We’re always looking for methods that streamline the photo-editing process and get the job done faster without sacrificing image quality. The video below does that and more by explaining how you can automatically batch edit a selection of similar images using synchronization in Lightroom Classic.

This video is episode #89 in the popular 2-Minute Tutorial series by instructor James Feaver—a respected instructor committed to helping inexperienced photographers improve their shooting and post-processing skills.

If you’re a regular Shutterbug reader you know there are numerous ways to accelerate your workflow in Photoshop and Lightroom—some more complex than others. This lesson deserves a spot near the top of the list because it’s very effective and super simple to accomplish—wheather you’re an advanced Lightroom user or just getting started.

Feaver explains why this technique is so powerful, especially when you capture numerous images under similar lighting conditions, you want to create an effect that’s “custom made,” and copy and paste it over multiple photos.

He summarizes the process like this: “Instead of copying and pasting every one individually, we can auto batch edit a selection of images”—like the 30 shots he uses in this demonstration. And this technique provides far more control that simply using presets.

Feaver explains everything you need to understand, and then he walks you through the straightforward steps that are required to get the job done. Speed is the primary goal, but there’s another important benefit; namely, retaining a consistent look from one image in the sequence to the others.

After taking advantage of Feaver’s advice, be sure to pay a visit to his instructional YouTube channel where you’ll find more helpful techniques and previous episodes in this popular series.

We also recommend watching a tutorial we featured with another top pro who demonstrates how to add impact to autumn photographs in Lightroom by enhancing fall colors that paint the landscape with beautiful tones.

Photoshop’s oft-ignored Blend If feature is a hidden gem that enables you to create professional-level edits that are guaranteed to wow your audience. This tutorial from the Adobe Live YouTube channel demystifies the process so that photographers of all skill levels can put it to use in minutes.

Instructor Jesus Ramirez is a post-processing expert and professional photo compositor. In this nine-minute episode he demonstrates how easy it is to blend layers based upon luminosity and color to achieve spectacular results. This video is #8 of an ongoing Photoshop series, and we encourage you to watch the earlier installments.

Ramirez promises that “in this video you’ll learn everything you to know about Photoshop’s Blend If sliders. Before diving in the topic the topic at hand, Ramirez quickly reviews the concept behind the RGB Color mode, “because understanding it will be essential for using Blend If effectively.”

In the RGB mode colors are made by combining red, green and blue. Ramirez explains that, “By mixing these primary colors at different brightness levels we can create millions of colors.” He notes that each RGB channel has 255 brightness levels ranging from 0 to the maximum with zero representing full black and 255 indicating maximum brightness.

The point is that Photoshop’s Blend If feature uses the same 0-255 scale to represent brightness, thereby allowing you to control which parts of a layer become transparent based upon brightness levels. Now that you’re armed with this knowledge, Ramirez pulls up a simple graphic to illustrate how Blend If works.

As you’ll see, there are two layers: a white-to-black circle over a gray background. To start, click on the empty space to the right of the gradient which opens the Layer Style window. Under Blending Options you’ll find the Blend If section at the bottom of the panel. There are three essential parts: The Blend if dropdown which sets the pixels you’re targeting, followed by two sliders—representing the Current layer and the Underlying Layer.

Ramirez then provides a step-by-step demonstration, with practical examples of putting all this to work to embellish just about every image you capture. One you get the hang of it, and this doesn’t take long, you’ll definitely want to add Blend If to your Photoshop workflow.

Be sure to visit the Adobe Live YouTube channel which contains numerous image-editing lessons like this one.

We also recommend checking out the earlier tutorial we featured with another post-processing expert who demonstrates a Photoshop secret for perfect exposure blending of bracketed photographs, with a free plugin that eliminates all the complexity.