Lightroom 2.4 and Adobe Camera Raw 5.4 Available
Adobe has released Lightroom version 2.4. This is a free update for users of Lightroom 2.
To install the Lightroom update, choose Check for Updates… from the Help menu in Lightroom 2. The program will walk you through the installation from there. Optionally, you can download the update directly from Adobe.
Keep in mind, this update is for users of Lightroom 2. If you’re still using Lightroom 1, you can click here to purchase an upgrade. It’s well worth it. Here’s an article that highlights some of the new features in Lightroom 2. Here’s an article on upgrading from Lightroom 1 to Lightroom 2.
Release Notes
Here are the release notes from Adobe:
The goal of this release is to address bugs that were introduced in previous releases of Lightroom 2 and provide additional camera raw support. A comprehensive list of issues fixed in this release is included below:
Bugs – Fixed
- Web galleries with a Collection Title of six characters would not export or upload
- The crop aspect ratio could revert to the last selected ratio even when reset to original
- The crop aspect ratio in Quick Develop could be lost after a crop adjustment
- The crop aspect ratio lock could be lost after an orientation switch
- Images could preview incorrectly when imported using the MTP/PTP USB protocol
- Sony .ARW files may not have been recognized by Lightroom’s import dialog
- The Japanese language configuration of Lightroom on Mac OS X 10.5 could fail to switch to the print module if the HP B9180 was set as the default printer
- Metadata options that are intended for use were dimmed incorrectly when exporting DNG files
- The Japanese language configuration of Lightroom on Mac OS X was missing a shortcut for “Zoom Out”
- Several translation and shortcut corrections were made for the eight additional languages introduced with Lightroom 2.3
Camera Support
Newly supported camera models include:
- Canon EOS 500D (Digital Rebel T1i/EOS Kiss X3 Digital)
- Canon PowerShot SX1 IS
- Epson R-D1x
- Hasselblad CF-22*
- Hasselblad CF-22MS*
- Hasselblad CF-39*
- Hasselblad CF-39MS*
- Hasselblad CFH-22*
- Hasselblad CFH-39*
- Hasselblad CFV*
- Hasselblad 503CWD*
- Hasselblad H2D-22*
- Hasselblad H2D-39*
- Hasselblad H3D-22*
- Hasselblad H3D-31*
- Hasselblad H3D-39*
- Hasselblad H3DII-22*
- Hasselblad H3DII-31*
- Hasselblad H3DII-39*
- Hasselblad H3DII-39MS*
- Hasselblad H3DII-50*
- Kodak EasyShare Z980
- Nikon D5000
- Olympus E-450
- Olympus E-620
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
- Pentax K-7
- Sigma DP2
- Sony A230
- Sony A330
- Sony A380
*Hasselblad support is for the 3FR file format only. The Hasselblad FFF file format is not currently
supported.
Working with Lightroom 2 and Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw
Lightroom and Photoshop Camera Raw share the same image processing technology to ensure consistent and compatible results across applications that support raw processing. These applications include Photoshop CS4, Photoshop Elements 7.0 and Premiere Elements 7.0.
Photoshop Camera Raw 5.4
Adobe applications must be updated with the Camera Raw 5.4 plug-in in order to ensure compatibility with Lightroom 2 develop module settings and Photoshop integration features. Photoshop CS4 users can update the Camera Raw plug-in automatically using the Update tool listed under the Help menu. The Camera Raw 5.4 plug-in can also be downloaded and installed manually by visiting the Adobe web site: www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/cameraraw.html. Please follow the installation instructions carefully.
Sharing Lightroom Settings with Camera Raw 5.4
By default, Lightroom’s develop module settings are stored in Lightroom’s database. In order to ensure that Lightroom develop settings can be viewed by Camera Raw 5.4 the settings must be written to the XMP metadata block for that file. This metadata is stored in an XMP sidecar file (Imagename.xmp) in the current image directory of proprietary raw files or stored directly within DNG files. To update images with the latest develop settings, choose the library module and select the group of target images. Choose the shortcut
Command(Ctrl) + S to save the settings to the XMP metadata block.
[More information about this can be found here.]
Viewing Lightroom settings in Camera Raw 5.4
Before working in conjunction with Lightroom and Camera Raw please set the Camera Raw preference to: Save image settings in: Sidecar “.xmp” files. By default Camera Raw will display the image adjustments exactly as performed in Lightroom’s develop module.
Viewing Camera Raw settings in Lightroom
Raw files edited by previous versions of Camera Raw will maintain their previous appearance when imported into Lightroom. Note: Those files must have been edited with the preference set to Save image settings in: Sidecar “.xmp” files in order for Lightroom to respect the previous edit. Files edited in Camera Raw after importation into Lightroom can be updated in Lightroom by choosing the “Read Metadata from Files ” from the Metadata file menu. Note: This menu option is only available in the Lightroom Library.
Additional Notes on Camera Raw and Lightroom
- Camera Raw will only read the current settings for the primary image in the Lightroom Library. Virtual Copy adjustments will not be displayed or available in Camera Raw 5.4
Your Thoughts?
Once you install these updates, please let us know in the comments if you see any improvements or issues. Thanks.
Filed Under: News
About the Author: Scott Rouse is an Adobe Certified Expert (ACE), photographer, teacher, and graphic- and web-designer in Missoula, MT. His photography focuses on wildlife and adventure sports and can be viewed at 
It might be worth pointing out here that if you don’t update Lightroom then you should not expect it to understand raw files from the lastest and greatest digital cameras. I’ll have a whole article on this common frustration soon.
Hi David, I was wondering about doing a book of photos from a recent trip to Lake Powell. I have made a smart collection of all the photos I want to use, but don’t know where to go from there. Do you have a specific book program you like (shutterfly? blurb?). How do I access the collection when I’m in one of those programs? Hope that question makes sense! Thanks,
Vicki Tillard
Vicki,
I’ve used Blurb before and been pretty happy with the results. I have heard of others who have not been quite as happy, however.
To use your images with Blurb, you’d download their Blurb Booksmart software and install it on your computer. Once the software is installed, I’d recommend creating a Collection in Lightroom of the images you may want in the book. Export those into a folder on your computer and access them from the Booksmart software.
According to a FAQ on the Blurb website, the Booksmart software supports dragging and dropping from Lightroom (and Aperture), but I haven’t tried that.
Best of luck, and be sure and tell us about your results here.
Thanks,
Scott
Can Lightroom (2.4) display adjustments i make in Photoshop (cs4 with raw 5.4)? Ive done most of my work in Photoshop and Lightroom doens’t seem able to handle displaying images with those adjustments.
Thanks
Scott L (different Scott from above)
Scott,
Sure, Lightroom can display images that you’ve edited in Photoshop or with Camera Raw. Lightroom can show edited .PSD, .TIFF, and .JPG files from Photoshop. To have your Photoshop changes appear in Lightroom, however, you must have saved the Photoshop file (.PSD) “with maximum compatibility.”
To make sure that’s happening, go into your Preferences in Photoshop. Go to the File Handling section. Under File Compatibility, make sure that the “Maximize PSD and PSB File Compatibility” drop-down says “Always.” That way you’ll never have to be bothered by the question when saving, and all your .PSD files will be compatible with other programs (including Lightroom).
If you’ve edited files with Camera Raw only (.JPG, .TIFF, .DNG, .NEF, .CR2, etc), you should be able to see those changes in Lightroom, as well.
You’ll have the most luck if you start with images in Lightroom (imported from your camera), do your global, Camera Raw-type edits there, then send the image to Photoshop for extensive local edits, if required. That’s the way Lightroom was designed to be used.
-Scott R.
HELP!!! I dont know what happened.. but I can not see my pictures in loupe or grid view. I have 2.4 and after the most recent windows update (YEP.. MY NEXT PURCHASE WILL BE A MAC!) I am unable to see the files (which are CR2 files). If I go to CROP them, I can see the picture… but only then. I uninstalled lightroom and reinstalled it… that didnt help the matter, nor did system restore. I am thinking that my NON COMPUTER SKILLED husband may of accidentally sabotaged my program with his click happiness when trying to find the internet icon! I ALWAYS leave Lightroom up…
Can someone help me???
Fed up in Florida … Jill
Dear Jill,
Sorry to hear about your troubles. I don’t think that the problem that you are having has anything to do with your operating system choices. I also think that it is unrelated to your camera raw updates, but I am just guessing.
My suspicion is that you have lost or corrupted the Lightroom Previews file / folder that accompanies your .lrcat catalog file. This is only a guess. Without poking around inside your computer I am afraid that it is the best I can offer.
You do deserve better help though. You might find the assistance you seek either:
A. From Adobe Customer support whose phone number is
1-800-642-3623 They are open 6am-5pm PST.
B. You might also find help here in the user forum. http://forums.adobe.com/community/lightroom
If neither of these sources solves your problems please write us back. We might be able to help you via a remote desktop application but our tech support is not free and there are some limits to what we can and cannot do for you.
Best of luck,
David
Just a quick reminder to those reading this post that Adobe has now released Lightroom 2.5 and Camera Raw 5.5. Click here for more information about these releases.
-Scott