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Using a Gamepad to Cull Photos in lightroom
If you are like me and absolutely loath the culling process. this might be something that appeals to you. I use a combination of this and a program called Aftershoot which uses AI to cull your photos for you. This is often my first step and then I go through and check for only my absolute favorites and neccisary photos.
If you are like me and absolutely loath the culling process. this might be something that appeals to you. I use a combination of this and a program called Aftershoot which uses AI to cull your photos for you. This is often my first step and then I go through and check for only my absolute favorites and neccisary photos. You can get 10% off aftershoot with this code.
With this guide youll be able to kick your feet up and relax by grabbing your favorite console controller and programing it to use keyboard shortcuts. This is a universal keybinding process and can be use it any program such as premier pro for multicam editing, davicni resolve, Photomechanic, capture one Aftershoot or honestly any program with a large amount of shortcuts, Forr this we will be explaining the shortcuts for lightroom.
If you are on a windows PC you are going to want to purchase Controller Companion it is $2.99 and well worth it.. You can purchase it using the steam store, this should be familiar to any PC gamers reading this. You can also purchase it directly from them here.
The idea is programing you gamepad to utalize shortcuts so you dont have to touch your mose or keyboard a full list of lightroom shortcuts can be found here.
So first thing you need to do after installing is open it. For whatever reason it opens directly to to the taskbar icons. you need to click the icon and open settings
Next navigate to profiles. I would reccomend creating a program binding if you plan on using more then one program.
Below is my lightroom Profile
the best part is you can use any controler you want. Some may even opt for a wireless keyboard like the Corsair K83
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How to choose an editing monitor
This is a loaded question and is often confusing for people. Searching monitors for color grading you may find a Flanders scientific monitor and may hear that its the way to go.
Thats not true for everyone.
If you are doing major print or cinema work being premiered in a theater then a high end monitor may be the best choice for you.
However if you are like me shooting web based content, weddings, and minor print work then you don't need to buy a crazy expensive monitor.
Timeline Visuals “Battle station” 2018
How do I choose a monitor?
This is a loaded question and is often confusing for people. While searching different monitors used for color grading, you may find articles and forums talking about Flanders scientific monitors and think that it’s the right way to go.
This is not true for everyone.
https://www.flandersscientific.com/
Image credit : Tenor.com
If you are doing major print or cinema work that’s being premiered in a theater, than a high end monitor may be the best choice for you.
However, if you are shooting web-based content, weddings or even minor print work, than you don't need to buy a crazy expensive monitor.
Why is it important?
If your monitor is off, the work you show to the world will only look as you saw it on that specific monitor. Having an accurate monitor, while not fool proof, will help immensely in displaying media the way that it was intended. It’s also important to cross reference your projects on different devices, to build a full understanding of how this works.
What kind of work do you typically do?
If you primarily make web-based content for social media and your website, then sRGB accuracy will be your selling point. But it is good to know the range of important factors, to help make an educated purchase.
Here are a few good monitors for the line of work described.
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Asus Pro Art
(Budget Friendly)
Pros
Accurate color 100% sRGB &
rec 709
IPS
Extra: 75hz is decent for gaming.
Low cost
Cons:
Only 1080p
Small; 23.8in (this may be better for people in tight spaces)
BenQ SW2700PT 27"
(I own)
Pros:
Accurate Color: 99% Adobe RGB, 100% sRGB, 100% Rec.709
Factory calibrated
Includes sunshade
Relatively affordable
Sharp 2k resolution
Controller puck for changing settings.
USB connection for software calibration
10 bit color depth
Cons
Only 2k in resolution
More expensive then some other options
What to look for.
The following info is to give you a basic understanding of what to look for in a good monitor. I’ve also linked a few articles that I find helpful and more in-depth.
Color Accuracy
sRGB
If budget is a concern, than you’ll want the most accurate sRGB that you can afford in your price range. But this should be standard for any monitors that are accurate in the following spaces.
pulled from https://fstoppers.com/pictures/adobergb-vs-srgb-3167
Adobe RGB
Similar to sRGB, but with more range.
Here is a good article from Fstoppers.com on the comparison (AdobeRGB vs sRGB)
Rec 709
This is almost identical to sRGB in the sense that it's the same color space. It is the standard for HD video. The difference is primarily it uses a different Gamma then the others.
Color depth
There are a variety of bit depths in monitors, but here are two of the more common examples.
10-bit
10-bit monitors are becoming more and more relevant. It’s only a matter of time until they become the standard in LCD and LED panels. But until that day comes, they’re used primarily for printing work and also for your own viewing pleasure. Being able to see your work in it's 10-bit glory is always a pro.
8-bit
8bit is often "good enough". Although pros may point their nose in the air, most viewers will ultimately be seeing your work on an 8 bit screen. Therefore displaying on 10-bit might only be distracting you from grading your image for the proper audience.
More info on bit depth (Article on 8 bit vs 10bit here )
Resolution
High resolution will help identify the details of your image clearly. Most 4k or 2k screens are great to see your image clearly.
More on screen resolution Screen resolution: The ultimate guide
Viewing Angle
You want to be able to view your monitor at slightly obscure angles, and still retain visual accuracy. IPS panels are great for this and can also help to retain more accurate color info
For more details on IPS (Advantages and Disadvantages of IPS LCD Panels)
Factory Calibration
Factory calibration is somewhat important, because it means the monitor was tested to be accurate. Even though the tests do vary, it’s nice to know that it went through some form of quality control to better assure the accuracy.
For details on factory calibration, this page is somewhat bias but might help to clarify some things.
Why You Need a Factory-Calibrated Monitor
Even though it is factory calibrated, you should still look into calibrating your monitor yourself . It’s often recommend that you calibrate your monitor every 6 months, but some suggest as little as every 2-6 weeks.
Hardware vs. Software Calibration
Monitor calibration tools
I personally use the Spyder 5, but either of these tools will do.
X-Rite i1Display Studio
Datacolor SpyderX Pro
Thank You
For taking time to read this post. I hope you found some of this information valuable and look forward to post future articles for you in the future!
extra
Monitor Arms
I find that having at-least 2 monitors can help multitasking, by providing extra screen real-estate. Having a dual monitor arm prevents the clutter.
Below is a link for a heavy-duty dual monitor arm, that I personally use for my 34in LG Ultrawide and for my 27in BenQ.