Adobe Lightroom Color Correction Course

Lesson 1 • Non-Destructive Editing Principles

Explains how Lightroom stores edits as metadata without altering original files. Connects this concept to safe, reversible correction workflows.

Lesson 2 • Importing and Organizing Images

Teaches import dialog options, folder structure, and basic keywording. Proper organisation enables efficient retrieval before any correction begins.

Lesson 3 • Navigating the Develop Module

Introduces the Develop module layout and panel order. Students gain a roadmap of where each correctional tool lives before using them.

Lesson 1 • Colour Channels in the Histogram

Explains how red, green, and blue channels appear within the histogram. Channel reading connects directly to colour cast diagnosis covered next.

Lesson 2 • Histogram Anatomy and Tonal Zones

Breaks down the histogram into shadows, midtones, and highlights zones. Understanding zones guides targeted tonal corrections in later chapters.

Lesson 3 • Detecting Clipping and Blown Areas

Shows how to identify highlight and shadow clipping using histogram spikes and overlay indicators. Clipping detection prevents irreversible tonal loss.

Lesson 1 • Tone Curve for Precise Tonal Control

Introduces the parametric and point tone curves for refined tonal shaping. The curve extends control beyond what Basic panel sliders can achieve.

Lesson 2 • Whites and Blacks Point Setting

Explains how to set true white and black points to maximise tonal range. Proper point setting anchors the tonal scale before fine corrections are applied.

Lesson 3 • Exposure and Contrast Sliders

Covers the Exposure and Contrast sliders and their global effect on the image. These are the primary starting points for every tonal correction workflow.

Lesson 4 • Highlights and Shadows Recovery

Teaches targeted recovery of blown highlights and crushed shadows using dedicated sliders. Recovery techniques preserve detail that global exposure adjustments cannot restore.

Lesson 1 • White Balance Presets and Auto Mode

Covers built-in white balance presets and the Auto white balance function. Presets provide fast starting points before manual fine-tuning is applied.

Lesson 2 • Colour Temperature and Tint Fundamentals

Explains the Kelvin scale and how temperature and tint sliders shift colour. This conceptual grounding prevents guesswork when correcting mixed lighting.

Lesson 3 • Correcting Mixed and Artificial Lighting

Addresses scenes with multiple light sources requiring compromise or local corrections. Mixed lighting is a common real-world challenge that demands advanced strategy.

Lesson 1 • HSL Panel Structure and Logic

Introduces the three HSL tabs and how each affects a specific colour property. Understanding the panel structure prevents unintended colour shifts during correction.

Lesson 2 • Desaturation and Colour Isolation Techniques

Demonstrates selective desaturation and colour isolation for creative and corrective purposes. These techniques extend HSL use beyond basic colour balancing.

Lesson 3 • Correcting Skin Tones

Applies HSL controls specifically to orange and red channels for accurate skin tone rendering. Skin tone accuracy is a critical quality benchmark in portrait correction.

Lesson 4 • Colour Grading Panel Introduction

Introduces the Colour Grading panel's shadow, midtone, and highlight wheels as a complement to HSL. Colour grading adds stylistic colour correction beyond neutralisation.

Lesson 1 • Balancing Sharpening and Noise Reduction

Addresses the trade-off between sharpening and noise reduction when both are applied. Finding the optimal balance is essential for high-ISO and low-light images.

Lesson 2 • Masking Sharpening to Edges Only

Demonstrates using the Masking slider with Alt/Option preview to restrict sharpening to edges. Edge-only sharpening prevents noise amplification in smooth areas.

Lesson 3 • Luminance and Colour Noise Reduction

Teaches separate controls for luminance grain and colour noise artefacts. Distinguishing noise types ensures the correct tool is applied without over-smoothing.

Lesson 1 • Perspective Correction with Transform

Uses the Transform panel's Upright modes and manual sliders to fix converging verticals and horizontals. Perspective correction is essential for architectural and product images.

Lesson 2 • Lens Profile Corrections

Applies automatic lens profiles to correct barrel distortion and vignetting. Profile-based correction is the fastest and most accurate starting point for lens fixes.

Lesson 3 • Vignette Correction vs. Creative Vignette

Distinguishes between corrective vignette removal and the creative Post-Crop Vignette tool. Understanding the difference prevents misapplication of each tool's purpose.

Lesson 1 • Brush Masking for Freehand Corrections

Teaches the Adjustment Brush for painting corrections onto specific areas. Brush masking provides maximum flexibility for irregular shapes and complex subjects.

Lesson 2 • Linear and Radial Gradient Masks

Covers Linear Gradient and Radial Gradient tools for smooth, directional corrections. Gradients are ideal for sky corrections, vignettes, and off-centre subject emphasis.

Lesson 3 • Introduction to the Masking Panel

Introduces Lightroom's unified Masking panel and its selection types. Understanding mask types determines which tool is most efficient for each correction scenario.

Lesson 4 • Luminance and Colour Range Masking

Applies luminance and colour range masks to restrict corrections to specific tonal or colour zones. Range masking adds precision that brush and gradient tools cannot achieve alone.