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How To Use The View Modes In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic

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The View Modes inside of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom’s Library Module are an integral part of getting organized. Each of the View Modes– the Grid View, the Loupe View, the Survey View, the Compare View, and the new People View Mode,– serves a specific purpose when you are sorting through your images, looking for your very best shots.

Once you’ve identified your favorite images, then you can mark them with a Star Rating and/or Colored Label so that you can quickly find them again later using one of Lightroom’s metadata search tools.

Carefully sorting through your slides and negatives was a fundamental skill back in the days of film. The joke used to be “that you could tell a professional photographer from an amateur by the size of their trash can.” The nugget of truth in this old cliche is that professional photographers are not necessarily better artists than anyone else but that they spend more time carefully scrutinizing and culling through their own work.

The importance of sorting through our images and hunting out the true winners did not change when the world shifted to digital photography. Carefully selecting your best photographs is still a critical skill. Fortunately, identifying and marking your best images is easy once you understand Lightroom’s awesome View Modes.

Designing your own system

Often my students ask for advice on whether to use Star Ratings or Colored Labels or some combination to mark specific images. The truth is that there is no right or wrong here and that you are free to come up with a marking system that works for you. That said, here is how I have chosen to use these metadata fields to keep my photography organized.

In my workflow, I use the Colored Labels to track an image’s “status.” I mark anything that catches my eye with a Red label when I am sorting through a batch of images. Red, in my workflow, means “stop and look closer at this one.” Red, for me, means that this photo is worthy of a closer look but is not yet polished and ready to share with others.

Once I start working on an image using Lightroom I change its label color to Yellow. In my world, Yellow labeled images are “works in progress.” A yellow label, for me, indicates that this file is on it’s way to being polished and perfected but is not finished yet.

The Green label in my system is reserved for images that are 100% ready to go. I assign this label to an image only when I am confident that it is ready to be emailed to a client, or sent to my photo lab for printing. Green means that the image has all of the visual repairs and metadata that it needs to go up on my website or to be shared on social media.

Some photographer’s love the various levels of Star Ratings. However, the only Star Rating that I use is the Five Star (★ ★ ★ ★ ★) marking and this status is reserved only for my favorite images. I consider any file with a Green label to be good enough “to show” but only the absolute best also get to wear the Five Star badge.

I share the system I use simply as an example; don’t feel you need to copy mine if something else makes sense to you. As you learn about Lightroom’s metadata search tools and View Modes, I encourage you to devise your own system using Color Labels and Star Ratings.

My advice: Whatever system you decide on- write it down! Write down what red label or five stars means in your Catalog, and then stick with it once you’ve made your plan.

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  • ADOBE PHOTOSHOP LIGHTROOM CLASSIC TUTORIALS
    • Module 1:LIGHTROOM CLASSIC SETUP
      • Lesson 1:What Is Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic?
      • Lesson 2:Is Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Right For You?
      • Lesson 3:The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic Catalog Concept
      • Lesson 4:One Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic Catalog Is All You Need
      • Lesson 5:Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic Image & Catalog Storage Options
      • Lesson 6:Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic Preferences Menu Advice
      • Lesson 7:How To Save Your Work In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Lesson 8:Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic Presets Storage Options
      • Lesson 9:Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic User Interface Secrets
      • Lesson 10:Backing Up Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic & Your Photography
    • Module 2:IMPORTING
      • Lesson 1:What Does Import Mean In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic?
      • Lesson 2:Lightroom Classic File And Folder Names Best Practices
      • Lesson 3:How To Import New Photos Into Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic Using An Import Preset
      • Lesson 4:Four Ways To Get Images From Apple Photos Into Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Lesson 5:The Most Powerful Way To Migrate From Apple Photos To Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Lesson 6:How To Convert To Dng In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Lesson 7:How To Delete Or Move Photos In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        Using Smart Previews For Better Performance
      • Unlock This Lesson
        Faster Culling With Embedded Previews In Adobe Lightroom Classic
    • Module 3:ORGANIZING
      • Lesson 1:How To Find Missing Tools In Adobe Lightroom Classic’s Library Module
      • Lesson 2:Organizing Your Images With Metadata In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Lesson 3:How To Select Multiple Photos At Once In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Lesson 4:Keyword Basics In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Lesson 5:How To Use The Enhanced Zoom Tool In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Lesson 6:How To Use The View Modes In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        Initial Sorting with the Pick and Reject Flags In Adobe Lightroom Classic
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        The Map Module In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
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        How To Use A GPS Tracklog In Adobe Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        Metadata Presets In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        How To Speed Things Up With Custom Keyword Sets In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        Facial Recognition In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        Collections And Smart Collections In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        How To Use Colored Labels In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        The Better Quick Collection Trick In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        Advanced Smart Collections In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
    • Module 4:DEVELOPING BASICS
      • Lesson 1:Editing Without Fear In Adobe Lightroom
      • Lesson 2:How To Find Missing Tools In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic’s Develop Module
      • Lesson 3:How To Use Camera Profiles In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Lesson 4:How To Set The Exposure In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic (Basic)
      • Lesson 5:How To Set The Exposure In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic (Advanced)
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        How To Use Auto Exposure In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
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        White Balance Correction In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
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        How To Make Black & White Photos Using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
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        How To Use Saturation In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
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        How To Use The Tone Curve In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
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        How To Use The Target Adjustment Tool In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
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        Adding A Vignette In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
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        How To Use Lens Correction In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
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        How To Use The Guided Upright Tool in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
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        Noise Reduction With Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
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        How To Sharpen In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Lesson 6:How To Use Color Grading In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
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        Synchronizing Develop Settings In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
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        Red Eye Removal In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
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        Spot Removal Basics In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
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        Advanced Spot Removal In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
    • Module 5:DEVELOPING ADVANCED
      • Lesson 1:5 Useful Develop Module Keyboard Shortcuts In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Lesson 2:How To Set New Raw Develop Defaults In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Lesson 3:How To Use The Graduated Filter In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Lesson 4:Changing Colors With The Graduated Filter In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Lesson 5:How To Use The Radial Filter In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
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        How To Use Dehaze In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        How To Use The Adjustment Brush In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        How To Use The Amount Slider To Improve Your Adjustment Brush Work In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        How To Use Range Masks In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        How To Use The Filter Brush For Mask Refinement In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        How To Use Texture In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
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        How To Use The Local Hue Tool In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
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        Auto Correction Develop Presets In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        How To Use Merge To Panorama In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        How To Use Fill Edges In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        The Merge To HDR Command Inside of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        How To Use Merge To HDR Panorama In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        Creating Two Versions Of The Same Photo In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        Enhanced Details In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        Video Editing In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
    • Module 6:EXPORTING
      • Lesson 1:The Export Dialog In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Lesson 2:Preparing Photos For Email With Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Lesson 3:The Crop Overlay Tool In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Lesson 4:How To Add A Watermark In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        How To Crop Multiple Photos To Same Aspect Ratio In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        How To Use Multi-Batch Exports In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        The Slideshow Module In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        Posting Images To Flickr From Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
      • Unlock This Lesson
        Customize Your Screensaver Using Lightroom
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        From Adobe Lightroom To Instagram
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        The Dropbox Publish Service Plugin
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        The Adobe Stock Publish Service
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        How To Make A Folded Greeting Card In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        Print Module Template Tricks In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
    • Module 7:THE ADOBE LIGHTROOM FOR MOBILE APP
      • Lesson 1:What Is The Adobe Lightroom For Mobile App?
      • Lesson 2:The Adobe Lightroom For Mobile In-App Camera Basics
      • Lesson 3:The Professional And HDR Camera Modes In The Adobe Lightroom For Mobile App
      • Lesson 4:How To Import Images From Your Camera Roll Into The Adobe Lightroom For Mobile App
      • Unlock This Lesson
        How To Use Direct Import In Adobe Lightroom Mobile For iOS
      • Unlock This Lesson
        Speed Up Importing In Adobe Lightroom Mobile For iOS With Shortcuts
      • Unlock This Lesson
        The Smart Collection Sync Plugin For Lightroom Classic
      • Unlock This Lesson
        How To Sync Collections With The Adobe Lightroom For Mobile App
      • Unlock This Lesson
        Adobe Lightroom For Mobile Image Organizing Tips & Tricks
      • Unlock This Lesson
        Basic Photo Editing With The Adobe Lightroom For Mobile App
      • Unlock This Lesson
        How To Use The Crop Tool In The Adobe Lightroom For Mobile App
      • Unlock This Lesson
        The Linear & Radial Gradient Tools In Adobe Lightroom For Mobile
      • Unlock This Lesson
        The Selective Editing Brush In Adobe Lightroom For Mobile
      • Unlock This Lesson
        How To Use The Healing Brush In The Adobe Lightroom For Mobile App
      • Unlock This Lesson
        How To Create Presets In The Adobe Lightroom For Mobile App
      • Unlock This Lesson
        How To Share Your Images Using The Adobe Lightroom For Mobile App
      • Unlock This Lesson
        How To Edit Adobe Lightroom For Mobile Photos With Other Apps (iOS)
      • Lesson 5:From The Adobe Lightroom For Mobile App To Adobe Photoshop For iPad Pro
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        Adobe Lightroom On The Web
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        Deleting Synchronized Photos From The Adobe Lightroom For Mobile App
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        Adobe Spark Post
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        Adobe Spark Page
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        Building A Website With Adobe Portfolio
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      BONUS TUTORIALS
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        Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic Workflow Smart Collections
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        Creating Star Trails With StarStaX
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        FotoMagico Slideshows
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        Multimedia Slideshows With FotoMagico
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        Noise Reduction With Lightroom & DxO OpticsPro
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        Custom Raw Profiles In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
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        Custom Camera Default Settings In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
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        Using A Second Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Catalog While Traveling
    • Module 8:TIME-LAPSE PHOTOGRAPHY
      • Lesson 1:How To Make A Time-Lapse Movie Using Adobe Photoshop
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        LRTimelapse Pro Lesson I
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        Lightroom + LRTimelapse Pro + Photoshop CC
      • Unlock This Lesson
        The Holy Grail Of Time-Lapse

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