Adobe Lightroom Essentials Pt. 1: Editing & Color Basics

Daniel Scott introduces Lightroom through RAW-image examples, first edits and the controls that influence light and color. The sequence ends with sharing and a practical project. It suits beginners who want to understand the purpose of a correction before applying a preset and can compare an edited photograph with the original scene they intended to capture.

What you will learn

• Explore RAW files and initial Lightroom edits.
• Adjust lighting, tone and white balance.
• Use color tools and prepare a final project.

Who this suits

Beginners without previous editing experience. The workload includes readings, assessments and practice activities rather than the same number of video hours. This is the first of three separate Lightroom Essentials courses on Coursera.

Before you enroll

Check whether each lesson demonstrates Lightroom Classic, the cloud-based Lightroom application or the mobile app; their organization and storage workflows differ. Course enrollment does not include an Adobe subscription. Work on copies of photographs you own or have permission to edit, keep an original backup and compare changes at a useful viewing size. Older interfaces may require adaptation, and a saved preset still needs adjustment for the individual photograph.

Coursera offers paid enrollment or subscription access. Check the enrollment screen for assessment and certificate terms, trials and any financial-aid options. Provider access terms can change; review them before paying.

Put it into practice

Edit a photograph you own with a clear lighting problem. Save the original, make a limited exposure and white-balance correction and explain how the changes preserve the mood you intended.

Source and review

This overview is based on the provider's published information, checked on 12 October 2026. It is an editorial assessment, not a claim that we completed the resource. Time filters are approximate study ranges; projects and exercises can take longer.

View the curriculum and current access options at Coursera.

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