Category: General

On behalf of Anita and the rest of the Adobe Documentation team, I’m pleased to announce the new Lightroom community help system, which provides core Adobe documentation for Lightroom as well as links to additional learning content from around the web. The URL for the Lightroom community help system is http://learn.adobe.com/wiki/display/LR/Home.

The new site takes the current online help—LiveDocs—and makes it more useful and interactive. You can still navigate to topics using links the left side of the browser. But now, when you click a topic to read about it, you’ll find a Basics panel with Adobe documentation as well as a Learn More panel that offers links to tutorials, white papers, technical articles, and other instructional content.

This site is administered by Adobe, moderated by experts from the community, and developed with the assistance of a panel of Lightroom Learning Advisors. So you’ll also find links to the moderators’ and advisors’ favorite Lightroom sites, plus links to troubleshooting sites and a page that lists third-party presets, galleries, and extensions.

We invite you to visit, comment on our documentation, add links to your favorite tutorials and articles, and share your opinions by commenting on the links that others have posted. And feel free to send feedback on the site to us at lightroom-help-feedback@adobe.com.

Lightroom and Camera Raw will be updated to 1.3.1 and 4.3.1 respectively within the next week.  These updates provide corrections for issues introduced in the last release as well as additional Lightroom Leopard compatibility.

Camera Raw and DNG Converter 4.3.1 Update
For those experiencing the issues listed below, please update immediately to 4.3.1 using the downloads available here: Mac, Win.
The update will be available automatically via the Adobe Update Manager(AUM) within the next week.
-Compressed raw files from the Nikon D100 were read incorrectly in Camera Raw 4.3
-A possible artifact in Camera Raw 4.3 raw file support for the Olympus E-3 has been corrected

Lightroom 1.3.1 Update
[UPDATE 12/7 – Downloads now available here: Mac, Win ]
I will post an update when Lightroom 1.3.1 is available for download within the next week. Setting Lightroom’s preference to check for updates will provide automatic notification when the update is available. The update will provide corrections for the following issues:
-The Lightroom 1.3 Print Module could previously cause the application to crash on either OS X 10.5 or 10.5.1 during template usage.
-On Mac OS X 10.5 or 10.5.1, the import process from a card reader or other device into Lightroom could fail to import all or a portion of the selected images.
-A decrease in Develop slider responsiveness introduced in Lightroom 1.3 has been corrected.
-The Lightroom 1.3 Develop module could cause the application to crash if adjustments were made in quick succession.
-Compressed raw files from the Nikon D100 were read incorrectly in Lightroom 1.3.
-A possible artifact in raw file support for the Olympus E-3 has been corrected.
-The Lightroom FTP Plug-in provided as sample code with the Export SDK did not function properly if the password was not saved with the selected FTP preset.
-Editing or creating a new FTP preset immediately prior to using the FTP plug-in provided as sample code with the Export SDK would cause the FTP process to fail.
-Using the Export as Previous option did not work with the FTP plug-in provided as sample code with the Export SDK.

Per my earlier post,
the Finder in Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.5.1 can crash when viewing files that contain Lightroom XMP Snapshot data created in the develop module.  This is an error in how the Finder reads metadata and will require an operating system update to solve. The error can be reduced for additional files going forward by modifying the Lightroom preference to *not* save Develop settings within JPEG, TIFF or PSD files. (Preferences: Catalog Settings: Metadata)

The Lightroom 1.3 release addresses many Leopard OS X 10.5 issues but a few outstanding problems remain or have been discovered.

• Time Machine compatibility still remains unclear at this time.  Running Time Machine backup or restore operations while Lightroom is in use is not recommended until more information can be obtained.  Interim solutions:
• Have Time Machine exclude the directories where Lightroom catalogs are stored and use Lightroom to backup the catalog files
• Run Time Machine when Lightroom is not running.
• There is a bug in the Lightroom 1.3 Print Module that can cause the application to crash on either OS X 10.5 or 10.5.1.  Minimizing the template preview in the upper left corner can help reduce the frequency of this issue.
• The Finder in Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.5.1 can crash when viewing files that contain Lightroom XMP Snapshot data created in the develop module.  This is an error in how the Finder reads metadata and will require an operating system update to solve. (I believe that this occurs more frequently with JPEG or TIFF files)
• Importing directly from a card may not copy all of the image files or may fail. Please copy the images to a local drive using the Finder first if you experience problems.

We will provide an update to address the print module issue but have not set a release date for that update.

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

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 has support for four languages: English, French, German, and Japanese. With the 1.2 release, English, French, and German are packaged in the same installer. So how do you choose which language Lightroom uses? The answer depends on which operating system you use.

Note: The Japanese release of Lightroom 1.2 uses the same logic as the English, French, and German release, so you can use these same techniques described below with that release.

Windows

On windows, Lightroom bases its language choice off of the “Current Format” selection in the “Regional and Language Options” control panel. Simply select any of the “English”, “French” or “German” language options

If your primary language is not French, German or English, Lightroom on Windows will use English.

If you want to select one language in the “Regional and Language Options” control panel, but prefer to use Lightroom in English, this is possible… but it requires that you modify the Lightroom installation. So proceed with caution:

1. Open “C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.2” in Windows Explorer.
2. Create a new folder called “Disabled Languages”
3. Open the “Resources” folder.
4. Move “fr” and “de” to the “Disabled Languages” folder.

Now Lightroom will be in English regardless of what language setting you make in the “Regional and Language Options” control panel. To revert this change, move the “fr” and “de” folder back into the Resources folder.

Note: On Windows XP, the control panel is called “Regional and Language Settings” (Microsoft renamed the control panel in Vista).

Macintosh

On a Macintosh computer, you can rank your preferred languages in order by using the International control panel. Drag the language you want to use to the top of the list. Then relaunch Lightroom: The user interface will be presented in that language.

If your primary language is not French, German, or English, Lightroom will scan down the list and use the first language that we support. For example, if your primary language is “Español”, but you also speak French, you can set Lightroom to use French by making sure “Français” appears second in the list of Languages in the International control panel.

If you want your operating system to be French or German, but prefer to use Lightroom in English, this is simple:

1. Open the /Applications folder in the Finder
2. Select “Adobe Lightroom.app”
3. Right click on “Adobe Lightroom.app” and select “Get Info”
4. Expand the “Languages” tab
5. Uncheck “de” and “fr”

Now Lightroom will be in English regardless of what language setting you make in the International control panel. To restore the French and German functionality, follow the same steps, except this time check them back on.

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:

• Stay tuned for updates from Lightroom-News.
• Sean McCormack posted some very nice articles on his Lightroom blog
• Richard Earney has prepared an excellent version 3 of his Lightroom Develop presets on www.inside-lightroom.com
• Victoria Bampton has posted her own list of "What’s New"
• Jeffrey Friedl has a summary of the Lightroom udpate as well as an ingenious tool for customizing your metadata panel called Jeffrey’s Lightroom Metadata-Viewer Preset Builder

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

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

 

Here’s another entry i had on my blog in April that might be useful for LR journal subscribers – Barry Young.

—

I have been using Lightroom frequently for about 5 months and thought i knew the product fairly well until i started watching Chris Orwig’s Training DVD from Lynda.com.

In the 5.5 hours of play time, I learned a great deal and it’s definitely helped me to work my way through LR a lot quicker and more efficiently. Even the basic F5, F6, F7 and F8 show/hide panel commands, that Chris repeats over and over, has the desired effect of planting those shortcuts in memory so you don’t forget them.

If you’ve been using Photoshop for years (as I have), you may be tempted to think you don’t need training, but believe me it’s worth the time. Lightroom is a completely different beast from Photoshop (and Bridge) and after the training you’ll really appreciate the functionality that LR has to offer.

Here is a link for two books that Chris recommends for Lightroom on his website.

NAPP’s Photoshop User Magazine also now includes Darkroom, a supplemental magazine which focuses purely on Lightroom features.