This book explains how to use Lightroom Classic to manage, edit, and share digital photos efficiently. It covers importing, organizing libraries, enhancing images, and exporting work for print and online use with practical, easy-to-follow guidance.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic For Dummies
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Recommended experience
Recommended experience
What you'll learn
Navigate the Lightroom Classic interface with confidence
Import and organize large photo collections efficiently
Apply non-destructive edits using core Develop tools
Details to know

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August 2026
18 assignments
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There are 17 modules in this course
This module provides an in-depth overview of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic, comparing it with newer versions and explaining its workflow benefits for photographers. It covers subscription plans, interface customization, and multi-monitor setup to enhance user efficiency.
What's included
1 video5 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
5 readings•Total 27 minutes
- Introduction•5 minutes
- Considering the Creative Cloud Photography Plan•6 minutes
- Getting What Makes Each Module Unique•5 minutes
- Controlling the Lightroom Classic Interface•5 minutes
- Using Lightroom Classic's Secondary Display View•6 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Exploring Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic•16 minutes
This module provides a comprehensive overview of Lightroom Classic catalog management, including location, backup, optimization, and data transfer. Learners will gain practical skills in maintaining and utilizing catalogs effectively for photo organization and workflow efficiency.
What's included
1 video7 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
7 readings•Total 36 minutes
- Introduction•4 minutes
- Knowing Where the Catalog Is Located•4 minutes
- Caring for the Catalog•6 minutes
- Figuring out the Import Sequence Numbers•4 minutes
- Previews•6 minutes
- Exploring the Metadata Options•6 minutes
- Transferring Data Between Catalogs•6 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Lightroom Classic Catalogs•16 minutes
This module covers essential Lightroom Classic settings, file formats, and storage options to help users optimize their photo editing workflow. Learners will gain an understanding of how to configure preferences, manage performance, and utilize both local and cloud storage solutions effectively.
What's included
1 video6 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
6 readings•Total 32 minutes
- Introduction•5 minutes
- External Editing Preferences•5 minutes
- File Handling Preferences•6 minutes
- Performance Preferences•5 minutes
- Cloud Storage•5 minutes
- Supported File Formats•6 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Lightroom Classic Essentials•16 minutes
This module provides a comprehensive guide to importing photos into Adobe Lightroom Classic, covering essential settings, workflows, and methods for efficiently managing photo imports from various sources. Learners will gain practical skills in configuring import options and using features like Auto Import to streamline their workflow.
What's included
1 video5 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
5 readings•Total 37 minutes
- Introduction•10 minutes
- Importing Your Photos into Lightroom Classic•4 minutes
- Configuring the Settings to Meet Your Input Needs•11 minutes
- Putting It All Together•5 minutes
- Using Auto Import•7 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Lightroom Classic Import Techniques•16 minutes
This module covers strategies for efficiently organizing, viewing, and managing photos within the Library module of Lightroom Classic. Learners will gain skills in using panels, views, stacks, and smart collections to streamline their photo workflow and maintain an organized digital library.
What's included
1 video7 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
7 readings•Total 36 minutes
- Introduction•4 minutes
- Becoming Familiar with the Menu Options•6 minutes
- Choosing the Right View for the Task•6 minutes
- Making Efficient Use of Space with Stacks•5 minutes
- Using the Folders Panel Like a File Browser•5 minutes
- Keeping the Catalog in Sync with the Folders•5 minutes
- Smart Collections•5 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Navigating and Organizing Photos in the Library•16 minutes
This module teaches learners how to efficiently manage and organize digital photo libraries by using metadata, flags, ratings, and keywording. It covers techniques for evaluating and sorting photos, as well as strategies for making informed decisions about which images to keep or delete. Learners will gain practical skills to streamline their photo workflow and improve long-term accessibility.
What's included
1 video7 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
7 readings•Total 38 minutes
- Introduction•5 minutes
- Compare View•4 minutes
- Using Flags to Pick the Winners and Losers•5 minutes
- Using Ratings to Rank Images•6 minutes
- Filenames and Metadata•7 minutes
- Keywording•7 minutes
- Using the Keyword List to Find Photos•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Library Tools and Metadata in Photo Management•16 minutes
This module delves into advanced features of the Library module in Lightroom Classic, including histogram analysis, HDR and panorama merging, machine learning enhancements, and DNG conversion. Learners will gain practical skills to optimize photo organization and editing workflows.
What's included
1 video6 readings1 assignment
1 video
- Overview•0 minutes
6 readings•Total 31 minutes
- Introduction•6 minutes
- Considering the Histogram•5 minutes
- Photo Merge to HDR•5 minutes
- Photo Merge to Panorama•5 minutes
- Enhance with Machine Learning•6 minutes
- Converting to DNG•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Exploring Advanced Library Module Features•16 minutes
This module provides a comprehensive overview of the Develop module in Lightroom Classic, covering essential editing tools, view modes, and techniques for adjusting photo quality and color. Learners will gain hands-on knowledge of how to use the histogram, apply profiles, and control color casts effectively.
What's included
1 video7 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
7 readings•Total 37 minutes
- Introduction•6 minutes
- Understanding the View Options•5 minutes
- Applying Settings to Other Photos•6 minutes
- Using the Histogram Panel•5 minutes
- Choosing a Starting Profile•4 minutes
- Controlling Color Casts•4 minutes
- Adjusting Tonal Range to Bring Out the Best•7 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Photo Editing in Lightroom Classic•16 minutes
This module focuses on efficient photo editing techniques using Lightroom Classic, including problem-solving strategies, removing unwanted elements, and applying masks to enhance images. Learners will gain practical skills to streamline their workflow and improve photo quality.
What's included
1 video7 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
7 readings•Total 40 minutes
- Introduction•5 minutes
- Removing Spots and Healing Blemishes•5 minutes
- Correcting Red-eye Problems•7 minutes
- Applying a Mask•6 minutes
- Adding to or Subtracting from a Mask•5 minutes
- Applying a Radial Gradient•6 minutes
- Selecting People•6 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Image Editing Techniques in Lightroom Classic•16 minutes
This module focuses on advanced image editing techniques, including color grading, sharpening, noise reduction, and creative effects. Learners will gain the skills to refine their photos and enhance visual storytelling through detailed adjustments in software like Lightroom Classic.
What's included
1 video8 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
8 readings•Total 45 minutes
- Introduction•5 minutes
- Interacting with the Curve•5 minutes
- Enhancing and Changing Colors•7 minutes
- Adding Color to Shadows and Highlights•4 minutes
- Applying Capture Sharpening•5 minutes
- Dealing with Noise•5 minutes
- Reducing Chromatic Aberration•6 minutes
- Creative Effects•8 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Advanced Photo Enhancements•16 minutes
This module teaches learners how to configure export settings, create processed image copies, and integrate external editors like Adobe Photoshop for improved workflow efficiency. It covers key aspects of the export process, including file format selection, image sizing, and post-processing options.
What's included
1 video7 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
7 readings•Total 39 minutes
- Introduction•6 minutes
- Employing an Export Workflow•4 minutes
- Export Location Panel•5 minutes
- File Settings Panel•6 minutes
- Image Sizing Panel•5 minutes
- Post-Processing Panel•6 minutes
- Creating a Batch Export•7 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Export Configurations and External Tools•16 minutes
This module teaches learners how to design and customize photo books using Lightroom Classic. It covers selecting and organizing photos, setting up layouts, and integrating with Blurb.com. Learners will gain practical skills in managing and formatting photo book projects efficiently.
What's included
1 video5 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
5 readings•Total 27 minutes
- Introduction•5 minutes
- Bring your photos to the Course module•5 minutes
- Save your photos and settings as a special collection•4 minutes
- Page Panel•6 minutes
- Type Panel•7 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Book Layout and Design Elements•16 minutes
This module teaches how to create and customize professional slideshows using image groups, layout controls, and export options. Learners will gain skills in designing visual presentations and configuring playback settings to suit different audiences and formats.
What's included
1 video6 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
6 readings•Total 32 minutes
- Introduction•6 minutes
- Bring your photos to the Slideshow module•5 minutes
- Layout Panel•7 minutes
- Backdrop Panel•5 minutes
- Playback Panel•5 minutes
- Export•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Slideshow Features•16 minutes
This module guides learners through the process of configuring and optimizing print workflows in Lightroom Classic. It covers layout customization, page settings, and output preparation to ensure professional-quality prints. Learners will gain the skills to efficiently manage and execute print tasks from raw files.
What's included
1 video6 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
6 readings•Total 38 minutes
- Introduction•6 minutes
- Becoming Familiar with the Menu Options•6 minutes
- Customize the layout as desired•6 minutes
- Cells•4 minutes
- Page•4 minutes
- Configure the output settings with the Print Job panel•12 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Print Configuration in Lightroom Classic•16 minutes
This module teaches learners how to create and customize web galleries using Lightroom Classic, including configuring gallery settings, optimizing image quality, and deploying galleries to a web server. It covers essential steps for preparing and publishing photo collections online.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
4 readings•Total 18 minutes
- Introduction•5 minutes
- Site Info Panel•4 minutes
- Output Settings Panel•5 minutes
- Uploading Your Gallery with Lightroom Classic•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Web Gallery Features in Lightroom Classic•16 minutes
This module explores the differences between Lightroom Classic and the newer Lightroom ecosystem, focusing on cloud storage, sync settings, and collection management. Learners will gain insights into choosing the right tool based on their workflow needs and learn how to optimize cross-platform functionality.
What's included
1 video1 reading1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
1 reading•Total 8 minutes
- Introduction•8 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Navigating Lightroom Classic and Cloud Integration•16 minutes
This module covers the essentials of syncing, organizing, and editing photos using Adobe Lightroom across devices. Learners will gain practical skills in managing their photo workflows and leveraging mobile editing features effectively.
What's included
1 video2 readings2 assignments
1 video
- Overview•0 minutes
2 readings•Total 13 minutes
- Introduction•4 minutes
- Adding Photos from Your Device•9 minutes
2 assignments•Total 84 minutes
- The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic For Dummies Final Assessment•68 minutes
- Mastering Lightroom Organization and Editing Techniques•16 minutes
Instructor

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Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Jennifer J.

Larry W.

Chaitanya A.

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