1 – INTRODUCTION
Welcome to my Guide to Lightroom Classic and Photoshop. Please study each section from the top menu to discover how you can take your Raw image processing to the next level.
Through my many Workshops and discussions with colleagues and peers I have learned one thing, just how many of you are not using Lightroom to its fullest potential for processing Raw images, and not using Photoshop at all.
Why is this? With Lightroom it is usually a lack of experience and practice, and with Photoshop the overwhelming reason to avoid it is fear. Photoshop is daunting; it seems completely random with no clear workflow, tools scattered all over the place and no logic to it. The good news is that combined with LR, we only need to use around 20% of what PS actually provides; indeed some only use LR and do not feel a need for PS.
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DOWNLOAD RAW FILES
Download Raw files for the image above to follow along in the tutorial. There are two raw files, a main file and one for the sky. Please note these are OM System .orf raws (20mp) which have been converted to DNG to avoid any issues. Save to a folder and import to Lightroom.
DOWNLOAD KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
Keyboard shortcuts for Photoshop are useful and will be covered in the Photoshop Section. A printable document is available for Mac and Windows.
In this guide I will show you how to process the image above using LR from start to finish. Not only that, we will also explore how to refine it in Photoshop step-by-step using tools and techniques you can master easily and apply to your future processing workflow. As with anything not every step will be relevant to every image, and some images will require more as you see fit. However as you master the techniques you will come to realise just how powerful processing with LR and PS is.
FOR BEGINNERS?
Yes, I produced this guide with the complete beginner in mind showing the basics of processing and some advanced techniques too. It will not explain every single feature of Lightroom or Photoshop, more so to get you started. You may already have a rudimentary understanding of LR which is great, those who have more experience with processing will still benefit from learning my workflow and how I use Photoshop as part of it. It will be a real benefit for those that use LR but have not used PS.
A breakdown of the subjects and content is below:
1-INTRODUCTION
2-LR & PS EXPLAINED
LR and PS do the same thing don’t they? Not exactly. We will explore the differences and look at what they actually are and why you should use both.
3-LR INTERFACE
A tour of the LR Interface specifically the Library and Develop Modules, plus setting some key preferences.
4-PS INTERFACE
A tour of the PS Interface, Pallets and Toolbars, what context sensitive bars actually do, plus set up the workspace with essential pallets and keyboard shortcuts.
5-GETTING ORGANISED
Getting organised is key to building up a Catalog of images. In this section we explore how to organise your library and avoid a mass of files with no order or structure. I explain my own structure and how I organise my files.
6-PROCESSING IN LR
Processing is split into two sections; the first section explores how to process one example image with Lightroom. We will cover the basics that should be applied to every image, setting black and white points, colour balance and tone, shadows and highlights, correcting horizons etc. We will explore using two images to merge together to recover highlights, and also use masks for more localised edits.
7-PROCESSING IN PS
In the second section we take the image into Photoshop and merge part of one image into another. We will use the real power of Photoshop, Selections, Layers and Masks for this. We will also explore how making small local edits in PS is more powerful and flexible than LR using Adjustment Layers, Adjustment Brushes and the History Brush.
8-SELECTIVE EDITS
We will use another example image and revisit enhancing a sky in PS, removing distractions and how to reposition a foreground when you get it wrong. We also use a technique to enhance detail without sharpening with High Pass Filters.
9-EXPOSURE BLENDING / HDR
How do we combine images with different exposures? We will explore how to merge two images together using selections and masks in PS, and how to use HDR merging both in LR and PS to see which is better, how to use other techniques such as Apply Image, and explore a few image merging techniques to improve an image.
HDR EDIT MODE
In this subsection we visit LR HDR Edit Mode, what it is, what it is not, and should you use it?
10-FOCUS STACKING
Focus stacking in PS with Auto Merging, how to do it and pitfalls to avoid, and how to focus stack manually. Sometimes it is easier and better.
11-PANORAMIC STITCHING
Stitching panoramic images together both in LR and PS. Why are they different and which to use.
12-BLACK AND WHITE
Converting to black and white both in LR and PS. When to do it and when not.