Kelby's 7-Point System for Lightroom 3

Eduard

Super Mod
Staff member
Super Mod
I have a rare free afternoon and decided to browse Scott Kelby's latest LR3 book at the local Barnes & Nobles. I have read reviews that mentioned his 7-Point System for Lightroom. Since I have his 7-Point System book for CS3, I thought I'd like to see what it was all about. After reviewing it, I didn't find it to be very different from what I do but thought I'd summarize it here and maybe start a good conversation. I know we've had this type of thread in the past but I always learn something when we do them. It has been a while, too. ;)

Here is a high-level review of his system:

1. Choose a Camera Profile (in Camera Calibration panel)
2. Adjust the White Balance (via Preset, Temp slider or White Balance Selector)
3. Adjust the Overall Exposure (Exposure Recovery, Brightness, Fill Light and Blacks sliders)
4. Add Contrast (via Tone Curve panel)
5. Apply Local Adjustments (via Adjust Brush)
6. Add Punch (Clarity slider) and Enhance Color (Vibrance slider)
7. Apply Finishing Effects (e.g. vignette)

Comments?
 

Eduard

Super Mod
Staff member
Super Mod
Can you give a similar 'cliffs notes' version to the CS3 7-points?

Realize that the book is getting dated, but the 7-Point Photoshop CS3 System is as follows:

1. Open in Adobe Camera Raw (adjust white balance, exposure, blacks, etc.)
2. Create Curves Adjustment
3. Perform Shadow/Highlight Adjustments
4. Paint with Light (dodge and/or burn)
5. Perform Channels Adjustments (use Lab mode for more color vibrancy and contrast - note in CS5 we now have these as sliders)
6. Layer Blend Modes & Layer Masks
7. Sharpen Image

Working through the examples are great because it is written like a conversation of when to use and when not to use steps. The book presents a lot of real world examples and wallks you through the creative process.
 

johnwartjr

Senior Member
So. it's basically Kelby's workflow, OK I got it.

I subscribe to kelbytraining.com and have learned quite a bit from it. I've also tried lynda.com and found it to be good as well.

But, the examples would be very useful to me!
 

Eduard

Super Mod
Staff member
Super Mod
But, the examples would be very useful to me!

It really is useful and I'll work through one that may be similar to an image of my own just to get the juices flowing. For instance, he has one where he doesn't do points 3 or 5 but walks you through 19 steps!
 

johnwartjr

Senior Member
Well, I'll get the chance to look soon.

I've been doing month-to-month subscriptions to lynda.com and kelbytraining.com to try and benchmark both, with the eventual goal of subscribing to one for a year - can't afford both.

I liked both, and learned a ton from each site - but kelby dangled the carrot, and I subscribed for a year.

They ran a 3 day special that got a years membership to kelbytraining.com, along with a book and DVD, cost of $179 instead of the usual $199.

DVD: The Adobe Photoshop CS5 7-Point System for Camera Raw by Scott Kelby | DVDs, Adobe Photoshop | Kelby Training
Book: The Adobe Photoshop CS5 Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby | Books, Adobe Photoshop | Kelby Training

I don't use CS5 much at all, stick to Lightroom and only open CS5 if I have to; may have to pick up the 7 point system for Lightroom if I like this.
 
Top