Shortcuts can significantly reduce your time on any software if you use one regularly. Initially, a lot of us are a bit lazy or find it hard to start using one, but once you get used it them, you will thank yourself for learning them.

You don't need to memorize them, just take a print and have it on your table. Keep using them as and when possible. In a few days, you will see that you will probably not need the print, especially for the ones you use frequently.

I have been using Lightroom over the years and I realized how easy it is to navigate and work after I got used to the shortcuts.

In my Live Photography Courses, I make the participants repeat them again and again, so by the time they leave the class, they already know how to use them. 

Panels    

Function

 Windows Mac OS
Show/hide side panels Tab Tab
Show/hide all panels Shift + Tab Shift + Tab
Show/hide toolbar T T

Keys for navigating modules

    

Function

 Windows Mac OS
Go to Library module E E
Go to Develop module D D

Keys for changing views and screen modes

    

Function

 Windows Mac OS
Enter Library Loupe view E E
Enter Library Grid view G G
Open selected photo in the Develop module D D
Cycle forward / backward through Lights Out modes L / Shift + L L / Shift + L
Toggle Lights Dim mode Ctrl + Shift + L Command + Shift + L
Full Screen F F
Information I I

Keys for managing photos and catalogs

    

Function

 Windows Mac OS
Import photos from disk Ctrl + Shift + I Command + Shift + I
Open Preferences Ctrl + , (comma) Command + , (comma)
Open Catalog Settings Ctrl + Alt + , (comma) Command + Option + , (comma)
Show in Explorer/Finder (Library and Develop module only) Ctrl + R Command + R
Go to next/previous photo in the Filmstrip Right Arrow/Left Arrow Right Arrow/Left Arrow
Select multiple folders or collections (in Library, Slideshow, Print, and Web modules) Shift-click or Ctrl-click Shift-click or Command-click
Rename photo (in Library module) F2 F2
Delete selected photo(s) Backspace or Delete Delete
Delete rejected photo(s) Ctrl + Backspace Command + Delete
Export selected photo(s) Ctrl + Shift + E Command + Shift + E

Keys for comparing photos in the Library module

    

Function

 Windows Mac OS
Switch to Loupe view E or Enter E or Return
Switch to Grid view G or Esc G or Esc
Switch to Compare view C C
Switch to Survey view N N
Switch from Grid to Loupe view Spacebar or E Spacebar or E
Swap select and candidate photos in Compare view Down Arrow Down Arrow
Make next photos select and candidate in Compare view Up Arrow Up Arrow
Toggle Zoom view Z or Spacebar Z or Spacebar
Rotate photo right (clockwise) Ctrl + ] Command + ]
Rotate photo left (counterclockwise) Ctrl + [ Command + [
Show/hide badges Ctrl + Alt + Shift + H Command + Option + Shift + H
Cycle Grid views J J
Selection of Photos    
Select multiple discrete photos Ctrl-click Command-click
Select multiple contiguous photos Shift-click Shift-click
Select all photos Ctrl + A Command + A
Deselect all photos Ctrl + D Command + D or Command + Shift + A
Select only active photo Ctrl + Shift + D Command + Shift + D
Deselect active photo / /
     

Keys for rating and filtering photos

    

Function

 Windows Mac OS
Set star rating 1-5 1-5
Remove star rating 0 0
Assign a red label 6 6
Assign a yellow label 7 7
Assign a green label 8 8
Assign a blue label 9 9
Flags    
Flag photo as a pick P P
Flag photo as a pick and go to next photo Shift + P Shift + P
Flag photo as a reject X X
Unflag photo U U
Show/hide Library Filter bar \ \
     

Keys for working with metadata and keywords in the Library module

    

Function

 Windows Mac OS
Add keywords Ctrl + K Command + K
Edit keywords Ctrl + Shift + K Command + Shift + K
Set a keyword shortcut Ctrl + Alt + Shift + K Command + Option + Shift + K
Add/remove keyword shortcut from selected photo Shift + K Shift + K
Enable painting Ctrl + Alt + K Command + Option + K
Add a keyword from a keyword set to selected photo Alt + 1-9 Option + 1-9
Cycle forward / backward through keyword sets Alt + 0 / Alt + Shift + 0 Option + 0 / Option + Shift + 0
Copy/paste metadata Ctrl + Alt + Shift + C / Ctrl + Alt + Shift + V Command + Option + Shift + C / Command + Option + Shift + V
Save metadata to file Ctrl + S Command + S
     

Keys for working in the Develop module

    

Function

 Windows Mac OS
Convert to grayscale V V
Copy/paste Develop settings Ctrl + Shift + C / Ctrl + Shift + V Command + Shift + C / Command + Shift + V
Paste settings from previous photo Ctrl + Alt + V Command + Option + V
Select the Crop tool (from any module) R R
Constrain aspect ratio when Crop tool is selected A A
Switch crop between portrait and landscape orientation X X
Reset crop Ctrl + Alt + R Command + Option + R
Select the Adjustment Brush tool (from any module) K K
Select the Graduated Filter tool M M
Increase/decrease brush size ] / [ ] / [
Show clipping J J
Rotate photo right (clockwise) Ctrl + ] Command + ]
Rotate photo left (counterclockwise) Ctrl + [ Command + [
Toggle between Loupe and 1:1 Zoom preview Spacebar or Z Spacebar or Z
Zoom in / zoom out Ctrl + = / Ctrl + – Command + = / Command + –
Play impromptu slide show Ctrl + Enter Command + Return
View Before and After left/right Y Y

You can go to File -> Print -> Choose PDF and you will get the Lightroom Shortcut Keys as pdf


Tips for photographers

Related Articles


This post is written by Saurabh Chatterjee. He is a travel photographer and a photography trainer.He strives to make every camera-owner a great photographer through his Photography workshops and Photo Tours and Photowalks.
All rights reserved. No copying without permission of the author Saurabh Chatterjee

Share with others