Introducing the
Library Module
The Library module is the central hub of Adobe Lightroom. From
here you can: select, sort, rate and search your image library,
add keywords, compare images and much more. Here’s a quick
overview of what it offers.
I
n the last section, you
imported your images into
Lightroom and the Library
module is where you’ll see
the result of that process. The
Library module is where you can
view and scroll through your
image catalogue, select images
for sharing or development, add
and search for keywords and
build collections. It’s comparable
to Adobe Bridge, the file
browsing and viewing app that
installs alongside Photoshop,
but the Library module has a lot
more functionality.After the Grid view, the other
one that you’ll find yourself using
most often is the Loupe view.
A Loupe is a small handheld
magnifier used by photographers
to closely examine a negative
or print, to check sharpness and
spot minor flaws. Lightroom’s
Loupe view performs a similar
function. It magnifies the selected
image and if you click on the
image in the view window it will
zoom in to full 1:1 magnification,
allowing you to easily spot any
imperfections. You can click-
and-drag on the image to move
it around and the thumbnail at
the top of the left sidebar shows
you the part of the image you are
looking at.
If you’re using a second
monitor, it can display a Loupe
view of any image that you
select in the Grid view. There are
several other options, for the
secondary view, available from a
context menu that appears when
you right-click or click-and-hold
on the second monitor button.To compare a chosen image
with another side-by-side, select
one image followed by another
and then click on the button for
Compare view, or use the hotkey
C. Both images will be displayed
at the same size and zoom level,
with the first you selected being
labelled Select and the other as
Candidate. If you use the zoom
slider at the bottom of the screen,
both images will be zoomed at
the same time and, if you drag
one image around, the other will
move as well, which is handy for
pixel-peeping the same spot on
two similar images to see up close
which one is in sharper focus.
One handy hint is to click on the
arrows on either side of the screen
to minimise the sidebars and
maximise the viewing area.44
GETTING ORGANISED: THE LIBRARY MODULE
BDM’s Made Easy Series | Volume 22