Sharpening - inferior feature of Lightroom

as many of you might have noticed, the sharpening function of LR basically does not do anything.
just try and compare sharpening in bibble or dxo and you will understand.
now, I can understand that some features are highly specialized, like noise removal, where noise ninja really does it, so you are pretty much resigned to buy noise ninja no matter what photo retouch program you have.
But sharpening? Don't people that have paid $300 deserve to have it for real?

I wonder if some people just don't want features to work. I purchased Noise Ninja quite a while ago and used it a little. But since I have started using Lightroom and Photoshop I haven't needed to use Noise Ninja. The sharpening in Lightroom is really nice. Often I will go a little further with smart sharpening in Photoshop and then finish up with reduced noise, and the results are great.

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Sharpening in PS3 and lightroom

Hi,
After sharpening in PS3 with the intent of printing from Lightroom, what should the settings be regarding the sharpening in Lightroom? Still on high? How does the Lightroom sharpening affect the sharpening done in PS3, if in fact something is happening? Thanks again!

John,
Good question. You may already be very aware of the following, but for those who may not be, the sharpening tools in Lr are MEANT to be used as the first stage in a two or three step process, as outlined by Bruce Fraser in his book, RealWorld Camera Sharpening with Adobe CS2. Jeff Schewe, a close friend and collaborator with the late Mr. Fraser, has explained the whole thing both online in Lr tutorials and here on the forum.
Bruce taught three stage sharpening:
1) Capture, where you overcome the problems inherent in digital sensors and Bayer algorithms (this is what LR's sharpening is designed to do and does quite well);
2) Creative, where you select specific areas to do sharpening with the settings appropriate for that area, including "de"-sharpening some areas if useful (done in Photoshop or your other full-pixel-editing program of choice);
3) Output, sharpening designed to match the image to the specific output use, whether "online" or printed, and dependent if printed upon the specific size of the image to be output on the specific printing device. This last stage, also probably done with your chosen pixel editor, is done only for that specific print and you might choose not to save this as your "final" of that image.
As you can see, the problem with printing from Lr is that it is not really designed to do the output sharpening ... but still, once you understand the tools it does fairly well, for smaller prints at least. I think you'll have to test what it does to an image already sharpened in CS3, and let us know what it does.
I think, as Nicolas suggested, that if the Lr staff includes a printing module and expects us to actually use it, they might include a separate tutorial on this specific useage of the sharpening tools.
For anyone who hasn't seen it, PLEASE go online and find Jeff's tutorial on the sharpening features of Lr and how to use them.
R. Neil Haugen

Is there a way to mimic Photoshop Levels adjustment feature in Lightroom?

I've found that pretty much every photo looks better if I start by editing it externally in Photoshop using the Image>Adjustments>Auto Levels feature then brining it back into Lightroom to tweak color temperature, exposure, clarity, etc. I call it the "Claritan Effect" after the Claritan TV commercials that start out looking normal but then they peel back a film on the camera to reveal brighter colors and contrast. You can see it in the samples where nothing has been changed in the 2nd photo except to run Auto Levels in Photoshop.
Is there a way to replicate this in Lightroom? It's the only reason I take most photos into Photoshop so it would save a lot of transfer time if I could do this editing in Lightroom.

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AviatorTim2 wrote:
I've found that pretty much every photo looks better if I start by editing it externally in Photoshop using the Image>Adjustments>Auto Levels feature
Or, you can use the auto feature in the tone section of the Basic panel. You can save this as a preset and then automatically apply it during import. I never use auto features myself, but I tried it on your original and it gave different results than photoshop auto-levels (I liked it better) but it may not meet your criteria.
You can also experiment with the outside sliders in the tone curve or with the clarity slider and save to a preset, if that works better for you.
However, I have not found a one-size-fits-all solution, and with a little practise, and the use of autosync in the develop module, you can make customized adjustments very rapidly in LR.

Is there a notes feature in Lightroom?

I have a system of labeling my images to differentiate between the source files and the final edit images, but sometimes I need to apply different labels if there is something that's not ordinary to my process. My problem is that when I go back through my archive to look for something, I forget why I lebeled something a different color. I've been creating JPG's in Photoshop with notes for that specific job, but that's getting to be a pain.
It would be great to be able to create a note within Lightroom that I can view while I'm thumbing through my images. Does anyone know if this feature exists? Would anyone else use this if they were to implement it?

Lightroom does not support comments (except for some web publishing services...).
I wrote CustomMetadata to fill this void, but I'm sure John Beardy would want you to know about Big Note too.
Or you can just bastardize some obscure IPTC field if you prefer...
R

Aperture Crop Features vs Lightroom

I have been running the Aperture trial and I like the look of version 3 and its nice integration with Mac and other significant features.
But, I really like the crop guide overlays in Lightroom (there are about 4 of them). Are there plug-ins that would offer the same overlays in Aperture?
Also, I can't seem to control the brightness in the part of the image that is outside of the cropped area when working on the crop. Is there any way to do this in Aperture?
These seem like small things but for me critical in the creative process. Any ideas/info on this?

The Lightroom overlays are nice. Go to Lr (if you have it), go to crop mode ("r"), and then cycle through the overlays by pressing "o".
Afaik, this is not available in Ap3. Recommend via "Aperture>>Provide Aperture Feedback".

What new features in Lightroom 6 ?

With Adobe Photoshop Lightoom 6 expected to be released later this year, what new featured would you like to see in the new version ?.

Dumb Marine,
It seems at least some of your requests are already implemented, thus I was confused by having them requested for Lr6.
DumbMarine wrote:
1. Gotta have Network intelligence and be able to store images on a Network or External Drive. Proxy thumnail images should be used for editting with final changes on 'real' image. This of course should be a User choice.
This is already implemented, no? I mean, images can be stored anywhere (that's always been true), and @Lr5 one can edit via smart previews when 'real' image is offline.
DumbMarine wrote:
2. Use 64 bit operating systems and GPU acceleration.
Lr already takes advantage of 64-bit operating systems (but not GPU acceleration). In other words, the 64-bit version is a recompilation of the source code, not a 32-bit version that runs on 64-bit computers too.
DumbMarine wrote:
3. Font size in panels should be resizable - thought everyone in the world had done this to enable Users?
Not sure what you meant by the 2nd part of this, but part1 can be done using Jeffrey Friedl's Online Lightroom Configurator.
DumbMarine wrote:
5. Should be independant of Creative Cloud (I KNOW this will NEVER happen!!!) if the User chooses.
User can choose to buy/maintain Lightroom independent of Creative Cloud now. Granted, if you buy Photoshop + Lightroom, Lightroom will be available via the cloud, but even then you can download and install independently if you prefer - stand-alone download will find creative cloud licensing, I *think* (somebody correct me if that's wrong).
DumbMarine wrote:
7. Should support 16 bit images and processing
It already does - always has.
Perhaps I've misunderstood what you were asking/hoping for in some cases - if so, please forgive and enlighten...
Rob

PS Shadow and Highlights feature in Lightroom.

I would like to see the Shadows and Highlight features (the entire thing)
added as a palette in Lightroom. It would be very useful in my opinion and
does such a great job in Photoshop.
Robert

> I like the ability to have it automatically apply it when you bring it up. I
also like the ability to adjust the settings and save them as a default. So
if they added both of these to LR (as well as the other slider controls)
that would be great.
They are (presets for the first, ACR defaults for the second).

I thought we were going to see a new sharpening/focus feature this time.

I remember seeing a video demonstrating a new process of creating a sharp image. Maybe this was for some other program but I thought it was Photoshop.

I had hopes Adobe would deliver that feature in this version.
That they didn't that might mean it only produces good results on images specially prepared for demonstration.
-Noel

Does lightroom 5 have features to make someone skinny?

does lightroom have features to make someone skinny?

Actually, yes - sortof: a new feature of Lightroom 5 supports "correcting" aspect ratio (see manual lens corrections in develop module) which can make people look skinnier all over - i.e. it's not "selective" (you can't target body regions, or individual persons) like the advanced tools in Photoshop (e.g. liquify), but if it's all you need..

Lightroom 5 - A first Look and My Top 5 Favorite Features | Creative Suite Podcast: Photographers | Adobe TV

Terry White gives a first look at Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 and shares his top 5 favorite features. Lightroom 5 is available as a Public Beta starting on the afternoon of 4-15-2013.
http://adobe.ly/Zv293X

Can't run the video (and all the other videos) even though I downloaded the latest version of Adobe Flash (11.7.700.225)

Don't my clients deserve to see sharpened images?

I do quite a bit of portrait photography for clients, and the images are shown to my clients in a presentation either on my laptop or a large screen. Why can't I show my clients a sharpened image from within Lightroom 1.1? Sharpening is definitely visible on a large monitor, and with 1.0 the sharpening was visible in other views. Now with 1.1 the slideshow turns off sharpening! I can understand that turning on sharpening everywhere could have performance problems, but the whole point of a slideshow is to show images to people! Shouldn't they look their best?
The second most common usage for my photos is in my online gallery, and with the new Lightroom 1.1 sharpening the only way to see how the sharpened image is going to look online is to export and view the images in a separate program! Does that make any sense? I might as well just export the image into photoshop to sharpen.
Finally, when setting the sharpening parameters I realize you can see more of the sharpening effects at 100%, but at least in Photoshop one can see both the 100% view and the image at any magnification, which is really useful in determining how that image will look like both when viewed on the web and when printed.

Generating on-the-fly previews for slideshows is not unprecedented -- Aperture does this very thing. And it does take Aperture a good few moments to go through this process before it launches your slideshow.
Perhaps LR should have a feature to automatically generate temporary 1:1 previews for slideshows. Or to just generate 'standard previews' WITH sharpening (as of now, I can't tell the application of sharpness in the Develop module on 'standard previews', only on 1:1 previews zoomed out to 'fit') for slideshows.
Or just, in general, a feature to ALWAYS generate 1:1 previews.
Mixed bag... dunno what the best combo would be.
-Rishi

Sharpening Question

My normal workflow is adjust image in ACR and then batch sharpen, resize and convert to desired profile in Photoshop. I have the old batch operations working in Lightroom by converting the Photoshop actions to droplets and putting them in the Lightroom Export Actions folder. I have also created a develop preset to disable sharpening in Lightroom. I can now mimic my old workflow and still get the advantage of all the new RAW processing features in Lightroom. My question is - is there a Lightroom equivalent to the ACR setting of "Apply sharpening to preview images only"? At present I must turn on sharpening to evaluate the image and then remember to turn it off before exporting it. Thanks.

Luke,
I am sooo glad I read your post. Because at least I know it can be done ... now.
AND, I love your solution to Sharpening ... and "now" I can see the value of "applying sharping to preveiw images only".
* I have not created any Action/Droplets in PS CS2 for what I want done ... but, I am curious how you Run a action to "Save to WEB" and get it into a folder that is "inside" the current folder?
When I do a "save for web in PS CS2" the save seems to remember the last folder you saved to ... so would that not mess up a action you are running on different folders of files?
*** Making this longer than it probably should be ... but, this is what I would like to do as an action ... is it possable?
On Export * DO you EXPORT AS A 8BIT,sRGB FILE???
I would like to ... run a action/droplet ... to go to PS CS2 and Run "Portrature" Plug-in on it's own layer at 40% opasity ... then Change Profile ... make a levels adjustment , sharpen ... save as jpg (for lab printing)in a New Folder "JPG" inside the current folder ... THEN go back on History before the change in color Profile and levels change .. AND change image size , sharpen .. save for WEB in a new folder "WEB" inside the current folder.
So, when I am done ... I have two new folders inside my current working folder with ... "JPG" my profiled JPG for Print Lab ... and "WEB" for web upload.
Thank you for any help you can give this "newbie" to LR and PS CS2 actions/droplets
HG

LR 1.1 Features that Work

Here are the things I like:
1. Speed is fabulous
2. Creating a new folder is much improved. It doesn't dump you into Windows to do it.
3. Templates in Web are organized into LR and User
4. You can preselect photos and have them moved to the new folder, just like in Collections. Much better.
5. I don't remember the "rolling the mouse/cursor over the folder/collection/lens/iso/aperture/camera/shutter speed/file type/date/location/creator/label displays the first photo" feature. Maybe it was so slow, it was not worth much but it sure helps to identify what your metadata etc. really contains.
6. The text search with the Anywhere capability seems awesome. Very fast and easy way to find photos if the text is "anywhere". Those who would say "already had this" forget that speed makes capability work.
7. Clarity in combination with Vibrance is great.
8. I am sure there are more, but this should whet your appetite.
Mel

Actually, the 1.1 help can be found in the installation files directory under documentation. There is a list of "what's new in 1.1".
Specifically:
New features in Lightroom 1.1
Create and open catalogs A catalog is how Lightroom tracks the location of files and remembers information about them. A catalog is called a library or library database in Lightroom 1.0. In Lightroom 1.1, the terminology has been updated and you can easily create and open different catalogs in Lightroom 1.1.
Import and export catalogs Export a group of selected photos as a new catalog or import photos from another catalog into an existing catalog.
Synchronize folders Synchronizing folders provides the option of adding files that have been subsequently added to the folder but not imported into the catalog, removing files that have been deleted, and scanning for metadata updates. The photo files in the folder and all subfolders can be synchronized. You can determine which folders,
subfolders, and files are imported.
Enhanced DNG export settings DNG (digital negative) file creations now support the full set of conversion options. You can specify the JPEG preview size, select an image conversion method, specify a lossless compression, and determine whether to embed the original camera raw file. Lightroom lets you update the DNG preview on request.
Additional metadata fields and presets The Metadata panel includes new options for large captions and location. The panel also includes new options for e-mail, URLs, and more. You can perform many actions, such as resolving metadata conflicts and opening a folder, by clicking the buttons to the right of the metadata fields.
Hierarchical template folders Template panels now let you create additional folders with parent-child relationships. For photographers with a growing number of develop, print or web presets, this folder structure provides additional options for organizing photos.
You can also store presets with the catalog file for easy mobility.
Painter tool In Lightroom 1.0, you apply keywords to multiple images in Grid view by using the Keyword Stamper tool. In Lightroom 1.1, the Painter tool replaces the Keyword Stamper tool. Not only can you use the Painter tool to apply keywords to photos, you can also apply labels, flags, ratings, develop settings, metadata, and rotation settings. You can click photos or drag across them as if painting.
Remove Red Eye and Remove Spot tool enhancements In Lightroom 1.1, the Remove Red Eye tool has been improved to make it easier to detect and remove red eye. The Remove Spot tool has also been improved to make it
easier to repair blemishes in photos.
New develop settings In the Develop module, noise reduction and sharpening tools have been improved, and the Basic panel includes a new clarity control for adding extra punch to your images.
For information on additional changes, see the product readme file.

Lightroom 5 - Top 10 Hidden Gems | What's New in Lightroom 5 | Adobe TV

Learn the additional, seldom talked about features in Lightroom 5 that can make a huge difference in the way that you work with your images.
http://adobe.ly/11rZjkj

very helpful, thank you

I am a long-term user of Lightroom as a standalone product with a perpetual licence. As a retired person on limited income, it is very disappointing to me that Adobe have introduced the 'Creative Cloud' (CC) subscription service in order for me to be able

I am a long-term user of Lightroom as a standalone product with a perpetual licence. As a retired person on limited income, it is very disappointing to me that Adobe have introduced the 'Creative Cloud' (CC) subscription service in order for me to be able to continue upgrading this excellent product. It will be for me too expensive at the minimum cost of £9 per month. The additional services that CC brings are personally of no relevance or usefulness. Adobe should be prepared to support existing users who are, like myself, non commercial, amateur photographers by giving them the simple opportunity to upgrade to Lightroom 6 as a standalone, perpetual licence product. As a member of a camera club I know my co-members who use Lightroom are equally disappointed by this move to a subscription-only service.

john beardsworth wrote:
John Waller wrote:
However, Adobe will soon introduce Cloud only features into Lightroom CC for which LR6 (perpetual license) owners will have to wait until LR7 (paid upgrade).
That is possible, John, but it is only speculation on your part. Might, not will.
kwdaves wrote:
There is a "Lightroom 6" upgrade available for US $79 if you have a valid license for any of the earlier versions. From what I can tell, the only difference between Lightroom 6 Full, Lightroom 6 Upgrade and LightroomCC is in the license. The download file is the same.
Other differences - with CC you get LrMobile/LrWeb and they throw in a free copy of Photoshop too.
Yes, but when I bought my standalone license and clicked on the "Download" button it took me to the LightroomCC page. The downloaded file is named Lightroom 6, but in the CC app the installed program is LightroomCC (2015).

Sharpening - inferior feature of Lightroom

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