Discover how to sort and file your RAW images
Library module
You can navigate your way around the
Lightroom Classic CC interface using the
module buttons in the top right corner. If
you’re loading Lightroom up for the first time
it will give you the option to take a quick
guided tour of the interface, which we’ll look
at in more detail. It’s also worth checking you
have the latest version of Lightroom Classic
CC by going up to Help>Updates, as an old
version might make it unable to read your
RAW files if your camera is brand new.
It’s unlikely that you’ll need to dive into any
modules other than the first two – the Libraryand Develop modules – when doing everyday
editing, so we’ll start in Lightroom’s Library
module, which is where you can bring a batch
of RAW files into the Lightroom interface in a
process called importing. Here you can sort
through your shots and decide which ones
you want to edit, and much more.
Lightroom is predominantly billed as a RAW
editor, but you can also bring in JPEGs to edit,
albeit without the extra RAW data, and open
movie files like MOV or MP4 files to play them
back – this can be useful for extracting still
frames from 4K videos.Understand the Library module Get to know the most useful parts of the Library module
1
Use the filmstrip The images from
your latest import are shown here. Use
the arrow keys to cycle through images and
the 1-5 number keys to apply star ratings.
Use the Filter menu to show images with a
specific star rating for fast shortlisting.2
Right-click for more options
You can access extra options by right-
clicking on the image thumbnail in the
filmstrip. These options include star ratings,
adding colour labels or adding your shot to a
collection for quick access later on.3
Understand the histogram This
shows the distribution of tones in the
shot. If the graph is bunched up to the left
it means the image is underexposed, and if
it’s to the right there’s a lot of highlights and
midtones, so it’s likely overexposed.Explore the
TECHNIQUES
DiscoverhowtosortandfileyourRAWimages
Library module
Youcannavigateyour way around the
LightroomClassicCC interface using the
modulebuttonsinthe top right corner. If
you’reloadingLightroom up for the first time
it willgiveyoutheoption to take a quick
guidedtouroftheinterface, which we’ll look
atinmoredetail.It’s also worth checking you
havethelatestversion of Lightroom Classic
CCbygoinguptoHelp>Updates, as an old
versionmightmakeit unable to read your
RAWfilesif yourcamera is brand new.
It’sunlikelythatyou’ll need to dive into any
modulesotherthanthe first two – the Library
and Develop modules – when doing everyday
editing, so we’ll start in Lightroom’s Library
module, which is where you can bring a batch
of RAW files into the Lightroom interface in a
process called importing. Here you can sort
through your shots and decide which ones
you want to edit, and much more.
Lightroom is predominantly billed as a RAW
editor, but you can also bring in JPEGs to edit,
albeit without the extra RAW data, and open
movie files like MOV or MP4 files to play them
back – this can be useful for extracting still
frames from 4K videos.Understand the Library module Get to know the most useful parts of the Library module
1
Usethefilmstrip The images from
yourlatestimport are shown here. Use
thearrowkeystocycle through images and
the1-5numberkeys to apply star ratings.
UsetheFiltermenu to show images with a
specificstarrating for fast shortlisting.2
Right-click for more options
You can access extra options by right-
clicking on the image thumbnail in the
filmstrip. These options include star ratings,
adding colour labels or adding your shot to a
collection for quick access later on.3
Understand the histogram This
shows the distribution of tones in the
shot. If the graph is bunched up to the left
it means the image is underexposed, and if
it’s to the right there’s a lot of highlights and
midtones, so it’s likely overexposed.Explore the
TECHNIQUES