I downloaded Lightroom Beta to my Mac Laptop since I didn't get the Mac version yet. I have a PC desktop with Lightroom 1.4.1 (Or what ever is most current.)

I have read posts about how not to use the Beta version for real work... but I thought I'd try it. My desktop was busy working on something, so I switched over to my laptop and another job to work while I was batching and exporting on my Desktop.

I finished editing a wedding on my laptop. I shoot with 3 cameras, and my assistant has one. So, that is 4 cameras that I have to sync. I usually get it pretty close by changing the meta data, but there are always a few files that I have to move by hand before I renumber the files.

I can't get the thumbnails to drag and move in LR 2.0 Beta. On my desktop, I Go to Library, Grid view. I have to make sure I am clicked on the folder, and not on the last import. Then, I can just drag them, and under order it says "User Order".

I can't do this in LR 2.0. It looks like I can grab it and drag it, but it won't drop into place. The black line that shows were the file will be dropped is not there. User order is not an option under the order menu. I am not sure what I am doing wrong... any suggestions??? Trevor, are you there?

YES! You can do this ... it's a workaround, though ...

In Library Mode ...

Select ALL your photos
Click on the plus sign next to "Collections"
Create a new collection (and call it whatever you want) with those photos in it.
You can now move 'em around as you please!

Whoo hoo

I'm sure they'll fix the "User Order" bug in the final version, but this works great for now.

Hope that helps!
Sarah Q

Any word on when the final version will be out?

I think the Beta version expires in August, so hopefully by then! I LOOOOVE 2.0! The improvements are HUGE.

With all the comments about not using it for any projects until the final version I've been afraid to start using it. I hope they come out with it soon as well so I can start seeing what everyone is talking about! I don't have enough time to play with a version I can't use right away...

You should try it out ... just make sure you have your photos backed up somewhere. I've been using it for weeks and haven't had any probs at all. The last five weddings I shot were all processed with 2.0 (with the files safely tucked away on three different hard drives, just in case).

I know they say the edits you make now won't be visible in the final version, but guess what ... I won't need them to be! Once I'm done with a wedding and have the photos exported, I VERY rarely go back and re-edit anything. If I do, it'll just be a few shots, so no biggie.

I haven't had any probs with the exported photos not taking the edits right, either. Everything has been running SMOOOOOOTH and the difference is HUGE. HUGE HUGE HUGE. Just the paintbrush tool alone makes 2.0 an entirely new program. They could charge double to upgrade and I'd still pay it!

Thank you Thank you Sarah.... that worked perfectly!

Ok, what is the paintbrush tool in LR 2.0 used for? I haven't played with anyting new except the after crop vingnette...

That's the biggest change in 2.0. Selectively painting in (like masking) exposure corrections. It's how I did this image. I painted a -1 exposure into the sky and added one of my presets (I call it toastie summer, cheasy, eh?).

Very cool... So it just masks the exposure, then doesn't mask the preset? Or does it depend in which order you do it?