| Q. | I didn't expect to see the book start with a Q&A section. Don't Q&A sections normally come after a chapter, rather than before the first chapter? |
| A. | Normally they do. That's why this one is so unexpected. But there is a reason it's here. It's here to take up pages. You see, authors are paid on how many pages they write, regardless if the pages are actually necessary or if they even relate to the topic of the book. So, I thought I'd just pick up a few extra bucks right up front and add a Q&A. |
| Q. | Really? |
| A. | Of course not. That's not the way book publishing really works. It's unfortunate, because us authors could really cash in, but sadly, you don't get paid on how many pages you write. You get paid on how many books you sell, and how many books you sell is dependent on three factors: (1) how many times you can work naughty double-entendre phrases into your text, (2) how many times you can work French words into your text, like "double-entendre," but mostly it's (3) how useful people actually find your book. |
| Q. | So how useful is this book going to be? |
| A. | That depends on whether the person who bought the book (that's you by the way) takes the time to read the introduction. You see, the introduction of the book is where the author bares the soul of the bookwhere he (or she) shows how to get the most out of the book, so readers really maximize their experience. The author addresses common concerns, gives tips and ideas on how readers should best use their time, and generally tries to help readers connect with the book. |
| Q. | But this book doesn't have an introduction. Why not? |
| A. | It's because no one reads the introduction of books anymore. No, they'd rather turn right to the first chapter and fumble around on their own, stumbling from project to project, rather than spending just two minutes to find out how the book was written, why it was written that way, what to look out for, and what to avoid. |
| Q. | Are people really that shallow? |
| A. | Yes. But not you. You're not like that. You know why? Because you're reading the introduction right now. Oh sure, it's called "An Unexpected Q&A Section" but come on, have you ever heard of an unexpected Q&A section? Especially one that comes before the first chapter? You knew this was a ruse to get you to read the introduction but you kept on going. I like you, kid. You've got moxie. |
| Q. | What exactly is moxie? |
| A. | Moxie is an industrial-strength abrasive cleaner that removes lime, rust, and scale from a variety of surfaces. |
| Q. | I have that? I have moxie? |
| A. | I'm not 100% sure. |
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| Q. | Is the rest of the book like this? |
| A. | Thankfully, no. The rest of the book is pretty much step-by-step, without straying too much from the path. That's why, in this unexpected Q&A, I stray quite a bit from the path. You see, when you write step-by-step books, there's no room for your own writing style to come through. It's pretty much "Go under this menu for this" and "click on that button for that." It's just so "to the point." So, in a step-by-step book like this, I only get two real writing outlets which keep me from climbing into a tower with a high-powered rifle and picking off pedestrians. They are: (1) this unexpected Q&Atroduction, and (2) the chapter intros for each chapter, which by the way, have little to do with what's actually in said chapter. |
| Q. | But the rest of the book is regular? |
| A. | Absolutely. Thanks to my strict regimen of high fiber. Sorry, that was lame. |
| Q. | Okay, I've been pretty patient now, where are those "helpful tips" you were talking about earlier? |
| A. | Oh those. Well, here's one: Where should you start? That might seem like kind of a "duh" question, with the answer being "Start at Chapter 1, followed by Chapter 2, and so on." However, if you've read any of my other books, you know I generally write books that are "jump in anywhere" types of books. That's because those books are written on applications that have been around a while (like Photoshop), so many people who buy a Photoshop book have a specific topic they're hoping to learn, for example, sharpening. So, they buy the book and jump straight to the Sharpening chapter, and that's okay in those Photoshop books. |
| Q. | But this isn't a Photoshop book, right? |
| A. | Right. Adobe Lightroom is a workflow tool. It's designed to take you through the process of importing your photos, sorting them, processing them (in your digital darkroom), viewing them in their final version, and then printing them. Lightroom has been designed that way, as a workflow tool, from the very beginning. So, I recommend that you learn it that wayin order, starting with Chapter 1 and working through the book in order. |
| Q. | But what if I bought the book specifically just to learn the Slideshow features? |
| A. | Too bad, you have to read Chapters 1 through 5 first. |
| Q. | Are you serious? |
| A. | Of course not. These are just guidelines, not steadfast rules carved into stone. So, if you're kind of loose with money, and getting a good value by learning in the manner the author suggests isn't of interest to you, then just jump in anywhere. Again, I'm kidding (kind of). However, I do recommend learning Lightroom's workflow in order. It's the way the program was designed, and if you learn it that way, you'll have a better understanding, but heyit's your bookif you decide to hollow out the insides to safely store your valuables, I'll never know. You'll feel guilty as hell, but again, I'll never know. |
| Q. | I hate that word "workflow." |
| A. | Everybody does, but that's not a question. Can you restate it in the form of a question? |
| |
| Q. | Yeah, whatever. Here goes: Don't you hate that term workflow? |
| A. | Not at all. |
| Q. | I thought you said everybody hates it? |
| A. | You can't believe everything you read. Okay, I do hate that term, because it makes things sound like work. There's definitely a flow to working in Lightroom, but I wouldn't call it "work." Workflow just means "The order in which you do things." Since there are no officially sanctioned guidelines for what a proper workflow is, workflow then is a personal preference. It's the order in which a particular photographer has chosen to manage and process his or her photos. Most every photographer has his or her own workflow method. |
| Q. | So whose workflow is right? |
| A. | Mine. |
| Q. | Really? You've got the right workflow? |
| A. | Well, it is for me, but it might not be for you. By the way, if it's not right for you, that's okayit just makes you wrong (kidding). Actually, it's trueeveryone's workflow is different, but with Lightroom, Adobe went a long way toward helping photographers by leading us through what they, and many photographers around the world, feel is a sensible and quick way to work with digital images. That's what Lightroom is all about, and I'm here to help you through that process as best I can. So, from here on out, I'm Mr. Serious, but I do appreciate you taking the time to read this unexpected Q&A and hope you'll join me for some unexpected chapter intros between all the Step One, Step Two stuff. See you there! |
| Q. | So we're pretty much done here? |
| A. | Yup. Now turn the page, before I start tearing up. |
