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Paul3452268254wo
Participating Frequently
January 2, 2024
Question

Where is the Develop tab to start editing?

  • January 2, 2024
  • 3 replies
  • 3778 views

I just bought Lightroom (using a Mac) and cannot see anything that allows me to start editing. All of the tutorials and YouTube videos shows the editing tools alreay displayed. I have none of that on my window and have clicked on every drop-down or tab and still do not see it. I would have thought siuch a main functioon wopul;d be obvious. Can anyone help?

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    3 replies

    Rob_Cullen
    Community Expert
    Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 3, 2024

    @Paul3452268254wo   Let us start with some detailed information-

    1) Open your LIGHTROOM App in your Mac.

    2) Go to the MENU:  Help > System Info...

    3) Make a screen-clip, or Copy and paste the report into your next post.

    Then we might know exactly what app you are using.

     

     

    Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .
    Rob_Cullen
    Community Expert
    Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 3, 2024

    @Paul3452268254wo   You are most likely looking at tutorials and videos for the 'wrong' App.

    There are TWO versions of "Lightroom"-  'Cloud' based and 'Local' based.

    The KB shortcut [D] is the Lightroom-CLASSIC App shortcut, as are the 'triangles' about the window interface to Show/Hide the panels.

    In the Lightroom (Cloud based) App  [E] is the KB shortcut to edit an image.

    COMPARE LIGHTROOM & LIGHTROOM-CLASSIC FEATURES

     

    The use of the name "Lightroom" has confused many people since the advent of the 'Cloud' version.

    If you want the 'Local' based version that is Lightroom-Classic you would need to have or change your subscription Plan to the Photography Plan.  CHANGE YOUR ADOBE PLAN 

     

     

    Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .
    P
    Paul3452268254woAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    January 3, 2024

    Thnks for your reply, but I'm stuck on several things. 

    Terminology: What does KB stand for?

     

    I tried the E key by itslef and with any number of companion keys like Option or Tab, nothing. Stunning to me that Adobe does not have a "Gettign started with Lr that would explain this. Either way, doesnot work. . 

    What I do get at times is a box at the bottom that says "To edit this phot, you need to download Photoshop."  I did not buy Photoshop, I bought Lr. 

     

    Help?

    Nadeem28230335k4xr
    Nadeem28230335k4xr
    Known Participant
    January 3, 2024

    There are two apps: Lightroom Classic (app icon will be LrC), and Lightroom (app icon is Lr). 

    what you are seeing in the tutorials you mention is Lightroom Classic (LrC).  It is the app that's been around for ages, and uses a catalog to manage photos.  It is what has the 'library' tab, 'develop' tab, etc.

     

    Lightroom (Lr) uses the Adobe cloud to manage images (and recently added local file browsing).  There is no develop tab.  When you are in the grid view, you can either double-click an image, or select it and press 'D' on your keyboard.  This will open the image in 'detail' view (basically the same thing as develop).  Then you have to click on the tool categories on the right side of the screen, one is three lines with dots in them (editing tools), another is a band-aid (healing tools), etc.

    P
    Paul3452268254woAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    January 2, 2024

    I've read countless articles and watched videos. Some say to hit Hotkey D (not sure what Hotkey means, but apparently it is the Tab key in Mad), but that does not bring up the Develop sidebar either. Other way there is a triable on either side of the window frame, but so such triangle on my page. 

     

    P
    Paul3452268254woAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    January 2, 2024

    I just noticed that when I click on one of the images, I get a box at the bottom of the page that says "To edit this photo, install Photoshop."  I did not buy Photoshop; I bought Lightroom.  I am thoroughly confused by Adobe. 

     

    kglad
    Community Expert
    kgladCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 2, 2024

    in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

    p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post (like this one has already been moved) if it helps you get responses.



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