Lightroom CC 2015.8 and Lightroom 6.8 have been released today, and there are some great improvements, as well as the normal camera/lens support and bug fixes for everyone. (For the update links, skip to the end of the post.)
Update 1 week on… a few bugs are showing up. Nothing critical, but for reference:
- The panels and filmstrip turn black intermittently
- On Windows, backup fails with a permissions error for specific catalogs (fix in thread)
- On Mac, catalog backup complains that the catalog is more than 4GB. Just ignore it until fixed!
- “Error changing modules” (fix in thread)
- Some catalogs can’t access the Auto Import Settings dialog
- The Tone Curve doesn’t work correctly in specific circumstances
- The X key doesn’t work correctly in some non-English languages
- Edit in Photoshop CC 2017 doesn’t return JPEGs to original folder
So what’s new?
Reference View (CC only)
If you’ve ever wished for a Compare view in the Develop module, you’ll love this new Reference View feature. Before I tell you HOW to use it, let’s briefly consider a few reasons you might WANT to use it:
- Matching photos shot at same time using different cameras.
- Trying to match a raw file to its in-camera jpeg.
- Trying to match photos that will be displayed together, perhaps on the wall or in an album.
- Replicating a “look” of a different photo.
- A skin tone reference shot (like an old-fashioned Kodak Shirley card).
- I’m sure you can think of a few more uses!
You may have previously used Locked Secondary Window for the same purpose, but this is more useful if you’re on a single monitor.
To enable Reference view:
- Click the R/A button in the Develop module toolbar or use the shortcut Shift-R.
- Drag and drop the reference photo onto the left pane or right-click on thumbnail in Grid view/Filmstrip and select Set as Reference Photo.
- Go ahead and edit the active photo as you normally would.
- To switch back to normal single image view, click the Loupe icon in the toolbar or press D.
The reference photo disappears when you switch modules, but if you lock the lock icon, it remains selected until you quit Lightroom. The RGB values also show under the Histogram for both the reference (left) and active (right) photo.
Performance Improvements
The developers have been hard at work making “under the hood” improvements for performance including:
- Background tasks such as preview building are temporarily paused while you’re working in Develop to improve responsiveness.
- Backup to a NAS is now faster.
- File/folder move performance has been improved, especially on Windows.
Sync Catalog Disaster Recovery (CC only)
If you’ve ever lost your main Sync catalog, you’ll have discovered that Lightroom 2015.7 or earlier asks you to delete everything from the cloud and start syncing from scratch. This is a problem if you have photos or metadata that haven’t yet synced down to your desktop catalog.
Lightroom 2015.8 allows you to create a new catalog and switch to syncing the empty catalog. This downloads the cloud data to your computer. It’s not perfect yet, but it’s good to see some progress in this area. These are the main warnings:
- It only manages to link photos with the originals if they haven’t moved since they were first synced. If it can’t match up photos with their originals, “finding missing photos” can be a very long job.
- It can’t link up with an existing catalog, so if you have backups but they’re out of date, you’re out of luck. You’d have to let it sync to an empty catalog and then attempt to merge the catalogs. Messy!
- Only specific metadata is sent to the cloud, and the originals are not synced from the desktop.
Frequent catalog backups are still essential. This new rescue option is still a last-resort.
Other improvements include:
- In the Metadata Filters and Smart Collections, you can now filter for images with snapshots. (CC only.)
- You can now right-click on a Collection Set and choose Export as Collection Set as a Catalog, rather than having to select the individual collections.
- Catalogs larger than 4GB are now zipped again, but they’re too big for macOS to unzip natively, so you’ll need 7-zip or StuffItExpander if you need to restore a backup.
New camera support:
- Canon EOS M5
- Fujifilm X-A3
- Google Pixel
- Google Pixel XL
- Hasselblad X1D
- Leica TL
- Nikon D5600
- Olympus E-M1 Mark II (preliminary support)
- Olympus PEN E-PL8
- Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ2500 (DMC-FZ2000 and DMC-FZH1)
- Pentax K-70
- Samsung Galaxy S7
- Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
- Sony Alpha a6500 II (ILCE-6500)
- Sony Alpha a99 II (ILCA-99M2)
- Sony DSC-RX100 Mark V
- Click to view the full list of supported cameras
Tethering for new cameras:
- Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
- Click to view the full list of cameras supported for tethering.
New camera profiles:
- Canon 5DS – updated lower contrast Adobe Standard v2 profile
- Canon 5DSR – updated lower contrast Adobe Standard v2 profile
New lens profiles:
- Apple
- Moment Macro Lens for iPhone6
- Moment Macro Lens for iPhone6 Plus
- Moment Superfish Lens for iPhone6
- Moment Superfish Lens for iPhone6 Plus
- Moment Tele Lens for iPhone6
- Moment Tele Lens for iPhone6 Plus
- Moment Wide Lens for iPhone6
- Moment Wide Lens for iPhone6 Plus
- Moment Superfish Lens for iPhone6s (DNG + JPEG)
- Moment Superfish Lens for iPhone6s Plus (DNG + JPEG)
- Moment Macro Lens for iPhone6s (DNG + JPEG)
- Moment Macro Lens for iPhone6s Plus (DNG + JPEG)
- Moment Tele Lens for iPhone6s (DNG + JPEG)
- Moment Tele Lens for iPhone6s Plus (DNG + JPEG)
- Moment Wide Lens for iPhone6s (DNG + JPEG)
- Moment Wide Lens for iPhone6s Plus (DNG + JPEG)
- Canon EF
- SIGMA 12-24mm F4 DG HSM A016
- SIGMA 85mm F1.4 DG HSM A016
- SIGMA 500mm F4 DG OS HSM S016
- TAMRON SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 A022E
- TAMRON SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 A022E x1.4
- TAMRON SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 A022E x2.0
- Zeiss Milvus 2.8/15 ZE
- Zeiss Milvus 2.8/18 ZE
- Zeiss Milvus 2/135 ZE
- Google
- Pixel (DNG + JPEG)
- Pixel XL (DNG + JPEG)
- Go Pro
- HERO5 Black (Linear FOV)
- HERO5 Black (Medium FOV)
- HERO5 Black (Narrow FOV)
- HERO5 Black (Wide FOV) (raw + JPEG)
- Leica M
- Leica SUMMARON-M 28mm f/5.6
- Nikon F
- Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED
- SIGMA 12-24mm F4 DG HSM A016
- SIGMA 50-100mm F1.8 DC HSM A016
- SIGMA 85mm F1.4 DG HSM A016
- SIGMA 500mm F4 DG OS HSM S016
- TAMRON SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 A022N
- TAMRON SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 A022N x1.4
- TAMRON SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 A022N x2.0
- Zeiss Milvus 2.8/15 ZF.2
- Zeiss Milvus 2.8/18 ZF.2
- Zeiss Milvus 2/135 ZF.2
- Ricoh
- Ricoh GXR A16 24-85mm F3.5-5.5
- Samsung
- Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Rear Camera (DNG + JPEG)
- Samsung Galaxy S7 Rear Camera (DNG + JPEG)
- Sigma
- SIGMA 12-24mm F4 DG HSM A016
- SIGMA 85mm F1.4 DG HSM A016
- SIGMA 500mm F4 DG OS HSM S016
- Click here for the full list of available Adobe Lens Profiles
Further user-created profiles can be downloaded using the Lens Profile Downloader (scroll down slightly, it’s at the end of the Resources section on that link)
Bug fixes:
There are loads of bug fixes. Adobe only publishes the bugs reported by users, which this time include:
Import/Tethering
- Resolved issues when importing from an Apple iPhone or iPad using USB.
- Video files from Sony cameras were not being imported into Lightroom.
- iPhone Live photos can now be correctly imported on Windows machines.
Library
- Fixed – Lightroom CC 2015.7: Badge numbers in Grid view not visible on Sierra.
- Fixed – Sort by capture time doesn’t always work on 2015.7 / 6.7.
- Fixed – Library collection panel scrolls unexpectedly when you duplicate/rename/delete a collection set.
- Fixed – Selected Published Folder or Collection is not deselected if a folder is selected.
- Zoom to Fit/Fill now works correctly on retina screens, even if the original photo is too small. (Previously, only Survey view enlarged small photos to fit – feature request here.)
Develop
- Released a new set of Camera Matching Profiles for Canon 5D Mark IV.
- Improved support for Canon 5D Mark IV dual pixel raw images. Please see this tech note for further details.
- Fixed – Tone curve is Insensitive to MacBook Pro Touch Pad
- Fixed – Allow image panning by holding down space bar and then swipe with two fingers when local correction tool (such as the Local Adjustment Brush or Radial Filter) is activated.
- Fixed – Inconsistent preset sorting issue.
Edit in Photoshop
Slideshow
- Fixed – Problem with watermark opacity in export slideshow.
- Fixed – Will not export both portrait and landscape oriented pictures
as a slideshow video in 720 or 1080. - Fixed – Slideshow not working, only getting black screen.
- Fixed – Background images in Slideshow sometimes appeared pixelated.
Map & Web
Export
- Fixed – Lightroom would show an error dialog when attempting to open an image in Photoshop. Please note that this only occurred on Windows and only when selecting “Open in Photoshop” as a PostProcessing item in the Export dialog.
Preferences & Performance
- Fixed – Preferences Language value missing on Sierra.
- Fixed – Some memory leaks.
If you find another bug, click here to report it.
How do I update?
To update, go to Help menu > Updates or click the Update button in the CC app. The update servers take a while to push the updates around the world, to avoid crashing the servers, but if you’re in a hurry to update, here are the direct links to the patches: Windows – Mac
Hi, I’m suing LT 6.1 now, have huge performance issues editing HRD imaginges. It’s not my hardware relataed. CPU is hitting 100% and it’s impossible to work. Specially working with brushes. Editing raw images without making HRD is OK. I have also huge lagg when using Wacom tablet. Is there any improvement when it comes to this on the new version ?
It’s definitely worth updating to 6.10.1 – 6.1 is nearly 2 years old, and it’s a free update, so you have nothing to lose.
Well, just installed CC 6.8 on the MBP. Despite Adobe telling me I can have both the CC & Standalone versions on my computer it appears CC has taken over and I can find no way to bring up the standalone version. Is there a way to do this or am I doomed?
I’m not sure who told you that, but no, it’s not true. CC and 6 are exactly the same program files, just licensed differently. So let me ask a question… why do you want to have both active? There may be another solution.
Call it a just in case sort of thing but it’s what makes me comfortable. If there is a way at this stage I would interested in learning how.
A bit more info: There was a complication in the middle of purchasing CC at Adobe’s on-line store. The store program wanted to use an old email in the process which also was my adobe sign in user name. There was a place to edit the address so I did BUT, after completing the purchase I found out I was forced into starting a new adobe account for CC because the user name (new email address) was greyed out. The standalone was purchased under the old email account.
Ok, so the logic is this… if you’re signed in with an Adobe ID that has a subscription attached, the subscription always takes precedence (which is a good thing). If the subscription expires, but a perpetual license is found, it automatically reverts back to the perpetual license.
The only workaround while the sub is active, is to sign in using a different Adobe ID to the one that has the subscription, and you’d probably need to use a different user account.
Out of shear dumb luck I ended up with a second account. It happened during the CC purchase process when I checked edit email. Thought it mean just use a different email for notification but it actually forced the creation of an account in order to dload. So I have a ‘perpetual’ account and a CC account. Appreciate your help Victoria, thank you!
Dear Queen 🙂
I have got recently a strange behaviour from my beloved LR6 (6.8 version). I connect my iPhone 7 Plus, click Import, wait till it finds only the new photos, then click Import. I see the bar on the upper left saying Copy and import photos but it hangs and no photos imported. I tried also by selecting only one of the many I have on my phone. the same. I tried in a different catalogue, the same. I have restarted my iphone, the same…
What should I do? The phone is unlocked if it matters. Thanks, Serban
You’re not the first person to run into issues. Report it at the Official Feature Request/Bug Report Forum at https://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/new/add_details?topic%5B and make sure you include your OS version too. Hopefully one of the engineers will have an idea of how to fix it.
I’m having a serious problem since the update. First, it takes a l-o-n-g time to load the program (3~5 minutes). The Chrysanthemum image appears and then stays, after five minutes or so (I have a 2010 Mac Pro, 24 GB, and a 1GB SSD), the Library module appears. If I change modules, the screen and computer is unresponsive for another long period, then it responds. Back to the Library and only one (1) of the folders is lit. If I change folders the same as above happens again. No response, Chrysanthemum, etc. Version 6.7 (free standing, not CC) worked fine.
OK. I think I fixed it – did a restart and it seems to be working again.
Well done Michael
Hi!
One change in 2015.8 that I discovered today is that the TranslatedStrings.txt file in
…\resources\ has been renamed. I used to have a couple of lines in the “en” directory to make the key to the left of Z work as \ (filter bar on/off and before/after) on my swedish keyboard while running LR in english. When I renamed the file to TranlatedStrings_Lr_en_US.txt everytning went back to normal. 🙂
Thanks for sharing Bengt. There’s quite a lot of discussion around the TranslatedStrings.txt file changes, and the team are looking at options.
I’ve had a “bug” that I have not seen in prior versions. I click on a slider in the adjustment brush or gradient filter, adjust something like saturation and black point, once I’ve adjusted one and try to adjust the other, the other brush goes to either minimum or maximum strength without touching that slider! I thought maybe I was imagining it but it’s happened several times now. First seeing this in Lightroom.
I don’t think I’ve seen a bug report on that one Richard, so put one it at the Official Feature Request/Bug Report Forum
Dear Victoria, ever since I upgraded to 6.8 my automatic import doesn’t work anymore. I cannot even select the settings and after one try my import button greys out. I’m on Sierra. Any suggestions? Shall I revert to 6.7, can I do this?
Yes, that’s one of the bugs listed in red above.
And yes you can rollback to 6.7 quite easily.
Awesome, rollback is piece of cake and my automatic import works again! I saw the bug list just after I hit enter to send you my request. I’m still glad I did it because your effective and friendly support made my day, thanks!
Since the latest update of LR CC I can not select more than one pic in the filmstrip. So synch pics is not possible.
I can’t reproduce this, and I haven’t heard any other reports, so first thing to try is the standard troubleshooting steps https://www.lightroomqueen.com/standard-lightroom-troubleshooting-steps/
If that still doesn’t work, report it at the Official Feature Request/Bug Report Forum and make sure you include your operating system and other computer specs.
Thank you Victoria. I’ll give it a try. It seems to be a ‘random’ problem. Solo mode in the panels is also acting up. We’ll see….. hopefully all these bugs will be gone in a couple of days.
in cc2015.8 export is very very slow. it takes about 50% more time to export the same exact photos than 2015.7
on the plus side, develop module works faster as it takes less time when i switch between one photo to the next
I’ve seen some discussion about slower exports, and it is being investigated.
Try rejecting multiple photos in develop module and then do a “delete rejected photo” .
Still no joy on Mac. 🙁 I’ll try Windows tomorrow.
In the “Lightroom: No Image displays in Develop Module after Deletion of Other Images” in the Bug. The thread was started three years ago, but if you go to the end it talks about 6.8 and there is a uTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPClpUU7gsk) that goes with one of the messages.
Also look at https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2249026 and https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2250481
Thanks. I can’t reproduce it yet using the steps in that video, but I’ll keep trying.
There appears to be a bug in the LR 6.8. The problem is if one rejects a group of photos then does “delete rejected photo” in the develop module the last deleted photo shows up in the navigation screen. No other photo can be selected via the film strip. If one goes to the library module, everything is fine. But going back to the develop module does not fix the issue. Restarting LR does fix it. This issue has been posted in other forums. Most of the postings have been from people using WIN10 with some MACs. I am using WIN7. The work around is to do the deletions in the library module – haven’t tried this yet.
Thanks for sharing Jane. I haven’t seen that posted on the Bug Report Forum yet, so it would be worth reporting there so it can be confirmed and tracked.
https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/kb/error-changing-modules-lightroom.html
I partially followed a suggestion given on the forum Sunil suggested, I created a new catalog and added some pictures, then switched back to original catalog and problem was gone… not sure why worked…. but worked….
Thanks for sharing that tip Juan!
i’m not sure how important or crucial this is , but it is certainly irritating…!
i have a bunch of work to do so decided to stop fighting the blackouts and roll back to 2015.7 as per your instructions – however, there is no 2015.0 to roll back to as a first step –
the earliest is 2015.0.1 which is just a patchupdater – and doesnt apply to me apparently !
so now i’m going to have to start over somehow else…?
In the rollback instructions, there’s a screenshot that shows the 2015.0 / 6.0 build.
right – my oversight – apologies and thanks again victoria
I am having the same problem Mic is. I am running OS 10.12.1 on a 2015 iMac Retina. I am running LR with the box checked to use the graphics processor. I tried unchecking the box and have seen no improvement.
Mic & Juan,
Please post the details to Official Feature Request/Bug Report Forum at https://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/new/add_details?topic%5B
We would be able to work with you directly on this.
Thanks,
Sunil
Adobe Representative
details are above in this thread
Sunil, done
https://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/lr-crashing?rfm=1&topic_submit=true
I’m getting an error that says something like “error while changing modules”, all photos and modules disappear and drives LR useless and I have to force quit. Sometimes happens while creating 1:1 previews. I already reset LR’s preferences but the issue remains, did you experience something similar?
yes i did – hoping it was just a blip…
what preferences did you reset ?
all of them…. at start I hold option+shift and LR ask if you want to delete the preferences.
The new Lightroom version has a major bug in the map module!
When you try to position a photo somewhere on the map Lightroom 6.8 assigns a wrong position (near the spot).
it’s me again – this bug is now happening all the time , ie whenever i click to change eg from one module to another – this has only started happening since i upgraded to 2015.8
have i found a bug ? i’ve been working in the print module and every time i hit the print button the whole background and side panels black out completely…the one workaround i have found is by minimizing the window and then bringing it back again – hardly high tech ! any other reports of anything similar ?
I haven’t seen any other reports Mic. Post it at the Official Feature Request/Bug Report Forum at https://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/new/add_details?topic%5B and make sure you include your system specs (Help menu > System Info). My first thought would be a graphics driver issue.
same thing here
This update also introduced a bug.
Despite my catalog being only 54mb in size, when LR does a catalog backup it warns me that my catalog is larger than 4GB…. others have reported this too: https://forums.adobe.com/message/9193147#9193147
Yep, I reported it a couple of days before release but it was too late to fix. It’s purely cosmetic, so just check the Don’t Show Again checkbox to get rid of it.
Awesome! Love you blog Victoria. Very helpful – even to an old pro 🙂
Aaaaaw, thanks Joshua.