FeaturedLightroom Classic

Adobe, please finally make Type decent in Lightroom

A couple of weeks ago I did a tutorial (link) on how to create a 6-up layout in the print module (six tall images on one page). In that tutorial I showed how to use the Identify Plate so you can add text below your image. Even as I was writing the tutorial, I couldn’t help but think, “This is just a mess.” 

It was Adobe that first brought professional type to computing — it’s in their DNA — heck a ton of our fonts have Adobe in the title, but when it came to Lightroom, it’s like Adobe got amnesia. Lightroom has the most limited type features of any program you have today on your computer. Any of them. Even Apple’s free TextEdit app runs rings about Lightroom’s type features…with one exception and that’s what this post is about.

Take a look at the Type panel from Lightroom Classic’s Book module (below):

Tracking, Leading, Kerning, Baseline Shift…actual real type controls and even text style presets. Real type controls, and this is already in Lightroom Classic inside the Book module.

Dear Adobe: Please copy this panel over to the Print Module and the Slideshow module.

You’ve already created it. It’s got a UI. It’s already a panel inside of Lightroom. It’s already there, just one module over. Move it over and then type in Lightroom is at least decent.

I know this might not be on the top of your Lightroom wish list, but this is already there. It’s not like we’re asking for a new feature — just take one that’s already there and copy it to where it will do more good. It’s low-hanging fruit for the Lightroom team. Just pick it!

Thanks for listening. 🙂

-Scott

Share:

6 comments

  1. Matthew O’Brien 20 February, 2020 at 17:19 Reply

    Scott,

    I support your request one million percent.

    I posted this request more than 9 years ago. Please read my initial request and other comments by me and others in the subsequent discussion.

    From memory, you are now making almost exactly the same suggestions.

    I also agree, given the Font dna within Adobe and the skills they have in the print, the functionality in the Slide Show module ( just port this to the print module please) and the features already available in the book module, this would have been addressed a long time ago.

    I notice that a lot of the gottchas and usability improvements needed in Lr and Ps have got some some very welcome TLC.

    Maybe adding your support to this functionality will edge it closer to reality.

    Here is my feature request from 9 years ago.

    https://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/major_improvement_to_printing_module_features https://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/major_improvement_to_printing_module_features

  2. Irwin Strowe 20 February, 2020 at 10:21 Reply

    Thanks Scott, I don’t use type a lot, but when I do want to Lightroom is really lacking.
    Hopefully they will add this since the Identity Plate is horrible as you mention.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *