Starting your RAW workflow with Lightroom/Camera RAW Profile Browser

During my on-location photography workshops, I teach post processing at downtime when we are not shooting. An interesting observation is that lots of students jump straight into Adobe Lightroom Classic CC or Camera Raw basic panel to edit the tones, white balance of the photo, without even knowing the existence of Image Profile, and how it can aid your image processing.

As the raw files are imported and displayed in Lightroom, the colors and tones/contrast of the raw file has to be interpreted by the image Profile built into the Lightroom. It’s one of the very first steps in Lightroom workflow.

Lightroom Classic has more profiles than earlier versions of Lightroom, so Adobe added the Profile Browser tool to the very top of Basic Panel in Develop Module (Image 1), enabling you to select, compare, organize and search them.

The latest version of Lightroom Classic has 3 sets of built in Profiles (All these profiles are also available in Adobe Camera Raw in Photoshop):

Each profile will interpret and display the image differently in term of colors and tones/contrast. It’s a smart practice to start your image processing by comparing different profiles, and select your most favored one for the image. Here is how to pick your most favored profile for the image.

The following are the same RAW image I shot in Faroe Islands, applied with different Profiles, note the difference of colors and tones. With your choice of Profile applied to your image at the beginning of post processing, you will save time down the road to achieve intended effect/look of your image.

William Yu Teaches:

Photographers Guide to Travel Photography

“I just wanted to thank you for another wonderful class. I have to confess that each week when I read the new assignment, my first reaction was mild panic and a deep certainty that I would not be able to produce anything worthwhile that fit within the parameters you had set. But before I knew it, the ideas started to flow, and I quickly became obsessed (no, that isn’t too strong a word!) with exploring the possibilities. I can honestly say that the photos I produced in response to your assignments are among my favorites. Thanks for bringing out a creative side I didn’t know I had!”

Barbara Geiger
Understanding Color

“Thank you so very much for this course! It’s allowed me to take the blinders off and present my images for what I want them to be without being a slave to the “reality” of the camera. I would also add that in conjunction with your printing course, this has been the most useful course I’ve ever taken. Your notes are more than comprehensive and your comments and critiques are direct, clear, and always directed to the improvement of the art.”

Bill
After the click

” I want to thank you for this class and for your patience and availability to answer all of my questions. I have learned very much through this class. I have used LR in the past, but mostly for editing images. I now have a better grasp in the organization of my images, an even better understanding of editing images, and an understanding of the value of presets. I still have a lot to learn, but this has put me on the road to be able to improve my photography. Again, thank you! ”

Dale Yates
Lightroom Quickstart

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