Summary

Even the best captures require some level of development. For example, if we shoot .jpg images, the development process might be as simple as making contrast and sharpness fixes, but for those who decide to save photographs in their native RAW format, the Develop panel opens doors to creating something truly unique. I always looked at it like I looked at polishing gemstones. Even a simple rock, which I use here as a metaphor for a photograph that is not unique, can be polished to look in the best possible way. Now, imagine a real gem, such as an uncut diamond; the Develop panel is our workshop to bring the best out of it. Digital cameras store a lot of information that we can work with later, and just the Shadows/Highlights recovery in the Basic panel can be a game-changer in terms of the photograph's look. When we stack this with the capability to work with masks, color grading, spot removal, or fixing perspective, Lightroom becomes a tool that is inseparable from our...