Archive for category Scott Kelby

First Impressions – Lightroom 2.0

Posted by Peter in Lightroom, Scott Kelby, Terry White on August 1st, 2008

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.

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Adobe Lightroom 2.0 Released

Posted by Peter in Lightroom, Scott Kelby on July 29th, 2008

2.0

Adobe has just released Lightroom 2.0. Those who have followed this blog know that I use and highly recommend Lightroom for global post  processing of my images.

Scott Kelby of Photoshop Insider has a detailed blog entry on the various upgrade features. I suspect that with these new features, I will find less need to visit Photoshop to finalize my images.

Once I install the new release, I will test out my Print templates, presets and update this blog to let you know how they work under Lr 2.0.

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Bay watch ….

Posted by Peter in 7-Point System, Massachusetts, Scott Kelby on June 3rd, 2008

Beautiful night here in New England, so my wife and I decided to dine out at the Clam Box in Ipswich MA.

After consuming more fried food than we probably should, we headed to Ipswich Neck and Bay area to check out the ocean and views.

Here is an image I captured of Ipswich Bay looking towards the setting sun.

The image was first processed with Adobe Lightroom and then transfered to Photoshop to make some additional edits using Scott Kelby’s 7 Point System.

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Adobe Lightroom 2.0 public beta released

Posted by Peter in Lightroom, Matt Kloskowski, Scott Kelby on April 2nd, 2008

Adobe Systems has released Adobe Lightroom 2.0 public beta at Adobe labs.

This is a significant update and includes many of the features that I personally have been looking for in Lightroom.

New enhancements are included in all the modules of Lightroom under the 2.0 beta .

The most significant to me are:

  • Addition of multiple monitor support
  • Improved integration with Photoshop via Smart Objects and Multiple image merging including loading files or virtual copies as separate layers. Improved file loading speeds. 10k pixel limit has been increased to 30k pixel per side.
  • Localized Correction- such as dodging and burning
  • Vignetting of a cropped image
  • Printing to file added to Print Module and improved picture package creation. Yes, you can now export out to jpeg a custom print layout for future use !
  • Improved Print Sharpening, based on the output media and resolution of the file.

I quickly tested the Frame Print Templates that I have created to see if they were compatible and did not find any issues thus far. Plus you will be able to print out to a file, samples of what a image may look like framed.

For further info check out -

What’s still missing from my wish list ?

  • Off line archival tracking, it would be real nice to track images that have been archived on a storage drive or DVD.
  • Direct Export to Print Services for Photo Books such as Kodak Gallery. They can do it in Adobe Photoshop Elements with templates for wedding albums and portfolios.
  • The ability to have a image Copyright Watermark overlay in the export option. Presently you can add the copyright that is in the Meta data. I suppose with the ability to print to file in the print module, you could add a custom identity plate watermark before printing to file.
  • In the same family, I would like a watermark that is independent of the identity plate. Much like the signature effect that I created but separate from the identity plate.
  • I know how to add special effects to the print Module such as frames, mats and edge effects but I would like to do so without using the identity Plate as I do now with my print templates.

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Takes 6 Steps to the 7 Points

Posted by Peter in 7-Point System, Scott Kelby on January 14th, 2008

I am a total convert to using Adobe Lightroom for processing my images and have adopted Scott Kelby’s 7 Point System, but I have been struggling with the integration of the two in a seamless manner. This is particularly the case if you want to use the Smart Objects feature in Adobe Photoshop CS3.

For those who might be facing the same issue, Scott Kelby has posted his recommended 6 steps to move an image from Lr to PsCS3. Also make sure you check out the workarounds used by some of the post responders.

My understanding was that one of the original intents of creating Lightroom in modules was to allow easy add on of features. My suggestion to Adobe is to add a module of Photoshop type adjustments that are directed towards photographers and incorporate within Lightroom; allowing more control over cloning with some layering and masking capabilities.

Hopefully, Adobe will work some programming magic to resolve the integration between these two fantastic applications. Maybe version 2.0 will bring some of those modules ?

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