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The vast number of keyboard shortcuts available in Adobe Lightroom Classic can significantly improve the efficiency of your editing routine. This abridged list includes the most important shortcuts that I use on a regular basis, which may make it difficult to remember all of the ones that are now at your disposal. You can achieve exceptional efficiency by learning these shortcuts, which will allow you to speed up the editing process and get more done in less time.
Because I am a seasoned Lightroom user with more than 8 years of experience and because I have served in the past as an Adobe ambassador, I am certain that if you adopt and use the following keyboard shortcuts, you will notice a considerable improvement in the quality of your edited images. You might also want to think about printing off this list and placing it in a convenient location, such as on the wall next to your computer in your home. Take use of these time-saving features, and Lightroom Classic will reveal its full potential.
Importance of Using Lightroom Keyboard Shortcuts
Using keyboard shortcuts in Adobe Lightroom, a powerful program for organizing and editing photos, has a number of benefits that can improve your photo editing workflow, make chores easier, and make you more productive overall. Here are some good reasons to use the best keyboard keys for Lightroom:
- Batch editing: Lightroom has a lot of keyboard shortcuts for batch processing, which lets you make the same changes to multiple pictures at once.
- Customization: Keyboard options in Lightroom can often be changed, so you can make them work with the way you like to edit and organize your photos.
- Quick Develop: In the Quick Develop panel, you can use keyboard shortcuts to make quick changes to your photos without having to switch to the Develop section.
- Consistency: If you learn and use keyboard shortcuts in Lightroom, you can quickly apply the same adjustments and actions to multiple photos. This makes editing more consistent.
Best Lightroom Keyboard Shortcuts
When compared to utilizing menus or clicking the mouse, performing activities and editing actions with the use of keyboard shortcuts is significantly faster. When working with a big number of images, the ability to save time is an extremely valuable asset.
Library Module Shortcuts:
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| E | Enter Loupe View |
| G | Go to Grid View |
| P | Pick/Flag Photo |
| X | Reject Photo |
| 1−51−5 | Set Star Rating |
| Z | Zoom In/Out |
| F | Toggle Full Screen |
| Ctrl + 1−51−5 | Set Color Label |
| N | Survey View |
| O | Loupe Overlay |
| Ctrl + Shift + I | Import Photos |
Develop Module Shortcuts:
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| R | Crop Overlay |
| E | Open/Close Develop Settings |
| Q | Spot Removal Tool |
| K | Adjustment Brush |
| // | Previous/Next Photo |
| Ctrl + // | Previous/Next Keyword Set |
| Ctrl + 1−91−9 | Apply Preset |
| Ctrl + Alt + 1−91−9 | Create/Apply Snapshot |
| Ctrl + 1−51−5 | Adjust Tone Curve |
| Ctrl + Alt + 1−51−5 | Adjust Color Calibration |
Slideshow Module Shortcuts:
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + Enter | Start Slideshow |
| Spacebar | Pause/Resume Slideshow |
| // | Previous/Next Slide |
| + / – | Zoom In/Out |
| F | Toggle Full Screen |
| B | Cycle Overlay Options |
Print Module Shortcuts:
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + P | Open Print Module |
| Ctrl + Alt + P | Open Page Setup |
| Ctrl + R | Rotate to Fit |
| Ctrl + E | Edit Print Settings |
| Ctrl + S | Print to File |
Best Lightroom Keyboard Shortcuts for Different Platforms
You can make quick edits to your photographs using the keyboard shortcuts contained within the Quick Develop panel. These shortcuts allow you to avoid switching to the Develop module entirely. By being familiar with and making use of Lightroom’s keyboard shortcuts, you may more swiftly apply the same modifications and actions to a number of different pictures, which can result in more consistent editing.
macOS:
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Command + E | Edit in Photoshop |
| Command + Shift + I | Import Photos |
| Command + 1−51−5 | Set Star Rating |
| Command + Option + 1−51−5 | Create/Apply Snapshot |
| Command + Shift + H | Hide/Show Side Panels |
| Command + Option + // | Toggle Solo Mode |
| Command + // | Previous/Next Photo |
| Command + Shift + // | Previous/Next Module |
| Command + R | Rotate Crop Aspect |
| Command + + / – | Zoom In/Out |
Windows:
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + E | Edit in Photoshop |
| Ctrl + Shift + I | Import Photos |
| Ctrl + 1−51−5 | Set Star Rating |
| Ctrl + Alt + 1−51−5 | Create/Apply Snapshot |
| Ctrl + Shift + H | Hide/Show Side Panels |
| Ctrl + Alt + // | Toggle Solo Mode |
| Ctrl + // | Previous/Next Photo |
| Ctrl + Shift + // | Previous/Next Module |
| Ctrl + R | Rotate Crop Aspect |
| Ctrl + + / – | Zoom In/Out |
Questions and Answers
A: Yes, you can change the keyboard shortcuts in Lightroom to fit your needs. To do this, go to Edit (Windows) or Lightroom (Mac) in the top menu bar and then choose Preferences. Click on the Keyboard tab in the box that says “Preferences.” From there, you can add new shortcuts or change the ones you already have by choosing the feature you want and pressing the keys you want to use.
A: You can see all of Lightroom’s keyboard shortcuts by going to the Help menu in the top menu bar and clicking “Keyboard Shortcuts.” This will open a web page or PDF file, based on your version of Lightroom, that has a full list of keyboard shortcuts for all the different modules and functions.
A: Most of the keyboard buttons for Lightroom work the same on both Windows and Mac. Due to the different ways keyboards are set up, there may be a few changes in how certain keys work. For example, on Windows, you use the Ctrl key and on Mac, you use the Command (Cmd) key. When using Lightroom tools, make sure to use the right modifier key for your operating system.