Workflow in Lightroom 2.0

[klaftera]

It's usually taught to start your way from the top (i.e. white balance) and work you way downwards through the Develop module. This is what I always do but there is a wrinkle iin Lightroom 2 because now we have the Graduated Filter and Adjustment Brush.

Here is my question:

For example, if I have clipping in the sky I would generally decrease my exposure a bit if the overall photo was too bright and then use the Recovery tool to bring back the highlights. Scott Kelby showed us a neat trick that you can use the Recovery Slider to do this but then move the slider all the way to the right (if you want) to bring out even more detail and contrast in the sky. You could also use Luminance to darken the blues in the sky as well.

So, for example, if I have a photo where I want to work on the sky do I just use my Graduated Filter and make all my sky corrections there and forget about the normal workflow using Recovery,Luminance,etc?

Hope I made that clear.

Thanks.

 

[Mark Sirota]

Welcome to Lightroom Forums!

The Recovery slider will reduce the overall contrast of the image. If you can get what you're looking for with a Graduated Filter, I'd suggest that instead for the sky example you give.

But every picture is different, sometimes you need to try both and see what you like (I'll often create a Snapshot of one, set that to Before, then do the other thing and hop back and forth with the backslash key.)

Eventually, with experience, you'll settle on a preferred approach for different types of images and problems.

 

[Gene McCullagh]

Welcome!

I agree with Mark.

The "top down" approach is generally a good one. Keep in mind that this refers to the panels. The tools such as crop, graduated filter etc. are there to be used at any point where you feel the need for their special abilities.

Some will use the tools and then run through the panels while others run through the panels and then use the tools. But any of these suggestions are just that - suggestions. Ultimately you need to find your vision for the image and the workflow that's best for you. Just remember Rule #5!