Processing RAW images

In this Lightroom class, Karl shows you how to process a RAW image using the Adobe software and how you can get the best out of your image.

Working on two different images, Karl starts by demonstrating how it’s possible to transform an image one might have otherwise disregarded as underexposed. Using his Adjustment panel, he makes corrections to exposure, color and tones as well as shows you how to use the Heal function. He also provides a detailed explanation and demonstration of how to use Graduated Filters.

Working on the second image, he shows just how powerful the Lens Correction feature can be, as well as how useful Split Toning is.

In this photography class Karl provides an in-depth guide to many of Lightroom’s most commonly used features, as well as shares a few lesser-known but equally useful tips and tricks.

Download the work-along file

In this class:

  • How to use Lightroom 6
  • How to correct exposure in Lightroom
  • Color correction: Adjusting tones, hue, saturation and luminance in Lightroom
  • Lightroom Graduated Filters
  • How to use Lightroom Heal and Clone tools
  • Keyboard shortcuts for Lightroom
  • How to create a virtual copy of an image in Lightroom
  • How to correct lens distortion
  • Split toning

If you have any questions about this class, please post them in the comments section below.

Comments

  1. Hi. Could you please tell me when this video was created? I’m a bit confused because I have another layout in my Lightroom 6.0. And I can not find History at all 🙁

  2. Hi Karl,

    First of all, thank you very much for all your wonderful content!

    I watched the introduction photoshop course and I can do so much magic already!

    Now I’m trying to get raw files into this picture and I still get confused after watching this..

    When do we switch from ligthroom to photoshop? I feel like I miss some essential understanding. It would be helpful to understand what raw file is and what you lose once you switch to photoshop.

    For example, I’m looking at the technique of healing and the first question that I have is why not do it in photoshop? I feel like I can do it there much more precisely using clone / healing / stamps. Why would I do that in lightroom?

    Or burn and dodge, AMAZING tools. Why would I prefer to use brush and highlight some areas in lightroom vs simply using burn / dodge with masks in photoshop?

    I know this website has a TON of amazing content and maybe the answer is somewhere in the postproduction category and I just missed it.

    1. For example, you teach to think of a picture as a set of pixels. That is BTW amazing mental shift, thank you!

      But now I’m looking at the image in lightroom and I ask myself: how is it different from image in photoshop? Pixels are pixels, right?

      What makes raw file better?

      Is it information that is contained in 1 pixel? Does 1 pixel of raw file has more information than 1 pixel of “photoshop” file? Not sure what photoshop file is..

      Or does raw file container more information in some other areas? Like the difference between adjacent pixels or something else entirely.

      It’s hard to ask this question and I’m not sure what to ask specifically..

      I was hoping you could build my intuition and understanding of this. You did this brilliantly with photoshop.

    2. Hi Thank you Denis, yes you can take your files straight into PS as soon as you are happy that you have processed the RAW file as best you can, you can simply export as a PSD and then move directly to PS. Some people convert the RAW file to a ‘smart object’ so they can retain the RAW file function too but I think that’s unnecessary on a 16bit PSD file. We have all this covered in other classes that you will view later.

  4. Wow… Only gone 15mins into the video and I’ve learned so much already.. Don’t know why I didn’t do a course when I first started photography.. Would have saved me a lot of trouble

  5. They say you learn something new everyday. Today, I have learned how much I don’t know about LR. I have used LR for 9 yrs and with this module alone, I will be making changes with how I work with LR in the future. Some excellent information given!!!

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