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We clicked with:
Localised non-destructive editing
64bit version means more RAM can be accessed for speedier processing
Both Mac & PC
Shots in the dark:
Still slow to process and render imports
Power hungry: more unstable with lower spec machines
No CMYK support
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Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 takes the concept of photo management and injects it with some raw power - quite literally, as Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) 4.5 works behind the scenes, meaning churning through large camera raw workflows is light work. The original Lightroom had its merits, but version 2 really steps things up with a bunch of tweaks, as well as a more advanced 'Develop' module for some advanced localised non-destructive editing (without the immediate need for Photoshop).
Features & Operation
The principal of Lightroom 2 is to view, catalogue and process your camera raw files. As ACR 4.5 is the basis of this program, there are around 220 supported raw formats. Pretty much whichever camera(s) you use, Lightroom 2 has the ability to quickly import and catalogue these images to a 'Library' as visual files - none of the irritating hassle of installing third party software and processing individual images just to get a look in to your raw files.
As well as importing images, Lightroom 2 also has the ability to apply metadata and keywords - this being the 'background' information embedded in images to preserve your copyright, as well as to textually detail the image's content. If this is a new idea for you, then it's essentially for the purposes of searching. Imagine, for example, the tens of thousands of images that arrive at a news desk each day. The best way of finding an image is to search by keywords, so those images with the most accurate and greater volume of keywords have a better chance of being located.
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Apply this theory to your own work and it can help you to segregate your own shoots by type, for client/personal work, or in any way that you logically wish to catalogue. As your personal catalogue of images grows, it may become necessary to store on external devices. The previous versions of Lightroom were not particularly explicit when it came to detailing a file's location. Lightroom 2 comes complete with 'Volume Browser' that arranged everything in folders to the left of the 'Library' module, but where it really excels is by displaying a green or red 'light' depending whether that volume is on or offline. Great when plugging in external drives, flash drives or similar - as if you do not plug the original file into Lightroom 2's interface then it will be unable to edit and output the developed raw file. This makes organisation that touch more manageable.
Editing is a big part of any photographer's workflow, and once you have all your images imported and the necessary keywords assigned, you'll want to make a final selection. Lightroom 2 has a variety of ways to do this - you can flag, assign a colour, or add a star rating to your images (individually, in batches or to entire folders/collections). Then it's possible to filter your search with the updated search bar, making it easier to find your images by accumulating these attributes, metadata and keyword information to locate your images. Not content with stopping there, Lightroom 2 takes things a step further by introducing Smart Collections. To explain: A Smart Collection is essentially a preset filter method that dynamically incorporates additional images that match the criteria specified for that collection as they are introduced to the catalogue. You can make as many collections as you wish, add as many rules as you like, or even have no rules at all - it's equally as easy to drag whichever images you want into a collection. This way it's easy to locate the best of the best, the crème de la crème, with absolute ease.
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Compared to the previous version, Lightroom 2 is a tad quicker. Perhaps not as fast as many would like it to be - especially with a program such as Apple's Aperture 2 on the market, that, although only available for Mac, imports and renders previews up to twice as fast. The processing power of the two programs is arguably the same, though there are reports of Apple Aperture 2 not dealing with Adobe DNG format too well. Hardly surprising that Lightroom 2 laps up this format though; it is one of Adobe's own.
If you are looking to run Lightroom 2, then you will need a meaty computer to run it on - preferably Mac OS 10.5 Leopard or Windows Vista with some hefty background hardware. To notch things up another level there's 64bit support, with Lightroom 2 being the first Adobe program to harness this power. You may or may not know that if you have more than 4GB of RAM and run a 32bit Operating System then you don't get to use all that memory, there's simply not enough channels to transmit data between the program and the RAM itself. Download the 64bit version and you can plug into 8-16GB of RAM with no problems, which will stabilise your system when using multiple programs and speed up any developments that you may make inside Lightroom. This is especially useful if you have a particularly high resolution input - Lightroom 2 tops out at 65,000 pixels wide, which is support enough for 512megapixel files. Shouldn't cause too many people any issues then! (It's worth noting that although Windows XP x64 is a 64bit system, it's not officially supported by Adobe. However, official or not, it is still possible to install the 64bit version 'at your own risk').
The new 'Develop' module that Lightroom 2 offers really hots up proceedings. Anyone shooting raw will know the sort of non-destructive post production power that's provided - Lightroom 2 harnesses this, but then pushes things a step further. The new Adjustment Brush and Gradient Filter provide the means to locally apply your raw adjustments, no longer will the whole image be affected, unless you so wish. More impressive still is the Gradient Filter tool that essentially mimics, say, a graduated neutral density or colour filter. This means on top of the raw adjustment power, there's the addition of gradient colour overlays, which feels a lot like painting into an image. It's very clever and saves a great deal of time that you may otherwise depend on Photoshop for.
Other features have been further enhanced, such as the post-crop vignette tool allowing for maximum creativity - whether countering or enhancing the effect. The one and only major issue is just how power hungry Lightroom can be. This test installed on multiple machines, with the runt of the litter struggling, even crashing on a number of occasions.
Post crop vignette (only right side is visible in example image)
Spot removal tool, quick non-destructive retouching for your raw files
Developing inside Lightroom 2 isn't the answer to all of your problems of course, but the full 'Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2' name hints at the hand-in-hand support for Photoshop. From Lightroom it's quick and easy to export a file into Photoshop as a Smart Object, then simply click Save and the file will be stacked behind the original raw (or other) file in your library. So quickly tabbing between the two programs is well integrated and speeds up proceedings. There's even ProPhoto RGB support too, meaning high end imports can move into Photoshop without compression or colour loss. The most notable oversight is that CMYK files are not supported by Lightroom 2. Sure your raw files will not be anything but RGB, but that doesn't mean that many final CMYK print-ready images should be shunned from Lightroom's gallery.
In terms of output, Lightroom looks to tackle every angle - 'Slideshow', 'Print' and 'Web' modules all feature. Should you wish for on screen displays at home or in your studio then Slideshow can now benefit from the multi monitor support (that wasn't possible in previous versions). The 'Web' module auto-arranges and readies your collection for web, where a variety of adjustable presets are available. But the biggie among them has to be the 'Print' module: Lay ay a single image or a collection out in multiple formats on one page with the new 'picture packages' option, add your name/logo/signature as text or graphic, or use the automated output sharpening presets for crisper prints. The main omission for output is that there's no still PhotoBook module still - something Apple continue to support and a feature many anticipated appearing in Lightroom 2.
Potential future development also lays wide open, as the SDK (Software Development Kit) allows third party developers to generate Lightroom plug-ins for any area of the program - be that print presets, complex web gallery layouts, custom metadata modules or some other innovation; watch this space in anticipation...
Conclusion
If you, like many, run a PC then Lightroom 2 is the best photo workflow software available on the market. If you find working with raw nothing but time-consuming hassle, the Lightroom 2 will positively change your outlook and open up a whole world of creativity. Applying keywords and metadata, significant raw processing power and clever searchable cataloguing all happen in one place - if you shoot a lot, work on specific projects over long periods of time, then this is the ideal program to keep you deftly organised.
Anyone using a previous version of Lightroom wondering whether it's worth upgrading? In a word - yes. The localised adjustment alone warrants the £80 upgrade. The 64bit software revolution seems to be starting too, so why not get on the bandwagon and reap the full benefit of your uber-powerful computer, starting with Lightroom 2.
Overview: What's new in Lightroom 2?
Localised non-destructive adjustments with new Adjustment Brush and Graduated Filter tools
Multi-monitor support
Simplified keywording, including suggested keywords & streamlined Library browsing
Support for large file sizes up to 65,000 pixels (512 megapixels)
Smart collections automatically stay up-to-date with the photos that meet your specified metadata criteria
Post crop vignette
Improved Photoshop integration
Improved performance, including 64bit support
Output Software Development Kit will allow third parties to create plug-ins
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