Not crazy about Lightroom3
Nov 7, 2011 08:41:06 #
I downloaded the trial version of Lightroom 3 and have been using it for about a week now. I'm ready to give up on it any day now. The cataloging feature is making me crazy with the film strip on the bottom. The pics don't seem to be in the order I took them, some pictures don't show up in the film strip. If I make a change to one photo is it being saved if I go to another photo to work on. Very confusing product to me. Any suggestions, am I doing something wrong.
Nov 7, 2011 09:01:15 #
You can sort the catalog (top menu - View : Sort). As far as photos not showing up, on the left side panel under "Catalog" there are choices for "All Photographs", "Quick Collection" and "Previous Import." LR is saving them as you go.
I'd suggest picking up an introductory book on LR3 from the library to get more information. There are a number of them.
I'd suggest picking up an introductory book on LR3 from the library to get more information. There are a number of them.
Nov 7, 2011 09:03:33 #
gmoretti wrote:
I downloaded the trial version of Lightroom 3 and have been using it for about a week now. I'm ready to give up on it any day now. The cataloging feature is making me crazy with the film strip on the bottom. The pics don't seem to be in the order I took them, some pictures don't show up in the film strip. If I make a change to one photo is it being saved if I go to another photo to work on. Very confusing product to me. Any suggestions, am I doing something wrong.
I'm not crazy about it either... if it was just a processing program, maybe, but my photos are already cataloged when downloaded in another program..... Thats why I like Photoshop... its all personal preference...but I don't use it much either and I have the full program :(
Nov 8, 2011 11:40:40 #
I know what you mean. I've been working with it for couple
years now and still frustrated mainly with catalog. I'm
really trying to learn it though as it has great processing
power. Yeah, what's with the photos not showing up on film
strip in order they were taken??
years now and still frustrated mainly with catalog. I'm
really trying to learn it though as it has great processing
power. Yeah, what's with the photos not showing up on film
strip in order they were taken??
Nov 8, 2011 11:53:04 #
Sorting - When you are in the library view, there is a settings panel right above the filmstrip. In the middle of it, there is a "sort" function. You can sort by capture time (as well as other sorts like rating - see my last comment below)
Saving edits - This DOES happen when you work on a picture and then move on to another one. There is not a "save" function. If you want to go back to the original (ie - you don't like the changes you made), go to "Develop". On the lower right hand side, select "reset". Then you are back to the original.
I was frustrated by LR at first too, since I was self-taught and just fumbling my way through it. I love it now. The most important feature to me is being able to create a collection of 300+ pictures, rate them on the star scale, sort them by the stars, and pick out the best 20-25 from the collection. Then I can edit only these. I also like being able to compare two pictures side by side, which helps when they are very similar and you want to select the best one. Another great feature is by being able to do mass edits all at once, like increasing the exposure 10% on 300 pictures at once in seconds.
Saving edits - This DOES happen when you work on a picture and then move on to another one. There is not a "save" function. If you want to go back to the original (ie - you don't like the changes you made), go to "Develop". On the lower right hand side, select "reset". Then you are back to the original.
I was frustrated by LR at first too, since I was self-taught and just fumbling my way through it. I love it now. The most important feature to me is being able to create a collection of 300+ pictures, rate them on the star scale, sort them by the stars, and pick out the best 20-25 from the collection. Then I can edit only these. I also like being able to compare two pictures side by side, which helps when they are very similar and you want to select the best one. Another great feature is by being able to do mass edits all at once, like increasing the exposure 10% on 300 pictures at once in seconds.
Nov 8, 2011 12:05:55 #
Once you learn how to use LR you will never return. Get yourself Scott Kelbys Light Room training book, or sign up for a month at Kelby training .com and watch Matt Kowslisky (spelling?). That will be your best way to understand this powerful program, I have been using LR since version 1. I use LR 90% of the time and only CS5 the rest.
Nov 8, 2011 12:48:23 #
chuckbiddinger
Loc: Birmingham, AL
When I moved my photos to my new computer somehow I lost some photos. I am sure it was my mistake, but I stopped using LR.
Nov 8, 2011 12:55:24 #
Well to each his own. I couldn't live with out it. It keeps me organized and that saying something for a scatter brain like me. I keep hawking Scott Kelby's book on Lightroom because it explains things in an orderly and systematic manner.
You can't just jump in and swim around you got to get instructions first or you will drown. Good luck. Adobe doesn't make many mistakes and this is not one of them. POVDOV
You can't just jump in and swim around you got to get instructions first or you will drown. Good luck. Adobe doesn't make many mistakes and this is not one of them. POVDOV
Nov 8, 2011 12:57:25 #
Thanks all for the tips on using LR3 as I was ready to pack it in with this product, it was too frustrating too use. The concept of pulling in 100 photos and them not being in order was too much. I'm used to inputting 1 photo at a time saving it and then go on to the next one to work on.
I will now use your tips and try it again, thanks.
Gene
I will now use your tips and try it again, thanks.
Gene
Nov 8, 2011 13:03:56 #
Itpurs wrote:
Once you learn how to use LR you will never return. Get yourself Scott Kelbys Light Room training book, or sign up for a month at Kelby training .com and watch Matt Kowslisky (spelling?). That will be your best way to understand this powerful program, I have been using LR since version 1. I use LR 90% of the time and only CS5 the rest.
I totally agree... though I don't ever use the cataloging or collection features. For sports action, and sorting massive shots quickly... there is NOTHING I've seen that is better.
I can deal with 1,000 game photos in a few hours... verses doing it in photoshop took about 3 times longer. It's my #1 post processing, sorting, key words & metatags, bulk renaming, and bulk editing software. Well worth learning to use... well worth learning to master.
Any photos that need futher tweaking, I pull into Elements or PS... but the bulk is light room 98%+.
Nov 8, 2011 13:16:58 #
Gene - I think the key is quantity... if you are only working with a few photos, stick with PS (or PE 9 or 10, which are damn powerful). But, if you have 200+ shots that are basically the same - like a basket ball game, football, track, concert, wedding, etc. then I promise you'll not find a faster or better way to deal with the bulk.
Personally, I bring in the new set... sort, adjust, delete the garbage (right click delete), rate... add the key words, meta tags... highlight the 'film strip' right click, choose export... to same location, bulk rename, andonce that is done, delete from LR.
Then I sort by the rating - Top Shots (for magazines, new papers, etc), Premium Shots (for the players & their parents... and school), and other shots (not worthy of the top two categories, but not worth tossing... just in case.
So, I still have the untouched original... and LR-Export sub-directory under that, and the break down of the set under that.
That process has allowed me to post-process a game of 1,000 photos in about 3 to 5 hours, where as doing the less (no key words or meta tags or renaming of the files) in photoshop took about 12 to 18 hours. It's all about bulk processing.
If you have a group of shots that have the same issue... adjust the first shot... exposure, brightness, white balance, colors, sharpness, clarity, etc. - then right click... select 'Development Settings' - Copy Settings...
THEN - on the film strip - click the next photo, scroll to the end of the film strip (or end of that group) - hold down the Shift key, and click the last photo - then right click, select 'Development Settings' - PASTE Settings...
Talk about amazingly powerful, flexible, and time saving!
Anyhow, the learning curve is big, but well worth it. There are many things in it I still don't know... but wow, it's saved me soooooo much time, effort, and stress since learning the little bit I do use. Best of Luck...
Personally, I bring in the new set... sort, adjust, delete the garbage (right click delete), rate... add the key words, meta tags... highlight the 'film strip' right click, choose export... to same location, bulk rename, andonce that is done, delete from LR.
Then I sort by the rating - Top Shots (for magazines, new papers, etc), Premium Shots (for the players & their parents... and school), and other shots (not worthy of the top two categories, but not worth tossing... just in case.
So, I still have the untouched original... and LR-Export sub-directory under that, and the break down of the set under that.
That process has allowed me to post-process a game of 1,000 photos in about 3 to 5 hours, where as doing the less (no key words or meta tags or renaming of the files) in photoshop took about 12 to 18 hours. It's all about bulk processing.
If you have a group of shots that have the same issue... adjust the first shot... exposure, brightness, white balance, colors, sharpness, clarity, etc. - then right click... select 'Development Settings' - Copy Settings...
THEN - on the film strip - click the next photo, scroll to the end of the film strip (or end of that group) - hold down the Shift key, and click the last photo - then right click, select 'Development Settings' - PASTE Settings...
Talk about amazingly powerful, flexible, and time saving!
Anyhow, the learning curve is big, but well worth it. There are many things in it I still don't know... but wow, it's saved me soooooo much time, effort, and stress since learning the little bit I do use. Best of Luck...
Nov 8, 2011 13:34:22 #
Thanks Terry, I think! That was quite a bit to swallow but I'll have to try it out. I have photos from my grandson's football game to work on from this past week end. I will back them up first though before I go into LR.
Nov 8, 2011 13:40:48 #
AliceTrask
Loc: Union, MO, US
I love it for the editing...once you find the pictures you want. That's the hardest thing for me in Lightroom. I like how I can work with jpgs as though they were RAW but otherwise I find it confusing.
Nov 8, 2011 14:34:02 #
All of these were done in LR3 - in a fraction of the time it would have taken in Photoshop: http://mercer.smugmug.com/OtherSportsVolleyballetc/2011-10-28Phoenix-vs-Henley/TOP-SHOTS-Phoenix-vs-Henley/19815000_GWp7tb/1557521412_BCg8mx3
Flashes, tripods, and monopods aren't allowed 'on field' - for a variety of reasons, safety just being one. So everything is shot freehand, ambient light... and it's AT night, and action... a tough gig, but you have to sort through which will work for your goals. On most night football games (below pro fields) the lighting is usually the best between the 40 yard lines - center of the field. The end zones are almost total shadows (with the light at their back). So position is vital... and getting to know THAT field is really important. Best of luck... and don't get ran over!
Flashes, tripods, and monopods aren't allowed 'on field' - for a variety of reasons, safety just being one. So everything is shot freehand, ambient light... and it's AT night, and action... a tough gig, but you have to sort through which will work for your goals. On most night football games (below pro fields) the lighting is usually the best between the 40 yard lines - center of the field. The end zones are almost total shadows (with the light at their back). So position is vital... and getting to know THAT field is really important. Best of luck... and don't get ran over!
Nov 8, 2011 16:53:26 #
LightRoom is a bit of a stinker to learn but it is much, much easier than PhotoShop. As others have said, the key is to establish a work flow that helps you process and file your photos. Once you have your workflow, LightRoom is amazing at speeding your photo processing. It replaces CameRaw, mini-bridge and Bridge in a much more intuitive package.
I manage about 25,000 photos taken over the last year and I can find any of them in about 20 seconds. Everything is backed-up and secure. About 90% of my post-processing (image-level) is in LightRoom and only about 10% (pixel-level) needs PhotoShop.
Don't give up! Learn it and you will love it.
Loren
I manage about 25,000 photos taken over the last year and I can find any of them in about 20 seconds. Everything is backed-up and secure. About 90% of my post-processing (image-level) is in LightRoom and only about 10% (pixel-level) needs PhotoShop.
Don't give up! Learn it and you will love it.
Loren
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