10 Things I Would Tell a New Lightroom User: #8

Happy Tuesday, folks. I’m skipping the usual disclaimer today, but if you feel like writing something angry in a comment, then give it a quick read first. OK, let’s get to it:

#8: Turn Off Auto Show/Hide for Your Left/Right Side Panels

If I had a dollar for every email or comment I get from new Lightroom users literally begging me, “Please tell me there’s a way to stop the panels from popping in and out on me all day long!” then I’d have… well… a whole bunch of dollars by now.

Thankfully, there is: right-click on the little arrow on the center edge of each panel and a pop-up menu will appear, where you can choose Manual. Now the panels will only open when you actually click on that little arrow (or if you press one of these F-key keyboard shortcuts):

F5 to show/hide the top Navigation panel
F6 for the Filmstrip at the bottom
F7 for the left side Panels area
F8 for the right side Panels area

Extra tip: if you press the Tab key on your keyboard, it hides left and right side panels. Press Shift-Tab and it hides the top and bottom panels at the same time (I’m a big Shift-Tab guy, myself).

OK, there ya have it — short & sweet and all that stuff. Make sure you stop by and check out Pete’s post here tomorrow.

Have a good one!

-Scott.