Lightroom 2 beta

Alright, so I'm in the dark ages here. I've HEARD of Lightroom, but never really looked into it because I knew I wouldn't be able to buy it at the end of the trial. But I'd heard that it's only really helpful if you shoot in RAW format, is that true?

I'm a horrible photographer, but would love to be able to make my pics look amazing with a little help, lol...

Oh, and also...I'm hoping to have a Mac by the end of summer, does it work on Mac?
 
With lightroom you can edit both jpg and raw (with photoshop cs3 you can as well)

Yes it can work on a mac :D They wouldn't be that silly bree - you know they design all the good stuff for mac ;)
 
LOL, well it's one of the biggest reasons I didn't look into it...somewhere along the line someone mentioned it wasn't for Mac, so I was like "why bother" since I knew I was planning on upgrading... ;)
 
I use Lightroom all the time. I do not shoot in RAW format simply because I don't know how. You can look through my gallery and most of my photo's have been edited with Lightroom. I want to learn to shoot in RAW because I think it would work better but I am happy with my pictures overall for now.
I would like to add that if you are an educator there is a place online that you can order Lightroom from for only $98.00. A friend of mine shared this with me and this was the only way I was able to get it. My husband teaches college so he just had email a picture of his faculty ID.

I just got my mac the other day and I am not sure if it works with it or not. I know I had to rebuy PSE6 because I had to have the Mac version. I haven't had much time to play with it yet.
 
Well if anyone has an invite to Beta to give out, I'll take one too...let's give this thing a go! :D

ditzyscrap AT gmail DOT com :)
 
I've only got a week left in my trial, so if anyone figures out how to get the invitations to work, I'd love one!!

(A couple ladies tried it for me a few weeks ago...it wouldn't take their serial numbers as valid.)
 
I've only got a week left in my trial, so if anyone figures out how to get the invitations to work, I'd love one!!

(A couple ladies tried it for me a few weeks ago...it wouldn't take their serial numbers as valid.)

If you will let me know your email addy I will invite you.
 
Hey what's all this talk about invites? :blink: LOL
I did the trial version of the first lightroom but never bought it. This time I Just downloaded another trial.
Is the invite a way to extend your trial or something? (wearing my dunce hat here). If so, um, somebody plan on being harassed by me when my 30 day trial is up LOL

I LOVE lightroom. I'm going back and forth between that and washing the clothes and hanging them up. About the educational cost- I doubt they would accept a 1st grader's ID or my old college ID. Pitty, I'd love to have it but can't let go of the mula. LOL
 
Hey what's all this talk about invites? :blink: LOL
I did the trial version of the first lightroom but never bought it. This time I Just downloaded another trial.
Is the invite a way to extend your trial or something? (wearing my dunce hat here). If so, um, somebody plan on being harassed by me when my 30 day trial is up LOL

I LOVE lightroom. I'm going back and forth between that and washing the clothes and hanging them up. About the educational cost- I doubt they would accept a 1st grader's ID or my old college ID. Pitty, I'd love to have it but can't let go of the mula. LOL

Actually Amy, if your 1st grader has and ID, they will accept that Academic Superstore--Who is Eligible?. I'm planning to purchase as soon as Devin enters Kindergarten in September.
 
Actually Amy, if your 1st grader has and ID, they will accept that Academic Superstore--Who is Eligible?. I'm planning to purchase as soon as Devin enters Kindergarten in September.
Mason is in school, but we don't get student ID's up here. I'm seriously tempted to register for some classes just so I can get a student ID and use it for programs (I need to buy CS3 for Mac, and probably I'll want Lightroom as well, lol).
 
Mason is in school, but we don't get student ID's up here. I'm seriously tempted to register for some classes just so I can get a student ID and use it for programs (I need to buy CS3 for Mac, and probably I'll want Lightroom as well, lol).

they will take a current report card too :) That's how I got mine
 
Bree, does he get a report card of any kind? Or could you get a copy of something stating he's registered? They'll take that as well.

I wish DH was still teaching, then I wouldn't have to wait until September, lol! I guess I'll just have to console myself with the knowledge that as much as he loved teaching, he loves this job and it's much higher salary more. LOL!
 
Mason is in school, but we don't get student ID's up here. I'm seriously tempted to register for some classes just so I can get a student ID and use it for programs (I need to buy CS3 for Mac, and probably I'll want Lightroom as well, lol).

you can send in a report card if you dont have IDs
 
I love love love my lightroom - It is one of those programs you don't know how you did without!!! I downloaded like a gazillion presets and now my pictures are so amazing!!!!!
 
I couldn't live without my Lightroom! The program is compatible with Windows and Macs, so my mom and I were able to order and install it on both of our computers. :) It's super easy to use and makes my photos look sooo much better.

If you're a student or a parent of a student, you can order for CHEAP from Academic Superstore - you just have to provide evidence of enrollment (details on their site). We were able to get LR for $99!!
 
I love my Lightroom too! I got mine through our local university bookstore for the academic price of $99 since my DH is a teacher. I asked them if they needed to see his school district ID (I had it with me) but they said no, so they pretty much just took my word for it lol! I've been using the beta of LR2 for a month or so now & like it so far, although I'm excited to see how much faster it will run once I get my new computer in a couple of weeks!
 
I have it - I just forget to open it LOL. I did use it last night to play with some photos of my daughter taken in really bright sunlight - I used one of Traci Reed's presets and they looked amazing. It made me remember why I got LR in the 1st place. I just need to open it more often.
 
Can I ask the really dumb question?

How is LR different from editing in CS3? Is it faster? Better? In what ways?

Thanks so much for sharing with the clueless!
 
Not a dumb question at all! Lots of people have been asking about it. Its really a totally photo-oriented editing program. You can import your photos, edit them, make a slideshow, print them, etc. The best part about LR for me is the ONE-CLICK option! I can't tell you how much I love it. Basically, in the "Develop" mode (aka digital darkroom, hence Develop), you can have presets that you just click and apply to your photo - that's it. All done! And the way they have the program set up, you can hover your mouse over the presets and be able to generally see how it would look, without actually applying the preset.

Another big advantage is LR will "remember" everything you've done to the photo, so its "non-destructive" editing which a lot of photogs will love. For me, I might do several different versions of a photo (B&W, sepia, color pop, etc.) depending on the LO I'm working on, so this is another great touch.

However, what LR can't do, and what PS can, is things like dodging catchlights on the eyes to make them pop, or fix blemishes, or any actions that add a lot of texture, which a lot of people like. But LR and PS are both Adobe programs, so in LR you can do all your editing, then export straight into PS from there, and finish it off (I almost always use Noiseware as a finishing touch), and then save.

Phew! Hope that helps! :D
 
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