HARNESS THE POWER OF RAW!

Take your captures to the next level with this 10-step tutorial for Adobe Lightroom Classic CC. Dan Mold is your expert guide...

A side from its creative and manual control options, one of the biggest benefits an interchangeable-lens camera system, whether DSLR or mirrorless, is the ability to shoot in raw format. Raw refers to the 'raw' data captured by the camera's sensor, whereas the jpeg format that cameras also commonly use is processed in-camera before you even see it. These jpegs are smaller in file size and look more vibrant than unedited raw files - but raw files, however, offer more latitude at the editing stage because their properties can be modified much more effectively. The popular editing software Lightroom Classic CC is tailor-made for working with raw files - so whether you shoot raw already and would like to improve the results you get or you want to give raw editing a try for the first time, here's how you can harness Lightroom's raw power...

1 Understand the Lightroom interface

Lightroom Classic CC has a vast variety of post-processing options. It requires you to import your images before you can start working on them, which can make it a bit overwhelming and harder to use than a program such as Photoshop CC. Once you get the hang of it, though, it can be a brilliant workflow solution. The software is divided up into different modules. The two main areas you'll be using to edit your images are the Library module, where you sort, organise and import your pictures; and the Develop module, where you carry out your edits.

1 Modules

Navigate between the Library, where you import your shots, and Develop, where you edit them.

The additional modules here give you access to even more tools.

2 Main image

This is where your edited image is displayed. Press Y to compare your edited version with the unedited original so you can check your work.

3 Panels (left)