How Do I Do That In Lightroom? | Chapter 4: How to Edit Your Images

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Chapter 4: How to Edit Your Images

Develop Module Stuff

This chapter is about editing your images, but at the end of the day (around 7:00 p.m.), I can only tell you which sliders do what—the actual act of editing your images is something that is very personal. Very private. Especially if you’re editing naughty images, but you’re not supposed to edit naughty images (they should always be just straight out of the camera), so we’ll remove the private part, and just stick with personal. Now, when it comes to doing some serious image editing, I actually think it’s very important that you create the proper editing environment, and get in the “zone” and mindset of an artist. Some people think this means changing all the light bulbs in their studio to match a particular number on the Kelvin temperature scale or lowering the contrast and brightness on their display, so it looks like they’re working on a monitor from 1998, but I think it’s much more personal than that. First, start by setting the mood with some soft music. Instrumental songs work best, so your mind isn’t distracted by the lyrics. I can’t be trying to edit a beautiful landscape while the lyrics, “So, ladies! (Yeah!) Ladies! (Yeah!) If you wanna roll in my Mercedes. (Yeah!) Then turn around! Stick it out! Even white boys got to shout…” float through the airwaves—I need soft, calming cellos instead. I also recommend lowering the lights, and a glass of wine would be nice—perhaps a nice merlot like a 2010 Château Faizeau, Montagne-Saint-Émilion, from Bordeaux, France. Now, with everything in place, you may begin the art of editing. When you’re done, and you see a beautifully edited image onscreen, then, and only then, is it acceptable to jump up and yell, “Baby got back!” [LA face with an Oakland booty!]