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I just bought Lightroom 5...

Karen

Karen

Wiggle it, just a little bit!
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Now what do I do with it? LOL! No really, I've done a trial version of Lightroom about three different times and every time I just give up because I don't know what the heck I'm doing in there. I'm watching some tutorials on adobes website, but are there any other resources available on how to use this program? I now know how to import my pictures and create folders. That's it. I feel like I need Lightroom for Dummies.
 
I haven't got any advice I'm afraid, I am in the same position! I'm hoping Christine will come along and link us both up to some Lightroom for Dummies tutorials!!
 
I have an older version of Lightroom, but I signed up for Scott Kelby's site membership, and took his class on Lightroom. I think Katrina Kennedy has a Lightroom class that's more specific to scrapbooking, but I don't know if she still offers it - you can try her site. I love Lightroom, but I don't find it all that intuitive. And, one of the best things about Lightroom is the library, tagging and folder system - so if I were just starting out, I'd have an idea of how it works before you start importing photos - because you'll find yourself redoing it once you decide what your system is going to be. Good luck - once you get going, you'll love it.
 
yeah, actually bought it, then downloaded trial...freaked on it, needed new puter...got that, returned lightroom, tried the trial again...and stare at it like a frog in a hailstorm.
dont' understand if it can do more with photos than I do now with CS and learning the filters and such. I am ready to just pay to learn more in CS tutorials!
 
lynda.com has some good vids on lightroom. I don't know if you can still do the five day trial or not but it would be worth checking out, or paying for a month or two.
 
AnneofAlamo said:
don't understand if it can do more with photos than I do now with CS and learning the filters and such. I am ready to just pay to learn more in CS tutorials!
Click to expand...

You definitely can do more with your photos if you shoot in RAW. I think Lightroom is a misnomer - I think it should be called Darkroom - because that's essentially what you're doing in Lightroom - developing those RAW files - particularly white balance and noise. The noise filter in Lightroom is amazing - so crank up that ISO and don't worry about it. While I do use filters in Lightroom (Rad Lab) I could toss those filters out, and I would still use Lightroom over Photoshop to edit my photos.
 
Watching this thread like a hawk. i just bought LR5 with my student discount that was expiring. Has sat for a month and I have no idea what to do with it. I seriously am scared of it.
 
Thanks for the help so far everyone. I totally agree Wendy, I shouldn't have started pulling anything in yet, because I can tell already I'm going to have to fix what I did. I found some really great (and free) video tutorials on Adobe.tv last night and started watching those. They are informative and the lady that does them talks my learning language. Sometimes I watch tutorials and I'm not sure what they are talking about. LOL. So I'm going to watch all of those to get me started. :) I'm stoked!

http://tv.adobe.com/show/getting-started-with-adobe-photoshop-lightroom-5/

I'm also SO happy to know that I'm not the only one scared to death of Lightroom. I open it up and feel like I'm staring at an fighter jet cockpit with too many controls!
 
I got LR a couple months ago and im still learning too. I think I have played with like 1 picture and I finally got to learn how to add presets but haven't really played with it.

Here are some sites that are helping me :)

http://ijaar.com/35-basic-adobe-lightroom-tutorials-for-beginners/

http://laurashoe.com/lightroom-arti...s-and-those-troubleshooting-lightroom-issues/

http://captureyour365.com/lightroom-how-to-use-lightroom-from-import-to-export/

http://photographylife.com/post-processing-tips-for-beginners
 
Awesome Cheryl! Thanks! I'll check these all out tonight. :)
 
I've been a fan of LightRoom for years - I got rid of 2 when I upgraded to 3, then found out that 4 didn't use the same presets as 3, and so I have 3 AND 4 on my 'puter so that I can use all the presets I bought and collected over the years. I'm not ready to buy 5 yet, but then again, when are we ready to upgrade?

There are lots of fabulous new tricks/tips with LR5 - I haven't reasearched them because I am still running 3 and 4, but batch processing and being able to watermark batches... what a timesaver!

Anyway, if you LR5 (or earlier) gals would like some freebie presets to keep playing with:

http://www.ononesoftware.com/products/lightroom-presets/

http://weeklyphototips.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/here-are-hundreds-of-free-lightroom.html
 
I'm also a LR girl... but I also know that I don't know all it's meant to do... I recently upgraded from LR2 to LR5 and am in LOVE with the print module for printing my PL pages... I pretty much mostly use just clean editing presets from Pretty Presets and then tweak a bit more on my own... but it literally shaved off a couple hours of prep for print for me and like never use CS for editing photos unless I want some kind of fun filter or something... I still have a ton to learn on editing so thanks for all the linkage... I've watched a few of the adobetv ones... I need to start watching and playing again... well, really I just need more hours in the day so I can play LOL
 
I love LR for organizing my photos and finding just the one I want. I do all my editing there as well.
 
I think the thing that grabbed me with LR - and that keeps me there - is that you can INSTANTLY see what your photo will look like with the presets... click on the button and it's changed, and you can see the before/after together onscreen. No having to run through an action to see if it will work with the photo you want.
 
I love, love, love Lightroom but there sure is a learning curve. I second Kayla's site. She really got me started and then I googled for other internet tutorials and bought the better rated books on LR from Amazon. It's well worth the time to get familiar with the program.
 
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