Software


Lightroom June 2021: How to Use Super Resolution & More

June 11, 2021

By Hillary K. Grigonis

Adobe

Super Resolution means Lightroom users can now double the resolution of photos without leaving the program. It also enables you to get the most out of your images by intelligently improving image quality while maintaining sharp edges and color accuracy. Powered by AI technology, Super Resolution increases the width and height by 2x each for a total of 4x pixels.

The latest version of Lightroom and Lightroom Classic is here—and Adobe is giving photographers the ability to add resolution to their photos and even turn photo editing into a team process. The June 2021 release of Adobe Lightroom CC and Lightroom Classic CC includes the Super Resolution tool first launched in Adobe Camera RAW and new premium presets, while Lightroom CC includes collaborative photo editing. Here’s what’s new and how to use each feature.

Lightroom June 2021 Updates: Super Resolution

First part of Adobe Camera RAW, Super Resolution means Lightroom users can now double the resolution of photos without leaving the program. The tool uses artificial intelligence to increase the number of pixels in a photo. Adobe says that creates higher resolution photos that have cleaner edges and better detail than previous upsampling tools. While most modern cameras have plenty of megapixels, Adobe says that the tool is ideal for increasing the resolution of heavily cropped photos when a longer zoom wasn’t available, or bringing new life into a photo shot years ago on an older camera.

[Read: Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom 2021 New Features for Photographers]

To use Super Resolution in Lightroom Classic, select the image and control click or right click on the image. In the menu, select Photo > Enhance. In Lightroom CC, go to the top menu bar and find Photo > Enhance to open the same set of controls. The Enhance Preview window will pop up. You’ll need to check the Super Resolution Box. You can use the preview window to see how the image will change.

Collaborative Photo Editing

In Adobe Lightroom CC only (not Classic), photographers can now invite others to edit albums. This tool could be helpful for team projects, as well as photographers that hire photo editors to help manage the workload.

[Read: ON1 PhotoRAW 2021.5: New and Improved Features]

The feature is activated through the Share & Invite tools. Right click or control click on an album and choose Share & Invite from the menu. In the pop-up window under the Invite tab, add the email addresses that you want to share with. For each person you can choose view, which allows only views and comments; contribute, which allows invitees to add photos and mark favorites; and edit and contribute, which allows invitees to edit photos, add to the album, and download JPEGS. This same Share & Invite menu will also allow you to remove access from a user previously authorized.

Premium Presets

Adobe is tossing in a few new free presets with the latest update. Premium presets are housed in their own section of the preset panel. The presets are divided into seven categories: cinematic, futuristic, vintage, travel, and three different categories for portraits. The portrait categories are divided in three for better handling of skin tones, including Portraits-Deep Skin, Portraits-Medium Skin, Portraits-Light Skin. The presets were developed by photographers, from documentary artists to travel photographers.

Other Lightroom June 2021 Updates

The June update also includes a handful of smaller tweaks. Lightroom users can now create a custom crop aspect ratio instead of being limited to the standard sizes. Mac users may see performance improvements with native support for Apple Silicon devices. Tethered Live View was also added for some Nikon models, while the programs also see the usual updates for compatibility with the latest cameras and lenses.