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Lightroom is a very powerful editing tool that can be used to fix colors and do a lot more. You can use it to keep track of where your pictures are on your computer, sort the good ones from the bad ones, rate them, and do many other things with them. But a lot of Lightroom’s speed comes from hotkeys, which are keyboard tools for Mac and PC. In fact, you really miss out if you don’t use computer shortcuts.
You can’t remember all of the shortcuts in the full book, which has hundreds of them. However, you should be able to remember the ones on this shorter list, or you can just stick it on the wall next to your computer. Simply put, these are the tools I use most often, and they make my work life a lot better.
Importance Of Best Lightroom Classic Keyboard Shortcuts
The best Lightroom Classic computer shortcuts are important because they can make a big difference in how quickly, creatively, and generally you can work with the software. Here are a few of the most important reasons why these tools are useful:
- Quick Access to Tools and Features: With computer shortcuts, you can jump right to different tools, functions, and panels without having to go through multiple menus. This easy access makes edits go faster.
- Consistency and Learning Curve: If you use keyboard shortcuts the same way in all of your software, especially if you use other Adobe products, moving between programs will be easier. It also makes things easier and more streamlined.
- Exact editing: Shortcuts on the keyboard let you make more exact and controlled changes. You can change settings, make adjustments, and move through pictures more precisely, which lets you make better edits.
Best Lightroom Classic Keyboard Shortcuts
Check to see if Lightroom Classic already has built-in shortcuts for the things you’re interested in before you go through the trouble of making additional shortcuts. Try to avoid duplicating existing shortcuts or causing them to conflict with one another. Make sure that the keyboard shortcuts you choose won’t interfere with the shortcuts that come pre-installed with Lightroom or with the shortcuts in any other software that you use. When doing multiple activities, utilizing the same combination can be very confusing.
Library Module:
Shortcut | Description |
---|---|
G | Go to Grid view |
E | Go to Loupe view |
D | Go to Develop module |
P | Flag as Pick |
U | Flag as Unflag |
X | Flag as Reject |
Ctrl+Shift+I | Import Photos |
Ctrl+E | Edit in Photoshop |
Ctrl+J | Jump to Collection |
Ctrl+Alt+1 | Go to Library module |
Ctrl+Alt+2 | Go to Develop module |
Ctrl+Shift+E | Export |
Ctrl+Shift+D | Go to Develop module with previous settings |
Ctrl+Shift+L | Go to Library module with previous settings |
Develop Module:
Shortcut | Description |
---|---|
R | Crop Overlay |
Q | Spot Removal |
H | Toggle Before/After view |
Y | Before/After left/right split view |
/ | Crop |
Ctrl+Shift+H | Show/Hide Adjustment Brush panel |
Ctrl+Shift+M | Show/Hide Graduated Filter panel |
Ctrl+Shift+K | Show/Hide Keywords panel |
Ctrl+Alt+A | Sync settings |
Ctrl+Alt+S | Synchronize settings |
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S | Auto Sync |
Ctrl+[ | Previous photo |
Slideshow Module:
Shortcut | Description |
---|---|
Ctrl+Enter | Enter Full Screen |
Ctrl+Alt+Enter | Enter Full Screen Preview |
Tab | Show/Hide Panels |
Shift+Tab | Show/Hide Filmstrip |
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+D | Start/Stop Slideshow |
Right Arrow | Go to Next Slide |
Left Arrow | Go to Previous Slide |
Ctrl+Space | Toggle Play/Pause |
Print Module:
Shortcut | Description |
---|---|
Ctrl+P | Open Print dialog |
Ctrl+Alt+P | Print photo |
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+P | Print Settings dialog |
Ctrl+Alt+D | Print One Copy |
Ctrl+Alt+S | Print to File |
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S | Print to Web |
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+L | Page Setup dialog |
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+U | Print Module settings |
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+1 | Single Image/Contact Sheet mode |
Web Module:
Shortcut | Description |
---|---|
Ctrl+Alt+W | Open Web module |
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+W | Save Web Photo dialog |
Ctrl+Alt+D | Preview in Web browser |
Ctrl+Alt+R | Refresh Web Preview |
Ctrl+Alt+T | Create Saved Web Gallery |
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+T | Update Selected Published Collections |
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+L | Upload All Files |
Lightroom Classic Keyboard Shortcuts for Different Platforms
Make sure that the shortcuts you choose won’t interfere with the shortcuts that are used system-wide or that are exclusive to the application. If a keyboard shortcut is already being used for something else, using the same combination of keys for anything else can lead to confusion. Verify that the programs and tools you use allow you to personalize the shortcuts that appear on the keyboard. You may alter or create custom shortcuts in many software programs, including Windows 10, which is one of those products.
Mac Shortcuts:
Shortcut | Function |
---|---|
Cmd + N | Create a new catalog |
Cmd + O | Open an existing catalog |
Cmd + S | Save metadata to file |
Cmd + Shift + S | Save metadata to a new file |
Cmd + Shift + E | Export photos |
Cmd + Shift + I | Import photos |
Cmd + Shift + R | Reset all develop settings |
Cmd + Shift + C | Copy develop settings |
Cmd + Shift + V | Paste develop settings |
Cmd + Z | Undo |
Cmd + Y | Redo |
Cmd + X | Cut |
Cmd + C | Copy |
Cmd + V | Paste |
Cmd + D | Remove from collection |
Cmd + Shift + D | Delete from disk |
Cmd + E | Edit in Photoshop |
Cmd + Opt + A | Add to quick collection |
Cmd + G | Group into stack |
Cmd + Shift + G | Ungroup from stack |
Windows Shortcuts:
Shortcut | Function |
---|---|
Ctrl + N | Create a new catalog |
Ctrl + O | Open an existing catalog |
Ctrl + S | Save metadata to file |
Ctrl + Shift + S | Save metadata to a new file |
Ctrl + Shift + P | Export photos |
Ctrl + Shift + I | Import photos |
Ctrl + Shift + R | Reset all develop settings |
Ctrl + Shift + C | Copy develop settings |
Ctrl + Shift + V | Paste develop settings |
Ctrl + Z | Undo |
Ctrl + Y | Redo |
Ctrl + X | Cut |
Ctrl + C | Copy |
Ctrl + V | Paste |
Ctrl + D | Remove from collection |
Ctrl + Shift + D | Delete from disk |
Ctrl + E | Edit in Photoshop |
Ctrl + Alt + A | Add to quick collection |
Ctrl + G | Group into stack |
How to Choose Best Lightroom Classic Keyboard Shortcuts?
To choose the best keyboard shortcuts for Lightroom Classic, you need to know your workflow, find the jobs you do most often, and choose shortcuts that make you more efficient and faster. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you choose the best keyboard options for Lightroom Classic:
- Find tasks that are similar: Start by making a list of the things you do most often in Lightroom Classic. These could include importing pictures, putting them in folders and collections, making adjustments, exporting images, and more.
- Set priorities: Figure out which jobs take the most time or are the most repetitive. Focus on making shortcuts for things you do often or that are very important to how you edit photos.
- Explore the Default Shortcuts: Lightroom Classic comes with some computer shortcuts that you can use right away. Check out these settings to see which ones fit with the way you work. Keep in mind that many defaults are chosen based on standards or common practices in the business.
Question and Answers
Make a note of the menu order in Lightroom, paying close attention to any punctuation. Go to Applications > Preferences > System. Select the Shortcuts tab in the Keyboard settings. Click the + button next to App Shortcuts.
One of the most important shortcuts in Lightroom is G. This one is used to bring up the Library Panel’s Grid View. If you do this, it will be easier and more fun to edit and work on your photos. When you open the grid view, it’s also easier to move around.
1. Choose Edit Set from the Keyword Set pop-up menu in the Keywording panel of the Library section.
2. Type terms into the text boxes in the Edit Keyword Set dialogue box.
3. (Optional) To make a keyword set, go to the Preset menu and choose Save Current Settings As New Preset.