3 Simple Lightroom Basics for People Who Hate Messing with Photoshop
There are some great photo editing apps for mobile, including Google’s Snapseed (Android; iOS) and Adobe’s Lightroom (Android, iOS), but there’s still something special about editing on a bigger screen. Luckily, Adobe makes Lightroom for desktop and the web, too. Just three desktop Lightroom basics will get you up to speed on Photoshop's little brother.
1. Picture Profile
One of the first decisions you might make when editing your photo is whether you should keep it in color or switch to black and white for extra oomph. It’s really easy to go from color to monochromatic/black and white in Lightroom. Then, you can play with exposure and contrast to make your photo look old-timey or just plain angsty. Either way, go to the Edit menu and change your photo’s Profile from Color to Monochromatic. Instant drama!
2. Go off the Grid
When you go to the Crop and Rotate menu in Lightroom, a 3-by-3 grid will appear on top of your photo. Why 3-by-3? The worst-kept secret in photography is to use the rule of thirds when cropping. This means to crop your photo so that the grid lines intersect where you want your focal point to be. According to the rule of thirds, the eye is naturally drawn to the parts of an image where grid lines, even when invisible, intersect. Cropping your photo using the rule of thirds instantly makes it more visually appealing. It’s also a great starting point for beginning photographers.
3. Brush it on
Here’s a lesser-known feature: You can use the Brush feature to add color, exposure, contrast, and more to one part of an image without affecting the rest of your photo. It’s great for a small color enhancement or adding an artistic flavor to an otherwise mundane shot. And let’s be honest, they’re mostly mundane.
Bonus Tip — White Balance
This may be the easiest way to give your photo a face lift. In the Edit menu, simply change White Balance from As Shot to Auto, and go from there. Presto! Who needs Photoshop?
