Adobe Lightroom

The types of tasks performed in the Library module generally fall under file management, such as separating the keepers from the clunkers, applying keywords, organizing into collections, renaming, applying metadata, etc., and each of these views are designed to help make those tasks a little easier.

The four Library module views—Grid, Loupe, Compare and Survey—are accessible from the Library module Toolbar.

As you can see when you place your cursor over each icon that a tooltip appears displaying its name and its keyboard shortcut. I highly recommend that you learn at least two of the keyboard shortcuts—Grid and Loupe—as these will be the two you use most often.

• Grid = G
• Loupe = E
• Compare = C
• Survey = N

The Grid and Loupe view shortcuts are so often used that they will work no matter where you are in Lightroom. Meaning that if you are in the middle of Print module project and need to switch to the Library module for something just press G to jump straight to Grid view or E to view the currently selected image in Loupe view back in the Library module. Compare and Survey view shortcuts only work in the Library module.

Grid view is probably the most commonly used view and the one you may be the most familiar with seeing when you think of Lightroom.

Grid is the view to use when you want to work with multiple images at the same time, such as when batch renaming, applying keywords, creating collections, moving photos between folders, applying metadata, etc. Grid view allows you to get things done fast.

Loupe view comes in as a close second, and is for the times when you need to see a larger version of an image.

A very important distinction to make when you are working in Loupe view is that even though you can select multiple images via the Filmstrip the actions you perform via the Library module panels are only applied to the most selected photo you are viewing in the Loupe view. For example, if you have 2 photos selected in Grid view and apply a keyword to one of them the keyword is actually added to both selected photos. In Loupe view the keyword will only be applied to the most selected photo and not any other.

Compare view is a more specialized view and is most helpful for those times when (you guessed it) you want to closely compare two or more versions against each other.

This may seem like a narrow focus, but it is actually very helpful and you may find yourself using it more than you think. It really speeds up the process of making your initial selects by allowing you to quickly compare multiple exposures at both fit screen and 1:1 views. You can also take advantage of the controls in the Quick Develop panel for making minor tweaks to the photos you are comparing to help determine which shots are worth keeping. Likewise all the flagging, rating and color label controls are equally accessible.

Survey view is primarily a means for comparing multiple images simultaneously. This can be a great tool for facilitating the narrowing down process for the best of the best from a group of similars. Just select multiple photos in Grid view or from the Filmstrip in the Library module and press N.

Lightroom will fit each of the selected photos into the main content area dynamically resizing the thumbnails to fill the available space. While true with all Library module views you can use the Keyboard shortcuts for maximizing screen real estate to help you get the most out of each view.

The key function of this view is the ability to narrow down your selection choices by simply removing photos from the view without having to worry about removing the actual photos from the folder or collection they reside in. Just click the X under any photo to remove it from view. Lightroom will continue to dynamically resize the remaining photos to fill the screen.

In a normal Lightroom workflow no view is an island. You will find yourself flowing between them as suited by the task at hand to the point where you won’t even notice you are doing so. I’ll take a closer look at the specifics of each view in coming tutorials.