Categories: PhotographyTags: ,

I recently published an article showing some of my top 20 Photoshop keyboard shortcuts. In this post I would like to complement it by sharing my favorite Lightroom shortcuts! One of the best things about Lightroom is the ability to zip around quickly to organize and process photographs, and using keyboard keyboard shortcuts makes even easier to simplify your workflow.

So, without further ado, and in no particular order, here are my top 20 Lightroom keyboard shortcuts:

  1. D = Develop Module
  2. E = Library Module (single image view)
  3. G = Library Module (grid view)
  4. R = Crop tool
  5. O = Cycles through crop overlays (while in the Crop tool)
  6. B = Add image to targeted collection (default is “Quick Collection”)
  7. Tab key = Hide left and right panels
  8. N = Survey Mode
  9. Press Opt (PC: Alt) key when moving sliders = Allows you to view clipping and masking for some of the tone adjustment sliders
  10. SHIFT + F = Cycles through view modes
  11. F = View image full-screen (eliminates distractions, great for quick presentations of images)
  12. Cmd (PC: Ctrl) + E = Edits in Photoshop
  13. P = Flags photo (P is for “pick”!)
  14. X = Rejects photo
  15. Numbers 1 through 5 = Adds star rating to a photo (1 through 5, respectively)
  16. V = Quick convert to B&W (great to see if it would look good as a B&W, just toggle the V key)
  17. T = Toggles Toolbar on and off
  18. \ = Toggles Library filtering
  19. Cmd (PC: Ctrl) + D = Deselects photos
  20. Opt (PC: Alt) + Click on drop-down arrow in side panel = Toggles “solo mode” for panels

I recently published an article showing some of my top 20 Photoshop keyboard shortcuts. In this post I would like to complement it by sharing my favorite Lightroom shortcuts! One of the best things about Lightroom is the ability to zip around quickly to organize and process photographs, and using keyboard keyboard shortcuts makes even easier to simplify your workflow.

So, without further ado, and in no particular order, here are my top 20 Lightroom keyboard shortcuts:

  1. D = Develop Module
  2. E = Library Module (single image view)
  3. G = Library Module (grid view)
  4. R = Crop tool
  5. O = Cycles through crop overlays (while in the Crop tool)
  6. B = Add image to targeted collection (default is “Quick Collection”)
  7. Tab key = Hide left and right panels
  8. N = Survey Mode
  9. Press Opt (PC: Alt) key when moving sliders = Allows you to view clipping and masking for some of the tone adjustment sliders
  10. SHIFT + F = Cycles through view modes
  11. F = View image full-screen (eliminates distractions, great for quick presentations of images)
  12. Cmd (PC: Ctrl) + E = Edits in Photoshop
  13. P = Flags photo (P is for “pick”!)
  14. X = Rejects photo
  15. Numbers 1 through 5 = Adds star rating to a photo (1 through 5, respectively)
  16. V = Quick convert to B&W (great to see if it would look good as a B&W, just toggle the V key)
  17. T = Toggles Toolbar on and off
  18. \ = Toggles Library filtering
  19. Cmd (PC: Ctrl) + D = Deselects photos
  20. Opt (PC: Alt) + Click on drop-down arrow in side panel = Toggles “solo mode” for panels

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Nicole is a photographer, published author, and educator specializing in Lightroom, Photoshop, and photography. She is best known for her books on food photography but is widely versed in various photographic genres, including landscape, nature, stock, travel, and experimental imagery.

4 Comments

  1. Patricia Davidson May 16, 2014 at 12:26 pm - Reply

    Great list of shortcuts Nicole! Thanks!

  2. Curt May 16, 2014 at 1:20 pm - Reply

    Nice tips! My favorite is make a virtual copy. Command + ,

  3. Jon Haverstick May 17, 2014 at 6:08 am - Reply

    Great summary! I use most of these (and learned a couple new ones that I’ll have to try). In addition to your list, here are some of my use-’em-every-day favorites:

    M = activates graduated filter (gradient tool)
    Shift-M = activates radius filter (introduced in LR5)
    K = activates adjustment brush
    Q = activates spot removal tool
    W = activates white balance sampler tool
    6,7,8,9 = sets color labels to red, yellow, green and blue, respectively
    cmd-shift-I (ctrl-shift-I) = Import photos / video

  4. Jennifer G May 24, 2014 at 3:39 am - Reply

    Thanks for these tips Nicole :) I use Lightroom 5 every day and this helps a lot! I do food photography (just starting out really–lots to learn). I just finished watching your food photography training on Kelbyone and really got a lot of good ideas from you thanks!

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