First attempt

[seaslug]

at using Lightroom for processing.

[sejac]

Once you get used to it, Lightroom makes life (PP-wise) a lot easier.

Good first attempt.

[Gaz]

Hmmm...maybe...maybe not? The vignetting is a bit harsh.
I downloaded the 30 day free trial "Lightroom" awhile back and found it very awkward, just a matter of what ya get use to I guess?

[seaslug]

The vignetting was included to mask some unwanted background and also to give that morning mist impression.

I will perservere with it to give my brain a bit of exercise and also as a means of processing RAW files.

I normally shoot in JPEG (GASP)! and am comfortable continuing with that. But every now and again I like to do some RAW just to see if I can get it any better than the camera does. (So far the camera wins!)

[inapickle]

I have lightroom, but I'm not a fan. It's too complicated to just import one or two images to process them. No layers either. I already have my own cataloging system, so the last thing I want is lightroom trying to create even more catalogs. If I had a couple hundred files I wanted the same processing on, sure, I'd use Lightroom, because that is what it was designed to do.

[seaslug]

Thanks. I've had it for some time on my laptop but the first time I tried to use it I found it so dissimilar to Photoshop, (which I'm still in the process of learning), so I decided to leave it for now.

It also wanted to take over my filing system which I found disconcerting. I may be able to change settings which allow me to use it without fighting it all the time and now that I've recently retired I should have the time to read the books I have on it.

Barb I'd be interested to know how you interface with it just using the Windows 'My Pictures' system to file your images.

[sejac]

Yes, it is dis-similar to Photoshop in a few ways. You don't "Open" images like you do in Photoshop. Nor do you have to "Save" like Photoshop. The advantage is that the changes made are not permanent or destructive.

I use Lightroom to organise my files. But it's how I would do it anyway. So if you have files organised already, just "Import" them into Lightroom". Won't alter or damage your organisation. Or start a "New Catalogue", and put 'em in there. And "Exporting" the edited RAW files (in my case) or JPEG is the same as "Save As", creating a new copy and leaving the original un-changed. The fact that LR is non-destructive is I feel important, but is a fact that is too often glossed over. You will always have a set of your original, un-edited images.

The PP tools mostly come out of Photoshop, and are all there at your finger tips. You can tell me I'm wrong, as I still use Photoshop 7, and only for cloning. Sure, there are no "layers", but other tools, such as the "Adjustment Brush" are pretty powerful.

I think fighting Lightroom is the problem. Go with it, and it will work for you.

[P Plates]

I don't mind the pale vignette. I don't mind lightroom but find I rarely use it, just go straight to photoshop nowadays. Think I'll be moving it to the laptop as a tool when we're travelling.

[seaslug]

I'd probably just use Photoshop too, but my version doesn't handle RAW.