6 Tools You Probably Aren’t Using in Lightroom (And Need To!)
Adobe Lightroom is one of the most reliable programs for photographers to enhance their photos. Editors typically use Lightroom on a laptop or computer when editing. In times when you can’t bring one, installing a Lightroom app on your phone can save you from urgent editing matters.
There are several tools in Lightroom, and maybe you haven’t explored them all. To make your job easier, spend some time and take advantage of the Lightroom mobile tools every photographer must know.
6 Tools You Probably Aren’t Using in Lightroom (And Need To!)
Lightroom Classic, which is the one you use on a computer, shares some functionalities with Lightroom CC or the mobile app.
If you’re wondering how to navigate the mobile version, we’re going to explain how you can take advantage of its tools. Aside from that, Cole’s Classroom offers Lightroom training, presets, and photo editing tutorials that you can reference to learn more tips.
Sync
The main benefit of Lightroom CC is providing 1 TB of online storage that lets you sync photos to Adobe cloud.
For example, you might want to maximize your time while traveling on the road. While on your way home from a shoot, you can import RAW images and make minor edits on your phone. Once you get back, simply open Lightroom Classic on your computer, and your work from earlier will be there with the edits you made.
Smart Previews
Some photographers don’t have a laptop they can bring on their travels or on-location photo shoots. Lightroom has an ingenious tool called Smart Previews, which compresses your files to create a smaller version of your photos.
Hence, Lightroom mobile edits the Smart Previews instead of editing the original RAW photos. Once you have the time to connect your external hard drive to a computer, Lightroom will synchronize the changes you made on mobile with all your RAW photos.
Healing Brush
Healing Brush tools in Lightroom mobile share some similarities with Lightroom for desktop. The goal is to remove unnecessary spots, unwanted objects, or other distractions from an image. With these tools, you can save time and avoid opening up Photoshop on your phone.
Presets
If you use presets on your desktop or laptop, this capability is a game-changer for your mobile device. You can sync over your presets from your computer to your phone! This way, regardless of where you are editing, you can ensure that your photos are consistent.
Using presets on your phone is also a big time-saver. It can be more time consuming trying to edit an image on a small screen, so being able to utilize your favorite presets can help to speed up the process.
Geometry Tools
While taking photos, your distance or lens can distort the perspective, making straight lines appear skewed, tilted, or bowed. For example, shooting up a tall building can make the structure look like it’s leaning away from you. With Lightroom mobile’s Geometry panel, you can easily adjust and fix the perspective.
For this scenario, it’s advisable to use the Upright modes and its four automatic perspective correction options: Auto, Level, Vertical, and Full. You can also make more refined adjustments by using the manual Guided option.
Batch Editing
Batch editing was previously a feature limited to desktop users. However, Adobe introduced this function to mobile users late last year. Now, you can import and apply batch edits to your photos on mobile and tablet.
Moreover, you can utilize any of your presets from Lightroom Classic to any of your mobile devices. This includes presets you’ve created, downloaded, or purchased.
Conclusion
Whether you are a beginner or a long-term Lightroom user, there are lots of functions and tools that will make editing photos more convenient. If you haven’t tried these tools on your mobile app, now’s the time to test them out!
