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res3567 · 11-10-2009, 08:06 PM

I just got an email from Adobe saying Lightroom 3 Beta is available for experienced users like me to download for trial use I guess. I ain't never been part of a beta test but wanted to let ya'll know it's out there..................

figmental1978 · 11-10-2009, 08:16 PM

It's been out for a few a few weeks now Rob and it's open to anyone.

AOski · 11-10-2009, 08:25 PM

Yup, I've been using it for a few weeks now. I don't think all the noise reduction works yet, but other than that...no complaints.

figmental1978 · 11-10-2009, 09:19 PM

...or praises. There seems to be a few improvements but nothing jaw dropping.

res3567 · 11-10-2009, 10:19 PM

Originally posted by figmental1978

It's been out for a few a few weeks now Rob and it's open to anyone.

Then what up with the late email?

jezza323 · 11-10-2009, 11:32 PM

few ppl have mentioned its quite slow compared to 2.5 - i havent actually tried to use it myself yet so i cant comment on that. but any of you users also found that?

figmental1978 · 11-11-2009, 02:33 AM

Originally posted by res3567

Then what up with the late email?

You'll have to take that up with Adobe

res3567 · 11-11-2009, 03:18 PM

Originally posted by figmental1978

You'll have to take that up with Adobe

Maybe it goes by who has the higher priced software and or who already has Lightroom which I do not, yet......
I tried the trial version and I have Photoshop 7 and Elements 7.......... Anyway I was just sreading the LATE news!

WMBP · 11-11-2009, 03:44 PM

Originally posted by res3567

I just got an email from Adobe saying Lightroom 3 Beta is available for experienced users like me to download for trial use I guess. I ain't never been part of a beta test but wanted to let ya'll know it's out there..................

I've been using the beta of 3 for a couple of weeks now. I like it. It's an improvement on a program that was already very good - rather than a major redo designed to give you the impression that it's practically a new program. Improvements include:

Redesigned import dialog. I'm still not sure whether I like this change or not. I found it confusing at first but I am starting to get used to it.
A new raw conversion process. This is an important improvement. The changes are subtle but valuable.
You can know add a copyright notice or name plate to exported photos, and you have a variety of options here.
A new "grain" feature which ADDS film-like grain to photos. I've actually used this and like it. Picasa has had something like this for a while but Lightroom's is much more sophisticated.
Supposedly noise reduction is improved or will be improved but this feature isn't fully accessible yet.
Supposedly Lightroom 3 will be FASTER than Lightroom 2.5, although I think at the moment, the beta has not been optimized and it's definitely not faster.
Support for uploading directly to various online services. The beta has built-in support only for Flickr, but other services like Picasa Web Albums and SmugMug (the two I use most often) should be coming.
Other improvements to slideshow, printing, backup....

The main thing that's NOT there that I wish were, is a perspective correction tool.

BE CAREFUL. THIS IS BETA SOFTWARE. It does have bugs. I've reported a couple myself already. But so far, the bugs I've run into have been fairly benign. Still, during the public beta of Lightroom 2 I found a bug that actually caused the program to delete an entire folder of files irrevocably. (Fortunately the folder of mine that was deleted wasn't critical - and I worked with a very eager Adobe engineer to help him kill that cockroach.) Adobe warns you not to use this beta release for serious production work. I'm using it only for personal photos that aren't critical to me. So far, so good.

Will

jezza323 · 11-11-2009, 09:44 PM

if they have film grain and automatic uploading to picasa webalbums im totally sold

although the speed will have to be at least the same as 2.5

WMBP · 11-11-2009, 09:52 PM

Originally posted by jezza323

if they have film grain and automatic uploading to picasa webalbums im totally sold

although the speed will have to be at least the same as 2.5

Film grain feature is there and seems to work well. Not the kind of thing one needs often, but I used it on a nice dark moody photo and liked the effect.

Uploading to Picasa Web Albums isn't implemented yet in the beta but should be coming. Perhaps somebody has already released a plug-in that will do it. It actually was available as a plug-in for 2.5 (ditto SmugMug).

The improved performance is mentioned in Adobe's info about Lightroom 3 as a definite. I just don't think they've optimized the beta yet so at the moment Lightroom 3 seems to be a bit SLOWER than 2.5. Presumably that will be fixed by or before final release.

Will

Mark Morb · 11-12-2009, 03:37 AM

I've actually been reading lot's of positive comments about the new Beta amongst the online Lightroom community. A few major improvements and lots of small things that should make the software that bit easier and useful.
Regarding the performance of the software, it is common that alpha and beta releases will be full of debug code and routines logging everything and providing in and out points for testing purposes.
These things are not normally removed until final version software and that is also when a further round of code optimization is done (to produce a Release Candidate) I'm sure the final product will suffer no performance issues at all..

11-10-2009, 08:06 PM	#1
res3567 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Houston Tx. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,876	Lightroom Beta I just got an email from Adobe saying Lightroom 3 Beta is available for experienced users like me to download for trial use I guess. I ain't never been part of a beta test but wanted to let ya'll know it's out there..................

11-11-2009, 03:44 PM	#9
WMBP Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,482	Originally posted by res3567 I just got an email from Adobe saying Lightroom 3 Beta is available for experienced users like me to download for trial use I guess. I ain't never been part of a beta test but wanted to let ya'll know it's out there.................. I've been using the beta of 3 for a couple of weeks now. I like it. It's an improvement on a program that was already very good - rather than a major redo designed to give you the impression that it's practically a new program. Improvements include: Redesigned import dialog. I'm still not sure whether I like this change or not. I found it confusing at first but I am starting to get used to it. A new raw conversion process. This is an important improvement. The changes are subtle but valuable. You can know add a copyright notice or name plate to exported photos, and you have a variety of options here. A new "grain" feature which ADDS film-like grain to photos. I've actually used this and like it. Picasa has had something like this for a while but Lightroom's is much more sophisticated. Supposedly noise reduction is improved or will be improved but this feature isn't fully accessible yet. Supposedly Lightroom 3 will be FASTER than Lightroom 2.5, although I think at the moment, the beta has not been optimized and it's definitely not faster. Support for uploading directly to various online services. The beta has built-in support only for Flickr, but other services like Picasa Web Albums and SmugMug (the two I use most often) should be coming. Other improvements to slideshow, printing, backup.... The main thing that's NOT there that I wish were, is a perspective correction tool. BE CAREFUL. THIS IS BETA SOFTWARE. It does have bugs. I've reported a couple myself already. But so far, the bugs I've run into have been fairly benign. Still, during the public beta of Lightroom 2 I found a bug that actually caused the program to delete an entire folder of files irrevocably. (Fortunately the folder of mine that was deleted wasn't critical - and I worked with a very eager Adobe engineer to help him kill that cockroach.) Adobe warns you not to use this beta release for serious production work. I'm using it only for personal photos that aren't critical to me. So far, so good. Will

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11-10-2009, 08:16 PM	#2
figmental1978 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 789	It's been out for a few a few weeks now Rob and it's open to anyone.

11-10-2009, 08:25 PM	#3
AOski Inactive Account Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 103	Yup, I've been using it for a few weeks now. I don't think all the noise reduction works yet, but other than that...no complaints.

11-10-2009, 09:19 PM	#4
figmental1978 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 789	...or praises. There seems to be a few improvements but nothing jaw dropping.

11-10-2009, 10:19 PM	#5
res3567 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Houston Tx. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,876 Original Poster	Originally posted by figmental1978 It's been out for a few a few weeks now Rob and it's open to anyone. Then what up with the late email?

11-10-2009, 11:32 PM	#6
jezza323 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,421	few ppl have mentioned its quite slow compared to 2.5 - i havent actually tried to use it myself yet so i cant comment on that. but any of you users also found that?

11-11-2009, 02:33 AM	#7
figmental1978 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 789	Originally posted by res3567 Then what up with the late email? You'll have to take that up with Adobe

11-11-2009, 03:18 PM	#8
res3567 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Houston Tx. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,876 Original Poster	Originally posted by figmental1978 You'll have to take that up with Adobe Maybe it goes by who has the higher priced software and or who already has Lightroom which I do not, yet...... I tried the trial version and I have Photoshop 7 and Elements 7.......... Anyway I was just sreading the LATE news!

11-11-2009, 09:44 PM	#10
jezza323 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,421	if they have film grain and automatic uploading to picasa webalbums im totally sold although the speed will have to be at least the same as 2.5

11-11-2009, 09:52 PM	#11
WMBP Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,482	Originally posted by jezza323 if they have film grain and automatic uploading to picasa webalbums im totally sold although the speed will have to be at least the same as 2.5 Film grain feature is there and seems to work well. Not the kind of thing one needs often, but I used it on a nice dark moody photo and liked the effect. Uploading to Picasa Web Albums isn't implemented yet in the beta but should be coming. Perhaps somebody has already released a plug-in that will do it. It actually was available as a plug-in for 2.5 (ditto SmugMug). The improved performance is mentioned in Adobe's info about Lightroom 3 as a definite. I just don't think they've optimized the beta yet so at the moment Lightroom 3 seems to be a bit SLOWER than 2.5. Presumably that will be fixed by or before final release. Will

11-12-2009, 03:37 AM	#12
Mark Morb Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Norfolk, England Posts: 203	I've actually been reading lot's of positive comments about the new Beta amongst the online Lightroom community. A few major improvements and lots of small things that should make the software that bit easier and useful. Regarding the performance of the software, it is common that alpha and beta releases will be full of debug code and routines logging everything and providing in and out points for testing purposes. These things are not normally removed until final version software and that is also when a further round of code optimization is done (to produce a Release Candidate) I'm sure the final product will suffer no performance issues at all..

Lightroom Beta

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