Adobe’s Creative Cloud group of apps has dominated the marketplace for years and continues to be some of the best software for photographers and other creators. Lightroom is no exception.
While Lightroom might seem like a barebones version of Adobe’s renowned Photoshop because of the features they share, Lightroom’s purpose is more nuanced but equally important.
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About Lightroom
Adobe Lightroom is a part of Adobe’s Creative Cloud package. It works with photographers and photo editors for minor image manipulation such as correcting lighting, blurry images, and noise. There is both a mobile application and a desktop version, and the software is available on Apple, Android, and Windows products.
Adobe Lightroom is similar to Adobe Photoshop. There are some stark differences between them though. Notably, Adobe Photoshop is much more advanced and offers more features. While this sounds great in theory, it means that it is very challenging for beginners to get into using Photoshop.
Lightroom was added as a sort of middle ground. It has many basic editing features, is cheaper in cost, and is beginner friendly.
| Feature | Description |
| System Requirements | The minimum requirements for Adobe Lightroom are Windows 10 version 20H2 or later and 8 GB of RAM with a processor faster than 2 GHz. |
| Date Released | Lightroom was first released on September 19, 2017. |
| Last Update | The desktop version of Lightroom was last updated in April 2023. |
| Rating | 4.6 on G2. |
| Uses | Lightroom is a RAW image file converter that also provides a suite of image organizing and manipulating tools to create the perfect stills of your favorite memories. |
| Cost | A subscription of just $9.99 per month gives you Lightroom Desktop and Mobile, along with 1 TB of cloud photo storage. Lightroom is also included in the Creative Cloud subscription for as low as $54.99 a month. |
Adobe Lightroom Essentials Course
- How Many Videos: 88 lessons
- How Long: 9 hours and 23 minutes
- Level: All Levels
Whether you are a beginner or want to make photo editing easier on yourself, this class covers it all. It starts at the beginning with basic introductions to the Lightroom software.
After you finish the basics, it delves deeper into best practices for edits such as white balance, color correction, and masking. It also covers all types of photography so you don’t have to worry about adjusting the knowledge you learn for your needs.
Fundamentals of Lightroom I: Organize Files and Boost Your Workflow
- How Many Videos: 19 lessons
- How Long: 2 hours and 20 minutes
- Level: Beginner
This Skillshare lesson is for those that have no idea how to use Lightroom. Maybe you’ve opened up the program before and quickly shut it down due to feeling overwhelmed. Well, that won’t be a problem anymore with this class.
It covers the absolute basics of Lightroom, such as how the main menus work, how to organize photos and collections, and how to start on your first photo. Lotus also continues from the fundamentals in other lessons if you find you enjoy their teachings.
Lightroom Tutorial for Beginners – Overview of EVERYTHING in 15 mins
- How Many Videos: 1 lesson
- How Long: 15 minutes
- Level: Beginner
Do you want to get started on Lightroom as soon as possible and just need a quick overview of the software? This tutorial is your best bet.
It covers everything you need to know about Lightroom including its purpose, how it works, and some tips and tricks in just 15 minutes. The best part is, if you still have questions, Ed has further tutorials that go more in-depth on his page.
Adobe Lightroom Classic CC: The Complete Guide
- How Many Videos: 20 lessons
- How Long: 23 hours and 49 minutes
- Level: All Levels
If you are someone who wants to learn new things but struggles with motivation, this class on Lightroom may be a good option for you.
The class is broken down into a routine so that you are more inclined to finish the class, without trying to learn everything all at once. The class offers a broad overview of Adobe Lightroom, including organization and streamlining your workflow.
iPhone Photo Editing: How to Edit Photos Like a Pro Using Lightroom Mobile
- How Many Resources: 29 lessons
- How Long: 2 hours and 23 minutes
- Level: Beginner
Lightroom by Adobe is also available as a mobile application. If you are looking to be able to edit photos on the move, then taking this class is essential.
It teaches you all of the basics, including how to move the photos from your phone over to the software and some of the basics of the editing the app allows.
Adobe Lightroom: Finding Your Unique Editing Style
- How Many Videos: 12 lessons
- How Long: 1 hour and 18 minutes
- Level: Beginner
Once you get the hang of Lightroom’s basics and how to edit photos using the software, it is time to make improvements to your editing.
If you are looking to edit photos professionally, you will do well finding your own style, instead of just making simple edits. That may sound strange when it comes to photo editing but will mean that your editing stands out from others.
Adobe Lightroom CC Photo Editing: Your Lightroom Masterclass
- How Many Videos: 135 lessons
- How Long: 18 hours and 46 minutes
- Level: Beginner
With this masterclass on Udemy, you will learn not only the basics of Adobe Lightroom but also how to fix common and somewhat uncommon mistakes with photo editing. This class also goes over editing workflow to provide you with an easier time working and a smoother process.
How to Create a Cohesive Instagram Feed Using Adobe Lightroom
- How Many Resources: 9 lessons
- How Long: 31 minutes
- Level: Beginner
Lightroom is for photo editing, but it can have a lot of applications. For one, you can use the photos to add to your Instagram feed. However, just adding photos to your feed isn’t enough.
You want consistency and a theme of lighting to make your page stand out. This class focuses on teaching you how to do just that.
How to Reduce ISO Noise in Lightroom – Noise Reduction Tutorial & Review
- How Many Videos: 1 lesson
- How Long: 14 minutes
- Level: Intermediate
When conditions aren’t ideal for taking photos such as poor lighting conditions, ISO settings that are too high, the camera getting too hot, or long exposure times, you may notice noise in your photos.
This is when there are irregular color specks on your photos. Thankfully, you can use Adobe Lightroom to hide some of the noise while still making the photo look authentic.
Best Lightroom Tutorials FAQS
What Are Some Downsides of Lightroom?
While Lightroom is great for simple editing, that is all it does. If you want to do more advanced editing of your photos, you will need something more detailed.
Many people start off in Lightroom due to its lower costs. As they become more professional or experienced, they then switch to the higher cost, but more advanced Photoshop.
Is Adobe Lightroom Free?
Adobe offers a free trial of Lightroom as a desktop version. It is also available for mobile applications like tablets and smartphones. However, once the free trial is over, it costs $9.99 a month. You can also get it as part of the Creative Cloud subscription.
Is Lightroom Good for Beginners?
Adobe Lightroom is expansive but simple for beginners. Even for those struggling to learn the software, there are enough classes and tutorials out there to make it easy for complete photo-editing newbies to pick it up with ease.