How to build portable masks in Lightroom 2

One of the pitfalls in Lightroom 2 is lack of portable masks to isolate portions of your photos. Yes, you can use the adjustment brush - but try transferring that mask to the next similar photo and editing it. Here's an easy way to build portable masks in Lightroom 2 that can be quickly transferred and modified from one photo to the next.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lightroom 2
• Focus Builder Preset
• Some Time to Learn

1. Download and install the Focus Builder Lightroom 2 preset (link is below). If you need help installing the preset, see my last article on installing presets in Lightroom.

2. 
   Imported Photo with basic adjustments

   Select a photo in Lightroom where you'd like to emphasize or draw the focus to your subject. Go to the develop module by pressing the "D" key. Make your slider adjustments to your photo but DO NOT CROP YOUR PHOTO YET! Time for that later.

3. Pick the effect you'd like to apply - Soft Focus, B&W and Color, Darkening background, Exotic effect and so on (these effects are included in the download).

4. 

   Choose the appropriate preset filter that fits where your subject matter lies within the photo. Choices are Top Left, Top Right, Center, Bottom Left, Bottom Right.

5. 

   Apply the select preset by clicking on it. If the effect fits your subject - you're done. Otherwise, you may need to do a little tweaking as described in the following steps.

6. 

   Activate the graduated filter tool - shortcut key is the "M" key. Position the pins so that the effect is centered around your subject matter. Simply click a pin and drag into the new position.

7. 

   Make any final adjustments - for example a quadrant of the photo could be colored or darkened just by reducing the appropriate slider. Here I've shown the effect of darkening and coloring one portion of the photo (only as an example).

8. 

   Press the "M" key to turn off the graduated filter tool, crop your photo to suit and you're done. You also have the option of applying "enhancer" effects on top of the just applied effect. Choose one of the Black or White border effects. Should you wish to save this effect for use on another photo simply complete the next step.

9. 

   Click on the Develop menu, select New Preset ..., click on Check None (bottom left in pop-up window), then click on Graduated Filters so it is the only check box that is active, name your new preset and click on Create.

10. Export and upload your finished photo to your WEB site, Flickr, Facebook or where ever you'd like to show your new masterpiece.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have trouble selecting a pin, temporarily select another pin then go back and select the desired pin.
• Work the flat sides or the corners first and you won't run into the situation above.
• If changing the gradient width use the ALT key modifier when dragging the lines so the selected pin doesn't shift.
• Use the zoom slider in the toolbar to zoom in - 1:2 works well and your screen updates will be faster.
• If some how things get messed up, use the Undo (Ctrl-Z) shortcut of back up the necessary number of steps in your history panel.

Resources

• Download Focus Builder Preset (required)
• Advanced use of Graduated Filter

[blhomes]

on 1/28/2009 Thank you for the "how-to", I've just started using LR2 and love it, so any trick to make it even better is a plus in my book!