Nice one Sean, no end to your talents!!!

Keep up the good work matey

The whole program is database centric, which means that it has to import files to be able to work with them. Where this really shines is with offline images. If you import images on an external disk, you can disconnect the disk and still create slideshows,  print draft prints or even work on IPTC info for the non connected file (assuming you've rendered previews)

That explains it perfectly Sean. I was wondering how you had picked up so much information on this program to be able to write a book on it, not realising you had been a beta-tester for it etc. My apologies for that!

I haven't used Lightroom much myself, but it looks a good program for anyone needing to process a lot of pictures quickly. The interface seems a bit quirky at first but works well after using it for a couple of times.

I'm not so sure if I like the way it is necessary to 'import' a folder of pictures in order to work on them, however. This makes it necessary for the program to create a new storage folder, to hold the thumbnails and record of your edits etc, which I'd imagine would grow fairly enormous after a short time. Although I understand the thinking behind it, making it unnecessary to save, etc.

Anyway, good luck with the book. I'd guess Lightroom is a sufficiently complex program to ensure a good market for a clearly-written instruction manual!
 

Where do you find the time for this? I just can't seem to find the time to read articles let alone write them. I couldn't even contemplate writing a book!

- Thorsten. 

Hmm. Thought I've mentioned it before. It's in my Profile. I've been working with and using Lightroom since the 2nd day of Beta 1. I was heavily involved with the beta process with well over 2000 posts on the forums, pushing towards the release goal of Lightroom 1.0. After Beta 4 I was chosen as 1 of 50 Most Valued Contributers to test Beta 5 and Version 1.0 prerelease. During this time period I was approached by Jeff Schewe of Photoshopnews.com and Martin Evening of Photoshop for Photographers fame. They asked was I interested in coming on board writing with them for a new venture: Lightroom-News.com. Seeing as I was doing my own stuff on my website (http://seanmcfoto.com/lightroom), it seemed to be a natural progression to write for something a little more high profile. I accepted after a little thought on the matter.

From there I was approached by James Beattie of GMC publications (he's since left), to write a Lightroom book for their book arm (GMC do B&W photography and Outdoor Photographer among others). There was much back and forth for a few months and eventually the contracts were signed. So I'm working on a book called Lightroom Made Easy which combines tutorial based writing with my own photographs.

Hopefully that explains it! 

Is this an instruction manual you are putting together? I guess that means you have become expert in using Lightroom!

Hope the book works out for you.