Questions & Answers

By Matt Kloskowski

Will Lightroom 2 interfere with Lightroom 1?

Adobe has gone to great lengths to make sure that Lightroom 2 beta doesn't interfere with your existing Lightroom 1 software. You can actually run both versions of Lightroom side by side as 2.0 doesn't try to upgrade your 1.0 library. Instead it starts from scratch and you'll populate the 2.0 library from the ground up.

Will the work I do in Lightroom 2.0 beta transfer to the full version of Lightroom 2.0 when it's released?

That's a tricky one. Adobe is very specific to say that they make no guarantee that your library from the beta version will upgrade to the official release when it comes out. That's not to say it definitely won't but, as you can imagine, they're covering their tracks in case a major software change is needed between now and then.

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 Photoshop integration. 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.

Will there be more updates or releases during this beta program?

If you recall back in 2006, Adobe released several versions of the year of the original Lightroom 1.0 beta. Chances are that won't happen again. There aren't any updates planned between now and the full release of Lightroom 2.0.

Where do I get support for Lightroom 2 beta?

Adobe will not be supporting Lightroom 2.0 beta. After all, it is beta software so you're on your own. That said, there is a beta forum at http://labs.adobe.com/. Now, don't forget that the NAPP does have training videos on the new features and how to use them so be sure to check the home page of the learning center for more info. There's also Lightroom Killer Tips which is a blog/podcast by Matt Kloskowski. He posts all the latest news and info on Lightroom so that's another good place to find out info. Finally, if you're a NAPP member, there is a dedicated Lightroom forum on the NAPP member website.

When will the beta expire?

The Lightroom 2 beta will expire 30 days after you install it.

Do you know how much it'll cost?

We have no idea. Sorry, I know youre hoping for a better answer but were just being honest here. The best guess would be to look at past costs of upgrades and full versions and expect something in that ballpark.

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 until the summer. Also, if you're a Kelby Training subscriber, don't forget to take Matt Kloskowski's Lightroom 2.0 beta quickstart online training course 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