Someone recently asked me about the online storage capacity for Adobe
Lightroom and my research showed me that there are new subscription
options from when I first started using the program. I thought it might
be useful to learn the basics of Lightroom and how one might use it for
their photos when scrapbooking. This month, we’ll have an overview of
both programs and then for the next two months we’ll look at each
program individually.
There are now two versions of Adobe Lightroom available for subscription – Lightroom Classic and Lightroom CC.
Lightroom Classic
– This is the original version that we are accustomed to using. The
Adobe Creative Cloud Photography subscription for $9.99 per month
includes Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom CC and Lightroom Classic. With a
subscription, each program is updated regularly providing instant access
to new features as opposed to waiting for annual or longer upgrades.
Classic
is designed for desktop based workflows and the original images are
stored on YOUR COMPUTER’s hard drive. The subscription does come with
20GB of online storage that you can use with Lightroom CC as well.
It is in the (1) Library module that we import and access our photos. On
the left hand side of the screen, you’ll see the photos you’ve imported
and stored in the (2) Folder structure on your computer.
You
can use the (3) Library filters at the top center to filter your images
with selected text, ratings/attributes, keywords, dates, colors or any
number of 20+ other choices to select the photos you want to scrapbook
or print.
You can assign multiple (4) keywords for your images and filter based upon them.
The (5) filmstrip at the bottom is another way to scroll through the photos in a folder or in a search.
You
can add keywords, metadata and photo editing presets while importing
batches of images from your camera or from online storage.
You
have the ability to back up your Lightroom catalog (the program will
remind you). You would back up your actual images as part of
your
personal backup strategy. The CATALOG is a database that relates the
location of the photos as well as the information you’ve added about
them like keywords, ratings and photo edits, etc without actually
touching the original image. Backing up the catalog regularly ensures
that Lightroom can always “find” your images on your hard drive when you
want them.
In Classic, you have the ability to create SMART COLLECTIONS. They are
“smart” because the collection of photos will change when new photos are
added that meet the rules you set while creating it. For example, I
have a smart collection that gathers all photos that I designate as 2
star and above of each one of my family members. So when I’m looking for
a great photo of my son to scrapbook I can go there first.
You
can synchronize specific collections (not smart collections at this
time) between Lightroom Classic, CC and Lightroom mobile so that you can
access specific edited photos across multiple devices, but it does
share a low res smart preview and not the original image.
Classic has the widest assortment of photo editing tools. The (1)
Develop module shows you the standard Lightroom presets along the left.
You can also download purchased (2) presets for photo editing and create
your own and they will also be included there. On the right hand side,
you can tweak exposure, contrast, color, curves, sharpness etc for each
image. You also have access to spot removal, a multitude of filter and
adjustment brushes to use for editing.
Lightroom CC
– This is the new Lightroom option. The Adobe Lightroom subscription is
$9.99 per month and includes 1 TB of online storage instead of the 20
GB that comes with Classic. This option does not include Adobe
Photoshop. There is also a third option for $19.99 per month which
includes all three programs along with the 1 TB of online storage.
CC
is designed for a cloud/mobile oriented workflow so that you can edit
your images on the go. It’s designed to work seamlessly between mobile
devices and your desktop (IF you have Classic as well).
Because
it’s cloud based, you can access photos from any device and keep the
edits you’ve already made. So you could edit your phone photos on the
larger screen of your tablet and the originals, your edits AND the
metadata you’ve added are synced to the cloud. The Lightroom mobile app
is also a nice option for editing images on your phone.
The 1 TB
of online storage could handle approximately 200,000 jpgs so you can
back up both your original files and your edits if you so choose.
Speaking of backups, because it’s cloud based the backups are automatic.
And automatic beats manual all the time!
CC is designed to be easy to learn and optimized for Chromebooks and
other mobile devices. The interface is much more streamlined. Along the
left (1), you can add images, see your photos and share with others.
You’ll notice the familiar (2) filmstrip along the bottom.
Your
images are automatically sorted by date. You can create (3) multiple
albums to organize your photos and you can easily share those albums
with others.
You also have the ability to edit exposure, contrast, shadows etc
with sliders (but sized to easily use with your finger) like with
Classic and you can use downloaded presets for photo editing. You can
access presets installed on your desktop Classic version to CC on a
mobile device if you have a subscription for both programs.
It
does not have the ability to create smart collections… at least not at
this point. But CC has the ability to search with artificial
intelligence keywords like beach or mountains which can come in very
handy. There are some limits to CC as compared to Classic like no image
watermarks, plugin accessibility or a history panel but it does have
quicker import speed.
The gap between the two options of Classic
and CC seems to get smaller as Adobe keeps updating. You can learn more
about the Lightroom subscription models
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/compare-plans.html?.
I
hope this overview was helpful if you’re new to Adobe Lightroom. Next
month, I’ll share how I use Lightroom Classic in my digital scrapbooking
process.
_________________
Stacia
