Lightroom Classic is a complete toolbox for professional photographers, organized into modules. Each module focuses on a specific portion of the photographic workflow: the Library module is for importing, organizing, comparing, and selecting photos; the Develop module is for adjusting color and tone, or creatively processing photos; and the Slideshow, Print, and Web modules are for presenting your photos.
Each of the modules in the Lightroom Classic workspace includes panels that contain options and controls for working on your photos.
A. Library Filter bar B. Image display area C. Identity plate D. Panels for working with source photos E. Filmstrip F. Module Picker G. Panels for working with metadata, keywords, and adjusting images H. Toolbar
The Filmstrip, located at the bottom of the workspace in every module, displays thumbnails of the contents of the folder, collection, keyword set, or metadata criteria that is currently selected in the Library module. Each module uses the contents of the Filmstrip as the source for the tasks performed in it. To change the selection in the Filmstrip, go to the Library module and select different photos. See View photos.
To work in Lightroom Classic, first select the images you want to work with in the Library module. Then click a module name in the Module Picker (upper-right in the Lightroom Classic window) to begin editing, printing, or preparing your photos for presentation in an on-screen slide show or web gallery.
Hold down Ctrl+Alt/Command+Option and press a number from 1 through 5 to switch to any of the five modules.
The activity monitor displays over the identity plate when Lightroom Classic is busy with a task.
To cancel a process, click the X beside the progress bar.
To switch and view another process in progress, click the triangle beside the progress bar.
You can customize the Lightroom Classic workspace by rearranging the order of Develop panels, displaying only the panels you want, or by hiding some or all of the panels to maximize the display of your photos.
Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) a panel header and choose Solo mode, or Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) a panel header.
Solo mode applies independently to a set of panels. The triangle in the panel header is solid when not in Solo mode.
Auto Hide & Show
Displays the panel as you move the pointer to the outside edge of the application window. Hides the panel as you move the pointer away from the panel.
Auto Hide
Hides the panel as you move the pointer away from the panel. You must open the panel manually.
Manual
Turns off automatic show/hide behavior.
Sync With Opposite Panel
Applies the same hide/show panel behavior to the left and right panels or to the top and bottom panels.
If you don’t use a panel often, you can hide it from view.
You can rearrange or customize the order of Develop panel based on your work preferences. For detailed information on the procedure, see Customize the order of Develop panel.
You can change the screen display to hide the title bar; the title bar and the menus; or the title bar, menus, and panels.
Full Screen mode and Full Screen And Hide Panels mode in Mac OS hide the Dock. If you start Lightroom Classic and do not see the Minimize, Maximize, or Close buttons for the application, press the F key once or twice until they appear.
You can temporarily turn off all the settings in a panel of the Develop module or the filtering in the Filmstrip.
Use Lights Out to dim or black out the Lightroom Classic workspace so that your photo stands out on screen.
Customize Lights Out in the Interface Preferences by specifying the dim level and screen color.
You can hide the toolbar or customize it in the Library and Develop modules to include the items you need.
Depending on which view is active in the Library module, the toolbar contains controls for browsing photos, applying metadata, starting an impromptu slide show, rotating photos, and applying ratings, flags, or labels. The toolbar Info box displays the filename of the selected photo.
View Modes
Lets you select Grid View, Loupe View, Compare View, or Survey View.
Painter
(Grid view only) Lets you apply keywords and other attributes quickly by dragging the Painter tool across photos.
Sorting
(not available in Compare view) Specifies the sort direction or sorting criteria for displaying the photo thumbnails.
Flagging
Assigns, removes, and displays a Pick or Rejected flag for selected photos.
Rating
Assigns, removes, and displays rating stars for selected photos.
Color Label
Assigns, removes, and displays color labels for selected photos.
Rotate
Rotates selected photos clockwise or counterclockwise.
Navigate
Selects the previous or next image.
Slideshow
Plays an impromptu slide show of the photos.
Thumbnail Size
(Grid view only) Sets the size of the photo thumbnails.
Zoom
(Loupe view only) Zooms the view in or out.
Info
Displays the filename of the selected photo.
Compare
(Compare view only) Displays options for zooming, swapping, and selecting compared photos.
Label
(Survey view only) Displays Survey view label.
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