Video: Crop & Straighten.

I'm going to regret this when my server load goes bananas. With all the questions on Cropping coming up on the forums, I've done a video on it.
This is my first video folks, done on my Macbook Pro on a demo copy of Snapz Pro X, using my headset mic. I may bring home a mixer and a decent condensor for next time but for now, Please excuse the any audio impropriety. The video quality is reasonable, enough to understand. I just needed it to be small enough. I'll do better next time here too. This is a zipped MP4 and should play fine in Quicktime. Right click on the image and save linked file as. Otherwise the movie is here

Next time I promise I'll speak louder. I'll be in a room where no one is sleeping near me!

Rating

A combination of Raw Shooter technology and some hard headed requesting on the Adobe forums has led to a cool new feature giving us automatic image advance when rating. Previously in Beta 3 you needed to rate (using 1-5 or click the dots) and then using the arrow key or mouse to advance. Easy enough, unless that is you're rating 500 images from a shoot.
The new method to get auto advance is a 2 key shortcut. As the 1 key version is there already (press 1-5 to rate), a modifier key is used. Shift and 1-5 to rate will now auto advance the image. Very nifty. This works in Grid, Loupe and Develop. For Rating multiple images you can press the Caps Lock and then just press 1-5 to auto advance through the shoot. Thanks to Ian Lyons for the last tip.

Versions: a taste of.

While not as versatile as Apertures versions, Beta 4 of Lightroom has improved its History Snapshot feature into a usable versioning panel. It's easy really.
First edit your file in Develop. If you look at the History pane (behind Presets), you'll see a list all the actions you have taken so far. If you go down to the bottom, you'll see the Add and Remove buttons. Click 'Add' and all of these actions will compress down into a date. Now a date is not useful for versions, so we Double click on the date and it will become highlighted. From here simply rename our version to something useful. If we continue to edit, including cropping, we can Add again and rename again. If we have a few versions in the panel then rolling our mouse over the names of our versions will give a little preview in the Navigator window. Also if we change settings we don't need to create a new Snapshot, we can right click (or Ctrl Click on Mac) and update settings on our snapshot to reflect the current look.
Update: Just thinking about this further. If Adobe added a right click command to 'Show In Library' on our History Snapshot, then we would effectively have an equivalent to Apertures versions. This would be good because, although we may have multiple snapshots, we might only find one or two actually useful.
More updatesOnly the most recent history state is saved when you Export as Photo Binder. When this was mentioned in a post recently, Mark Hamberg replied stating :

"We're looking at doing versions/snapshots/renderings/renditions/whatver-it-is-we're-calling-it-today and we knew that would probably have some consequences for history so we decided to pass on writing out history into B4 Photo Binders.

Mark"
At least it a comfirmation of Versions. I'd still like to see history states being saved.

Beta 4 released.

Finally!

SAN JOSE, Calif. and COLOGNE, Germany - Sept. 25, 2006 - Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced an update to the public beta of Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom(tm) software at the Photokina tradeshow in Cologne, Germany. Available immediately for download from Adobe Labs (http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom), this update unites the product feature set for Windows® and Macintosh platforms, giving professional photographers a new way to import, manage and showcase large volumes of digital photographs. More than 325,000 people have opted to try Lightroom during the beta period and feedback has been fueled by over 3,400 of them sharing input in Adobe online forums. The final version of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is expected to ship in early 2007.

"From the moment we introduced Lightroom beta we opened up the process to photographers, making them a part of our 'virtual development team' and allowing them to tell us exactly what this application needs," said Deborah Whitman, vice president of product management for Digital Imaging. "Engaging with this community has helped us build a better workflow solution and has made watching its evolution more exciting and dynamic."

The final branding of the software, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, confirms its place within the Photoshop family, a line of products that meet the needs of novice snapshooters, photo hobbyists and a diverse set of professional customers.

Lightroom Feature Advancements and Raw Processing Support

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom beta 4.0 offers improved digital photography workflow tools, including a precision white balance selection option and a more streamlined and elegant user interface experience with customizable controls. An intuitive new tone curve adjustment feature provides powerful image correction capabilities, allowing users to visually obtain excellent midtone, shadow and highlight adjustments.

New enhancements in the Develop and Library modules include time-saving tools such as the ability to re-name and convert files to Adobe Digital Negative Format (DNG) after importing into the Lightroom library. New filters, search presets and organizing options allow for quick retrieval of images and greater flexibility.

Lightroom supports over 125 native raw file formats, in addition to JPEG and TIFF, and brings raw conversion into a single workflow experience. The latest camera models supported by this beta are the Nikon D2Xs, Sony A100, as well as preliminary support for the Canon Digital Rebel XTi (400D) and Nikon D80. This support means that photographers can use Lightroom with even the newest cameras on the market, knowing that the image files will be recognized today and into the future.

Thriving Community Support

Adobe hosts an online community site for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom beta which features artists in the Lightroom Showcase Gallery (http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom/gallery) and provides an arena for photographers to share their portfolios using Lightroom slideshow functionality. Photographers will find inspiration in the documentaries of well-known photographers posted in the community and gallery.

Pricing and Availability

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom beta is available for free download from the Adobe Labs Web site at http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom. Recommended system requirements are Macintosh OSX 10.4.3, 1 GHz PowerPC G4 processor or Windows XP SP2, Intel Pentium 4 Processor, and 768 MB RAM and a 1024x768 resolution screen. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom beta is a universal binary application that will run natively on PowerPC and new Intel-based Macintosh systems. The final version of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is expected to ship in early 2007. Further details around pricing, system requirements and availability have yet to be determined.

Lightroom Gallery Update

Despite coming close to Photokina time and an expected Beta 4 release, Adobe have found time to update the Lightroom Gallery. It's now gone from 2 to 4 pages and includes a 60 photo gallery by none other than Lightroom Guru and Photoshop Hall of Famer, Jeff Schewe. Also featured is a Beijing Gallery by Julieanne Kost.

Beta 4 'nearing completion'

With the release of Adobe Camera Raw 3.5, Thomas Knoll took time to detail both the coming of ACR 3.6 in the fall and of the Beta 4 release. Of concern to a lot of people is the Nikon D80 and the Canon 400D (XTi), which is not in the ACR 3.5 release. Thomas says the ACR 3.6 release is an accelerated cycle and will cover these and other cameras released at Photokina.
Lightroom Beta 4 will be released before this and will include both cameras.
http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx/.3bb6a869.3bc1b01e contains the full information.

Podcasts 20 & 21 Posted.

George Jardine has posted 2 new podcasts. The first is with Michael Clark. The podcast note from this one is:
"Title: "Adobe Lightroom Enhanced-Podcast #20: Michael Clark"

"I'm a climber, and you kind of have to be to photograph the rock climbing, because you have to have the skills to get above the climber, to get in position with them, and to hang out with them on these big walls so that you're comfortable." - Michael Clark

This podcast was recorded on Friday May 5th 2006, at the Santa Fe Workshop. Adobe Lightroom's Pro Photography Evangelist George Jardine speaks with extreme sports photographer Michael Clark. This enhanced podcast includes photographs from Michael Clark's exciting portfolio of climbing, mountain biking, and other extreme sports.

This "enhanced" podcast includes photos taken by Michael, and they can be viewed on Photo and Video iPods. Only the audio track will be heard on other devices.

The views and opinions of the participants in this podcast are their own, and do not reflect or represent those of Adobe Systems.

Duration: 19:48"
The second is with Nevada Wier:
"Title: "Adobe Lightroom Enhanced-Podcast #21: Nevada Wier"

"I'm looking to expand a photographic vision, beyond the obvious, into the edge of light, into the edge of seeing, in a way into the edge of my imagination. Because intuition and imagination are such a big part of photography." - Nevada Wier

This podcast was recorded on Friday May 5th 2006, at the Santa Fe Workshop. Adobe Lightroom's Pro Photography Evangelist George Jardine speaks with travel photographer Nevada Wier about how she got started traveling and photographing in exotic locations. Nevada discusses in depth, the patience, waiting and effort that's often required to capture photos that "are all mine", as well as camera techniques that create "more complicated images that give a sense of the place".

This "enhanced" podcast includes photos taken by Nevada, and they can be viewed on Photo and Video iPods. Only the audio track will be heard on other devices.

The views and opinions of the participants in this podcast are their own, and do not reflect or represent those of Adobe Systems.

Duration: 31:04"

More on tethering: EOS Utility

Based on a comment in a previous post on tethering, I've done a little test run using EOS Utility with a Canon 20D and Lightroom.

When shooting tethered using the EOS Utility to get images into Lightroom, it is really important to remember that the Watched Folder (Auto Import Folder) needs to be empty. One of the settings in EOS Utility creates a subfolder by date. If you use this setting (which I think is on by default), your images will not auto-import. You need to untick all the boxes as in the screen capture above. You get to this preference screen by clicking on the little computer icon under the ISO setting. One other handy setting to change is to set the Linked Software to none, to prevent DPP or Image Browser opening once you start shooting. If we quickly examine the Utility window open on the right we can note a few things. The File type here is RAW, something someone mentioned having problems with. This certainly is working fine here. Also the camera is set up for manual exposure. All the settings can be changed either in camera or here on the computer. Lightroom has no issues with any setting once the file shows up in the correct folder on its own.

Luminous Landscape Lightroom DVD 2: The Making of.

Jeff Schewe has posted a great photo essay on the The Making Of the new DVD. I know my copy is sitting in my letterbox awaiting my return from sunny climes. I'll be sure to post a review of it when I'm sitting at home with the rain on the window.

Podcasts 18 & 19 now on iTunes

You can download these new Enhanced Podcasts from iTunes. Simply search for Lightroom in the Music store and subscribe.
You can also get them from George Jardine's iDisk.
Podcast 18 features Maggie Hallahan, while 19 features John McDermott.

Beta 4 Previews at Photoshop world.

http://www.oreillynet.com/digitalmedia/blog/2006/09/post_1.html
Not being in the inner circle and being on holiday, I'm not the first in with this. Thanks to MethodPhoto for the link.

Jeff Schewe also mentions some of the new features including Vibrance and Fill Light from Raw Shooter and a new Curves tool:
"Yes, Beta 4 was indeed demoed today at Photoshop World...pretty cool new stuff too...Fill Light and Vibrance in Develop as well as an entirely new cruves UI with on the curve or on the image adjustments...George Jardine will be demoing B4 the next couple of days as well..more info later."
Andrew Rodeny, Author “Color Management for Photographers”, says of the new Curves UI, "Nothing like it I've ever seen. Super intuitive and powerful".
My mouth is watering at the prospect. Hopefully Jeff will get time to post more information soon seeing as the Beta is being shown in Public.

Holiday Light

Some of the advantages of travelling to a familar resort for a break is the people and places you know there. I really love the island of Majorca, off the coast of Spain. I always travel when here and always shoot here. The difference this time is I'm using Lightroom to speed choosing my final images and for processing. For once my sensor is clean enough that I'm able to use my final output from Lightroom itself. Once Dust removal becomes a part of the workflow, my trips to Photoshop will become fewer and fewer. Coupled with any 3rd party lens corrections and I'll be only making a rare trip to Save for Web.
In the forums Jeff Schewe has mentioned that there will different form and functionality in Beta 4. Bring it on.
One thing that's also cool about being here is that the owner of a local music pub has given me free wireless access to get stuff done.

Tethered in Lightroom?

Between Beta 2 and Beta 3 of Lightroom, there was much discussion over the value of tethered shooting. Jeff Schewe announced that there would be too much work in getting all DSLR's to tether in the time frame for the V1.0 release. As has been pointed out Phase One's software allows tethering from their own cameras and that of Canon (there may be more but as I don't have experience with C1 Pro, I can't say). Bibble apparently will tether to more. Instead of getting direct tethering in Beta 3, Adobe took another route. The 'Watched Folder'.

Lightroom allows us to choose a folder that it will then watch and import whatever file appears in the folder. The way it works is simple. In Lightroom Preferences we choose the Import tab. The middle section has the information we need to apply. Tick 'Enable Auto-Import' and use 'Choose.." to select the folder you want to watch. Easy. Next we can automatically apply metadata to our imported files and rename in the process. To do this we click on "Auto Import Settings".

First up we have our renaming section which gives us a fair amount of tokens to choose from including filename, date, shoot name and sequence. We can also set a start number here too. Next we select a shoot name and can select a containing shoot. We can automatically set deeper containing shoots by using '/' between our containing shoots, e.g. 2006/aug/studio/fashion1. Next we can apply a Metadata or Develop Preset to our image. Finally we can keyword our new images.
For Auto Import to work the chosen folder that we want to watch must be empty. It will not work otherwise. I know, I've tried it. When Lightroom imports the file into the library it then deletes the original and waits on the next image to show in the folder. It was able to cope no problem with a burst from my 20D.
To actually make use of this form of tethering we must run our camera's capture software, which in the case of Canon is now EOS utility. We run EOS utility in the background and then let Lightroom take care of the importing. When a file is imported it simply goes to the Grid view. A few of us have asked for it to update the image in Loupe view to give a full screen view of the image, Adobe responded well to the suggestion so fingers crossed for Beta 4.