Product Description

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is the primary software-of-choice for today's digital photographer. As a new tool, using Lightroom requires mastering new skills—not always an easy task. Compounding the challenge, many photographers don't have fundamental knowledge of digital image processing. Lightroom 2: Streamlining your Digital Photography Process offers you  the digital imaging fundamentals and the Lightroom-specific skills you need to quickly learn and retain a mastery of Lightroom.

Written and designed by a professional photographer, designer, fine art printmaker and instructor, this book is designed to simplify and accelerate the learning process and is unique in both content and presentation. Nat Coalson is an Adobe Certified Expert in Lightroom and Photoshop, and has taught photography and imaging classes and workshops for many years. The approach taken by Lightroom 2: Streamlining your Digital Photography Process is based on over 20 years of professional experience in photography, printing, and imaging, and the methods of instruction were developed through the author's work with students and clients.

At 400 pages, this book clearly explains how to use all of Lightroom's controls, and much more. Beginning with the original image capture, all the way through importing, editing, processing and presenting photos, the text also explains fundamental imaging concepts every modern photographer needs to know. Not just the "how" but also the "why". Not just recipes, but core skills you will use again and again. And by developing stronger technical skills, you will be able to focus more on creative expression.

The content of Lightroom 2: Streamlining your Digital Photography Process also demonstrates a simple, practical workflow. You will learn real-world, professional-level production techniques through straightforward examples and easy-to-follow instructions.

The book is divided into nine chapters:

• Chapter 1. Digital Imaging Foundations: resolution, bit depth, color spaces, etc.
• Chapter 2. Digital Photography Workflow: step-by-step outline of the processing pipeline
• Chapter 3. The Lightroom Workspace: modules, panels, tools, view modes, etc.
• Chapter 4. Digital Image Capture: benefits of raw, using histograms, critical exposure settings, capturing the most possible data, etc.
• Chapter 5. Import Photos into Lightroom: creating efficient file systems, automation and batch processing, using presets, etc.
• Chapter 6. Organize your Photos in Library: identifying selects, using filters and collections, working with metadata, keywording strategies, etc.
• Chapter 7. Process your Photos in Develop: evaluating the photo, adjusting global tone, contrast and color; local adjustment brushes and graduated filters, retouching, etc.
• Chapter 8. Export Images from Lightroom: choosing the right file formats, post-processing actions, using export plug-ins, etc.
• Chapter 9. Presenting your Work: working in the Slideshow, Print and Web modules

Each chapter describes in detail specific aspects of the Lightroom workflow and includes step-by-step sequences that summarize the topics presented. Throughout the book, you will learn and integrate concepts quickly and easily through numerous shortcuts, tips, reminders and warnings. Lightroom 2: Streamlining your Digital Photography Process includes over 300 color figures, including screenshots and illustrations, plus dozens of the author's own photographs.

In addition, Appendices provide a reference sheet for the most useful shortcuts, a comprehensive list of additional online Lightroom resources and a guide to optimizing Lightroom performance.

Lightroom 2: Streamlining your Digital Photography Process gives you a complete mastery of Lightroom and the digital photography workflow, as well as a solid foundation in digital imaging. As a result, you will be able to produce the best possible photographs with the least possible effort.

Foreword by renowned landscape photographer William Neill.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6023 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-23
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780470400760
• Condition: USED - LIKE NEW
• Notes:
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From the Back Cover

Professional advice that can revolutionize your workflow

In this book, photographer Nathaniel Coalson teaches you the most efficient and effective ways to process images in Lightroom 2, allowing you to work smarter and faster to produce high quality images. You will learn professional techniques and shortcuts that let you spend less time in front of your computer and more time behind the camera, where creativity and vision begin.

• Save time by getting familiar with the Lightroom workspace

• Speed your processing with presets and templates

• Easily adjust tone, color, and contrast

• Apply localized adjustments including dodging/burning and retouching

• Convert color originals to black and white

• Shorten editing time by using the optimal camera settings at the time of capture

About the Author
Nathaniel Coalson is an Adobe Certified Expert in Lightroom and Photoshop. In addition to photography, his 20+ years of professional experience include graphic design, prepress, and interactive media. For more information, and to view more of his work, visit www.NatCoalson.com.

Customer Reviews

If you need only one Lightroom 2 book - this is the one.
I was honestly a little leery of purchasing another Lightroom 2 book. I had a few kicking around the house already and I doubted there was anything left to learn that I couldn't find for free online.

I was wrong.

If you're in the market for a single Lightroom 2 book - buy this one. For those of you who have followed Lightroom from the beginning there are great tips and shortcuts to be found. For those of you who are new to the Lightroom work flow this is the book for you. "Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2: Streamlining your digital photography process" will help unlock all of Lightroom's potential.

Ok, I know that sounded a bit like a commercial. It isn't. I was just pleasantly surprised to be learning new tips and shortcuts that I will use and that will save me time.

So what sets this book apart from the others?

It's simple really - Mr. Coalson sticks to one thing and one thing only; moving images through the Lightroom pipeline. He's not trying to make you a better photographer, he just wants you to take care of your images, manage them and then reach your end goals. He wants you to be a more organized photographer.

Outstanding Lightroom Book!
This is a great book! Its a pleasing read front-to-back and clearly laid out with intuitive, eye-catching graphics for shortcuts, tips, reminders, etc. This makes later reference a snap.

I was quite familiar with Lightroom before purchasing, but I'm picking up new tips, tricks and techniques at the turn of every page. I've learned how to better integrate my old catalog of digitized 35mm and 4x5 transparencies with the thousands of newer DSLR images. I've also learned a bunch of processing tips to get the best out of my images. My catalog and digital workflow have both become more organized and efficient.

I highly recommended this book for anyone starting out with, or interested in truly get the best out of Lightroom!

Best Lightroom Book Yet!
When I got my Nikon DLSR I found myself with a big problem, how to manage all of these pictures and how to pick the best ones for processing. My existing work flow was amateur at best! This book completely changed how I process all of my digital photos. With easy to follow step by step instructions anybody can have a professional workflow after reading this book.

Unlike many other technical books I have read which just give you the how-to on things. Nathaniel Coalson takes you through how he as a photographer uses this software and what he has found is the most efficient. You can quickly tell that he is a true master with it and the simple tips and instructions you can be too.