Adobe released a public beta of Photoshop Lightroom 5. Most improvements this round are focussed on retouching. Some new key features:
Advanced Healing Brush
While the Clone Stamp tool can retouch spots using a circular brush the new tool allows freeform shapes. Trace an object you want removed and have Lightroom replace it with surrounding background.
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Image courtesy Adobe Systems.
Upright
Automates perspective correction. Less need to manually adjust architecture distortion.
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Image courtesy Adobe Systems.
Radial Filter
The current Gradient tool let you gradually apply effects in a linear manner from the edge of an image. This new Radial Filter tool does the same anywhere on the image as a circle or oval. The example below produces a spot light effect on the face.
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Image courtesy Adobe Systems.
Smart Previews
Phase One introduced offline image adjustments with Capture One 7 and it works brilliantly by storing your settings in its catalog. Adobe are storing offline previews as DNG lossy files, a new spec they introduced with Lightroom 4. Concerned with how Adobe is tackling this one I’m waiting until the final release to make a judgement.
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DNG Verification
The highlight for DAM is being able to verify the integrity of your DNG raw files. To find out why this is important visit dpBestflow.org.
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As with any beta software you’re advised not to use Lightroom 5 beta on important work. For more info, to download the Lightroom 5 beta or offer feedback to Adobe visit their blog:
http://blogs.adobe.com/lightroomjournal/2013/04/lightroom-5-beta-now-available.html