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Using Develop and Edit Mode

Develop mode is a non-destructive, parametric editing, RAW conversion environment. Parametric editing means that when you edit an image in Develop mode you are creating instructions for adjustments, rather than adjusting the actual pixels as you do in Edit mode. Develop mode's non-destructive operations are entirely interwoven and interdependent and are applied in a fixed order to maximize the image quality. When working on RAW files, adjustments are applied as much as possible using the RAW image data.

Edit mode works on the image data already rendered to RGB. When switching from Develop to Edit mode with a RAW file, the full resolution image data is converted to a 16 bit RGB image with the Develop instructions applied. In Edit mode, each operation is completely independent. Edits are applied to the converted RGB data in the order that you do them. This chain editing gives you full control over the pixels allowing creative freedom to apply precise adjustments. This makes operations such as selections and blend modes possible.

Workflow

Do most of your adjustments on RAW images in Develop mode, where you can work on the RAW image data. Then make your final adjustments in Edit mode, where you can apply fine-tuned adjustments on the more limited RGB image data.

For example, if you adjust the White Balance on an RAW image in Develop mode, you will be controlling the color temperature applied during the RAW conversion. Doing a white balance adjustment in Edit mode can only apply a color cast adjustment to the already rendered RGB data, reducing image quality and introducing the possibility of posterization (ie. color banding) in your image.

The Processing Power of Develop and Edit Mode

Develop Mode First

Edit Mode Second

Develop mode allows non-destructive processing of RAW, JPEG and other file types.

Start your image corrections in Develop. Develop is where you make most of your image adjustments. Changes you make are applied to the entire image.
Tweak previous image adjustments at any time. If you re-open a developed image in Develop, the settings are the same as you left them. Develop allows you to revisit the image at any time to reset or adjust the previous settings.
When you make a change, the changes are saved in a separate file, and the original remains untouched. Every time you open the image in Develop mode, the original image opens with the changes applied. This allows non-destructive developing of your images.
Discard your Develop settings and revert back to the original image at any time. The original is saved for all file types.

In Develop mode you can:

Tune the image using exposure, white balance, lighting, color, cross process, soft focus, post-crop vignette, split tone and tone curves tools, or set the output color space of a RAW image.
Adjust details in your image using the sharpening, noise reduction, and chromatic aberration tools.
Fix geometry in your image using the lens distortion, rotate and straighten, perspective, vignette correction, and cropping tools.
Repair red eye in your image.

For any touch-ups to specific areas of your images, use the tools in Edit mode. Use the Selections tool to further fine tune a part of an image.

Use the editing tools to selectively apply adjustments to parts of your image.
Add final touches to your image such as borders, text, watermark and special effects.
Use the pixel-editing tools to fix red eye or remove flaws from your image.
Discard your edit changes and revert back to your Develop settings or to the original. When you revert back to the Develop settings, the settings are exactly the way you left them.

In Edit mode you can:

Use the Selections tool or Edit Brush to apply edits to a specific part of the image.
Use Pixel Targeting to selectively adjust pixels by color and tone.
Remove flaws, or red eye.
Add text, watermark, borders, vignettes, a tilt-shift, special effects, and drawing tools.
Crop, flip, resize, rotate, and correct perspective and lens distortion.
Adjust lighting using the exposure, levels, auto levels, tone curves, lighting, and dodge and burn tools.
Adjust color using the White Balance, Advanced Color, Color Balance, Convert to Black & White or Split Tone tool.
Add details to your image using Sharpen, Remove Noise, Add Noise, the Detail Brush, Blur, or Clarity tools.

You can easily group your images in Manage mode so that you can find the images that have been developed and edited. From the Group drop-down menu select Processed State, or use color labels to plan your workflow.

Use the keyboard shortcut ESC to cancel out of Develop or Edit mode.