Adobe Lightroom CC 2019 for Mac: A Detailed Operation Guide

Step 1: Create a Catalog and Import Photos

On first launch, the software automatically creates a default catalog. All editing information is stored in this catalog.

1. Click the “Import” button in the left panel, or use the shortcut ⌘Cmd + Shift + I.
2. In the import window, select the source disk or folder where the photos are located on the left side.
3. In the middle area, select the specific photos to import (check the thumbnails).
4. Set import options on the right side:
   • “Copy as DNG” / “Copy” / “Move” / “Add”: Usually choose “Copy” to copy photos to the specified location and add them to the catalog.
   • “Destination”: Set the folder where copied photos are stored; organizing by date is recommended.
   • “File Handling”: You can build previews and skip importing potentially duplicate photos.
5. Click the “Import” button in the lower right corner to complete the import.

Step 2: Library Management and Culling

Organize photos in the “Library” module (press G to enter Grid view).

1. Ratings and Flags: While browsing photos, use the number keys 1-5 to assign star ratings; press P to flag as “Pick” and X to flag as “Reject”.
2. Using Color Labels: Press 6-9 to assign red, yellow, green, blue, and other color labels.
3. Culling Views: Above the filmstrip, use attribute filters (flags, star ratings, color labels) to quickly cull photos. For example, click the white flag icon to show only photos flagged as “Pick”.
4. Creating Collections: In the “Collections” area of the left panel, click the “+” sign to create a “Collection” or “Smart Collection”, virtually grouping photos from different folders for easier project management.

Step 3: Photo Editing (“Develop” Module)

Press D or switch to the “Develop” module to enter the core editing interface.

1. Basic Adjustments (top of the right panel):
   • White Balance: Use the eyedropper tool (W) to click on a gray area in the image for correction, or drag the “Temperature” and “Tint” sliders.
   • Tone: Adjust “Exposure,” “Contrast,” “Highlights,” “Shadows,” “Whites,” and “Blacks.” The usual order is: set exposure first, then pull back highlight/shadow detail, and finally fine-tune with whites/blacks.
   • Presence: The “Texture,” “Clarity,” and “Dehaze” sliders can locally enhance detail and depth.
2. Local Adjustments:
   • Adjustment Brush (K): Paint locally to independently adjust exposure, clarity, and other parameters. Check “Auto Mask” to help detect edges.
   • Radial Filter (Shift + M): Create an elliptical area for inside or outside adjustments, commonly used for local brightening or darkening.
   • Graduated Filter (M): Drag a gradient area from the edge of the image for adjustments, commonly used to balance sky and foreground exposure.
3. Detail and Lens Corrections:
   • “Detail” panel: Apply sharpening (hold the Option key while dragging the masking slider to view the sharpening range) and reduce color noise.
   • “Lens Correction” panel: Check “Enable profile corrections” and “Remove chromatic aberration” to automatically correct lens distortion and color fringing.

Step 4: Sync Settings and Batch Processing

In Grid View (G), select an edited photo, then ⌘Cmd + click to select other photos that need the same settings applied, and click the “Sync” button in the bottom right corner. In the dialog that appears, check the adjustment items you want to sync and click “Sync.”

Step 5: Export Photos

1. Select the photo(s) you want to export (single or multiple).
2. Click the “Export” button at the bottom of the left panel, or use the menu File > Export (⌘Cmd + Shift + E).
3. Configure settings in the Export dialog:
   • Export Location: Choose a specific folder or “Same folder as original photo.”
   • File Naming: Customize the exported file name.
   • File Settings: Choose format (JPEG/TIFF/DNG, etc.), quality (80-100 recommended for JPEG), and color space (sRGB for web use).
   • Image Sizing: Adjust the long edge in pixels or resolution to limit output dimensions.
   • Output Sharpening: Choose the amount of sharpening based on the photo’s intended use (screen/matte paper/glossy paper).
4. Click “Export”, and the photos will be processed according to your settings and saved to the specified location.