Lightroom went through a protracted public beta test period, which added considerably to what is included in the 1.0 release version. Some of the additions included refinements and features added to the sorting, rating, and search capabilities. The Develop module also now includes many refinements not in the first beta release, making it more comprehensive, efficient, and effective, such as a cloning capability to clean up sensor dust spots.

Once you have sorted and culled a shoot with a particular image selected, just click at the top right of the screen on Develop and you have all of the adjustment tools at hand.

Generally, the beta process confirmed from my perspective that Lightroom is seen by many professionals as a "bottom line" type software; that is, one where efficiency, and not elaboration, is of the greatest benefit. Lightroom is a recognition that for most professionals time spent using it is not "billable" time but an overhead cost. It also seems to confirm the end of a trend that started with early adopters of digital photography--clients asking photographers to provide press-ready submissions. The very high wall that historically existed between photography and press functions apparently has not been brought down by digital convergence; indeed, many clients no longer expect to get pre-press done on the cheap as part of what photographers submit. In my opinion it is just not a practical or a viable solution to expect professional photographers to provide pre-press services. This is reflected in the rather limited output options Lightroom provides, and which are divided into three categories: Print, Slideshow, and Web.

Evaluation And Recommendation
Lightroom has evolved into an effective, targeted tool primarily for professionals. It functionally falls between Elements and Photoshop/Bridge but with a more particular purpose and function that, although not restricted to digital camera raw files, does not really compete with what either Elements or Photoshop provides. Many photographers may very well be fully served in all their image processing and editing needs by Lightroom simply because they don't have a need for the tools and processes that are included in a comprehensive image editor and creative application like either Photoshop or Elements. And although the beta process seemed to indicate the target user of Lightroom is likely to be a professional photographer, many advanced photo enthusiasts actually do photography in a way that parallels how the pros work, so Lightroom should be taken seriously by any active photo enthusiast. This is especially true for those who shoot primarily in raw format and produce sizeable numbers of exposures in one project or session.

Output using Adobe's Lightroom, whether Print, Slideshow, or Web, is efficient and straightforward but not without some of the niceties, like easily adding a signature or copyright line, as well as a line(s) of essential data like file name or job designation.

Unlike starting from scratch with Photoshop, Lightroom is much easier to learn and you can get up to speed quite quickly. It certainly provides a much more efficient workflow. I almost hate to say it but it is what people call a "no-brainer." That is, unless you are an Apple Mac computer user and then you have the very similar Apple Aperture, now in Version 1.5.2 (see my report that also appears in this issue). In the first quarter of its release a Lightroom purchase involves a $100 discount: the list price of Adobe's Lightroom is $299.

For more information, contact Adobe Systems Inc., 345 Park Ave., San Jose, CA 95110; (800) 492-3623, (408) 536-6000; www.adobe.com.