The new version Adobe Photoshop Lightroom—publically available for beta testing for some time—has finally hit the shelves. But how different is LR2 from LR1? Is it worth the upgrade? What do you get?
Adobe’s lists the top ten bullet point features of what’s new in LR2 as follows:
• Local adjustment brush
• Enhanced organizational tools
• Volume management
• Extensible architecture
• Multiple monitor support
• Flexible print package functionality
• Streamlined Photoshop CS3 integration
• Enhanced output sharpening
• 64-bit support for Windows® and Mac OS
These 10 points sound promising but don’t exactly leave me drooling. So I decided to check in with Victoria Bampton, who offers professional postproduction services though her Photoshop Services and who has authored “Adobe Lightroom 2: The Missing FAQ.” (Now available as a 397, searchable Adobe PDF eBook; soon to be available in paperback.)
Bampton provides HER view of what’s new in LR2 online with much more detailed explanations that go way beyond Adobe’s list. It’s definitely more drool-invoking. Still, ACMetaforum wanted to ask Bampton some direct questions to help readers decide about upgrading:
ACMetaforum: Overall, what major differences between LR1 and LR2 will photographers notice?
Victoria Bampton: Biggest things?
• The new camera emulation profiles have got to be the big one, as it answers the, “Why doesn’t Lightroom look like my camera JPEG?” question. They’re a really good match, and the related DNG Profile Editor means people can even create their own camera profiles to suit them.
• Dual monitor support is great. I can’t live without it now. And it works as dual windows for those with a single big monitor too.
• The redesign of the Library module is big. The new Library Filter Bar is so much better than the previous filtering options.
• And the Local Adjustments are the other big improvement. It’s “burn and dodge” taken to an entirely new and non-destructive level. You have to see it to believe it. A lot of people will rarely need to open Photoshop now!
There are all sorts of other smaller additions too. It just feels so much more solid and grown up now!
ACMF: What training or instructional services and materials do you offer for LR2?
VB: The version 2.0 of my Lightroom book is available in PDF format for instant download TODAY, and will be available as a paperback through Amazon in a few weeks time too. It covers all of the questions that people ask in a real-world environment, ranging from things as simple as how to create presets to much more complicated matters like how the previews render and how the DNG Profile Editor works.
I’m also busy on a Lightroom Forum where I’m a moderator. It’s a really friendly forum with many well-known Lightroom names.
ACMF: Any other third party LR2 learning and information services you can suggest?
VB: For those who like video’s, Michael Reichmann and Jeff Schewe’s just released another 8-hour long tutorial. And the main Adobe Help Pages are pretty good these days.
ACMF: Any last works on LR2?
VB: You have to download the trial, and see it for yourself, whether you’ve used Lightroom before or not. No one I know who has used version 2 will go back to version 1. It’s that good! You just have to learn how it thinks. But then, that’s where my book comes in! : )
ACMF: Thanks, Victoria!