The Digital Negative: Raw Image Processing in Lightroom, Camera Raw, and Photoshop 2nd Edition

I have used the Adobe software, mostly LR, for years with incomplete understanding of the programs. I found this book to be the most helpful in understanding what is possible and what is not with post-processing my digital images. The writing and illustrations are good and the book is well organized. I found the history of how LR has evolved to be interesting and helpful. Explanations of the basic tools and their use are clear and easily found for quick reference. Application of the tools in the authors own photos was another excellent feature. This volume is now my go-to source for information on using LR and also serves as my introduction to photoshop. What the tools do, how and why they do what they do, how much is enough and how much is too much are features of this book that make it so useful and appealing to me.

I've used several books on LR and PS, including the Kelby and Evening ones, and all of them offered helpful, detailed instructions on how to use the programs. Where this book differs from those and why I give it five stars is that it doesn't get lost in the weeds but explains the philosophies behind each program, how they are structured, and how they should be used most effectively. By mapping the structure/philosophy in this way, the reader can find his/her way to the right program and the right tool in each program. The workflows in the last chapter show the way an expert navigates through the image processing process. Although the book's ideal reader is probably the intermediate/expert in image processing, a beginner would also acquire lots of useful information in how to approach the topic.This is a terrific book.

Second edition of "The Digital Negative" updated for the latest 'CC' versions of Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) and Lightroom (LR). But perhaps not the very latest as updates are now released more frequently than the old 18 month cycle. I found two items that are in the current version of ACR that the author says are missing: making exposure adjustments using the histogram, and Shift + Double click to set individual sliders to their 'auto' position. Of course these are minor items and not particularly useful, in my opinion.If you have read any of the older versions, including the first edition or the older ACR version entitled simply "Camera Raw", you will find much of the same material, including many of the same example images. So perhaps not so valuable for an experienced ACR or LR user. However, if you are new to either, you really can't beat the author's in-depth coverage of editing capabilities. Jeff Schewe is the top dog here!Also keep in mind that this book emphasizes image adjustments and edits to raw files; it is not a comprehensive manual for LR, but comes close to comprehensive for ACR. (Martin Evening has a wonderful book on LR that does cover everything.) There are some details on using LR and Photoshop (PS) of course, as moving images into and out of these applications is almost always part of the work flow.So 5 stars if you are a new user. The book's production values are high; full color through out and nice coated paper. (I have read several other PS/LR/ACR guide books that use paper akin to newsprint and have color images only bound into a small number of coated pages in the middle of the book.Jeff has worked closely with Adobe for many, many years. He provides insight into why the software works the way it does, and why Adobe made decisions regarding the new licensing plans. These are very interesting although strictly speaking won't help you learn the workflow.Highly recommended for those new to ACR/LR and adds coverage of new features for experienced users.

I think curve is one of the most important feature in lightroom, but the author seldom introduce this feature in this book. Generally it is a wonderful book for photographer, especially lightroom user.

THE DIGITAL NEGATIVE more than met my expectations. The work is not for the beginner in digital imagery. The scientifically uninformed will have a rough time of it from the get go. I wish I had paid more attention to the physics of light as an undergraduate. And I do wish I had the author's first-hand knowledge of the language, the acronyms and the development of digital photography. I suspect he has to gloss over the rich history of digital image taking to make room for raw image processing. I was made to tread water in the first three chapters. I had to research online many of the matters he introduced. That is what studying is all about - and it feels good to be a student again! Photography as a science is an art unto itself. Photography as art is derived from the depths of human feeling and emotion. I caught onto that early in my reading - here is an artist immersed in the science that brings forth this wonderful technology of image making. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know why and how he does things in raw image processing.

I read the first edition of this book several years ago and decided that enough new stuff had been invented and discovered since then to justify getting Schewe's newest iteration. Am I glad I did!I own many LR and PS books on image editing. In fact I have a library full of them. And, I've been editing and creating fine art prints for many years.Jeff Schewe is one of the few authors out there who actually practices what he preaches. He says nothing in his books that he doesn't rigorously back up with multiple examples of techniques that you can try out yourself (if you don't believe). Almost everything in this book is oriented toward the practical, with some digressions into historical framework - which I'm sure he includes in order to provide a proper prospective.If you are serious about image editing and printing - both using Photoshop and Lightroom - then this is a must-read book.

Very nice

A good reference book. Worth the price.

Compré este libro sobre LR en vez de otros tal vez más conocidos por el autor. Jeff Schewe conoce desde el principio como se creó LR y el porqué de las decisiones en su diseño. Trata todos los apartados y explica de forma clara y concisa el funcionamiento de LR.Un buen libro!

This is well illustrated and Jeff has an easy style. The book has a definite sequence, though it is still suitable for dipping into as well. Bear in mind Jeff has a particular style of photography that is reflected in his approach, which I prefer to learn from rather than copy. I think his 80:20 Lightroom : Photoshop is a very useful observation. Plenty to learn from in this book.

Beschrieben wird hier in aller Ausführlichkeit die Handhabung und Korrekturmöglichkeiten des RAW- Formates im Adobe- eigene Konverter.Jeff Schewe war einer der Mitentwickler im Rahmen der Erstellung von der ersten Version von Lightroom, da Adobe damals (2002) vor dem Problem stand, zwar ein gutes Bildbearbeitungsprogramm zu haben, aber nichts, was die RAW- Daten zu behandeln wußte.Fundiert, mit Erklärungen der Funktionen und deren Anwendung, was alles im Raw- Konverter gemacht werden kann.(Was wieder denen mißfällt, die "nur" die Grundeinstellungen im Konverter vornehmen und dann in Photoshop weitermachen.)Für den engagierten Fotografen, Bildbearbeiter oder einfach an der Materie Interessierte eine klare Empfehlung!