Visual Literacies- Intro to Adobe Lightroom

Lightroom Classic is photo-asset management, enhancement, and publishing program.

Lightroom allows us to do three things really well:

• Organize and manage photographs and video files
• Edit and improve media files
• Export and share these files

Lightroom Interface:

Lightroom is broken into different module workspace options. We will be using the:

• Library: for viewing and organizing files
• Develop: Edit and adjust images
• Slideshow: Create a slideshow with audio and export

Importing From a Camera, Memory Card, or Folder:

You can import directly into Lightroom from a camera, memory card, or folder.

1. Once you have connected your camera or card, go to the Library Module.
2. Go to the File pill down menu and choose Import Photos and Videos
3. Click Import
4. This brings you to the Add Photos page
5. Select your camera, card, or folder
6. It defaults to selecting all the photos
7. If you know to turn off select all, just click on the photos you want to select
8. Double click the photo to see it in loupe view
9. In loupe view use the right and left arrows to move forward and backward
10. Once you have selected your photos, click on the gear icon
11. Hit Select
12. Navigate to your project folder and select your import folder

Develop Module:

This workspace makes it easy to correct exposure and color balance. You can also use this module to add a stylized look to your photos.

Changing the Color Temperature:

• Find something in your image that is white or gray and click on it was the White Balance tool
• If you don't have any grays and white, or if you don't like how the White Balance tool made the image look, you can instead use the Temperature slider.

Correcting Exposure:

• A good place to start is the Auto Button. Then you can make adjustments from here.
• You can adjust Contrast, Highlights, and Shadows to further refine your exposure.

Cropping Images:

• Select the Crop tool in the tool strip.
• You can lock or unlock the controls to lock the aspect ratio
• Adjust the control box
• Hit Done
• You can undo your crop by selecting the Crop tool again

Brush Tool:

• The brush tool allows you fine tune specific areas in your image with a desired effect
• You can adjust brush size, feather (edges), and flow (intensity)

Clarity:

• The Clarity slider is an excellent tool for adding punch to images without making them look unnatural.

Slideshow Module:

Building the Slideshow:

1. To build a slideshow, start by selecting the photos you want in the Library Module (cmd A selects all)
2. Scroll down to the Collections panel and choose Create Collection
3. Name the Collection
4. Leave Selected Photos check
5. Click-on Create
6. Open the Slideshow Module
7. Select a Template, pick one that is a good starting point
8. Click on the Create Saved Slideshow button and name your slideshow
9. It is important to do this early so everything gets saved together
10. Go to Edit menu and click-on Select Only Active Photo
11. Arrow keys left you move through the slideshow
12. Open Layout and Options panel
13. Select Show Guides--these guides let you change the way the slideshow will appear
14. Unchecking Link All in the Layout panel will let you offset photos, Link All centers the photo
15. Under Options you can check Zoom to Fill Frame to have the image fill the frame, and you can reposition as needed

Text:

1. Open the Overlays panel and add an Identity Plate
2. Click-on the triangle icon and select Edit
3. Select Using Stylized Text and type what is needed
4. Change the color, scale, position as needed

Title:

• In the Overlay panel check Intro Screen or Ending Screen and follow the same text procedure

Playback:

Under the Slideshow Mode select Automatic

• Can add Pan and Zoom, Slide Lengths, and Crossfade

To Add Music:

1. Open the Music panel
2. Click the + to add a music file
3. The music panel let's you selection the music. The music will automatically fade from one track to another. Set your playback times.
4. Fit to music fits the slides to duration of the music
5. Sync Slides to Music to determines transitions to the beat of the songs

Exporting:

1. Click on the Export Video Button
2. Rename the file and determine the save location
3. Change the Video Preset to 1080p 16:9 or 720p 16:9
4. Playback the exports to make sure everything works.