I’m not too keen on upgrading the software packages I use just because a new version is announced. I prefer the proven stability. But now I got quite excited when reading the release notes of Lightroom 2 beta and noticed the localized correction feature. OK, there are some other interesting things too like supporting dual monitor set ups, leveraging 64 bit architecture, streamlined library, enhanced export functionality, vignetting effect to cropped photos, improved printing, but this localized thing is really something.

Crop, Clone/Heal and Red Eye got to the right side panel just under the histogram. Minor things. But can you see that horizontal brush? That’s the point here.

Click on the paint brush, select your painting option from Exposure, Saturation, Brightness and Clarity and just do the magic but only locally. Size of the brush, opacity and feather can be adjusted. You can paint your art in full size, if you wish.

Check out my first experiments.

I’m sure you also faced the problem of photographing from a darker inside to a brighter outside intending correct exposure for both areas. You might meter the light either for the internal or the external condition. The result is never satisfactory. You can try working this around with lighting the internal environment or using the famous HDR technology.
And of course in Lightroom 2 beta you can adjust the exposure locally.
Move the mouse over the image to see it before/after.

You might want to emphasize some areas of your photos with a bit of extra saturation.
Move the mouse over the image to see it before/after.

See some exagarated saturation with extra clarity and brightness.
Move the mouse over the image to see it before/after.

You might raise that other tools like Photoshop or even The Gimp have way more flexible and capable tools than this four-function brush. I’m sure you’d love to mention layers too. My point is that I would like to complete every photo post processing step - including brightening teeth but exluding merging photos creatively - in one relatively easy to use, logically structured software. I need workflow, global adjustment tools, some retouching, but I don’t want to tamper each pixel separately.

I liked Lightroom from it’s first apperance but missed a U-Point like solution for local adjustments that you can see in Nikon Capture NX. Now I got it and I’m happy with it.

Adobe does not recommend using this beta version as your bread’n'butter tool.

Related articles:
Lightroom vs. Nikon Capture NX
I still like Lightroom
Yet Another Neat Lightroom 2 Feature?