Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for

 

Digital Photographers Only

Reviewed by Dr. Eric Flescher

Author: Rob Sheppard Wiley Publishing http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470047232.html Released: may 2007 Pages: 352  $35 USD, $42 CND, 23 GBP  ISBN: 9780470047231 Novice/Intermediate/Advanced   Strengths: Very nice glossary and index. Instruction is top notch and instructional tutorials are extremely well laid out and easy to read. The instruction is solid and the screenshots and photos integrate with the instructions. Book can be used as a good resource to skip around with the book or read sequentially. Great instruction in the  use of Lightroom software. Even if you don’t use Lightroom you may gain valuable ideas from the author and the instructions by using another image processing software like iPhoto, etc.

Weaknesses:Vertical titling of the chapter names, down the outside of the pages,  is disconcerting. These and the page numbers should have been place horizontally on the top of the page.

Introduction

 

Interestingly, Photoshop it is said, was never designed for photographers even though it is the best image - processing applications. The highlight of the book is what the software can do for you and how you can apply the software to complete your best photographs. While Photoshop Elements was created to fill part of this void, Lightroom is not focused on graphics but organizing your photographs to make them easy to find, search and use.  Lightflow sounds like a version of iPhoto that connects with Photoshop. My main aim was to see whether this tool is  equal to or greater than iPhoto or other image processing collection applications so  that Mac users and myself can learn about different image collection programs.

 

The books’ 323 pages cover three part/sections and 13 chapters. It is nice that the pages have tabs that correspond to chapter selections. However, I do not like that the chapters’ titles run down the sides vertically. There was ample room to place these on the top of the pages with the pages numbers as well.  I don’t like having to turn the book sideways to read the titles. Each chapter has a Q&A (Question and Answer instructions and additional assistance about specifically targeted ways to use the photos (slideshows etc.).

 

Side notes include: Pro tips, X-ref (additional reference guides within the book). The author has provided nicely sized screenshots (using Macintosh OSX interface) so that photos and screenshots are readable.  But what is missing are arrows, circles or additional icons that “can zone in on” the selections to show the instructions for displaying even more clearer. While there are a couple of white arrows and bulls eye icons, its not enough. Still the instruction is quite suitable and for the most part easy to understand as integrated with the tutorials.

 

Part 1 is about all you want to know about Lightroom, introduction to the Lightroom concept, basics and working with the camera. Part 2 covers the Library Module, image processing presentations possibilities, working with slide shows, printing and working with the web module. Part 3 provides knowledge about Lightroom and Photoshop.

 

What also makes the text readable is that each page is separated into two columns, uses bold text to highlight the beginning of the instructional paragraphs. Numbers with the paragraphs and spacing of the paragraphs makes for manageable reading.

 

Conclusions

 

In many case, tips are provided for both Windows and Mac operations. The section on Library module including information concerning keywords is well done. The Lightroom allows the creation, storage and use of Keywords as in iPhoto. Folders and collections can also be used with the selection process as iPhoto. The Lightroom interface for the keywords seems a little more straightforward then iPhoto but both seem to operate in the same manner. I like the section on Lightroom modules (chapter6) and the nice screenshots of the tone curves and other basic calibrations. The tonal, color setting and color corrections curve instructions are very well done. I also like the way the author provides instructions when working with slideshow module.

 

While it sounds like a version of iPhoto, Lightroom seems a little more elegant but functions in much the same way. Where the book and the instructions from the author excel is not only how to perform basic functions using the software but more specifically how to take these instructions to the next level. This book is well done and in many ways entices you into trying Lightroom.

 

The author provides you with the instructions and more ideas to work with regarding photographs. This book is a great guide and resource if you are using Lightroom. If you don’t have Lightroom, you might find the instructions can be used with other image processing programs and possibly with iPhoto (instructions don’t come with iPhoto as you know). Clear and very well done, you can learn much from this author.