.FLYINGHEAD PRODUCT REVIEW
.TITLE Lightroom 3: cool, new editing features
.AUTHOR Scott Koegler
.SUMMARY In this second of three articles, Scott Koegler looks at new editing features.
.OTHER
This week, we continue [[http://www.computingunplugged.com/issues/issue201009/00002567001.html|our look]] at the new [[http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshoplightroom/|Adobe Lightroom 3]]. This time, I’ll look at some slick, new editing features.
.H1 Developing and RAW processing
Once images are stored in Lightroom, the next step is to edit them, or in Lightroom’s terminology: develop them. Lightroom has always had the tools necessary to handle most editing tasks, but some of them were not quite up to what we had come to expect in Photoshop.
But Lightroom 3 is now on par with Photoshop CS5 in many respects, due mainly to the shared components like RAW image processing. The new RAW processor is better than previous versions all around, but even more important is the fact that the advanced processing functions that were previously available only to shooters creating RAW files are now used by Lightroom 3 to process TIFF and JPEG files.
This means all photos can benefit from the availability of wider ranges of adjustments that were only available in RAW files. Of course, this doesn’t mean that the typical JPEG image will deliver the same latitude for correction as a similar RAW file, but it does expand the range. And coupled with the other development advances, can make a big difference in our images.
.H1 Noise reduction
Noise reduction has been substantially improved in LR3. If you push the tonal and exposure controls beyond minor adjustments, or if you’re shooting at high ISO levels, you’ll immediately fall in love with LR3’s noise reduction improvements. The accompanying before/after shots show an example of the kind of changes that are possible. Take a look at the before image.
.FIGPAIR A Look at the zoom-in of the before image.
This section of detail is shown as a 3:1 representing a very small area of the photo. Noise reduction works particularly well on large single color areas like the sky in this shot, as you can see in the after image.
.FIGPAIR B Here’s another example.
On thing to be aware of when working on images that you’ve already imported to Lightroom has to do with the way images are processed. The new processor, termed ‘2010’ takes advantage of the new camera raw facility. But simply opening existing images in the new LR3 does not automatically convert the processing to take advantage of the 2010 process.
In fact, if you start to make adjustments using sharpening or noise reduction on a previously edited image, you are unlikely to see the dramatic difference that you can see in the examples here. When you bring an image into the Develop module, look for a small exclamation point in the bottom right of the image and click it.
You will see a dialog box that asks if it is ok to convert to the new process. You can view the changes in store and determine if this particular image should be updated. I haven’t found any of my images that don’t benefit from the new process, so I checked the "Don’t ask again…" box, as shown in Figure C. The difference is dramatic.
.FIGPAIR C It’s best to just let Lightroom automatically convert images.
.H1 Perspective control
Photoshop has had a perspective control tool that allows manipulation of camera angle in ways similar to what a shift/tilt lens allows on cameras. This has been a great tool for photographers shooting buildings and other large objects that require being shot from an angle.
In fact, the Lens Corrections tools go farther than just perspective, and include lens profiling. The lens profiling capability is similar to what is available as a separate plugin from [[http://www.connectedphotographer.com/issues/issue200511/00001665001.html|DxO]], and include issues particular to specific lenses, such as vignetting, chromatic aberration, and lens distortion.
Lightroom 3 doesn’t have the full array of camera bodies and lenses that are available from DxO, but Adobe does provide a body/lens profiling tool that will let you create a corrective profile for your particular set of gear. However, having seen the process required, it’s not something to take lightly.
But beyond lens profiles, changing perspective is quick and simple, as shown in Figure D.
.FIGPAIR D You might start with a distorted image like this one.
Using the Vertical, Horizontal, and Rotate sliders, it’s possible to make quick changes without leaving Lightroom 3 for Photoshop, as you can see in Figure E.
.FIGPAIR E You can accomplish quite a lot with Lightroom’s tool.
Stay tuned. Next week, we’ll wrap up with some production and video observations.
.BIO Scott Koegler explores digital products and writes about them from his home in the foothills of North Carolina, and from his camper (as long as he has an internet connection. He has acted as CIO, editor, publisher, photographer, and wine taster, and enjoyed each role.
