The Develop module's Lens Correction reads image metadata and automatically corrects distortions inherent in the specific lens used for the shot. Though Adobe supplies only some lens profiles from Canon, Nikon, Sigma, Sony, and Tamron, Lightroom works closely with (available free online from Adobe Labs), enabling you to create a profile for any lens you use. (It's a comparatively easy process, involving photographing a target and then putting the images through Adobe's software to generate the profile.) Though we happen to like the creative distortions of certain lenses (which is why we use them), it is nice to be able to automatically remove flaws, and to have control over how much distortion to keep or add.

In view of how many DSLRs can now record video, it's only natural that Lightroom now supports video files. You can import, catalog, and preview video without leaving the Lightroom interface. The Slideshow module improves video output, too, by simplifying how it handles music and MP4 export. For example, select your music file, and Lightroom will automatically calculate the appropriate duration of each slide to have the show sync with the length of the loaded music file. Then you can customize your fade times.

A new Custom Package print option allows you to create pages with different background colors and place photos on it by using customizable cells of specific sizes or by dragging a photo from the filmstrip. You can overlay the cells, abut them, or arrange them however you wish; and you can fine-tune the placement of your identity plate by moving pixel by pixel with arrow keys

Lightroom 3 made few changes to its Web module. But you can now add watermarks--a much-needed addition. You can save several watermarks (such as logo, copyright, and name) to your Web pages, or you can edit right there, when you need to use them. This is a great production advantage when you need to upload a bunch of images.

When you use the Lightroom Publishing Manager, the program will keep track of which images you've uploaded to your Website, and which ones you've modified since uploading them (so you can republish them). In addition to managing FTP uploads, Lightroom permits easy upload to Flickr. But Flickr is far from the first choice of most serious photographers. Uploads to more-suitable sites (such as Smugmug) are possible but require third-party plug-ins.