Lightroom 3 Technique: Workflow

This is a description of my use of keywords and smart collections in Lightroom 3 to get an efficient workflow.

Image Processing and Enhancement

I have the following keywords set up for my main workflow and processing my images as a preset in LR3:

I use the keywords in my workflow in this manner to send an image to a smart collection:

#CAN: candidate

This is for images I will consider more closely later to make a final decision if I want to use or work on the image. All images with this keyword will end up in a smart collection called "Candidates".

#DEV: develop

This is for images that I have decided I want to use and now need adjustments in the LR develop module. All images with this keyword will end up in a smart collection called "Develop".

#PS: photoshop

This is for images that needs more work in PhotoShop after the work in the develop module in LR. All images with this keyword will end up in a smart collection called "PhotoShop".

#PRN: print ready

This is for images that is finished and can be used as fine art prints. All images with this keyword will end up in a smart collection called "Print ready".

#RDY: ready

This is for images that is finished for general use (but not fine art prints), mostly for use on the web as illustrations. All images with this keyword will end up in a smart collection called "Screen ready".

When I go through my images in a folder I will use the "#CAN: candidate" keyword to tag images that look promising.

I then go into the candidate collection and make decisions on which images I will not use after all (remove the candidate keyword), or tag with a "develop" keyword if I want to use the image (and then remove the candidate keyword) to send it to the next smart collection that is where I have the images that need adjustments in LR develop module.

After develop I will either send the image to my print smart collection indicating that the image is finished and ready for use, or I will send it to my PhotoShop smart collection if the image need a round trip to PS (usually) before going to the print collection.

By setting up a preset of work flow keywords and matching smart collections this is a fast and easy way to have images i various stages and it's easy to find the images I'm working on or that is ready for printing/use.

Just remember that when you move an image from one collection to the next, add the new keyword before you remove the old. If you don't the image will disappear from the smart collection before you can send it to the next and you will have to find it again in the main catalog.

I star mark the final images after how much I like them.

I have a separate keyword set and matching smart collections to indicate different usages of the images.

Keywording the Images

I will of course also keyword images in the normal way with location, names etc. to make any search easy, and use the following keywords to track the process of keywording my images.

§DESC: description

I tag an image with this keyword when I have applied all keywords that describe the image.

§PIK: people I know

This keyword is applied when I have added the name of all people in the image, or if there is no people in the image.

§LOC: location name

This keyword is applied when the location is entered.

I then have smart collections that contains:

• Images that have all keywords done and are finished.
• Images that miss location.
• Images that miss names.
• Images that miss description keywords.

The original idea to use these keywords is from the Lightroom Journal.

Ronny A. Nilsen
Norway, October 2008