P: UI add Dark Mode or Interface Customization

[Robbie Khan]

Dark mode in Windows would be very useful, I use it on my system and everything is very eye pleasing, but the LRC toolbar is still white which ends up being distracting when working on dark photos since the rest of the UI is dark. It makes no sense that the toolbar does not follow the OS system theme, or at least have a proper dark mode option in LRC settings somewhere?

Pic related,t hanks!

[deroderuiter]

Is it possible to change the dark gray interface of Lightroom Classic? Especially for older people the dark color is terrible to work with. In Photoshop Elements it's possible to change the interface to a light color, but I can't find such a possibility in Lightroom Classic...

[D Fosse]

There isn't, and I absolutely agree there should be. All "comfort"-considerations aside, the dark interface usually fools the eye into thinking the image is brighter than it is, and so the final result is too dark and muddy.

You can set the image backdrop to white, which helps - but this makes the whole interface an over-contrasty dizzying mess.

And what's with the black frame? Why is that a good idea?

[Lawrey Jack]

I have found this to be a nuisance as well. It seems an interface that hopes to have people use it with Photoshop would provide an option of colors that help them rather than hinder them? The iMac Finder windows are white and much easier to see what one is looking for. On a separate monitor having white Finder Windows contrasting the dark Lightroom Classic windows makes it hard to compare ones storage intended files.  Using LRC color to mark files on the menu does help but it is disappointing that the same colors of the Indesign or Illustrator interfaces are no longer available on LRC. 

[kwyland]

So disappointed.  For me it's about the dark theme of the app.  I cannot read the menu items at all unless it is nighttime.

[KR Seals]

This is the best solution of all given the lack of other options in LrC. By setting the background to white in the Develop Module, you can easily see when the areas of an image that should be white are only a middle shade of gray. There are many sample of this sad situation on line, surf photos where the gray ocean foam should be nearly white, water falls that are coming out gray, etc. It does require a critical eye in evaluating your photos and a good understanding of the tonal scale, black to white.

[KR Seals]

Same here, let's hope the improvements shown at Adobe Max on Tuesday address that!

[Per Berntsen]

There's no option to change the interface color in version 12, so I request that a moderator changes this thread from discussion to feature request. I'd vote for it.

[Per Berntsen]

Thank you @Rikk Flohr: Photography 

Could you also change the title to something like "Add option to change interface color" ?

The thread I originally posted in was a request for an option for a lighter interface.

[BLanellA]

I'm new to Lightroom and trying to learn. I have used PSElements for about 15 years; I've used Photoshop from time to time, as well as Bridge and the Raw Editor. So, I'm not new to Adobe products. I need some visual help, so I always change the colors of the dark Workspace, Menus, etc. Specifically, the Photoshop "themes" is very helpful. In fact, I have ALWAYS been able to edit my preferences in Adobe graphic programs to suit my needs, until now.

Lightroom Classic 2022 cannot be adjusted adequately to allow me to do a simple thing like "read the screen/menus". I've been fumbling around with it for days, so not only is it not possible, it's an "undocumented feature".

To me this is bizzare. Adobe has the code to include in Lightroom Classic...why is it deemed not necessary for customers to be able to adjust the application for a visually beneficial experience. Adobe goes to great lengths to modify color in images, yet customers cannot adjust the application to suit their needs.

Please fix this inexplicable problem. then DOCUMENT IT!!!!

Thanks,

Lanell Allen

[johnrellis]

Perhaps you've already found the very limited ways you can customize the interface in Preferences > Interface:

- You can use Font Size to make text bigger, and you can change the Background color around images.

- Note that on Windows, the size of text in the top menu bar is controlled by the Windows display settings (Settings  > System > Display > Make Text Bigger).

[johnrellis]

Moderators, @Rikk Flohr: Photography, please merge with this existing idea:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-ideas/p-ui-add-dark-mode-or-interface-customization...

[Robbie Khan]

I am on a QD-OLED monitor, so having a dark toolbar with the dark stock theme is perfect as I have infinite contrast at my disposal - But even aside from this, when the dark BG is used, th toolbar should be dark too or at the very least it should follow the WIndows system theme mode preference which it does not.

[BLanellA]

Yes. I already found the very limited ways you can customize the interface in Preferences > Interface: This is the subject of my post. 

The size of the text is not the problem. The dark grey text on black is illegible. There is no option to adjust the color of the text.

[nomasprime]

Almost 2023 and Adobe, with one of the highest subscription costs on the market, still doesn't support dark mode on MacOS.

[ralphlouzon]

I left Lightroom for a few years since V6 and used intensely (and still do) Capture One and some others RAW softwares.
Now I'm back in Lightroom Classic and although the features are excellent I'm suprised to see again this old style UI which I don't like at all.
I can't understand why Adobe keeps this greyish interface, fonts are small and not enough readable, the panels are medium grey where they should be dark grey, the popup menus are light grey even if my Mac is set to dark mode, this white upper bar is weird, the slider buttons are too small and difficult to see... etc.
And Lightroom CC and Photoshop have perfect and customizable interfaces! Why LRC users are punished? Please Adobe...

[TheDigitalDog]

Almost 2023 and Adobe, with one of the highest subscription costs on the market, still doesn't support dark mode on MacOS.

Only partially supported (some of the GUI on the Mac is). 

Not enough, agreed, upvoted. 

[glynislw]

Now I have gotten a bit older, I am finding the Lightroom interface a little too dark and the text too faint. I have tried to increase font size... but it has not made that much difference. I know you can change the background colour but this is not the issue. 

I have a calabrated monitor  so it's not that my monitor is too 'dim' . Also, I don't have this problem with other software (eg ON1 or Topaz) mainly because their text is brighter.  Luckily, this is not an issue with Photoshop  as there are options to change the panel colours. 

So, is it possible to change the panel colour and brighten the text ? 

[Frans35958056anyp]

It is most anoying this dark mode and above that it causes that your eyes get discepted and you most  likely fall for images being to dark while printing them. It show that adobe gives more about fashion then about delivering a propper product.

I wonder if it is ignorance or stupiddity that adobe wont make this possible.

[QuantumGolem]

App verison: Lightroom Classic 14.2
macOS version: macOS Sequoia 15.3.2 (24D81)

---

Lightroom Classic does not support dark mode in dialog boxes. Here is one such example:

Here is roughly what it should look like:

This bug has been present for almost 7 years—since dark mode was introduced to macOS.

This happens with any dialog box in Lightroom Classic, including the Sync Settings dialog box, the AI syncing dialog box (as above), the export dialog box, the watermark editor dialog box, the tag editor dialog box, etc. 

[QuantumGolem]

Another place where this shows up: notice how in macOS dark mode, all apps have a dark title bar. 

However, Lightroom Classic still uses the old light mode title bar: 

[risottto]

The ability to change to a custom background color in Library/Develop instead of just having to choose between White / Light Gray, Medium Gray etc... like in photoshop would be amazing. The main reason I work in Soft Proofing Mode is the ability to choose 80/90/95% white!  Just adding a custom color option would allow a ton of flexibility with a minimal amount of coding!

[risottto]

Please Fix Again: My feature request was erroneously added to another unrelated thread AGAIN within 20 minutes! I guess this is how Adobe deals with suggestions!

It has absolutely nothing to do with this two year old discussion on how to add Dark Mode Dialogs or change the interface colors !

I am referring to the Lightroom Classic CC "Background Color" or "Proof Matte Color" around the image not in the image! (and not the interface or dialog boxes!)

How contrast and brightness are perceived greatly depends on the simultaneous contrast with the color around the image, I use it to get exposure even on a white wall which usually is around 90-95% in Soft Proofing mode, but it does not work if it's a color, or not close to one of the pre-defined values. Also it's very sad that I can't choose my own background color like Photoshop has been able do do since the 90s.

Screenshots of what I am referring to:

[Gunther Wegner]

Lightroom has a dark interface thus doesn't support Darkmode since years. This is so long overdue. Please add Darkmode for Titelbars and dialogs. This can't be so difficult.

[miguel_�ngel_6462]

Hola a todos,

Espero que me podáis ayudar con un problema que no consigo resolver. Estoy intentando establecer una interfaz de color claro (no oscura) tanto en Lightroom como en Lightroom Classic en mi ordenador con Windows, pero sin éxito.

Mi objetivo es simplemente poder trabajar cómodamente en un entorno con buena luz natural, ya que el tema oscuro dificulta la visibilidad.

Este es el comportamiento que experimento en cada programa:

1. En Lightroom (versión de la nube): La interfaz se mantiene permanentemente en modo oscuro. He configurado el modo de aplicación de Windows en "Claro" (utilizando el modo "Personalizado" para mantener la barra de tareas oscura). A pesar de haber reiniciado la aplicación varias veces (incluso forzando el cierre desde el Administrador de Tareas) y haber reiniciado el ordenador por completo, la interfaz de Lightroom no se ve afectada y sigue siendo oscura.

2. En Lightroom Classic: Aquí he conseguido un cambio parcial. En Preferencias > Interfaz, he logrado cambiar el color del fondo del área de trabajo, pero los paneles principales (Navegador, Biblioteca, Revelar, etc.) permanecen en gris oscuro. No encuentro una opción que afecte a toda la interfaz de forma global.

Ya he agotado las soluciones habituales y parece que las aplicaciones no están respondiendo a la configuración del sistema operativo. ¿Hay alguna otra solución, configuración en algún archivo o posible bug conocido que pueda estar causando esto?

Agradezco de antemano vuestra ayuda y vuestro tiempo.

Un saludo.