If, like me, you find Lightroom to be an essential piece of software, and if, like me you have an iPad[1], you may be interested in this.
LRPAD is an iPad app that lets you play with Lightroom’s numerous sliders. The app is available from the App Store, current price £5.99 (around $9.99 in the US, other prices elsewhere, no doubt). You also need to install a free plug-in into Lightroom, and your iPad needs to be on the same network as the computer (Windows or Mac) running Lightroom.
Once you’ve got the plug-in installed, you need to start the app on the iPad and type in the IP address of the computer (it can’t sniff for a running copy of Lightroom, which would make it slightly easier). You then get a nice touchy-feely interface for manipulating your images. Lean back in your chair and experiment.
I’ve had a quick play, and so far I’d say it’s a qualified success. Moving the sliders on the iPad makes the corresponding ones move in Lightroom, and makes the appropriate changes to the current image. However, there is a slight lag between moving a slider and the change taking place, so you’ll probably want to take things slowly at first.
I don’t know if I’ll use this a lot, but it has the potential to be very useful – more features are promised for future versions, which could make it more attractive.
More details including screenshots and a demo video on the developer’s site, along with a small support section.
Worth a look at the very least.
[1] Don’t think I mentioned that. I succumbed and got the WiFi only 16GB version, and find that I use it intermittently. Just enough to keep it, but not enough to consider upgrading to the imminent new version
