Workspace basics

Lightroom Classic is a complete toolbox for professional photographers, organized into modules. Each module focuses on a specific portion of the photographic workflow: the Library module is for importing, organizing, comparing, and selecting photos; the Develop module is for adjusting color and tone, or creatively processing photos; and the Slideshow, Print, and Web modules are for presenting your photos.

Each of the modules in the Lightroom Classic workspace includes panels that contain options and controls for working on your photos.

The Filmstrip, located at the bottom of the workspace in every module, displays thumbnails of the contents of the folder, collection, keyword set, or metadata criteria that is currently selected in the Library module. Each module uses the contents of the Filmstrip as the source for the tasks performed in it. To change the selection in the Filmstrip, go to the Library module and select different photos. See View photos.

To work in Lightroom Classic, first select the images you want to work with in the Library module. Then click a module name in the Module Picker (upper-right in the Lightroom Classic window) to begin editing, printing, or preparing your photos for presentation in an on-screen slide show or web gallery.

The activity monitor displays over the identity plate when Lightroom Classic is busy with a task.

• To cancel a process, click the X beside the progress bar.

• To switch and view another process in progress, click the triangle beside the progress bar.

Manage panels and the screen view

You can customize the Lightroom Classic workspace by rearranging the order of Develop panels, displaying only the panels you want, or by hiding some or all of the panels to maximize the display of your photos.

Open or close a panel

Open or close one panel at a time

Solo mode applies independently to a set of panels. The triangle in the panel header is solid when not in Solo mode.

Scroll through a group of panels

Show or hide panel groups

• To show or hide a single panel group, click the Show/Hide Panel Group icon . A solid icon indicates the panel group is showing.
• To show or hide both side panel groups, choose Window > Panels > Toggle Side Panels, or press the Tab key.
• To hide all panels, including side panels, the Filmstrip, and Module Picker, choose Window > Panels > Toggle All Panels, or press Shift-Tab.

Set how panel groups show or hide automatically

Resize the width of a panel group

Remove or restore a panel from a group

If you don’t use a panel often, you can hide it from view.

Customize the order of Develop panels

You can rearrange or customize the order of Develop panel based on your work preferences. For detailed information on the procedure, see Customize the order of Develop panel.

Change the Lightroom Classic screen mode

You can change the screen display to hide the title bar; the title bar and the menus; or the title bar, menus, and panels.

• Choose Window > Screen Mode, and then choose an option.
• When in Normal, Full Screen With Menubar, or Full Screen mode, press the F key to cycle through those three modes.
• Press Ctrl+Alt+F (Windows) or Command+Option+F (Mac OS) to switch to Normal screen mode from Full Screen With Menubar or Full Screen mode.
• Press Shift+Ctrl+F (Windows) or Shift+Command+F (Mac OS) to enter Full Screen And Hide Panels mode, which hides the title bar, menus, and panels.
• When in Full Screen And Hide Panels screen mode, press Shift-Tab and then the F key to display the panels and menu bar.

Turn off all settings in a panel

You can temporarily turn off all the settings in a panel of the Develop module or the filtering in the Filmstrip.

Dim or hide the Lightroom Classic workspace

Use Lights Out to dim or black out the Lightroom Classic workspace so that your photo stands out on screen.

The toolbar

You can hide the toolbar or customize it in the Library and Develop modules to include the items you need.

Show controls in the Library module toolbar

Depending on which view is active in the Library module, the toolbar contains controls for browsing photos, applying metadata, starting an impromptu slide show, rotating photos, and applying ratings, flags, or labels. The toolbar Info box displays the filename of the selected photo.

Show or hide the toolbar

Change toolbar icons