This is quite a big release for Lightroom Classic. Check out the video to see the new features and learn how they work. Let’s take a look at the new features now. Remember, the processing engine is the same as Camera Raw, so when Lightroom gets an update in the develop module, so does Camera Raw. I have covered that big ACR update in the Photoshop release article.
First up in the Branding change. LrC for Lightroom Classic. The CC is gone in the name, so the previous Lightroom Mobile, that was Lightroom CC is now just called Lightroom. This is the original Lightroom, LR 1-6. then CC for a second, then changed to Lightroom Classic recently, and it still is Lightroom Classic. Not confusing at all, right? All you need to know, is that the Lightroom you have always known, the one the pros use is Lightroom Classic. The new Lightroom, is the one that was formally known as Lightroom Mobile.
The Creative Cloud logo has also changed to a rainbow color.
A lot of work has gone into optimizing performance in this release and the grid view is a recipient of that hard work. You will notice that the grid view scrolls much smoother than before. You can also use the up or down arrow keys to scroll through the grid.
Another area you will see speed improvements is processing. While you move the sliders, the main view is updated in the realtime, the thumbnails in the film strip and Navigator, don’t update until you release the slider. This puts performance where you need it.
You will notice that the curves panel has been modernized, with simpler buttons to go between parametric and point curves. You can also get into the color channels easier and there is color hinting in the color channels to show what colors are affected.
If you right -click there are also new options. New Right-click options
You can use the Keyboard arrow up and down arrows to adjust the curve.
There are IO textboxs, so you can enter values.
The color panel has new buttons
This one is really neat. There is now a hue slider for the Adjustment Brush, Gradient and radial tools.
If you move the hue you can change the color of the selected area. If you click, Use fine adjustment, the slider will move slower, this is good for fine details such as shifting skin color to remove sunburn etc. (TIP: Hold down Alt/Option key to evoke Fine Adjustments).
Here is a carousel that I photographed in Great Park Irvine.
Select he top with the adjustment brush. It’s red because show mask is on.
Hide the mask overlay. Move the hue slider to change the color.
As you move hue, you can keep changing the color.
Paint on different parts of the photo to change colors, such as the back of the mirror.
When you import RAW photos they are all in Adobe color profile. This was the default. Now you can change the default to the camera settings, or you can change by camera.
Choose your cameras from the list and choose the profile you want to use. Whenever a RAW file is imported from a selected camera, it will use the assigned color profile, even a preset. If the camera isn’t in the list, it will take the Master preset at the top.
This is a really amazing feature. Usually a preset adds the same settings to any photo. This one looks at the ISO on the photo and can apply different settings depending on the ISO.
As you may know. When you shoot a photo with a very high ISO, there is more noise “grain” than a photo with a low ISO. So you might apply noise reduction to the high ISO image, but you don’t want it on the low ISO one or it will overly smoothen the photo. The preset can adapt. To make an ISO adaptive preset, you need to select at least 2 photos with different ISO.
Say you have 2 photos, the first with ISO 1,000 and another at ISO 100. Sync the settings (existing presets works too) and set the noise reduction to 50 on the ISO 1000 image and the noise reduction to 0 on the ISO 100 photo. With both photos selected, press the create preset button and turn on “ISO adaptive Preset” at the bottom of the new preset window.
Now when you apply this preset to any photo of ISO 1000 it will apply a 50 NR setting. If you apply the preset to a 100 ISO image, it will have a 0 NR setting. Its smart, but even smarter.. If you apply the prset to a photo shot ay ISO 500, it will apply a NR setting of 25. It adapts for the ISO of the image and proportionally applies the settings. If you don’t quite understand, watch the video at the top of the page.
On the top right, you will see a cloud. This i the Sync UI. The cloud will change to reflect the status of syncing photos with the cloud )you can turn it off if you wish as well).
Click on the cloud and a panel will appear with details.
As the name applies, you can now search your collections.
If you have lots of collections, like I do, it can really simplify sorting and finding.
When you export multiple photos, this is known as a batch export.
If you make export presets (it’s really easy to do) you can select these presets for exporting.
Now you can select multiple presets and export into multiple formats at once. You can even choose different naming for each one.
Thanks for checking out this guide, I hope you found it helpful. See the new feature guide on Photoshop 21.2 June 2020 update, new features
I have just released a new version of my comprehensive course: Lightroom for Digital Photographers. This is my Flagship training on Lightroom.
This Course will help you master all of Lightroom Classic. If you are a complete beginner, or a working pro, there is something for you in theis fully comprehensive 140 video course.
Thanks
Colin
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I am primarily a painter and use photography. I have been trying to learn Lightroom classic but every attempt has left me falling asleep and financially poorer. Please help!
Coffee, you need coffee! j/k Hopefully my course will help. It will come with a money back promise too 🙂 I just went from a Starbucks barista, to a car salesman, but you know what I mean 😉
Looks very impressive so far. Wondering if the new LR left previous preferences and all previous special settings created alone. Hope so.
And thanks for the great intro to the changes … can’t wait to give it a whirl.
Yes, it shouldn’t change preferences.
written steps are up!
can you set different ISO adapter (noise reduction) for each camera?
yes, if you use the new profiles
My main concern is: LR is making major changes on all the upgrades, the course will be out of date in short order. Are all the upgrades covered in your new Lrc course?
yes they are
I bought your Lightroom 2020 training course. So far I am about 3/4s of the way through the Library portion and I don’t see any mention of where my photos go after they are imported into Lightroom. I understand they are not kept in the catalog. I know how to backup the catalogs but I don’t know what to do to back up the photos themselves.
The images are wherever you decide to put them. The lessons on importing photos show you this.