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  1. Lightroom Classic User Guide
  2. Introduction to Lightroom Classic
    1. What's new in Lightroom Classic
    2. Lightroom Classic system requirements
    3. Lightroom Classic | Common Questions
    4. Lightroom Classic Key Concepts
    5. Lightroom Classic tutorials
    6. Feature summary | Lightroom CC 2015.x/Lightroom 6.x releases
  3. Lightroom and Adobe services
    1. Creative Cloud Libraries
    2. Using Adobe Stock in Creative Cloud apps
  4. Lightroom for mobile, TV, and the web
    1. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for mobile and Apple TV | FAQ
    2. Sync Lightroom Classic with Lightroom ecosystem
    3. Photoshop family of mobile apps
  5. Import photos
    1. Import photos from a camera or card reader
    2. Import photos from a folder on a hard drive
    3. Import photos automatically
    4. Import photos from Photoshop Elements
    5. Import photos from a tethered camera
    6. Specify import options
    7. Set import preferences
    8. The Filename Template Editor and Text Template Editor
  6. Workflows
    1. Apply Masking in photos
    2. Export and save your photos as JPEGs
    3. Export and watermark your photos
    4. Import your photos
    5. Adjustment Brush: the basics
    6. Adjustments with the Tone Curve
    7. Advanced video slideshows
    8. Control white balance
    9. Create a contact sheet
    10. Enhance your workflow with Lightroom Classic
    11. Adjustments with Lens Blur
    12. Edit and Export in HDR
  7. Workspace
    1. Workspace basics
    2. Set preferences for working in Lightroom Classic
    3. Display the Library on a second monitor
    4. Personalize identity plates and module buttons
    5. Watermark your photos in Lightroom Classic
    6. Color management
  8. Viewing photos
    1. View photos
    2. Browse and compare photos
    3. Set Library view options
    4. Share photos for comments and feedback
    5. Smart Previews
  9. Manage catalogs and files
    1. Lightroom Classic catalog FAQ
    2. How Lightroom Classic catalogs work
    3. Create and manage catalogs
    4. Back up a catalog
    5. Locate missing photos
    6. Create and manage folders
    7. Manage photos within folders
  10. Maps
    1. Work with the Map module
  11. Organize photos in Lightroom Classic
    1. Face recognition
    2. Work with photo collections
    3. Group photos into stacks
    4. Flag, label, and rate photos
    5. Use keywords
    6. Metadata basics and actions
    7. Find photos in the catalog
    8. Work with video in Lightroom Classic
    9. Advanced metadata actions
    10. Use the Quick Develop panel
  12. Process and develop photos
    1. Develop module basics
    2. Create panoramas and HDR panoramas
    3. Flat-Field Correction
    4. Correct distorted perspective in photos using Upright
    5. Improve image quality using Enhance
    6. Work with image tone and color
    7. Masking
    8. Apply local adjustments
    9. HDR photo merge
    10. Develop module options
    11. Retouch photos
    12. Cure red eye and pet eye effects
    13. Use the Radial Filter tool
    14. Use the enhanced Spot Removal tool
  13. Export photos
    1. Export files to disk or CD
    2. Export photos from Lightroom Classic
    3. Publish photos online
    4. Export to hard drive using publish services
    5. Presets for export, and other settings
  14. Work with external editors
    1. External Editing preferences
    2. Open and edit Lightroom Classic photos in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements
  15. Slideshows
    1. Create slideshows
    2. Slideshow module panels and tools
    3. Specify the slide layout
    4. Add overlays to slides
    5. Play and export slideshows
  16. Print photos
    1. Print module basics
    2. Print module layouts and templates
    3. Work with print job options and settings
  17. Photo books
    1. Create photo books
  18. Web galleries
    1. Create web galleries
    2. Use the Web module panels and tools
    3. Work with web gallery layouts
    4. Work with web gallery templates and settings
    5. Preview, export, and upload web photo galleries
  19. Keyboard shortcuts
    1. Keyboard shortcuts

Find photos using the Library Filter bar

The Library Filter bar at the top of the Grid view of the Library module offers three modes for filtering photos: Text, Attribute, and Metadata. You can select and use any one mode, or combine them to perform more complex filtering.

Text

Allows you to search any indexed metadata text field, including filename, caption, keywords, and EXIF and IPTC metadata.

Attribute

Filters by flag status, edit status, star ratings, color labels, and copies.

Metadata

Provides up to eight columns of metadata criteria that you can select to filter photos.

  • Click any mode name to show and hide its options. The mode label is white when those options are open. One, two, or all three filter modes can be open at once.
  • Shift-click a second or third label to open multiple modes at once.
  • Click None to hide and turn off all filter modes.

    Note: When Metadata filter options are open, you can resize the Library Filter bar by moving the pointer over the lower edge of the bar. When it becomes a double-arrow, drag the edge up or down.

Find photos using the Text filter

The Text filter lets you search through the catalog or selected photos using a text search field. You can search any indexed field or choose specific fields, and you can specify how the search criteria is matched.

The found photos that are displayed in the Grid view and the Filmstrip depend on whether you searched the entire catalog, specific folders or collections, or the Quick Collection. The number of photos that match the search criteria appears in the Filmstrip Source Indicator.

  1. In the Library module, select a source in the Catalog, Folders, or Collections panel.
  2. In the Library Filter bar, select Text.
  3. Choose fields to search from the Any Searchable Field pop-up menu.

    Any Searchable Field

    Includes Searchable Metadata, Caption, File Path, virtual copy name, keywords, custom metadata, and collection names.

    Filename, Copy Name, Title, Captions, Keywords

    Searches each of these metadata fields, respectively. Copy Name refers to the name of a virtual copy.

    Searchable Metadata

    Includes Searchable IPTC, Searchable EXIF, and Title.

    Searchable EXIF

    Includes Make, Model, Serial Number, and Software.

    Searchable IPTC

    Includes Contact: Creator, Job Title, Address, City, State/Province, Postal Code, and Country; Content (Mac OS) /IPTC (Windows): Headline, IPTC Subject Code, and Description Writer; Image: Intellectual Genre, IPTC Scene Code, Sublocation, City, State/Province, Country, and ISO Country Code; Status (Mac OS)/Workflow (Windows): Title, Job Identifier, Instructions, Creditline, and Source; Copyright: Rights Usage Terms and Copyright Info URL.

    Any Searchable Plug-In Field

    Includes searchable metadata fields created by third-party plug-ins.

  4. Choose a search rule from the Contains All pop-up menu.

    Contains

    Searches for the specified alphanumeric sequence(s), including partial words. For example, performing a Contains search for flo returns results that include the word flower. If multiple sequences are entered, Lightroom Classic finds photos that contain any of the individual sequences.

    Contains All

    Searches for text that contains all specified alphanumeric sequences. Say, for example, you have a folder of photos of a family gathering, and each photo is tagged with the names of the individuals in the shot. You could perform a Contains All search on Joh and Su to find all photos that contain both John and Susan. Simply enter a space between search terms.

    Contains Words

    Searches for text that contains all specified alphanumeric sequences as whole words. To find photos with the keyword flower using a Contains Word search, for example, type flower.

    Doesn’t Contain

    Searches for text that does not contain any specified sequence.

    Starts With

    Searches for text that begins with the specified alphanumeric sequence.

    Ends With

    Searches for text that ends with the specified alphanumeric sequence.

  5. Type the text in the search box.
    Note:

    Add an exclamation point (!) before any word to exclude it from the results. Add a plus sign (+) before any word to apply the Starts With rule to that word. Add a plus sign (+) after any word to apply the Ends With rule to that word.

    The photos with the specified text criteria appear in the Grid view and the Filmstrip.

  6. (Optional) To refine your search, apply an Attribute or Metadata filter.
    Note:

    When two or more filters are specified, Lightroom Classic returns photos that match all criteria.

Find photos using the Attribute filter

The Attribute options in the Library Filter bar let you filter photos by flag status, edit status, star ratings, labels, and copy. The Attribute options are also available in the Filmstrip. See Filter photos in the Filmstrip and Grid view.

  1. In the Library module, select a source in the Catalog, Folders, or Collections panel.
  2. In the Library Filter bar, select Attribute.

  3. Click an option to filter the selected photos by flag status, edit status, star rating, color label, or copy.

    The photos with the specified filter criteria appear in the Grid view and the Filmstrip.

    Attribute filters in the Library Filter bar
    Attribute filters in the Library Filter bar

  4. (Optional) To refine your search, apply a Text or Metadata filter.
    Note:

    When two or more filters are specified, Lightroom Classic returns photos that match all criteria.

Find photos using Metadata filter

You can find photos by selecting specific metadata criteria using the Metadata options in the Library Filter bar. Lightroom Classic supports metadata embedded in photos by your digital camera and by other applications such as Photoshop or Adobe Bridge.

  1. In the Library module, select a source in the Catalog, Folders, or Collections panel.
  2. In the Library Filter bar, select Metadata.

  3. Choose a metadata category from the left column by clicking the header and choosing from the pop-up menu. Then, choose an entry in that column. For example, choose Edit, and then select Edited or Unedited. Lightroom Classic displays the number of selected photos that match that criteria next to the entry.

    Metadata filters in the Library Filter bar
    Metadata filters in the Library Filter bar

    Note:

    Starting the August 2022 release of Lightroom Classic (version 11.5), you can add a Left column to the Library filter. Shift-click and Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (Mac OS) to select multiple entries in a column.

  4. In the next column, choose another metadata category, and choose an entry from that column.
  5. Continue to choose as many metadata categories and criteria as you like. Click the pop-up menu at the right side of any column header to add or remove the column, change the sort order, and switch between hierarchical and flat view.

    The photos with the specified metadata are displayed in the Grid view and the Filmstrip.

  6. (Optional) To refine your search, apply a Text or Attribute filter.
    Note:

    When two or more filters are specified, Lightroom Classic returns photos that match all criteria.

    Note:

    You can also find photos by clicking the right-pointing arrow that appears next to certain metadata text boxes in the Metadata panel.

Customize the Library Filter bar

Lightroom Classic provides six predefined filters to let you quickly perform common filters and restore default settings.

  1. In the Library Filter bar or the Filmstrip, choose any of the following from the Custom Filter menu:

    Default Columns

    Opens the Metadata options to the default four columns: Date, Camera, Lens, and Label, and all metadata selected in each category.

    Filters Off

    Turns off all filters and hides all filter options.

    Flagged

    Displays photos with a Pick flag.

    Location Columns

    Filters photos by Country, State/Province, City, and Location metadata categories.

    Rated

    Displays photos with a star rating of one or higher.

    Unrated

    Displays photos that have no star rating.

Use Library Filter presets

Save Library Filter bar settings as a preset

To expedite common searches and filter operations, save your filter criteria as a preset.

  1. Using the Text, Attribute, and Metadata options in the Library Filter bar, specify criteria to filter your photos.
  2. Choose Save Current Settings As New Preset from the Custom Filter menu at the right side of the Library Filter bar or the Filmstrip.
  3. Type a name for the preset in the New Preset dialog box, and click Create.

Apply a Library Filter bar preset

  1. To apply a filter preset, select it from the Custom Filter menu.

Delete a Library Filter bar preset

  1. To delete a filter preset, select it from the Custom Filter menu and then choose Delete Preset [Preset Name]. 

Rename a Library Filter bar preset

  1. To rename a filter preset, select it from the Custom Filter menu and then choose Rename Preset [Preset Name].

Find photos using collections

Besides letting you view and organize photos, selecting collections provides a way to find specific photos.

  1. In the Collections panel, select one or more items.

    The photos in the collections are displayed in the Grid view and the Filmstrip. Selecting a collection set includes all of the collections in the set.

  2. (Optional) To refine your search, apply a Text, Attribute, or Metadata filter using the Library Filter bar.

Find photos using keyword tags

Using the Keyword List panel, you can find photos that contain specific keyword tags.

  1. In the Keyword List panel, select a keyword tag and click the right-pointing arrow next to the photo count.

    Lightroom Classic displays all of the photos in the catalog that contain that keyword tag in the Grid view and the Filmstrip. Lightroom Classic also opens the Library Filter bar and displays Metadata keyword criteria.

  2. (Optional) To refine your search, apply a Text, Attribute, or additional Metadata filter using the Library Filter bar.

For more interesting tips on how to use Filters and find photos, check out Julieanne Kost's blog.

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