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Participating Frequently
January 18, 2012
Released

P: Make curves bigger

  • January 18, 2012
  • 44 replies
  • 3053 views

It would be great if the curves panel in Lightroom was physically bigger. The current panel is too small. While it's easy to make big adjustments, fine tuning is difficult and imprecise. I've attached two screenshots showing the curves panel for Lightroom (LR 4 beta) and Aperture (3.2.2) for the same image. In Lightroom, I've selected a medium contrast curve; in Aperture, I've used the "auto" curve option. Physically, the Lightroom curve panel itself measures 160 pixels per side. The Aperture one is 260 pixels per side, 60% bigger linearly, and three times the area! (67,500 pixels versus 25,600.)Aperture's bigger curves panel gives three big advantages:-- it's easier to see the changes, particularly in relation to the linear slope;-- it's easier to make changes, particularly precise ones; and-- it's easier to either select a current point or make a new one without accidentally doing the opposite.I'd also say a bigger panel encourages you to use it: just grab a point and yank it, without worrying that you have to be pixel precise.

44 replies

Participating Frequently
January 19, 2012
Like Dorin says, making the panel bigger doesn't make the curve box itself bigger.

Also, Lightroom leaves too much free space between the box and the panel. The panel here is reasonably sized, but the curves box takes up just over half the width. Compare that to Aperture. The box there is pushed right to the margins. That's a much more efficient use of space. Since the panel gives it to you, why not use it?
Flawless_Star15D5
Participating Frequently
January 18, 2012
True. Point well made. I've clicked the +1 button.
A.
dorin_nicolaescu
Inspiring
January 18, 2012
The problem is, a bigger panel does not make the curve bigger. It stays at its fixed size.
Flawless_Star15D5
Participating Frequently
January 18, 2012
You can already drag the left-hand side of the panel to make it larger. Any larger and the image being developed would be unacceptably small surely?

Anthony.