Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® 2: Streamlining Your Digital Photography Process

Chapter 7. PROCESS YOUR PHOTOS IN DEVELOP

The Develop module is Lightroom's processing powerhouse. Here is where you perfect your image with the freedom of non-destructive, metadata-based adjustments.

As with other modules, using presets in Develop improves productivity immensely. But Develop also offers numerous other processing features and time saving shortcuts, many of which are less than obvious at first glance.

Plan for Processing

After you've edited the shoot, identified your selects and put them into a collection, it's time to make each photo look as good as it can. Obviously, this involves many variables, and what works in one instance won't necessarily work in another. Some images will require very little processing, and others more, but even with the greatest care at the time of capture every raw image stands a chance of being improved—often significantly—during processing. To get the best results with the least amount of effort, follow a standard set of procedures for all your processing.

EVALUATING THE PHOTO

Before beginning your processing in Develop, take a few minutes to evaluate the image and make a plan for the work required. (You can also do this in Library, as the last step of editing.) If you like, jot down some notes to help visualize the sequence of steps you will perform.

As every image is unique, each will benefit from different enhancements to help the photograph look its best. These decisions are highly subjective; the choices you make must reflect your creative ...