April 2, 2008 – Adobe has launched Lightroom 2.0 as a public beta, seeking to obtain photographer feedback before solidifying the new software. Lightroom 2.0 has a number of new features and is currently available to new or current Lightroom users on Adobe’s website.
Lightroom, used by many professional photographers, allows users to easily adjust raw format images. Version 2.0 is in its earliest stages, and Adobe warns Version 1.3.1 libraries will not be updated with 2.0 changes, and any edits made with the beta version may not transfer properly to the finished 2.0 software.
Updates to the software include localized corrections, which allows users to enhance specific areas of an image similar to the dodge and burn technique in traditional darkrooms, and improved organizational tools to make sorting and finding images easier. Lightroom 2.0 has multiple monitor support, so users can connect two monitors to enlarge screen capacity, and makes it easier to create custom layouts for printing images of different sizes on the same page. Lightroom also has 64-bit support for improved memory and faster performance.
Like most beta software programs, Lightroom 2.0 has a number of bugs and flaws, which are detailed here. Users are urged to notify Adobe of any issues with the beta software, as well as critiques and other feedback. To test out the Lightroom 2.0 beta, visit Adobe’s website.
