulness of the Lights Out mode (activated by pressing L), which helps you focus solely on your image without distractions.
Evans then explores different methods for comparing your edited photo with its original state. The backslash key provides a quick before-and-after toggle, while the Y key offers a side-by-side comparison. Furthermore, he showcases the various layout options available for viewing these comparisons, allowing you to choose the most suitable view for your needs.
The final and most comprehensive tip focuses on masking, a powerful tool for selective adjustments. Evans demonstrates the Auto Mask feature, which intelligently detects edges within your image, making it ideal for isolating specific areas like rocks or buildings. He also explores the Object Mask tool, which automatically selects an object based on your brush strokes. Finally, he dives into the concept of intersecting masks, showcasing how to combine a linear gradient with a sky selection mask to achieve precise control over graduated adjustments. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Evans.
