8×10Gallery.com

The Internet is ablaze with talk of the upcoming update to Adobe Lightroom. It’s excellent to see Adobe working quickly to address issues and update features based on user feedback.

It looks that sharpening, noise reduction, merging libraries, categorize presets, and several other new features are on their way. It also looks like attempts are being made to update with Adobe Camera Raw 4.1.

It also sounds like Lightroom might become more modular as it progresses making it easier to update components rather than the whole product.

In my opinion, the 1.1 release should also mark a pretty big upsurge in sales. As with any “new” product, a lot of people hold back, waiting for the first update to come along before they jump on board. This way they don’t have to suffer through the bugs and quirks that inevitably come along with new software.

But Lightroom is generating a tremendous amount of excitement these days with photographers providing excellent feedback and Adobe working hard to make those changes. If the cycle repeats itself, we should see a 1.1 update very shortly (within a few weeks if not sooner), then a 1.5 release several months from now (well before Christmas). This will allow a short term update to fix bugs and correct features and really stabilize what they have, then a longer period where they can really get in an update the program, add new features and build a platform for their 2.0 release.

Plus, Adobe is working against the established Aperture on the Mac side (and Mac users are a very loyal bunch). They will need some killer features to draw them away. For Windows, they have fertile ground to build a user base for those who want the photography features of Photoshop, but aren’t ready to move away from a photo editor they are already comfortable with. Plus the price of Lightroom is easier to bear.

I may be getting way over anxious and totally ahead of myself (what’s new) but I would almost bet that by this time next year we will have the 2.0 release already out the door. Considering the normal dev time for a product is around 2-3 years getting a new version in a year would be pretty impressive! Photoshop CS2 hit the shelves in April 2005…

Just my prediction, I could always be wrong

You can find more details of the upcoming 1.1 release here:

http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/?s=lightroom+1.1
http://www.golightroom.com/2007/05/30/upcoming-adobe-lightroom-11/

Other Articles of Interest:

• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 brings 64-bit compatibility
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.1 hits the Internet
• Free 177 page guide to Adobe Lightroom 1.1 features
• Adobe Lightroom 1.3.1 update
• DxO Optics Pro jumps to version 4.5
• Adobe releases beta of Lightroom 2.0 photo editing tool
• Adobe Lightroom Resources at GoLightroom.com
• 10 Best Things About Adobe Lightroom 2.0
• Microsoft’s competitor to Adobe LightRoom gets another champion
• I have to say, I love Adobe Lightroom!