Relative changes added to Dev module and Presets!

[rNeil]

It would be so wonderful to have relative changes available in the Develop module, expecially if they were available for Presets.

This would mean say a contrast bump could be created irrespective of the current contrast setting of an image. Auto Tone, for example, normally leaves my images about 2 short of where they should be for black point, and a about 15-2' points lower in contrast than I want. With this feature, I could adjust and make a preset that would correct this on the WHOLE wedding at once.

Or say, if one know's ones' custom white-balance method is always about 5'' blue/+3 magenta, you could just apply a preset that would correct for this BINGO.

I know one can do relative adjustments hitting the clickers in Grid mode (NOTE: but not in "E" mode!) BUT you can't use these in Presets and you have to keep bouncing back and forth and adjusting THUMBNAILS for gosh sakes!

This change would save me a couple hours a wedding.

Neil

 

[Mark Sirota]

There are lots of people who agree with you, Neil. I suggest adding your voice by submitting an official feature request.

 

[Brad Snyder]

Neil, If nobody's said it yet, Welcome to LR Forums. Yes, this is a much requested feature. Add your voice to the crowd with a feature request here:

Feature Request

I know one can do relative adjustments hitting the clickers in Grid mode (NOTE: but not in "E" mode!)
Neil

I'm not sure what you mean, here. This feature does work in "E"/Loupe mode. But unfortunately, just one image at a time; and, if you 'Sync Settings', it's back to absolute adjustments.

 

[rNeil]

Brad,

What you stated is precisely what I meant ... in "E" mode, it only does the current image ... meaning to then apply it to other images, you have to work through the Sync Settings dialog box. You cannot "AutoSync" in "E" mode.

Which takes more time ... and THAT is something I cannot create more of. And wish to control where I can.

Which is why relative adjustments in the Dev module would be so cool. I cannot figure out why presets are so hot for so many ... you can only use them AFTER you've adjusted most of the image controls to where you want it.

After I've put the time in there, what do I need a preset for? (Only mostly sort of kidding.)

Currently, I can use the controls of LR to get groups of images at say, a wedding, to work on. On most of the resultant groups, I do actually the same basic steps. But as the starting numbers on the images (for contrast or black or exposure or whatever) are different group-to-group, I have to work each small group of 3-1' images as a group.

I could do MUCH larger groups with relative adjustments, really shaving some serious time.

I find the workarounds to be a PITA when the program could just be coded a bit different. Sigh. A perfectionist, I know I'm a PITA myself! <g>

 

[Sean McCormack]

Let's see... typing one line of that took longer than G, Ctrl A, Ctrl Shift C, Check all, return, Ctrl Shift V? (Cmd instead of Ctrl on Mac)
I'm all for relative presets and additive presets, but not making use of what can be done gets my goat.. This is probably quicker than pressing D and then hunting with the mouse for Sync while holding Ctrl(Cmd) down..

 

[Brad Snyder]

Brad,

What you stated is precisely what I meant ... in "E" mode, it only does the current image ... meaning to then apply it to other images, you have to work through the Sync Settings dialog box. You cannot "AutoSync" in "E" mode.

That's what I figured you meant, that's why I weasel worded it ...

Which takes more time ... and THAT is something I cannot create more of. And wish to control where I can.

Which is why relative adjustments in the Dev module would be so cool. I cannot figure out why presets are so hot for so many ... you can only use them AFTER you've adjusted most of the image controls to where you want it.

[COLOR=#''''ff]I have a single preset that I'm very happy with for my outdoor sports work, a gift from a colleague on another forum. The Adobe standard profile and this preset give me a good starting point. But, yes I understand what you mean, I find what they fix in some pictures, they break in others, net gain=zero.[/COLOR]

After I've put the time in there, what do I need a preset for? (Only mostly sort of kidding.)

Currently, I can use the controls of LR to get groups of images at say, a wedding, to work on. On most of the resultant groups, I do actually the same basic steps. But as the starting numbers on the images (for contrast or black or exposure or whatever) are different group-to-group, I have to work each small group of 3-1' images as a group.
[COLOR=#''''ff]
I have a similar situation, I shoot equine sports; I follow a given horse thru a series of jumps, each of which is a different lighting situation. Then another horse, and then another. All the shots at jump 1 have generally consistent lighting, and then jump2, etc. So I have to collate/group the shots more or less at rght angles to capture time, and then try to group tweak. You reach a point of diminishing returns, and it's just easier to do them one at a time. I frequently wish for 'relative' adjustments here in this mode.[/COLOR]


I could do MUCH larger groups with relative adjustments, really shaving some serious time.

I find the workarounds to be a PITA when the program could just be coded a bit different. Sigh. A perfectionist, I know I'm a PITA myself! <g>

The development team knows it's frequently requested, one of these days. maybe.

 

[rNeil]

I'll keep hoping.

I have to admit, of course, that the development team gets so much thrown at them that at times I think the old Jewish statement could be paraphrased to "maybe next year in Lightroom". sigh.

 

[rNeil]

To Sean,

I'll be most happy to look at your suggestions. I see you are a developer of various software plugins (it would seem from your posts' heading) and a Lightroom guru.

I'm just a working photographer without enough time to do the basic stuff my business demands ... I've not got the time to play around for several days to learn each little something. And I've been very frustrated with the LR studying I've done over the last year and a half. It's just as bad as most Photoshop tutorials and lessons ... you are assumed to know all kinds of ins-and-outs of the program, which are oft not included in the "lesson". And getting the attitude that, "oh (stupid), you didn't know that's done in G not E mode but only if the sort is set so-and-so?" is a bit ... unhelpful.

And I haven't found one place that actually explains HOW LR does it's stuff clearly and succinctly enough throughout the program to be worth spending much time on. And note, I read several times faster than the average bear.

So I've cadged together a routine that works ... mostly ... and every once in a while, take a few days to try and puzzle out something new.

I've been around a few minutes several times a week on the Adobe LR forum, first few days here.

Hope to "see you around".

 

[DonRicklin]

To Sean,

I'll be most happy to look at your suggestions. I see you are a developer of various software plugins (it would seem from your posts' heading) and a Lightroom guru.

I'm just a working photographer without enough time to do the basic stuff my business demands ... I've not got the time to play around for several days to learn each little something. And I've been very frustrated with the LR studying I've done over the last year and a half. It's just as bad as most Photoshop tutorials and lessons ... you are assumed to know all kinds of ins-and-outs of the program, which are oft not included in the "lesson". And getting the attitude that, "oh (stupid), you didn't know that's done in G not E mode but only if the sort is set so-and-so?" is a bit ... unhelpful.

And I haven't found one place that actually explains HOW LR does it's stuff clearly and succinctly enough throughout the program to be worth spending much time on. And note, I read several times faster than the average bear.

So I've cadged together a routine that works ... mostly ... and every once in a while, take a few days to try and puzzle out something new.

I've been around a few minutes several times a week on the Adobe LR forum, first few days here.

Hope to "see you around".

For those one stop succinct explanations see Victoria Bampton's eBook listed in her Sig for any of the many posts she does here (Our head Moderator and LrQueen).

Don

 

[Brad Snyder]

Let's see... typing one line of that took longer than G, Ctrl A, Ctrl Shift C, Check all, return, Ctrl Shift V? (Cmd instead of Ctrl on Mac)
I'm all for relative presets and additive presets, but not making use of what can be done gets my goat.. This is probably quicker than pressing D and then hunting with the mouse for Sync while holding Ctrl(Cmd) down..

Sean, if I understandy you correctly, I tested that before I posted above, I'm pretty sure that the 'Copy Settings' / 'Paste Settings' applies absolute settings, even in Library with QD exposed. The OP was asking about relative changes.

 

[Sean McCormack]

There was also a reference to Autosync, Brad if you read further, and to whether or not it was too time intensive to swap into and out of, which is where copy and paste work faster.

Relative presets are something that could be done.. let's face it, the catalog has to store that information somehow!

I'm curious as to whether it stores an absolute or a relative setting.. Hmm... Time to start writing and comparing XMP files.. (edit: nope it stores absolute values)

Neil,
The wealth of information available is astounding. Both Scott Kelby and Martin Evening have tomes coming out, which are choc full of ways of doing things. I've seen previews of some of Martin's and it really is about getting things done.

I've a book that's with the editor/designer myself, but it's very much a beginner book as per the writing commission I was given.

 

[rNeil]

Sean,

The amount of material out on Lr is truly astounding. And in many pieces there are some great ideas. However, to put a comprehensive look at how to simply get work done ... and with warnings of all the pitfalls, like no relative presets/controls in Dev module, now, that I've yet to find.

Kelby's books are normally pretty good. Evening I've perused but never studied, as I've gone with Kelby and Fraser's books before.

Still, having been through those, I am CONSTANTLY bumping into problems and not always finding solutions without needing to search the whole dang haystack.

I do so appreciate those of you who DO get through all that, and can let someone like moi in on the "secrets" of our favorite struggle.

Neil