Lightroom: Support Common Image Formats (EPS, GIF, PDF, BMP etc.)

Hi again Phil & Co
I believe I have a simple solution for this file support-problem. I've mentioned it before, but not as clear as I came to think of it this morning.

LET'S HAVE TWO (2) VERSIONS OF LIGHT-ROOM.

1. LightRoom Core
This version would be for "core" fotografers who only want the file support needed for there cameras and want to keep the LR-installation as clean and fast as possible.

2. LightRoom Extended
Supporting all file formats, extra library and publishing functions, etc. For the rest of us, who really love LR but also need a smart file-handling system in the same app (i.e., we don't like or trust Bridge, old version cue etc...).

Abobe already have implemented this model on Photoshop & Photoshop Extended. Maybe this could be the way to go to keep everybody happy? At least I believe that this will expand Adobes marketshare, and could probably get some Aperture-users to switch to (I know many of them love LR but need the file handling and therefor uses Aperture).

Just my 2 cents on the matter.

P.s. Is Abobe even reading this thread?

>>These are primarily user forums, but folks from Adobe often read them.

Hopefully some "folks from Adobe" see that there is considerable interest in having Lightroom support additional image formats.

If so, I suspect they can, if desired, find a viable solution that meets both their development and market needs. In the meantime, it's interesting to read positive, creative ideas by Peter and others. Those add to the discussion.

Regards. ...pt

thank's PT :-)
Keep the faith & this thread! I'll sop by from time to time...

i agree!!!

i would love to use LR for all my image content.

i have 4 TB of image textures and other stuff in EXR, PNG, HDR and other formats. i need that for Autodesk 3D Max work.

using LR and it ́s keywording features, having catalogs for stone textures, wood textures, HDR skys.... that would be great.

i don ́t want to edit all the formats in Lightrooms develop module.
i just want to use the DAM functions of LR.

so if the editing of .EXR is a problem in LR just make it like the video support.
you could not do much with video in LR 3 but at least you can manage your video footage.

unfortunately LR is very limited in the formats it supports.

Indeed, Paeter.

As you say, Lightroom is currently "very limited in the formats it supports."

Let's hope that changes in some future release.

Regards. ...pt

BTW...I have yet to read the last 10 comments..
BUT The same way I would want LR to do more of what a DAM does....I would be TOTALLY for BRIDGE to be revamped to be JUST LIKE LR, and have the same stability as LR, and same everything in Library mode. I would expect to strip down LR to a DEV app only program. This I mention to keep corporate mindsets happy.

Think about it...Still Light Room...just when you are about to switch to the Dev tab we are familair with..It launches LR developer!
If this makes Adobe happy...then I am all for it. I just need a MANAGER that does as LR does, and is stable! I don't care what title it holds.

IDImager is great looking with the feature set...but Adobe is something I am used to for the past 24 years!

I would like LR to behave with unsupported formats
just as it did with video files :
Insert a placeholder in the catalog and redirect to
"associated" program on access.

bingo...!!!! agreed

What really makes it dificult is that LR is rather fantastic at carefully manaing Raw Tif, Jpg, PSD, files...To support PDF, InDesign, Illustrator....Your family!!! Your family needs help...help them! Ya big monster!
:-)

Take a look how ACDSee supports PDF files. and other formats. You have a panel of supported formats and you simply install the converter and bam! From no PDF, to installing Gohstscript, I see and read PDF page by page.

another thought....I have been purchasing LR since v1. I would install, and uninstall, then install leave it, and use ACDSeePro to view, (I tried the built in Raw dev for ACDSee..kinda cool but not for someone too serious with technically defined files). So Then I thought I better use CaptureOne as it does a number of things I agree with(Not a DAM), and allows you to see your folders the way they are, and how you manage it as in Explorer. I thought that was great. I took C1 classes , Yet I still favored the way ACRaw would control colors in the BW conversion, and C1 is a different animal..it does things different. You think a drop down or a export or something should be someplace, it isn't. It isn't wrong, but different, and one has to shift mental gears to use it from anything familiar. So when LR3.x (Someupdate) came out..Like the good boy I am..forked over the upgrade fee I have yet to use..and installed it. This time I took more time to learn it as I did with C1. And it was logical, and rather straight forward(wish the import had a stronger warning of where the files go,but)...

Meanwhile still using ACDSee to manage all else. But it was getting fed up with all my changes in LR as its DB doesn't like changes...(If it had the ?mark feature when things are gone, and update, it wouldn't crash so much)
Even so, I did the upgrade to LR4, and thinking at some point there HAS got to be a way to enable viewing PDF at least. As in production going from a photograph we output to InDesign, then to PDF files for magazines, and this is a major cripple in the flow. So to make a long story short(I know, too late)....ANY FILE THAT GOES TO PRESS HAS TO GO THROUGH BECOMING A PDFx FILE. PERIOD.

...and any file developede from a raw image to a printed piece(someone else can fill in for web), often gets through illustrator and InDesign and Acrobat...at least.

Some might find it's not an important feature, which is fine - we agree to disagree. The need for this is there nevertheless, and I +1 for it.

Thank you for your vote for this sensible feature request, Alan.

...pt

I guess for me it really isn't important as I see Lightroom being a DAM for photographs. It may be useful to have a export option for other formats such as PNG GIF PDF ect.

I agree with you Donald