Adobe Lightroom Masterclass - Beginner to Expert (Udemy.com)
Learn to Sort, Filter, Organize and Edit photos like a pro in this comprehensive guide to Adobe Lightroom
Created by: YouAccel Training
Last updated June 2017
Our take
Based on the ratings of 2,367 students, a sample of their written reviews and the syllabus, as the course stood in June 2017. No course pays to be reviewed.
This is a module by module walkthrough of Lightroom Classic from YouAccel Training, about 8 hours across 146 lectures. It covers catalogs, import, file formats and color spaces, then spends the bulk of its time in the Library and Develop modules before touring Map, Book, Slideshow, Print, Web and tethering. Roughly 313,000 students have enrolled. It suits beginners and hobbyists who want to know what every panel does rather than learn a few editing recipes. Working photographers who already know the basics will find much of it familiar.
Reviewers like the systematic order and the short lecture lengths, which make it easy to pause, try a step, and come back. One reviewer says it is the first course that explained the whole program instead of bits of it. The big complaint is age. The recording dates from 2017 and has not been updated, so the interface will not match a current install, newer masking tools are missing, and the Print and Web modules look quite different now. Two reviewers also mention blank minutes at the end of some videos, and a couple wish the Develop section went deeper. The rating breakdown is still lopsided toward four and five stars.
It is paid and sits beside more recently updated Lightroom Classic courses on our list. If you want a patient, orderly reference to the whole program and can tolerate an older interface, it does that job well when it is on sale. If you want current masking tools or a quick editing workflow, one of the newer courses next to it is the better pick.
Pros
- Short lectures make it easy to pause, apply a step in your own catalog, and come back.
- Covers all seven modules, including Book, Slideshow, Print, Web and tethering.
- Reviewers praise the clear, systematic explanations that build from zero.
- The file formats and color space section covers RAW, DNG, sRGB and ProPhoto RGB, per the syllabus.
Cons
- Recorded in 2017 and never updated, so the interface and newer masking tools will not match yours.
- Print and Web modules have changed a lot since; one reviewer calls that material incomplete now.
- Some videos end with minutes of blank screen, and the Develop section could go deeper.
by far this has been the best as it goes through each panel, and every single option of how the software actually works, it shows you how to complete each step, step by step
Listed as all levels, but the pace and detail suit true beginners best; experienced editors will skim large parts.
What you will learn
- Create image catalogs, configure preferences and import images into Lightroom
- Understand how to calibrate colour profiles and work with various colour spaces
- Work with different file formats including RAW, TIFF, PSD, JPEG and DNG
- Export images to Photoshop for Additional Editing
- Customize the Lightroom interface using identity plates.
- Configure and Apply text or graphical watermarks to images.
- Proficiently navigate the Library, Develop, Map, Print, Slideshow and Web Modules
- Use keywords, colour labels, star ratings, pick flags, and image attributes to filter, sort and organize images.
- Work with quick collections, collection sets, smart collections, and smart previews to perform automated filtering functions.
- Work with various views such as compare view, loupe view and grid view.
- Create metadata presets to apply copyright, GPS and other important information to images.
- Perform image adjustments using the histogram, white balance, tone curves, noise reduction, sharpening and many other core adjustment features
- Use artistic tools such as red eye removal, sport removal, clone tool, graduated filter, radial filter, and the adjustment brush
- Apply special effects using artistic vignetting, grain effects and dehazing.
- Write Metadata to XMP Sidecar files to maintain non-destructive attributes of RAW files.
- Geotag and plot images on a Map using the Map module.
- Filter location tagged images using the saved locations panel.
- Create custom book layouts using the Book Module.
- Publish books to Blurb, PDF or JPEG images.
- Prepare stunning slideshow presentations in the Slideshow Module.
- Apply background music, slide transitions and video content to Slideshow presentations.
- Prepare images for print using Soft-proofing.
- Create customized Print layouts using the Print Module.
- Create stunning, customized web page galleries using the Web Module.
- Publish images to Facebook and Flickr easily using Lightroom Publish services
- Export images to internal and external storage in different formats.
- Tether Lightroom to your Camera.
Course content
13 sections · 146 lectures · 8 hours of video
- 1Introduction 1 free preview1 lecture · 7 min
- 2Lightroom Fundamentals 3 free previews10 lectures · 28 min
- 3File Formats and Color Space9 lectures · 31 min
- 4Basic Configuration5 lectures · 15 min
- 5The Library Module39 lectures · 2 hours
- 6The Develop Module33 lectures · 2.2 hours
- 7The Map Module4 lectures · 14 min
- 8The Book Module11 lectures · 30 min
- 9The Slideshow Module11 lectures · 32 min
- 10The Print Module11 lectures · 33 min
- 11The Web Module6 lectures · 18 min
- 12Publishing Images4 lectures · 14 min
- 13Tethering2 lectures · 7 min
Who it is for
The instructor says it suits
- Students interested in mastering Adobe Lightroom
- Photography enthusiasts interested in digitally enhancing images
- Professional Photographers interested in learn to organize, sort, filter and enhance images
What you need before you start
- Students will require an internet connection and PC or MAC Computer System.
- Basic Computer Skills.
How it compares
Against the other 73 rated Udemy courses in Adobe Lightroom on CourseDuck:
- Rating4.2 out of 5higher than 17% of them
- Reviews2,367#4 of 74 by number of reviews
- Length8 hourslonger than 80% of them
- Last updatedJune 2017earlier than 80% of them
Quality Score
Overall Score : 84 / 100
Course Description
Adobe Lightroom is a powerful, intuitive program used for enhancing, organizing, and editing your photos. Users can render enhancements on everything from smartphone photos to raw DSLR images. This course explores many of the exciting features this program offers. Take a look at just a brief summary of the course content below.
Section 1: Introduction
Students are provided with an overview of learning objectives and some of the key features that the course will explore.
Section 2: Fundamentals
Students learn to create and configure catalog settings and Lightroom preferences. We also introduce students to the Import Dialog and many of the important customization presets that can be applied to images. This includes file handling, file renaming procedures, metadata presets and other import options.
Section 3: File Formats and Color Space
This section provides an in-depth overview of file formats and color spaces relevant to photography and Lightroom. We explore the various pros and cons of compressed vs. RAW data formats. Students learn to effectively work with color profiles intended for both screen and print publishing. We provide a comparison of key color spaces including, sRGB, Adobe RGB, ProPhoto RGB, CMYK and Lab Color.
Students also learn to configure Lightroom's External application list, to export and edit images from Lightroom to third party applications.
Section 4: Basic Configuration
Students learn to customize and configure the Lightroom interface using the preferences panel, identity plates and image watermarks.
Section 5: Library Module
This section introduces students to one of the most important modules in Lightroom, the Library. Here, students will import a gallery of images into Lightroom and apply several sorting attributes to filter and organize images. Students learn to work with keywords, keyword sets, color labels, flags, and metadata. From there, students learn to create collection sets, collections, smart collections and custom filtering rules to master advanced filtering techniques.
We also explore automated watch folders, and smart previews to edit images off-location. Students are introduced to the Quick Develop panel to make basic adjustments in the Library module.
Section 6: Develop Module
Students learn to master Lightroom's Develop module to perform stunning photo enhancements using a number of professional techniques. We start by teaching development presets, creating snapshots and exploring the history panel. From there, we explore screen modes, and different views to edit and compare images while making adjustments.
We present an in-depth look into Lightroom's image histogram for making accurate image corrections using exposure and white balance adjustments. We explore many exciting tools including, crop overlay, spot removal, clone tool, red eye reduction, graduated filter, radial filter and the adjustments brush. Students will have the opportunity to use these tools in a number of exercises, designed to transform ordinary images into stunning, studio quality work.
In addition to the tools, students will also work with a number of other adjustment panels to adjust tone curves, HSL, noise reduction, lens corrections, image transformations and artistic vignettes. We also explore RAW file white balance adjustments and color calibration.
Students are introduced to metadata modifications, and writing data to XMP Sidecar files.
Section 7: Map Module
Students learn to geotag images and plot them on a Map. We explore map views, filtering and creating saved locations for custom filtering using GPS.
Section 8: Book Module
This section teaches students to create breathtaking photobooks using Lightroom's book module. We explore custom book layouts, book formatting, and applying text and background effects. Students also learn to export books as PDF documents, JPEG files or upload directly to Blurb.
Section 9: Slideshow Module
Students learn to create customized slideshows using the Slideshow module. We explore custom templates, layout options, text overlays, intro screens, embedding audio, video and a number of playback methods. We also explore methods to export the slideshow to render high-quality presentations.
Section 10: Print Module
This section explores effective techniques to print images using preset and customized print layouts. Students learn to soft-proof images to ensure color calibration between the monitor and printer. We also demonstrate working with layout styles and page options for optimal quality photographs.
Section 11: Web Module
Students learn to create and publish web photo galleries with ease, using Lightroom's Web Module. We explore custom layout options, color palettes, output settings and uploading.
Section 12: Publishing Images
This section teaches students to use a number of publish services built into Lightroom. Students learn to automatically upload and share images instantly to Facebook and Flickr. We also explore publishing images to local and external storage devices, email, and CD/DVD.
Section 13: Tethering
Students learn to setup an in-home studio by connecting their camera directly to Lightroom.
Requirements
This course is best suited for beginner to intermediate users. No prior knowledge or experience with Adobe Lightroom is required for enrollment.
All working files and a download link to a free trial version of the software is included.
The course is compatible with any version of Adobe Lightroom above 5.0 on MAC or PC.
Instructor Details
- 4.2 Rating
2,367 Reviews
YouAccel Training
YouAccel is dedicated to providing high-quality education in technology, business, and digital innovation. Since its founding in 2015, YouAccel has remained committed to making industry-relevant learning accessible to students, professionals, and entrepreneurs worldwide. With a strong focus on emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Full Stack Development, Business Strategy, Marketing, and Digital Media, YouAccel empowers individuals with the skills needed to succeed in an increasingly competitive and technology-driven world.
At the heart of YouAccel’s mission is a belief that education is a catalyst for unlocking human potential, driving innovation, and creating opportunities across industries and communities. Through expertly designed courses led by industry professionals and academic experts, YouAccel fosters an engaging and transformative learning experience. Programs span beginner to advanced levels, ensuring learners at every stage of their journey gain both foundational knowledge and practical expertise that can be directly applied in real-world settings.
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Reviews
By C. Ravishankar on 5/27/2024
The duration of each lecture is about right. I pause the lecture make adjustments and then return to the lecture. When I feel the need to refresh some earlier topic, I do so and then immediately return to where I left off. It has been great, so far.
By Charles Piemontez Ribeiro Damasceno on 5/1/2024
The course is fantastic, easy and with many information. The instructor also is very good to explain each module clearly. The only negative point is the version to lightroom is a litle bit older, the instructor could update the course with the new version and also a module explain as be more productive working with many photos at the same time on module Develop. However the course is amazing I am very satisfied. Thank you so much.
By Francisco Lopez on 1/14/2024
I paid $9 for this so in actuality this course is decent at this price. However, they advertise it as if discounted from $60 or something like that. DO NOT PAY MORE THAN $9 FOR THIS! The LR version here is very outdated. I think the version used in the course is from April 2018 based on the dates on the facilitator's screen. At $9 however, I think this course is maybe 4 stars? But since it's advertised as being a hell of a deal at such a high discount I am rating it as poor/pretty disappointing. You're not getting a deal, you're getting what you paid for. There's still a lot that applies to the most recent version so it definitely is helpful. But you may need to dig around in the menus in order to find the feature if it is still available.
By Steve Smith on 9/19/2022
So far the course has been very helpful, I did get confused on some of the section/lessons as the view on your screen did not match mine. Also on Section 3, lesson 20 there appears to be 3 minutes of blank screen. If I have struggles I have just reviewed the necessary sections until I get it.
By Lisa Richardson on 1/31/2022
I have completed a number of online photoshop and Lightroom courses, and by far this has been the best as it goes through each panel, and every single option of how the software actually works, it shows you how to complete each step, step by step, which no other course i have completed has actually done before so thank you so so much , i now know how to use the full program and not just bits of it, highly recommended very happy with course i really am, easily set out and so easy to follow.
By Chris Roger on 5/15/2020
Very thorough course going through every panels, I mean EVERY panels, within Lightroom and demonstrating each of the effects. Did not go in the details of editing a photo from top to finish in the Develop menu but it was to be expected for such a course. I am sure there are plenty of additional courses for that. Enjoyed fully and now ready to use Lightroom to its full extend rather than just importing, developing, and exporting my images. I feel so much less intimidated by the softer. THANK YOU!
By Maurice Jon on 4/29/2020
I definitely enjoyed this course on Lightroom. I have learned much and instructor is very thorough and explains in a clear and simple way that makes it easy to understand and grasp. Highly recommend this course to anyone who is interested in really understanding on how to use and master Lightroom in a professional manner.
By Scarlett Aurora Rodríguez Naval on 4/15/2020
The first part or the course was great because He explained the context about photograph, color and some other topics. This is great for beginner people and is refreshing to people that know about photograph. Every single lesson was well explained, and you can see every detail that the software offer. The only thing that I want to point out is that it can be a little slow the rhythm of the course for the people that has some knowledge, but for beginner people is great.
By Gina Gyetvan on 11/15/2019
The overall content of the course was good. I felt in some of the develop module sections, it would have been better to use real life examples where some of the edits would have been applicable. In most instances the functionality was shown and then never saved to the image. An example that comes to mind is the crop and straighten tool. This would have been better show cased using an image with a skew horizon or leaning buildings where this functionality would be widely used.
By Aman Agarwal on 7/11/2017
The course covers every corner of this software. The method is simple and easy to learn. And all this for free, its hard to believe. Great job. Just one request add a module or separate course teaching photo editing in detail. Not just how the tools work but where and when to use them most efficiently.











