Adobe's Lightroom takes on Aperture
updated 12:45 am EST, Mon January 9, 2006
Adobe debuts Lightroom
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"We first showed an early version of Lightroom at the Adobe Ideas Conference in April 2005 to demonstrate a new streamlined digital photography experience, from capture to print," said Shantanu Narayen, president and chief operating officer of Adobe. "Today's Lightroom Beta leverages Adobe's renowned digital imaging innovation, in areas such as raw image processing, so that even in beta form photographers will find world class technology that complements Photoshop. We look forward to the feedback from the photography community as we refine the product over the next few months."
"Radical" new image-focused interface
Adobe said that the Lightroom Beta has been designed with a "radical new user interface that puts the focus on what photographers really care about: the image. With just one click, the control panels and tools fade into the background in Lights-Out mode, allowing the image to take center stage. The innovative Identity Plate feature allows photographers to apply their own branding to the application and its output, so that it becomes their own personal gallery for showcasing work." The company said that photographers also can rapidly scroll through hundreds of images and its new "Quick One-to-One Zoom" features allows instant magnification of the finer points within the image.
"Lightroom defines the future workflow for the professional digital photographer," said Seth Resnick, a premier corporate, editorial and stock photographer. "It delivers exactly the functions photographers need to speed up their workflow in a way that was never before possible."
High-Quality Raw Processing.
Lightroom supports over 100 cameras
Leveraging Adobe's Camera Raw technology, Lightroom supports over 100 cameras and incorporates raw conversion into a single workflow. Adobe says that its advanced raw processing features new split-toning controls which create richer black and white images as well as extends photographers' creative control with new parameters for making adjustments. Lightroom allows files to be converted, on import, to Digital Negative format (DNG) or renamed and segmented by folder or date.
Users can also showcase images via slideshows with drop shadows, borders, Identity Plates and different colored backgrounds. The size and position of the images can be manipulated and offered to clients in Macromedia Flash, Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) or HTML formats. It includes a variety of templates for contact sheets with the ability to add identity plates or produce a fine art print.
Recommended system requirements are Mac OS X 10.4.3, 1GHz PowerPC G4 processor, 768MB RAM and a 1024x768 resolution screen. Regular updates to the software will be posted on the site, according to the company. It also said that feedback will be collected and the final product is expected to be introduced in late 2006. Further details around pricing, system requirements and availability have yet to be determined.
111MB?
01/09, 06:53am reply
Yes, there is a 111MB download, but that consist of a lot of demo images. The application alone is a download of just about 4.5MB! It even runs pretty fast on my RevA 12" pobo..
MarcoF-Foto
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Joined: Aug 2005
Hey Adobe...
01/09, 08:06am reply
As long as you are going to the trouble of building an Aperture competitor, could you fix some mistakes?
Can I keep my files as files (accessible, easy-to-backup) in folders rather than Aperture's single file (vulnerable, hard-to-backup) vault? Will Apple please stop hiding my files (for my own convenience), and let me manage them?
purpleshorts
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Joined: Sep 2004
re: accessible
01/09, 08:50am reply
Just imported some RAW files and it gave me the option of importing references to the files in the original folders, maintaining the folder structure that I have, rather than importing to the library 9which is also an option).
So, I guess they let you have te photos however you want.
andrewhicks
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Joined: Nov 2003
Lightroom Overview Video
01/09, 10:52am reply
Adobe has an overview video (Flash) of Lightroom with answers a few of the questions you might have. You can check it out here: [url]http://labs.macromedia.com/technologies/lightroom/video/[/url]
ianaberle
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Joined: Dec 2005
download isn't 111MB
01/09, 12:50pm reply
You don't have to download the 111MB version. I downloaded the 8MB version and used my own photos.
corsair
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Joined: Sep 2005
Lightroom vs. Aperture
01/09, 01:22pm reply
Get it right, people! Lightroom has been under development for more than two years and is thus NOT Adobe's "... trouble of building an Aperture competitor". See http://photoshopnews.com/ for an alpha tester's comments. IMO, Aperture is a weak competitor for Aperture, not the other way around.
CraigLewisColorado
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Joined: Jan 2006
Lightroom vs. Aperture 2
01/09, 01:25pm reply
Argh! Another mindfart! Of course I meant to write "... Aperture is a weak competitor for Lightroom ..."
CraigLewisColorado
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Joined: Jan 2006
Get it Right, Colorado!
01/09, 05:00pm reply
Get it right, people! ...The one that's not out, yet, that's the first one, since they say they thought about it for an extra year. Aperture is a weak competitor for Aperture, not the other way around.
That's hilarious.
purpleshorts
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Joined: Sep 2004
lightroom vs. aperture
01/10, 08:19am reply
Well, Lightroom runs on my Rev A iMac G5 where the Aperture compatibility detector says Aperture won't run due to the video card. I guess Lightroom already has a leg up for me.
I downloaded Lightroom last night and imported my photo library but I haven't had a chance to do anything else yet. Will check it out over the next couple of days.
To the poster that said Lightroom allows you to keep photos in your own directory, that is correct. However, you cannot add/edit any metadata unless you allow Lightroom to manage your images.
PBG4 User
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2001
Who's to say?
01/10, 12:11pm reply
Who's to say who thought of this application first? If Adobe thought of it 2 years ago, who's to say Apple didn't start on it 3 years ago? Apple is just a lot more secretive about it.
All I know is Aperture is out and runs on my system now. Light room is not out regardless of what you can download.
I do know one thing, somebody is copying somebody here. They are just too similar.
Are there any hints as to who copied who? Did Apple step on Adobe's toes when they released iPhoto, NO. They didn't even step on their toes when they went PDF crazy. The only territory they crossed into was video editing which NEEDED to be done because Premier sucked on the Mac.
If you follow this line of thought, I doubt Apple stepped on Adobe's toes here. Adobe is the copy cat. It's clear what Adobe is thinking, "Aperture only works on Mac. We'll copy it and put it out on PC and Mac and make a bunch of money. Thanks for the ideas Apple!"
I've said it before and I'll say it again, APPLE NEEDS TO GET A BETTER PATENT AND COPY WRITE PROCESS!
Then we would know who is writing code and who is copying it.
Deal
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2001