LensWork Creative Labs

Short, affordable, and downloadable tutorials on a variety of topics.

Now available to purchase individually from our online store or sign-up for LensWork Online and access them all for free!

The most common question we hear from readers is, "How do you get so much done?" The answer is often found in the tools — anything from ways of thinking, to software, to tips and tricks, from inspiration to organization — that help our productivity. The Creative Labs video tutorials are our way of sharing what we've learned.

These Creative Labs are shorter than our Visual Workshops — often just a single video or two. Topics are somewhat eclectic, often zeroing in on subjects of interest to photography and the productive process. We try to focus on topics not found elsewhere on the Internet. They all come from our direct experience as a fine art photographer and publisher.

We have a lengthy list of topics for upcoming Creative Labs tutorials, but if there is something specific you'd like to see us cover, drop us an email with your suggestions. We'd be happy to help if we can!

Test drive one for free on us. Click this link to play the video.

Below are the currently available topics. More are added each week!

My Lightroom Ingestion Workflow

Here are seven steps I take in Lightroom before I begin the real artwork.

LCL-046 Posted 7-Feb-2013
Runtime: 20:13

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Bookmarks in InDesign

Create bookmarks in InDesign and they can be used as a table of contents or even as destination hyperlinks.

LCL-045 Posted 24-Jan-2013
Runtime: 11:20

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Multi-track Clean-up of a Skype Interview

Use multi-track editing to improve audio.

LCL-044 Posted 13-Dec-2012
Runtime: 6:55

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Design Consistency with Styles

Build your documents using styles and you'll find being consistent is easy.

LCL-043 Posted 6-Dec-2012
Runtime: 10:24

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Morphing Fonts

Alter the look of fonts in InDesign, Photoshop, or Illustrator.

LCL-042 Posted 15-Nov-2012
Runtime: 7:56

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Simple DHTML Slideshows

A simple way to add a little bit of dynamic life to your otherwise static website.

LCL-041 Posted 8-Nov-2012
Runtime: 10:27

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Proof of Compounding Loss in JPG Compression

Every JPG generation involves additional and compounding loss.

LCL-040 Posted 29-Oct-2012
Runtime: 4:08

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Lossy DNG for Secondary Exposures

Use Lossy DNG compression on your secondary images so that you still have them but at a minimum cost of storage space.

LCL-039 Posted 22-Oct-2012
Runtime: 5:42

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Lossy File Formats in the Real World - JPG and Lossy DNG

JPGs saved to maximum quality and Lossy DNG formats have no visual problems.

LCL-038 Posted 11-Oct-2012
Runtime: 13:50

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

ISO800 in Bright Light

It might be worth testing a high ISO in bright sunlight.

LCL-037 Posted 4-Oct-2012
Runtime: 10:03

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Gradient Transitions in InDesign

Gradients can be a useful tool to create subtlety in backgrounds, text, and all kinds of graphics when you want to do something that's more interesting that just a solid color.

LCL-036 Posted 20-Sep-2012
Runtime: 9:07

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Punching Clarity Even Further in Lightroom

Here's a trick to take a really flat image and punch it really hard.

LCL-035 Posted 13-Sep-2012
Runtime: 5:04

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Written Signatures on Backgrounds in InDesign

Here are three variations of written signatures on backgrounds.

LCL-034 Posted 6-Sep-2012
Runtime: 8:12

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Scaling Images in InDesign

Here are several ways to rescale images in InDesign.

LCL-033 Posted 30-Aug-2012
Runtime: 15:03

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Different Page Sizes in a PDF from InDesign

If you have InDesign CS5 or greater, use the pages tool to make PDF publications that aren't constrained by a single document size.

LCL-032 Posted 16-Aug-2012
Runtime: 4:37

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

The Right Size Image in Photoshop

Here are four approaches to resizing images in Photoshop.

Free until Sept 30th 2012!

LCL-031 Posted 9-Aug-2012
Runtime: 13:55

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Printer Templates in InDesign

Once you have your printer templates set up it makes creating other projects incredibly easy and fast to produce.

LCL-030 Posted 3-Aug-2012
Runtime: 7:43

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Image Sizes for Tablet-sized PDFs

Once you get the math figured out, you can be assured that all of your images are going to fit your pages perfectly and have plenty of resolution to zoom in.

LCL-029 Posted 18-Jul-2012
Runtime: 14:21

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Grabbing Colors from a Photograph in InDesign

Here are three ways you can colorize text easily using a harmonious color with the photograph you're using in your layout.

LCL-028 Posted 12-Jul-2012
Runtime: 8:57

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Grids in InDesign

Use the "make grid" script to create a grid of images.

LCL-027 Posted 5-Jul-2012
Runtime: 4:19

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Variable Text in InDesign

Pull information out of the metadata and have it preformatted by the text variable paragraph style definitions.

LCL-026 Posted 28-Jun-2012
Runtime: 13:38

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Strokes and Gaps in InDesign

By applying a stroke and determining the stroke's weight, definition, and gap color you can make almose any kind of stroke you want around an image.

LCL-025 Posted 22-Jun-2012
Runtime: 12:10

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Customized Labels in Lightroom

Labels can be unlimted by creating custom labels in the metadata.

LCL-024 Posted 7-Jun-2012
Runtime: 4:02

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Lightroom Web Gallery for Showing Publications Content

An easy way to present a publication in a web gallery.

LCL-023 Posted 31-May-2012
Runtime: 6:30

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Fixing Mixed Lighting Color Balance in Lightroom 4

Make color balance adjustments using this new tool.

LCL-022 Posted 24-May-2012
Runtime: 3:45

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Color Replacements in Lightroom

Use auto mask and color replacement in full desaturation mode to shift colors.

LCL-021 Posted 17-May-2012
Runtime: 6:42

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Blog Templates Using OneNote

Templates save time and allow you to get a lot more work done.

LCL-020 Posted 19-Apr-2012
Runtime: 8:15

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Extended Lightroom Web Gallery Info

Create an entire website using a Lightroom Gallery.

LCL-019 Posted 13-Apr-2012
Runtime: 12:52

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Undodging, Unburning

Control specific areas by dialing backwards once you've gone too far.

LCL-018 Posted 5-Apr-2012
Runtime: 4:09

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Bookmark Button Destinations in a PDF from InDesign

Hyperlink destinations and bookmarks — two different ways to get there, each with its own set of advantages.

LCL-017 Posted 29-Mar-2012
Runtime: 6:52

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

InDesign Captions from Metadata in the Image

Creating captions in InDesign from the metadata in your photographs is an incredible time-saver.

LCL-016 Posted 22-Mar-2012
Runtime: 7:48

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

InDesign Snippets

Make snippets out of elements that you use over and over again and save yourself a lot of time.

LCL-015 Posted 15-Mar-2012
Runtime: 4:29

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Jump to Page Links for PDF from InDesign

Use hyperlink destinations in InDesign and make a button that jumps anywhere you want.

LCL-014 Posted 8-Mar-2012
Runtime: 8:53

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Backgrounds in InDesign

Use transparency and blending in background layers.

LCL-013 Posted 29-Feb-2012
Runtime: 4:39

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Previewing and Repairing InDesign Files

A couple of handy tricks in InDesign.

LCL-012 Posted 16-Feb-2012
Runtime: 7:01

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

The First Step in Editing – Lightroom Stacking

The first step to finding the image you want to finish.

LCL-011 Posted 9-Feb-2012
Runtime: 7:52

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

What Size is the Image?

The only things that really counts is the total pixel width and the total pixel height.

LCL-010 Posted 3-Feb-2012
Runtime: 6:04

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Ligatures in InDesign and Photoshop

Add finesse and sophistication to your typesetting.

LCL-009 Posted 27-Jan-2012
Runtime: 10:48

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Full Bleeds

Get in the habit of using full bleeds and avoid mistakes.

LCL-008 Posted 20-Jan-2012
Runtime: 6:12

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Normalizing and Hard Limiting Audio

Two tools to use to get good audio quality.

LCL-007 Posted 13-Jan-2012
Runtime: 7:40

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Metadata in a PDF

Add metadata in InDesign.

LCL-006 Posted 2-Jan-2012
Runtime: 5:26

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Print Booklet in InDesign

Make a folded book in InDesign.

LCL-005 Posted 22-Dec-2011
Runtime: 4:39

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

Page Transitions in a PDF

Make page transitions in your PDF document in either Acrobat or InDesign.

LCL-004 Posted 15-Dec-2011
Runtime: 5:02

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

JPGs from InDesign

Create JPGs out of InDesign rather than Photoshop if what you're working on requires intensive layout and design.

LCL-003 Posted 09-Dec-2011
Runtime: 3:59

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

LensWork Warmtone in Lightroom

One of the questions we are asked most frequently is how to convert a color image to the "LensWork Warmtone" that you see so often. This short video will teach you how using Lightroom.

LCL-002 Posted 01-Dec-2011
Runtime: 3:28

Media: MP4 video delivered in a zip file. Unzip the file to view the video

The Spectrum

In this free, three-part LensWork Creative Lab, the evolution of photography unfolds a changing world of technology that creates an entirely new set of options for us as we create our photographic artwork. Where photographers of previous generations had few choices about what they produced, we now have a spectrum of possibilities.

Includes the following 3 videos:
A Short History
A World of Possibilities
Case Study: Made of Steel

Media: PDF