Lightroom Application For Mobile Devices In The Works

Adobe Lightroom

One of the reasons why photographers prefer using laptops instead of tablets is the limitation that the tablets have when it comes to photo editing. But it appears that Adobe Systems may be working on a solution for this, a Lightroom application that is specially designed for tablets.

Lightroom group product manager of Adobe Systems, Tom Hogarty, recently showed a prototype for a mobile version of the software. Hogarty revealed that the company was able to create an application that works well on PCs, however it is necessary for the photography workflow to be integrated seamlessly into mobile devices.

Hogarty said that the company still has to bring raw image processing into mobile devices. Although he is not making any guarantees, he was able to show some of the features of the image-editing software on an Apple iPad 2.

He revealed that the Lightroom application for mobile devices will be capable of editing raw images using Lightroom parameters such as shadows, clarity, highlights, exposure, and white balance. It will also facilitate editing through cloud-synchronization to ensure that modifications made through the tablet will appear on the PC. It will also have the capability of zooming in up to 100 percent to check image details and focus.

He also hinted at the possibility that the library module features may also be included on the Lightroom application for mobile devices. But he did not mention other features of the software such as erasing portions of an image or darkening parts of an image.

Although raw images are more flexible compared to JPEGS, they require a strong processor. Software such as Lightroom is what many photographers need in order to enhance the images they take.

Other features that will come with the Lightroom application for mobile devices are exposure control, contrast, shadows, highlights, clarity, vibrance, tint, temperature, luminance noise reduction, and color noise reduction, among others. However, Hogarty was a bit reluctant in showing these features.

A number of requests have been made for a Lightroom application for mobile devices. Although there were several options, they did not come close to the actual software from Adobe Systems. The company also promoted the Creative Cloud subscription service, but the $50 monthly fee may be too much for simple photo enthusiasts, who may be contented with simple photography and are not interested in other features that it offers.

Hogarty was also open to suggestions on the features that photographers may need for a Lightroom application for mobile devices. The company will use the Smart Previews technology that makes a version of an image that does not take up as much space as the original image. Most of the features in editing raw images will also be available on Smart Previe images.

Although performance is important for photographers, the storage capacity of tablets may limit the performance of a Lightroom application for mobile devices, Hogarty added.