Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® & Photoshop® Workflow Bible

Book description

The digital photographer's workflow is divided into two distinct parts - the Production Workflow and the Creative Workflow. The Production workflow is used to import and organize large numbers of images, and prepare them for presentation via proof printing, Web, or slideshow. Increasingly, photographers are turning to Adobe's acclaimed new Lightroom software to manage this part of the workflow.

After the best images are identified, photographers move to the second part of the workflow, the Creative Workflow, to fine-tune special images using a variety of advanced digital tools so that the creative vision is realized. An overwhelming majority of digital photographers use Photoshop for this advanced editing.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom & Photoshop Workflow Bible effectively guides digital photographers through both parts of this process. Author Mark Fitzgerald, an Adobe Certified Expert and Adobe Certified Instructor in Photoshop CS3 offers readers a clear path to using both Lightroom 2 and Photoshop CS3 to create a complete digital workflow. Fitzgerald uses tips, tricks, and step-by-step directions to demonstrate how to integrate these two powerful programs to optimize image management and create stunning images.

The first part of this book is dedicated to offering an overview of the complete workflow, clearly defining the purpose of both Photoshop and Lightroom within a photographer's workflow and explaining the basics of image files and how to organize them.

The second part delves into using Lightroom to manage the Production Workflow. It begins with an in-depth look at the Lightroom workspace and how images are imported into it. Photographers are then guided through organizing images within Lightroom, processing photos, sharing photos with others in a variety of formats and creating files to use outside of Lightroom. Finally, the workflow is put into action by demonstrating how a wildlife photographer used Lightroom in the field while photographing migrating polar bears in the arctic.

The third part focuses on Photoshop and the Creative Workflow, starting with opening files in Photoshop as well as suggesting when and how photographers should be utilizing Bridge and Adobe Camera Raw. A review of the Photoshop workspace is followed by information on adjusting tonality and color with a wide variety of tools, and working with layers.

Part four moves into more advanced Photoshop tools and techniques, such as selections, layer masks and using Photoshop's retouching tools. There is also a discussion on the nuances of using Photoshop and Lightroom together and how to use Photoshop actions in Lightroom.

Part five focuses on putting all of the pieces together to create the complete Creative Workflow with Photoshop. It begins with a discussion for creating strategies for success. The author then moves on to how to solve special portrait retouching problems and how to add creative finishing touches. Then Fitzgerald demonstrates the entire process with a downloadable practice file so you can follow along and practice your newly learned skills.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. About the Author
  3. Credits
  4. Preface
    1. What's in This Book?
    2. Who Should Read This Book?
    3. How to Use This Book
    4. Conventions Used in This Book
    5. Should You Use a Mac or a Windows Machine?
    6. Which Version of Photoshop CS3?
    7. Products Mentioned in This Book
    8. One Last Thing
  5. Acknowledgments
  6. I. Understanding the Workflow
    1. 1. Making Your Work Flow
      1. 1.1. Exploring the Digital Photographer's Workflow
        1. 1.1.1. The production phase of the workflow
        2. 1.1.2. The creative phase of the workflow
      2. 1.2. Building a Nondestructive Workflow
      3. 1.3. Summary
    2. 2. Comparing Lightroom and Photos
      1. 2.1. Understanding the Purpose of Photoshop
        1. 2.1.1. Adobe Bridge
        2. 2.1.2. Adobe Camera Raw
        3. 2.1.3. Three in one
      2. 2.2. Understanding the Purpose of Lightroom
        1. 2.2.1. Database Management
        2. 2.2.2. Nondestructive editing
        3. 2.2.3. Sharing setting with other files
        4. 2.2.4. Output options
        5. 2.2.5. The complete package
      3. 2.3. Summary
    3. 3. Understanding Image File Basics
      1. 3.1. Creating a Virtual Filing Cabinet
        1. 3.1.1. Folder naming strategies
          1. 3.1.1.1. Naming folders with dates
          2. 3.1.1.2. Naming folders with descriptive names
          3. 3.1.1.3. Choosing a folder naming system
        2. 3.1.2. Naming original files
      2. 3.2. Understanding File Formats
        1. 3.2.1. Image captuar file formats
          1. 3.2.1.1. JPEG
          2. 3.2.1.2. Camera Raw
            1. 3.2.1.2.1. The mechanics of a raw file
            2. 3.2.1.2.2. A true digital negative
            3. 3.2.1.2.3. Disadvantages of shooting raw
          3. 3.2.1.3. Understanding metadata and XMP
          4. 3.2.1.4. Advantages of using DNG for metadata
        2. 3.2.2. Editing file formats
          1. 3.2.2.1. TIFF
          2. 3.2.2.2. PSD
        3. 3.2.3. Output file formats
      3. 3.3. Organizing Different Kinds of Files
        1. 3.3.1. Considering the nondestructive workflow
        2. 3.3.2. Three kinds of files
        3. 3.3.3. Building the system
      4. 3.4. Backing Up and Archiving
        1. 3.4.1. Hard drives
        2. 3.4.2. CD/DVD
      5. 3.5. Summary
  7. II. Using Lightroom to Manage Your Production Workflow
    1. 4. Understanding the Lightroom Workspace
      1. 4.1. Getting a Bird's-Eye View
      2. 4.2. Exploring the Five Modules
      3. 4.3. Looking at Things in Different Ways
        1. 4.3.1. Primary viewing modes
        2. 4.3.2. Changing magnification
        3. 4.3.3. Comparing multiple images
          1. 4.3.3.1. Compare view
          2. 4.3.3.2. Survey view
        4. 4.3.4. Hiding panels
        5. 4.3.5. Turning the lights out
        6. 4.3.6. Using multiple monitors
      4. 4.4. Setting up Preferences
        1. 4.4.1. The main preferences
        2. 4.4.2. Catalog settings
        3. 4.4.3. Making it personal
      5. 4.5. Summary
    2. 5. Importing Images into Lightroom
      1. 5.1. Importing Files from Your Hard Drive
      2. 5.2. Importing from a Camera Card
      3. 5.3. Creating Your Own Copyright Preset
      4. 5.4. Converting Camera Raw to DNG
      5. 5.5. Summary
    3. 6. Getting Organized with the Library Module
      1. 6.1. Surveying the Library Module
        1. 6.1.1. Exploring the panels
          1. 6.1.1.1. Catalog panel
          2. 6.1.1.2. Folders panel
          3. 6.1.1.3. Collections panel
          4. 6.1.1.4. Keywording panel
          5. 6.1.1.5. Keyword List panel
          6. 6.1.1.6. Library Filter Bar
        2. 6.1.2. Exploring the Grid view
        3. 6.1.3. Viewing options
      2. 6.2. Keywording and Metadata in Action
        1. 6.2.1. Adding and removing keywords
        2. 6.2.2. Organizing keywords
        3. 6.2.3. Sorting with keywords
        4. 6.2.4. Using the Metadata panel
      3. 6.3. Using Labels, Stars, and Flags
        1. 6.3.1. Adding colored labels
        2. 6.3.2. Adding rating stars
        3. 6.3.3. Adding flags
        4. 6.3.4. Thinking globally
      4. 6.4. Making the Labeling Process More Efficient
        1. 6.4.1. Using the Sync Metadata button
        2. 6.4.2. Using the Painter tool
      5. 6.5. Filtering and Searching with the Library Filter Bar
        1. 6.5.1. Text
        2. 6.5.2. Attribute
        3. 6.5.3. Metadata Browser
        4. 6.5.4. Custom Filters
        5. 6.5.5. Filmstrip Source Filter Bar
      6. 6.6. Putting the Workflow into Action
      7. 6.7. Using Collections
        1. 6.7.1. Creating a collection
        2. 6.7.2. Quick Collection
        3. 6.7.3. Smart Collections
      8. 6.8. Managing Missing Files and Folders
        1. 6.8.1. Working with missing photos
          1. 6.8.1.1. Missing folders
          2. 6.8.1.2. Missing photos
        2. 6.8.2. Deleting and removing unwanted files and folders
      9. 6.9. Summary
    4. 7. Processing Photos with the Develop Module
      1. 7.1. Understanding Image Basics
        1. 7.1.1. Working with color
          1. 7.1.1.1. Calibrating your monitor
          2. 7.1.1.2. Exploring color theory
          3. 7.1.1.3. Understanding color channels
        2. 7.1.2. Understanding histograms
      2. 7.2. Surveying the Develop Module Panels
        1. 7.2.1. Presets panel
        2. 7.2.2. Snapshots panel
        3. 7.2.3. History panel
        4. 7.2.4. Processing panels
      3. 7.3. Adjusting Tonality and Color
        1. 7.3.1. Using the Basic panel
          1. 7.3.1.1. Adjusting white balance
          2. 7.3.1.2. Synchronizing Develop settings with multiple photos
          3. 7.3.1.3. Adjusting image brightness and contrast
          4. 7.3.1.4. Using the Presence controls
            1. 7.3.1.4.1. The Clarity slider
            2. 7.3.1.4.2. Adjusting overall saturation
        2. 7.3.2. Fine-tuning tonality with the Tone Curve panel
        3. 7.3.3. Fine-tuning color with the HSL and Color panels
        4. 7.3.4. Creating custom black-and-white photos
        5. 7.3.5. Applying a brown tone with the Split Toning panel
        6. 7.3.6. Saving time with presets
        7. 7.3.7. Creating multiple versions of the same photo
          1. 7.3.7.1. Taking snapshots
          2. 7.3.7.2. Creating virtual copies
      4. 7.4. Improving the Finer Points with the Detail Panel
        1. 7.4.1. Removing noise
        2. 7.4.2. Understanding sharpening
          1. 7.4.2.1. Three kinds of sharpening
          2. 7.4.2.2. Capture sharpening with the Detail panel
        3. 7.4.3. Removing chromatic aberration
      5. 7.5. Using Lightroom's Vignetting Tools
        1. 7.5.1. Adjusting lens vignetting
        2. 7.5.2. Adjusting vignetting in cropped photos
      6. 7.6. Using the New Tool Strip
        1. 7.6.1. Using the Adjustment Brush too
          1. 7.6.1.1. Painting in effects
          2. 7.6.1.2. Working with brushes
          3. 7.6.1.3. Getting creative
        2. 7.6.2. Using the Graduated Filter tool
      7. 7.7. Retouching in Lightroom
        1. 7.7.1. Removing spots
        2. 7.7.2. Removing red eye
      8. 7.8. Cropping Photos
      9. 7.9. Putting the Workflow into Action
      10. 7.10. Using the Library Module's Quick Develop Panel
      11. 7.11. Summary
    5. 8. Sharing Photos with Others
      1. 8.1. Creating Slide Shows
        1. 8.1.1. Surveying the Slideshow module
          1. 8.1.1.1. Template Browser panel
          2. 8.1.1.2. Collections panel
          3. 8.1.1.3. Slideshow design panels
        2. 8.1.2. Designing slide shows
        3. 8.1.3. Playing your slide shows
        4. 8.1.4. Exporting your slide shows
      2. 8.2. Printing with Lightroom
        1. 8.2.1. Surveying the Print module
        2. 8.2.2. Laying out and printing photos
        3. 8.2.3. Creating JPEG files from your layouts
        4. 8.2.4. Using the New Picture Package feature
      3. 8.3. Creating Photo Galleries for the Internet
        1. 8.3.1. Choosing a Web style
          1. 8.3.1.1. HTML
          2. 8.3.1.2. Flash
        2. 8.3.2. Surveying the Web module
          1. 8.3.2.1. Template Browser panel
          2. 8.3.2.2. Engine panel
          3. 8.3.2.3. Web design panels
        3. 8.3.3. Designing a Web gallery
      4. 8.4. Presenting for Professionals
        1. 8.4.1. Presenting with the Library module
          1. 8.4.1.1. Preparing Lightroom
          2. 8.4.1.2. During the presentation
        2. 8.4.2. Using a projector
      5. 8.5. Summary
    6. 9. Creating Files to Use Outside of Lightroom
      1. 9.1. Exporting Photo Files from Lightroom
        1. 9.1.1. Using export presets
        2. 9.1.2. Choosing an export location
        3. 9.1.3. Naming exported files
        4. 9.1.4. Choosing file setting
        5. 9.1.5. Sizing the photos
        6. 9.1.6. Controlling metadata
        7. 9.1.7. Applying post-processing steps
      2. 9.2. Putting the Workflow into Action
      3. 9.3. Summary
    7. 10. Putting the Production Workflow into Action
      1. 10.1. Surveying the Production Workflow
        1. 10.1.1. Importing new photos
        2. 10.1.2. Getting organized in the Library module
        3. 10.1.3. Processing photos in the Develop module
        4. 10.1.4. Creating output and archiving
      2. 10.2. Putting the Workflow into Action
        1. 10.2.1. Uploading and importing
          1. 10.2.1.1. File handling
          2. 10.2.1.2. Folder organization
          3. 10.2.1.3. Creating backups
          4. 10.2.1.4. File naming
          5. 10.2.1.5. Image previews
        2. 10.2.2. Selecting "the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly"
        3. 10.2.3. Adding keywords
        4. 10.2.4. Processing in the Develop module
        5. 10.2.5. Final steps
      3. 10.3. Summary
  8. III. Understanding Basic Photoshop Concepts
    1. 11. Opening Files in Photoshop
      1. 11.1. Opening Files from Lightroom
      2. 11.2. Using Adobe Bridge CS3
        1. 11.2.1. Surveying Adobe Bridge
        2. 11.2.2. Setting Bridge preferences
        3. 11.2.3. Opening files with Bridge
      3. 11.3. Converting Raw Files with Adobe Camera Raw
        1. 11.3.1. Surveying Adobe Camera Raw
        2. 11.3.2. Setting ACR preferences
      4. 11.4. Synchronizing Metadata between Lightroom and Bridge
        1. 11.4.1. Saving Lightroom metadata
          1. 11.4.1.1. Reading Bridge and ACR metadata in Lightroom
          2. 11.4.1.2. Reading metadata
          3. 11.4.1.3. Synchronizing folders
      5. 11.5. Summary
    2. 12. Understanding the Photoshop Workspace
      1. 12.1. Getting a Bird's-Eye View
      2. 12.2. Working with Palettes
      3. 12.3. Viewing Photos in Different Ways
      4. 12.4. Setting up Preferences
        1. 12.4.1. Main preferences
        2. 12.4.2. Setting color preferences
          1. 12.4.2.1. Comparing color spaces
          2. 12.4.2.2. Choosing your color working space
      5. 12.5. Summary
    3. 13. Adjusting Tonality and Color
      1. 13.1. Adjusting Brightness and Contrast
        1. 13.1.1. Using Levels
        2. 13.1.2. Using Curves
        3. 13.1.3. Balancing dynamic range with the Shadow/Highlights command
      2. 13.2. Working with 16-Bit Files
      3. 13.3. Measuring and Adjusting Color
        1. 13.3.1. Evaluating color with the Info palette and the Color Sampler tool
        2. 13.3.2. Adjusting color
          1. 13.3.2.1. Removing a colorcast with Levels
          2. 13.3.2.2. Learning color correction with the Variations command
          3. 13.3.2.3. Using the Color Balance command
          4. 13.3.2.4. Using the Hue/Saturation command
      4. 13.4. Summary
    4. 14. Working with Layers
      1. 14.1. What Are Layers?
      2. 14.2. Using Adjustment Layers
      3. 14.3. Working with the Layers Palette
      4. 14.4. Understanding the Background Layer
      5. 14.5. Managing Layers
        1. 14.5.1. Moving layers
        2. 14.5.2. Creating a new layer by copying
        3. 14.5.3. Merging and flattening layers
      6. 14.6. Layer Opacity and Blending Modes
      7. 14.7. Summary
  9. IV. Going Beyond the Basics
    1. 15. Working with Selections
      1. 15.1. What Is a Selection?
      2. 15.2. Using Photoshop's Main Selection Tools
        1. 15.2.1. The Marquee tools
        2. 15.2.2. The Lasso tools
        3. 15.2.3. The Magic Wand tool
        4. 15.2.4. The new Quick Selection tool
        5. 15.2.5. Strategies for selection success
      3. 15.3. Fine-Tuning Selections
        1. 15.3.1. Feathering a selection's edge transition
        2. 15.3.2. Using the Refine Edge command
      4. 15.4. Saving and Loading Selections
      5. 15.5. Cutting and Pasting with Selections
      6. 15.6. Combining Selections and Filters
      7. 15.7. Using Smart Filters in Photoshop CS3
        1. 15.7.1. Understanding Smart Objects
        2. 15.7.2. Using Smart Filters
      8. 15.8. Summary
    2. 16. Creating Flexibility with Layer Masks
      1. 16.1. Understanding Layer Masks
      2. 16.2. Creating Layer Masks
      3. 16.3. Using Masks with Selections
      4. 16.4. Comparing Reveal All and Hide All Masks
      5. 16.5. Using Masks with Adjustment Layers
      6. 16.6. Combining Selections, Adjustment Layers, and Masks
      7. 16.7. Applying a Gradient to a Mask
      8. 16.8. Summary
    3. 17. Using Photoshop's Main Retouching Tools
      1. 17.1. Working with Brushes
        1. 17.1.1. Changing brush settings with the options bar and the Brush Preset picker
        2. 17.1.2. The Brushes palette
        3. 17.1.3. Working with a graphics tablet
      2. 17.2. Using the Clone Stamp Tool
        1. 17.2.1. Undoing with the History Brush
        2. 17.2.2. Cloning from one image to another
        3. 17.2.3. Using the new Clone Source palette in Photoshop CS3
      3. 17.3. Working with Tool Blending Modes
      4. 17.4. Using the Healing Brush
      5. 17.5. Busting Dust with the Spot Healing Brush
      6. 17.6. Using the Patch Tool
      7. 17.7. Fixing Red Eye
      8. 17.8. Retouching with Layers
        1. 17.8.1. Sampling multiple layers
        2. 17.8.2. Ignoring adjustment layers
      9. 17.9. Body Sculpting with the Liquify Filter
      10. 17.10. Summary
    4. 18. Using Photoshop Actions with Lightroom
      1. 18.1. Understanding Actions and Droplets
        1. 18.1.1. Creating an action
        2. 18.1.2. Playing an action
        3. 18.1.3. Working with droplets
      2. 18.2. Automating Lightroom with Photoshop Droplets
      3. 18.3. Summary
  10. V. Putting the Tools to Work
    1. 19. Creating Strategies for Success
      1. 19.1. What Is Retouching?
      2. 19.2. Adding Value with Retouching
      3. 19.3. Managing the Creative Workflow
        1. 19.3.1. Planning ahead
        2. 19.3.2. The four-phase Creative Workflow
        3. 19.3.3. Knowing when to stop
      4. 19.4. Strategies for Retouching Multiple Images
      5. 19.5. Summary
    2. 20. Solving Special Portrait Retouching Problems
      1. 20.1. Swapping Heads
      2. 20.2. Replacing Missing Eyes
        1. 20.2.1. Closed eyes: Replacing missing eyes with donor eyes
        2. 20.2.2. Glass-glares: Rebuilding without donors
      3. 20.3. Removing Braces
      4. 20.4. Fixing Wrinkled Clothing
      5. 20.5. Smoothing Skin
        1. 20.5.1. Using the Surface Blur filter to smooth skin
        2. 20.5.2. Smoothing skin with a plug-in
      6. 20.6. Summary
    3. 21. Adding Finishing Touches
      1. 21.1. Burning and Dodging to Balance Tones
        1. 21.1.1. Burning and dodging in the traditional darkroom
        2. 21.1.2. Burning and dodging without Photoshop's Burn and Dodge tools
      2. 21.2. Changing an Image's Resolution and Size
        1. 21.2.1. Demystifying resolution
          1. 21.2.1.1. Doing the simple math
          2. 21.2.1.2. Resizing and resampling
          3. 21.2.1.3. Using the correct image interpolation method
      3. 21.3. Using the Crop Tool
      4. 21.4. Professional Sharpening Strategies
        1. 21.4.1. Using the Unsharp Mask filter
        2. 21.4.2. Using the Smart Sharpen filter
        3. 21.4.3. Sharpening for output
      5. 21.5. Making Prints from Your Files
        1. 21.5.1. Inkjet printing with the new CS3 Print command
          1. 21.5.1.1. Understanding the settings
          2. 21.5.1.2. Evaluating the print
        2. 21.5.2. Printing at a lab
      6. 21.6. Saving and Archiving Files
      7. 21.7. Summary
    4. 22. Putting the Creative Workflow into Action
      1. 22.1. Evaluating the Project
      2. 22.2. Phase 1: Adjusting Fundamentals
      3. 22.3. Phase 2: Fixing Distractions
        1. 22.3.1. Cleaning up the background
        2. 22.3.2. Softening blemishes and wrinkles
        3. 22.3.3. Smoothing skin and blending retouching
        4. 22.3.4. Whitening and lightening teeth
      4. 22.4. Phase 3: Controlling the Viewer's Experience
        1. 22.4.1. Selectively blurring the background
        2. 22.4.2. Creative burning and dodging
        3. 22.4.3. Using snapshots to compare before and after versions
      5. 22.5. Phase 4: Preparing for Output and Archiving
        1. 22.5.1. Final cropping and sizing
        2. 22.5.2. Sharpening for output
        3. 22.5.3. Archiving all files
      6. 22.6. Summary

Product information

  • Title: Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® & Photoshop® Workflow Bible
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: September 2008
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9780470303092