Lightroom for iOS Now Available to All Users, No Longer Requires Creative Cloud Subscription

[Glassed Silver]

So, is it free or not?

It's free, entirely, only ONE FEATURE needs the subscription and that is synching to the web and Lightroom for Mac / PC.

So, if all you want is some solid retouching and editing on iOS and the files aren't supposed to leave your iDevice in a synched fashion, then you're good to go.
Otherwise you'll need to subscribe.

Wish Lightroom had WiFi Synch.

Or, even better yet, wish iTunes worked as a bridge to synch app data between Mac or Windows and iOS.

Some apps that would greatly benefit from synching without me having to manually open them on both systems:
TapForms, GoodReader, Lightroom (not using it, but if that was a thing I'd give it a shot), and various others where I might not want cloud sync for whatever reason. (there's plenty, even beyond privacy concerns, like network speed, no need to subscribe to something, ...)

Glassed Silver:mac

 

[AllergyDoc]

Just to clarify, I download version 2.0.0, released Oct 5. Options were to sign in or get started.

 

[576316]

Yes, it can handle RAW images just fine.

Yes, but something about iOS not really playing well with RAW files. If you import from an SD card directly over lightning, iOS only imports the low res JPEG previews embedded in the RAW files. It doesn't actually import the RAW files themselves. I use the SD reader to lightening kit and I heard this was the case, which is why I shoot with my medium set to 'RAW+JPEG'. I was told that if you do this, iOS will import the full res JPEGs which are stored alongside the RAW files on the SD card. Rather than using the embedded JPEG previews instead. I could be wrong, but this is what I've been informed and it sort of fits with my observations. I was straight up told that the files iOS imports are not the RAW files themselves.

 

[576316]

Excellent, excellent, excellent. I find myself editing using my iPad more than ever these days and, as a Lightroom 6 single licence holder, having to subscribe to CC just to use this app was frustrating. I still love VSCOcam's filters though, which is what I've been using. But feel combining these two apps will make for quite a powerful workstation. Basically the only tool I miss in VSCO is clarity, which Lightroom Mobile has. VSCO said they might consider adding a clarity slider in the future but right now have no plans.

 

[Glassed Silver]

??? No, Lightroom for IOS does not even recognize RAW files.
Which actually makes it useless for me.

My ideal workflow would be: import RAWs from shooting into iPad, do some quick adjustments and rate them in Lightroom IOS, then later import the good ones onto my Macbook. Does not work, as Lightroom does not import the RAWs.

That's exactly what I always dreamed iPhoto for iOS to be.

Get some first tasks done in the field, have a 10" preview experience (iPad is perfect for easy and high quality picture previews in the field, ask any model what she or he prefers or any photographer. It's an absolute no-brainer) where you do the initial tagging and rating, then import from there into Aperture and get working on the details.
Publish and archive, done.

Synch back using iTunes and you get iPad viewing size optimized finals on your iPad to keep around as a sort of extended portfolio ready whenever.


However, what Apple really seems to be focused on is making the Photos app much better, granted, but completely getting rid of sensible desktop options, an iPhoto for iOS that had potential and over the long run if you want some strong organization, you'll have to decide between nice integration and synch out of one hand or a proper DAM where you have to subscribe to synch. And only over the internet.

Glassed Silver:mac

 

[odedia]

Totally confused here. Photos has about 10 times fewer organization features than Lightroom.

Lightroom is SLOW in the library module.
Keywording is a mess. Geotagging is useless. Filtering is clumsy and many important features are too hidden. And did I mention it is dead slow? with 36mp Nikon d800 images, apple photos smokes Lightroom.

I also consider iCloud Photo Library as part of my organization scheme. My masters are backed up in the cloud. My metadata is backed up in the cloud. I have access to the library from 4(!) different computers I own. With Lightroom you are limited to 2 computers and can only sync to mobile devices (what??).
By the way, Apple photos saved my catalog a few weeks ago. I forgot to backup the external drive containing my masters (was playing too much with uploading to online backup services). Then the raid0 array failed on me (and even crashed El Capitan).
No problems. After a format, I was shocked to have "lost" all my images. I opened a new library as system library, and 2 days later all my 750gb of images were there, with my metadata. Worth 10$ a month to me. Lightroom costs the same without the backup service.

 

[jasonkratz]

Lightroom is SLOW in the library module.
Keywording is a mess. Geotagging is useless. Filtering is clumsy and many important features are too hidden. And did I mention it is dead slow? with 36mp Nikon d800 images, apple photos smokes Lightroom.

I also consider iCloud Photo Library as part of my organization scheme. My masters are backed up in the cloud. My metadata is backed up in the cloud. I have access to the library from 4(!) different computers I own. With Lightroom you are limited to 2 computers and can only sync to mobile devices (what??).
By the way, Apple photos saved my catalog a few weeks ago. I forgot to backup the external drive containing my masters (was playing too much with uploading to online backup services). Then the raid0 array failed on me (and even crashed El Capitan).
No problems. After a format, I was shocked to have "lost" all my images. I opened a new library as system library, and 2 days later all my 750gb of images were there, with my metadata. Worth 10$ a month to me. Lightroom costs the same without the backup service.

I've never had that problem with Lightroom and it's catalog. I've also not dealt with 36mp images either but given that Lightroom is made for professionals I find it odd. I'm not saying you're not having problems...I just find it odd there isn't a solution. Photos has only the most basic options for organization. The two apps aren't on the same plane of existence. Filtering clumsy or not Lightroom still kills Photos for organization features.

And honestly I'm not sure I quite trust Apple yet. I've also uploaded all my stuff there but I got bitten bad by both iPhoto and Aperture.

 

[nunes013]

Did you click "Get started"?

The way I understood is that you still need to sign in, but you don't need the subscription for basic use.

If you want to sync to a Mac's or PC's Lightroom library, you need the subscription, which is ridiculous, but that's the way it is.
So still a pass for me.

Glassed Silver:mac

You chose to sign up for their 30 day free trial of CC. I suggest tapping "get started" instead for anyone else not wanting a Creative Cloud trial...

It was weird mine only had options for "Sign Up" or "Sign In" at the bottom. Deleted and reinstalled and "Get Started" showed up in place of "Sign Up." Oh well Im glad it works. It will be nice to be able to make quick edits on the go instead of having to wait until I get to Lightroom on my Mac.

 

[jmantn]

Can you make selective adjustments in Lightroom or is it all global? Been trying it out and don't see a way to adjust specific areas.

 

[Zaqfalcon]

??? No, Lightroom for IOS does not even recognize RAW files.
Which actually makes it useless for me.

My ideal workflow would be: import RAWs from shooting into iPad, do some quick adjustments and rate them in Lightroom IOS, then later import the good ones onto my Macbook. Does not work, as Lightroom does not import the RAWs.

This is all I've wanted since the iPad came out! Is this really so hard?

 

[wossogststepp]

Yes, but something about iOS not really playing well with RAW files. If you import from an SD card directly over lightning, iOS only imports the low res JPEG previews embedded in the RAW files. It doesn't actually import the RAW files themselves.

I am using the Lightning to USB camera connector to connect my 5d III and it does import the full RAW files. You can import all your RAWs on the iPad and later export them to the Mac and they stay full RAW. However the iPad will only show you the embedded JPG in Photos. Lightroom mobile however does not recognize these files at all.

 

[canesalato]

Yes, it can handle RAW images just fine.

No, it can't

 

[alexgowers]

nice app but it wants to take over organising all your photos, you can't just pop in and edit and leave without having to import the image and then end up making a copy of it rather than replacing the original. Personally adobe have some of the least intuitive software out there but unfortunately is some of the most powerful.

 

[dearfriendx]

Beg to differ. U cannot use the app if you don't sign up or sign in. The app is unusable as that's as far as you get without signing in.

And yes I have the trial at the top of my page as well and I downloaded Lightroom the day of the announcements.

I had no trouble tapping "get started" after installing and going right to work on some imported photos. Still haven't signed into anything. From what I've read here others have no trouble either.

 

[jmantn]

I had no trouble tapping "get started" after installing and going right to work on some imported photos. Still haven't signed into anything. From what I've read here others have no trouble either.

Yeah I installed it on my iPad Air 2 and seen what everyone else sees but it didn't show up on my iPhone.. logging out and back in didn't do it either. Uninstalling it and reinstalling it gave me the option for "get started"

 

[Badrottie]

Dang....Wish Apple would have made Aperture Cloud app for iOS that would be awesome....do you agree with me?

 

[James L]

Yes, but something about iOS not really playing well with RAW files. If you import from an SD card directly over lightning, iOS only imports the low res JPEG previews embedded in the RAW files. It doesn't actually import the RAW files themselves. I use the SD reader to lightening kit and I heard this was the case, which is why I shoot with my medium set to 'RAW+JPEG'. I was told that if you do this, iOS will import the full res JPEGs which are stored alongside the RAW files on the SD card. Rather than using the embedded JPEG previews instead. I could be wrong, but this is what I've been informed and it sort of fits with my observations. I was straight up told that the files iOS imports are not the RAW files themselves.

I use the SD adapter to import RAW files to the iPad all the time. It is my primary form of backup when traveling as a matter of fact. I think you were given bad information.

 

[576316]

I use the SD adapter to import RAW files to the iPad all the time. It is my primary form of backup when traveling as a matter of fact. I think you were given bad information.

Just found this page on Apple's own website. It seems to suggest that iOS never views nor edits the RAW files and, as I clearly stated, only the embedded JPEGs are viewed. Meaning that you can probably use iOS to back up your RAW files, but you can't edit them as RAWs...which is useless for me seeing as I use VSCOcam to do a lot of my photo editing.