Frequently Asked Questions

By Matt Kloskowski

How much does Lightroom 2 cost?

If you already own Lightroom 1, the upgrade cost for Lightroom 2 is $99. I know, not bad right. If you're buying Lightroom new for the first time then the full version will cost $299.

Will I need my old serial number if I'm upgrading?

Nope. Lightroom 2 will automatically detect the Lightroom 1 serial number so you won't have to hunt around for the old one.

I just bought Lightroom 1 in July. Am I outta' luck? Do I still have to pay the upgrade price to get Lightroom 2?

No. Adobe gives customers a 30-day grace period when it comes to new releases. Just contact Adobe's customer service and they'll take care of you.

Will Lightroom 2 interfere with Lightroom 1?

Lightroom 2 will work side by side with Lightroom 1 just fine. If you already have Lightroom 1 installed, Lightroom 2 will ask if you'd like to upgrade your catalog and move everything over from Lightroom 1.

Can I continue to use the Lightroom 2 Beta?

Yes, until it expires on August 31, 2008.

You keep referring to the company name Adobe. Arent you guys Adobe?

Nope. We are not Adobe. Weird question I know but you wont believe how many people ask us. So, since were not Adobe, we don't make Photoshop, Lightroom or any of the other cool products they make. We do however provide the best resource for learning their products which is what the NAPP and Photoshop User Magazine is all about.

I've seen talk about some new and tighter Photoshop integration. I have Photoshop CS2. Will it work with all versions of Photoshop?

Nope. You'll need Photoshop CS3 (version 10.0.1) for the new integration to work.

What file formats does Lightroom 2.0 beta support?

Lightroom 2 beta supports JPEG, TIFF (8 bit and 16 bit), PSD, DNG, and all currently supported Raw file formats.

Where do I get support for Lightroom 2 beta?

Well, there's lots of places. First off, the best place to start off learning about Lightroom 2 is right here on NAPP's Lightroom 2 Learning Center. If you're looking for more though, then here's a good start:

• Photoshop User Magazine (brought to you by NAPP) also has a special section inside of every issue called Darkroom and it's geared 100% toward Lightroom. Each issue has some of the top industry experts writing articles on how to do everything from managing your photos to developing them, as well as getting really creative with what you can achieve in Lightroom.
• If you like books then you'll want to have the best one that's out there. Scott Kelby's Lightroom 2 Book for Digital Photographers. Scott has rewritten this book from the ground up because so much as changed since Lightroom 1 first came out and the first version of the book. It'll ship in late-August but it's available now for pre-order.
• If you're a Kelby Training subscriber or thinking about signing up, then Matt Kloskowski has 4 online training courses for Lightroom 2 that are live right now. The first is a 3-part series called Lightroom In Depth. Part 1 is all about Importing, sorting and cataloging your photos. Part 2 is about Developing and editing them. Finally, part 3 is about showing them off and printing. Matt also has the Lightroom 2 Power Session available at Kelby Training with dives in to how to use the new features in Lightroom 2 specifically but doesn't go through using the whole entire program like the In Depth training does. 
• If you like DVDs then Matt's online courses above will be available on DVD in August of 2008. 
• You'll want to keep an eye Scott Kelby's blog for the latest photography news as well as lots of Lightroom stuff. 
• You'll also want to stop by Matt Kloskowski's Lightroom Killer Tips blog/weekly podcast. Matt site hosts new free presets each week, a brand new training video on Lightroom as well as other Lightroom (and photography) related news and tips. 
• Don't forget about forums. If you're a NAPP member, NAPP has dedicated Lightroom forums on the members-only website as well as the 24-hour NAPP help desk where you can send in your question and get it answered by the experts. If you're not a NAPP member then you'll want to check out Adobe's online forums for help as well. http://www.adobe.com/support/forums/

What do I do now?

Start exploring the rest of the learning center. Theres lots of videos, exclusive interviews, and other goodies to keep your Lightroom appetite busy for a while. Don't forget to pre-order Scott Kelby's Lightroom 2 Book for Digital Photographers which will be out in a few weeks. Also, if you're a Kelby Training subscriber, check out Matt Kloskowski's Lightroom 2 Power Session online training course which goes into depth into all of the new features. Also, check out Matt's Lightroom 2 In Depth training course. It's a 3 part series and they're over at www.kelbytraining.com.

Minimum System Requirements

Windows
Processor: Intel® Pentium 4
OS: Microsoft® Windows® XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista™ Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise Edition
RAM: 1 GB
Hard Disk: 1 GB of available hard-disk space
Media: CD-ROM drive
Display: 1024 x 768 Monitor Resolution

Macintosh
Processor: PowerPC® G4, G5, or Intel-based Mac
OS: Mac OS X 10.4 or Mac OS X 10.5
RAM: 1 GB
Hard Disk: 1 GB of available hard-disk space
Media: CD-ROM drive
Display: 1024 x 768 Monitor Resolution