Author: Tom Hogarty

Lightroom 1.3, the Export SDK Preview and Camera Raw 4.3

The Lightroom 1.3 and Camera Raw 4.3 updates have been posted to the following locations: Lightroom(Mac, Win), Camera Raw(Mac, Win).  The updates include support for the following new camera models:

Canon           EOS 1Ds Mark III
Canon           PowerShot G9
Nikon           D3
Nikon           D300
Olympus       E-3
Olympus       SP-560 UZ
Panasonic     DMC-L10

Lightroom 1.3 also provides improved support for the OS X 10.5 Leopard operating system.  

For me, the most exciting part of this release is that we’ll be providing a preview of the Export SDK on Labs.adobe.com.  The Export SDK is a glimpse into what’s possible with a workflow SDK. (Think direct export from Lightroom to Flickr/Smugmug/FTPHosts/etc)  I categorize Lightroom’s extensibility into two different SDK opportunities: Workflow and Image Processing.  There are expectations around an Image Processing SDK given Photoshop’s plug-in history.  But Lightroom will focus on a workflow SDK initially to enable better interoperation between Lightroom and other tools or services before providing the ability to add an image processing plug-in like a lens correction plug-in or noise/grain plug-in. The Lightroom Export SDK preview is the Lightroom product team’s first opportunity to engage the developer community. While this preview SDK functionality is limited to the Export dialog, the discussion should be expanded to include any functional area that a developer would like to build upon.

The SDK can be found here: 
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroomsdk/    Join the discussion and tell us what you think.

Don’t forget rule #5!

Update 11/17
For those experiencing difficulities reaching the Lightroom download links above, please use the following:
Mac:
ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/lightroom/mac/1.x/LTRM_WWEFG_mac_1_3.dmg
Win:
ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/lightroom/win/1.x/LTRM_WWEFG_win_1_3.exe

Lightroom 1.2 and Leopard

As noted in Adobe’s Leopard FAQ the current version of Lightroom 1.2 is not fully compatible with Leopard, Mac OS X 10.5. The good news is that we’ll be releasing an update in mid-November that will address key compatibility issues. In the interim, the following list describes areas where photographers may encounter problems with Lightroom 1.2 on Leopard:

  • The Print module may not load
  • The Import dialog and other dialogs can “disappear” below Lightroom’s main window.  The dialog can be retrieved by switching to another application and then returning to Lightroom.
  • Lightroom’s web module may not provide a visual update after a setting is changed
  • The left-side panels in the Develop module may not display properly.  Resizing or closing/opening the panels will correct the issue.
  • The interaction between Leopard’s Time Machine and Lightroom’s catalog files is unknown at this time. Running Time Machine backup or restore operations while Lightroom is in use is not recommended until more information can be obtained

Feel free to share your Leopard/Lightroom experiences in this post’s comments section.

Lightroom 1.2 and Camera Raw 4.2 Now Available

Lightroom 1.2 and Camera Raw 4.2 are now available.  Lightroom customers will receive an update notification through Lightroom and Photoshop CS3 users will be able to download the Camera Raw 4.2 update through the Adobe Update Manager. This update also includes the DNG Converter 4.2.  Details as well as direct links for all updates are listed below. 

Regards,
Tom Hogarty

Lightroom and Camera Raw Update Downloads
Lightroom 1.2:         Macintosh   Windows
Camera Raw 4.2:     Macintosh   Windows

Newly Supported Raw File Formats

Canon EOS 40D
Fuji FinePix IS-1
Leaf Aptus 17
Leaf Aptus 54s
Leaf Aptus 75s
Olympus EVOLT E-510
Panasonic DMC-FZ18
Pentax K100D Super
Phase One P 20 +
Phase One P 21 +
Phase One P 25 +
Phase One P 30 +
Phase One P 45 +
Sony Alpha 700

(Unofficial Support will be included for the Canon G9 camera model. ”Unofficial” just means that our engineering and quality engineering team has yet to certify the quality of the support but Lightroom and Camera Raw will read the files)

Camera Raw 4.2 Notes and Corrections:

  • Camera Raw 4.2 does not support the Canon EOS 1D Mark III SRAW format at this time
  • Lightroom and Camera Raw will be updated together to ensure raw format and settings compatibility
  • Noise reduction adjustment for all cameras with Bayer Pattern sensor:  The base point noise reduction applied at the demosaic stage of raw processing has been reduced.  The resulting effect is that images with zero luminance noise reduction applied in Camera Raw 4.2 will contain more noise than the identical settings in Camera Raw 4.1 but less noise than identical settings in Camera Raw 4.0. (This Applies to Lightroom 1.2 as well)

Lightroom 1.2 Notes and Corrections:
Lightroom 1.2 includes corrections for the following issues

  • Lightroom 1.1 catalogs with user-specified sort order could not be imported into another catalog
  • Lightroom 1.1 for Windows could at times display gray boxes instead of image thumbnails
  • Lightroom 1.1 for Windows could at times display gray boxes instead of image thumbnails
  • The preference to write XMP metadata automatically in Lightroom 1.1 could attempt to write metadata indefinitely for offline images causing significant performance problems
  • Images could be dropped from the Quick Collection upon reordering of the source folder
  • Catalogs could not be exported to drives smaller than 250MB
  • The Web Module was not accessible in Lightroom 1.1 on the Macintosh platform when Lightroom was installed on case-sensitive volumes such as the Case Sensitive HFS+ (Journaled) volume
  • Errors occurred exporting to a Linux SMB network volume
  • Scroll position in the grid view was not maintained when changing the view option using the J shortcut key
  • The tokens for image number and image count were not displaying properly in the Slideshow module
  • The metadata panel could display incorrectly on Windows
  • Slideshows on the Macintosh platform did not display properly when a 256MB ATI graphics card was connected to 30 ” LCD
  • The Lightroom 1.1 Web module export did not position the copyright tag in the same location displayed in the preview
  • The auto-eject functionality on Windows ejected the card reader device in addition to the card
  • 1:1 previews were not discarded according to the timing set in the Lightroom preferences
  • 1:1 previews are not built for an entire set of images when requested after import

RSP Settings Migration Tool

Last year, Adobe acquired the assets of Pixmantec, including the code for the RawShooter Essentials and RawShooter Premium applications.  Adobe then offered a free copy of Lightroom 1.0 to RawShooter Premium customers.  But given the proprietary nature of independent processing tools, efforts by Pixmantec customers have no direct translation to Adobe’s raw processing solutions. (Camera Raw Plug-in and Lightroom)  To this end, we’re providing a settings migration tool that will attempt to match the adjustments performed in RawShooter Essentials or RawShooter Premium to equivalent settings in Lightroom or Camera Raw.  The tool is located on Adobe Labs at the following location:  http://labs.adobe.com/wiki/index.php/Pixmantec_RawShooter_Migration_Tool

A quick caveat is that
the controls and algorithms in each application are not identical so the results of these conversions will not provide visually identical images. 

Lightroom 1.1 Update Available

The Lightroom 1.1 update has been posted.  The update links are below as well as the top reasons to update to Lightroom 1.1. 

Lightroom 1.1 Update Downloads:  Mac   Win

  • Improved multiple computer workflow with catalog import/export functionality
  • Improved noise reduction and sharpening
  • Vista Support
  • Additional Camera Support (Canon 1D Mk III, Phase One medium format backs and more)

Update Notes:

  • I recommend backing up your 1.0 library file(now catalog) before upgrading.
  • The Lightroom 1.1 Readme File contains a more detailed list of new features and notes. (Does anyone ever reads these?)
  • For those that tried the Lightroom 1.0 trial and did not purchase Lightroom, the 1.1 update resets the clock and provides another opportunity.
  • This update will automatically replace your Lightroom 1.0 application (No need to uninstall)
  • As with Lightroom 1.0, feedback on Lightroom 1.1 is always appreciated.  Post your comments on the Lightroom user to user forums or submit feature requests through Adobe.com’s request form.  I read every submission.
  • Not sure if Lightroom is running fast enough for you?  Try the Optimze option in the catalog-specific preferences. (See what great information is already provided in the unread ReadMe?)

More information and external resources:

Please let me know if I’ve missed any resources that you find valuable.

Lightroom and Camera Raw 4.1

Last night we released the Camera Raw 4.1 update that includes support for new sharpening and noise reduction functionality as well as support for 13 additional cameras. I’d like to discuss the timing of Camera Raw and Lightroom updates. One of my goals as product manager of both Camera Raw and Lightroom is to have the camera support update of these two applications coincide as closely as possible. However, many have noticed that the official statement from the Camera Raw 4.1 update is that Lightroom will be updated in the “near future.” Why can’t we be more specific? To be honest, it’s driven by the nature of software development. The camera raw plug-in is a discrete portion of code that has quietly matured and delivered numerous incremental updates over the last three years. So when a Camera Raw and DNG Converter update is ready to be released, customers expect Adobe to deliver the solution in the same timely manner that we’ve always provided. Lightroom on the other hand is a brand new product and the team has taken the opportunity to address a number of critiques on Lightroom 1.0 similar to the way the beta program was managed. Testing and qualifying all those improvements is taking more time than it takes us to get the Camera Raw update tested and out the door. I believe that you’ll find it worth the wait. Not only are all the additional raw processing controls found in Camera Raw 4.1 included in the next Lightroom update but we’ve added a few other features that should further streamline your workflow.
For those just looking for the updated camera support, you can use the free DNG Converter to convert your proprietary raw files to a standard that can be read by Lightroom 1.0 as well as prior versions of Adobe’s Camera Raw plug-in. I realize that for many photographers this extra step may not be a viable solution for their high volume workflow. It’s clearly a workaround until the Lightroom 1.1 update is available, something we’re working hard to provide as soon as possible.
Lets keep the dialog going and I look forward to hearing your feedback.

Regards,
Tom Hogarty