Lightroom Mobile Update: New UI, Powerful New Camera App, Other Stuff!
Adobe just released a major new update to Lightroom Mobile for iPhone Users (not available for the iPad version quite yet). Lots of nice new additions but the star of the show is new User Interface that I believe is a HUGE move in the right direction. The new UI addresses one of my long-standing pet-peeves about the old Lightroom Mobile, which was it took at least twice if not three times as many clicks (OK, taps) in Mobile to do the same thing we do on Lightroom desktop in just one click. This new interface cures that, and I’m thrilled to see it there.
I’ll tell you the rest in the captions (there are new features, too — not just a few interface) (below):
Above: The new interface is much more “Lightroom-like” (well, if you ask me), and controls are grouped together. When you enter editing mode, now you can just grab a slider and go. In the older version you had to tap a tile; then a slider appeared; then you dragged the slider. Sometimes, you even had to scroll first; then tap a tile, then drag a slider. This is much faster, with lots lets taps. I dig it! 🙂
Above: I like the way Adobe has grouped common controls together, like putting all the color sliders in one place (and the white balance eyedropper right there with ’em). I also prefer to work in this wide mode much more now. It really “feels” like Lightroom now.
Above: I know a lot of folks have wanted a way to add captions, titles, and other Metadata info (heck, just to see the metadata info), and now there is a Info window (seen here) that lets you do access all this stuff.
Above: The in-app camera got a BIG boost, and now you can pretty much control all the aspects of the camera in a new “PRO” mode (everything from f/stop, shutter speed (shown here), and ISO. This is a pretty substantial jump, and I really like what Adobe’s done here.
Plus, using the app with one hand has gotten significantly easier with this redesigned UI. Yes, it will take you a few minutes to get used to the new interface, but I’ve been using it a while now, and let me tell you, once you do — you’ll wonder how we used the old one at all. Hats off to the Lightroom Mobile team on constantly evolving and improving the App. I can’t believe how far it’s come in such a short time.
This iPhone-only update is available right now in the App Store. 🙂
You can read more at Adobe’s Official Lightroom blog.
One more thing…
At 4pm ET today I’m doing a LIVE Webcast for KelbyOne members only, where I’m doing a live Q&A for people who watched my “Simplified Lightroom Image Management” (SLIM) System course at KelbyOne. If you’re a member (and you’ve watched the class) you’re invited. Here’s the link (and see you live at 4pm).
Best,
-Scott
It seems the new LR mobile seems to let you ADD a title and comments (single line only) but it’s ignoring/washing out existing metadata in the iptc/tiff/xmp fields. Also clearing out existing keywords that are in the jpg metadata.
Is this a feature or a bug?
I cannot reproduce this issue Seth, at no point in my tests can I see either side losing the caption / title added on the opposite platform.
Any idea why I’m getting a .ig file when i try to export the unprocessed RAW file from LR Mobile?
What in the name of all that’s holy is it going to take for Adobe to provide the ability to keyword images in Lightroom mobile. Seriously, you’d think we’re asking them to part the seas.
Don’t get me started.
Does anybody REALLY use this app? I mean, beyond the novelty of knowing that it exists and playing with it long enough to see what it can do, does anybody REALLY use the app?
All. The. Time. Doubly-so now that it shoots raw and I can control most of the camera settings. It is the most used photo app I own.
You are actually the only one on Earth that doesn’t.
Definitely if I’m on the road without my computer. Obviously if choosing between computer size screen and iPhone, you go computer. But the convenience of having virtually all LR capabilities live and immediate is amazing. You have to get used to it … but invest the time and you’ll LOVE it!
With the added manual controls, and the ability to finally take a photo using the volume rocker, this will become my go-to camera app. Lightroom was already my go-to mobile editing app. So yes, I “really” do use this app.
I wonder when a new version of Lightroom on the Desktop is going to come out. It was one of the only apps they didn’t update to 2017 a month or so ago. Hopefully it has these improvements in the touch mode.
It came out today – I’m releasing a post shortly on it. Just one main new feature, though.
Any idea when the improvements will jump to the iPad, Scott?
Not a clue.
Just saw on Lightroom Journal, “The teams for both Lightroom for iPads as well as Lightroom for Android are also working on adding in the new edit and info experiences and we hope to release those updates soon.” You know, soon. 🙂
Thanks Bob, answer my Android question before I even asked…