PHOTO EDITING TOOL - LIGHTROOM

I am writing after a long time in this blog. Today, I would like to share some of the common features of lightroom and would also like to share why lightroom is good for editing photos. If you wish to remove background or add effects then you also need to go with photoshop.  Preferably, I have been talking about these tools only because I am familiar with these photo editing software and I use them and my necessity made me learn and today I want to share with you all, first from the beginner's point of view.
If you wish to understand in depth then you can refer this book "Adobe Lightroom 6 / CC Video Book: Training for Photographers" In this book, you will get most of the details and in-depth study.
Even if you are taking pictures with your mobile or iPhone you need to edit them and when you are aware of the terms and their effect then you can easily edit and present it beautifully.
If you are interested in on the spot editing then you can also download the "Adobe Photoshop Lightroom" and "Adobe Photoshop" just to enjoy the power of edited photos and popping them up from a flattened photo.
Here is step by step process of importing photos and then editing them from a beginners point of view.

• You have to import photos - Go to the Library tab and to the left side of the window you will see the Import and Export option.

Import & Export Option

• Once imported then you have to select one of the pictures that you want  to edit and then click on Develop tab on the Right side of the screen on top.

Select Develop Option

Histogram

• On Right Side of the screen you will see Histogram and from this, you get the complete details of  " Blacks, Shadows, Exposure, Highlights & Whites" along with this ISO Speed Rating, Focal Length (mm), Aperture & Shutter Speed details at which the snap was taken. From this, you can identify the basic camera settings as well as how much exposure, highlights, shadows or blacks or whites needs to be adjusted.

 

• Below Histogram, tools are available and these tools are Crop Overlay, Spot Removal, Red Eye Correction, Graduated Filter, Radiant Filter and Adjustment Brush. Try your hand on each tool and you will understand by yourself that how these tools work and we will discuss in detail on each and every tool.

Crop Overlay and Other Tools

 

• Now here are the main "Basic" Settings and under this, there is Treatment: which includes color and Black and White. It includes White Balance, Tone, and Presence and when you adjust any of these you get to see effects in your photo. You can find the difference only with a hand of practice with these adjustments.

Basic  Settings

• Then comes the Tone Curve -   It includes Highlights, Lights, Darks, and Shadows. If you wish to move point curve then you can click on the rightmost side below this in order to edit the point curves. This is regarded as best when it is in the "S" shape.

Tone Curve

• Then comes the Color Adjustment - Three options are available and you can use any of these. HSL/ Color/ Black & White.With HSL - Hue, Saturation and Luminance can be adjusted separately; in Color a particular or specific color can be adjusted and lastly Black and White Mix which gives you an option of adjustment of color to give more dramatic effect in your Black and White photo. 

Color Adjustment

• Split Toning -  It basically adjusts Highlights and Shadows. You can click on the color that you want to highlight more or less and similarly for Shadows.

Split Toning

• Under Detail - You have to set the sharpening of a photo and that should be according to the photo pixels, here Amount, Radius, and Masking plays a very important role and Noise Reduction can be used to minimize the noise of a picture but it should not be too much otherwise sharpness is lost.

Detail - Sharpening & Noise Reduction

• Lens Correction - This one is also a very good feature and lets you help in removing Chromatic Aberration and Profile correction.

Lens Correction

• Transform - It gives you some sort of skewing feature and can be used according to your own adjustment.

Transform Option

• Effects - Here you can give vignetting effect  to your photo and can also add Grain and Dehaze the image. This is a Post Crop Effect.

Effects - Vignetting, Grain & Dehaze

• Camera Calibration - This will give an effect to your photo, just play with these and enjoy your journey of knowledge in photo editing.

Camera Calibration

This is just an introductory part and I already told you if you wish you can go on exploring and looking for some more details, it is better to refer the book that I mentioned above.
A book that you must read or if you don't want to purchase a hard copy just go with kindle edition. There is also one more book on Digital Photography "Stunning Digital Photography", it covers each and every topic in detail.
Always remember one thing that when you learn through your own experience that gives you the power of knowledge, therefore always keep learning and exploring on the topic of your interest.