Introduction to Adobe Photoshop Lightroom v.1.0

I've been working my way through the first release of Lightroom and I think I have learnt what it is all about. I've decided I like it. I don't think it is a replacement for Photoshop, especially not CS3. However, depending on the sort of photographer you are and if you spend a lot of time making the photograph right in camera or do work like stock photography that does not want a lot of post-production, you could do without Photoshop and go straight from camera to delivery in several formats by using Lightroom alone.

These are the note points I made as I found out good points and useful features about Lightroom v.1. -

• Lightroom can import files direct from the card, copy, rename and make backups in different formats and in different folders and drives, all at once
• It makes very strong use of presets and templates. You can make and save templates for all sorts of situations - printing, applying settings when saving, applying edits automatically on import
• Since it is database driven, it can be backed up reliably and efficiently and all the settings and effects applied do not permanently affect the original image but are saved with the file
  
• It can make virtual collections without moving files
• It has a lot of ways of filtering files by keyword, settings, rating, metadata etc.It can apply metadata templates to files and you can browse and select images by metadata
• You can tag (stamp) files quickly with keywords
• Keyboard shortcuts are plentiful and easy to use to speed up workflow
• Views are totally adjustable and interface panels can be folded up out of sight
• Files can be grouped and stacked
• There are several ways of viewing images together to compare them
• Virtual copies of an original image can have different looks and still be used together in groups, slideshows and prints
• The Print Module lets you preview different layouts interactively, zoom, change borders and stroke borders and you can print directly from Lightroom without saving the different formats
• You can save and swap your own templates and modules and it has a good range of proof and work templates to start with
  
• You can personalise the Identity Plate to brand the Interface, watermark the proofs and prints and add information to prints
• Lightroom can make slideshows quickly and use soundtracks from an Itunes library. PDF slideshows are exported without sound though.
  
• Presets can be previewed without being applied so you can swiftly cycle through the choice
• You can save snapshots
• You can make changes to groups and selections of images at the same time, replacing batch work
• The Dust Spot Tool is re-editable by going back to it at any time and it can be used as a clone tool
• You can copy and paste Develop settings between images
• You can nest collections
• You can nest keywords in a hierarchy
  
• You can organise images very quickly with filters and the thumbnail icons.

I would say that Adobe have done a good job of building a replacement for Bridge and I think that most photographers will prefer to use Lightroom just because it makes the production of deliverables so quick and easy.