Adobe has made some significant enhancements with the second release of Photoshop Lightroom.

Though I haven’t had much time to try out all the new features. I am particularly impressed with the localized correction features. Due to this new feature, I expect less transferring to Photoshop to make minor localized tonal corrections.

Here is a quick example of what is now possible with just a couple of the new tools:

Here is an original image of Bode State Park California as captured.

(Click on images for larger rendering)

Next is a virtual copy created within Lightroom with localized corrections.

NOTE: I did not spend much time with this image. I was only checking out some of the new features, so I was not precise in the adjustments.

Two gradients were applied, one to the sky and one on the foreground. The eraser and Auto Masking were then used to remove the effects of the sky gradient adjustment from the hillside. Localized saturation to the “yellow” brush was then applied. I found this new set of tools easy to use, though the rendering lagged more than I liked and will need some getting use to ( Windows Vista 32 Bit, 2.8 ghz Intel Dual Core with 4G RAM).

As for Development Presets – I found that all the presets in my DEVELOP Module work as before. As did the print templates in the PRINT Module, including those that I created and have been distributing.

The vignetting “after crop” is also a new feature that is welcomed.

Another  new feature within the PRINT Module is the ability to print to a jpeg file(s).

Let’s say you have a client who wants a rendering of how a image may looked framed or with an edge effect. With my Print Templates and the new print to file feature to create a jpeg rendering you can now share the various scenarios via e-mail or web posting.

Here are examples of jpeg outputs -

Recommended reviews -

To get detailed insight from the experts checkout Scott Kelby’s Blog and Terry White’s Blog entries.

Terry White has a really good breakdown of all the new features and has provided a nice Keyboard shortcut listing for the new localized corrections.