The Lightroom Module Picker

The Module Picker is located at the top of the interface, under the Menu Bar, but above the Main Viewing Area.

The Module Picker can be locked into permanent view by clicking on the arrow centered above the Main Viewing Window. If it is not locked into view, moving your cursor above the Main Viewing Window will make the Module Picker drop down. Moving your cursor back off the Module Picker will cause it to pop back up out of sight. You can also show or hide the Module Picker by pressing the F5 key.

When you first open Lightroom, it is easy to miss the Identity Plate, because it says “Adobe Lightroom x.x”, so it looks like a title bar that doesn’t change. However, it is possible to customize the Identity Plate so that it shows your name, the name of your studio, even a logo you created in Photoshop or another full graphics program. In addition to letting you “take ownership” of your copy of Lightroom, the customized Identity Plate you make becomes the default Identity Plate shown on your prints, slideshows, or web galleries. This can be great for “branding”, because you can settle on a single logo or typeface that you like, and it will be available to you no matter how you output your work.

On the right side are the names of the five modules available in Lightroom: Library, Develop, Slideshow, Print, and Web. Clicking on any of these will move the program, and whatever photo(s) you have selected, into that module.

The final part of the Module Picker isn’t always visible. When you perform actions on a lot of photos, like importing or creating a web gallery, a progress bar appears over the identity plate. If you want to cancel one of these activities, clicking on the X at the right of its progress bar is the way to go.

The Module Picker is, admittedly, the least functional, or nifty, part of the Lightroom interface, since there are also hotkeys you can press on your keyboard to get to the five modules. Most photographers keep the Module Picker hidden, only mousing over it long enough to switch modules without having to use the keyboard. This gives the Main Viewing Window a little bit more real estate.

• You can change the font size and typeface of the module names on the right of the Module Picker in the same dialog that allows you to Customize the Identity Plate.

None at this time.