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4 August 2026 It's Lightroom update time again. There are some new features, as well as bug fixes, new cameras and lenses.
See What’s New in Lightroom Classic 15.5, Mobile & Desktop (August 2026)?
RGB values
- Thread starter nels
- Start date
Brad Snyder
Senior Member
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2007
- Messages
- 6,293
- Location
- Port Deposit, Maryland USA
- Lightroom Experience
- Intermediate
nels, welcome to the forums.
Please take advantage of the link to Adobe's official feature request on the NavBar at the top of the thread.
That said, your request has been brought up many, many times, since Lr's inception. I believe that based on current evidence the dev team is firmly committed to the current method. It boils down to the team saying that for technical reasons it can't be done, or if could be done, it would be meaningless and misdirecting. Irate users point out that the development team is completely wrong, and of course it can be done. Much arguing, gnashing of teeth, and firm language usually ensues.....
I wouldn't hold my breath, but a feature request will make definitely help make your feelings known.
Please take advantage of the link to Adobe's official feature request on the NavBar at the top of the thread.
That said, your request has been brought up many, many times, since Lr's inception. I believe that based on current evidence the dev team is firmly committed to the current method. It boils down to the team saying that for technical reasons it can't be done, or if could be done, it would be meaningless and misdirecting. Irate users point out that the development team is completely wrong, and of course it can be done. Much arguing, gnashing of teeth, and firm language usually ensues.....
I wouldn't hold my breath, but a feature request will make definitely help make your feelings known.
Ellis Vener
Member
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2008
- Messages
- 41
" I would love to see the RGB values be numeric ('-255) instead of a percentage."
The '-255 scale has a couple of problems with it.
1) the scale is a legacy of being restricted to 8 bit per channel data and Lightroom's native color space is a 16 bit per channel variant on the Pro Photo RGB color space. This variant has been nicknamed "Melissa" and it differs from the standard Pro Photo spec in a couple of ways others can explain better. But basically 16 bpc color spaces have a scale that runs from ' to 65,536.
2) Even if we ignore the difference between 8 bpc and 16 bpc, actual RGB values are not assigned to "raw" images. That only happens after an output version of the photo has been processed to a TIFF, PSD, or JPEG using your choice of color space.
What I would like to see in Lightroom 3 (And have suggested to Adobe) is a magnifier function in the histogram that allows us the option to see more closely exactly what is happening in any section ofthe histogram. My gut instinct is that this will allow us to more finely tune the Black clipping point, Fill, Recovery, and Exposure settings.
I would however like to see a matrix of Lr's percentages for the White and Black Clipping points for various color spaces in both 8 bit and 16 bit form. So that if I know I will be outputting an 8 BPC Adobe RGB(1998 ) TIFF or an sRGB JPEG for printed reproduction I can make this adjustment in LR and not have to spend more time than necessary in Photoshop.
The '-255 scale has a couple of problems with it.
1) the scale is a legacy of being restricted to 8 bit per channel data and Lightroom's native color space is a 16 bit per channel variant on the Pro Photo RGB color space. This variant has been nicknamed "Melissa" and it differs from the standard Pro Photo spec in a couple of ways others can explain better. But basically 16 bpc color spaces have a scale that runs from ' to 65,536.
2) Even if we ignore the difference between 8 bpc and 16 bpc, actual RGB values are not assigned to "raw" images. That only happens after an output version of the photo has been processed to a TIFF, PSD, or JPEG using your choice of color space.
What I would like to see in Lightroom 3 (And have suggested to Adobe) is a magnifier function in the histogram that allows us the option to see more closely exactly what is happening in any section ofthe histogram. My gut instinct is that this will allow us to more finely tune the Black clipping point, Fill, Recovery, and Exposure settings.
I would however like to see a matrix of Lr's percentages for the White and Black Clipping points for various color spaces in both 8 bit and 16 bit form. So that if I know I will be outputting an 8 BPC Adobe RGB(1998 ) TIFF or an sRGB JPEG for printed reproduction I can make this adjustment in LR and not have to spend more time than necessary in Photoshop.
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