Lightroom Settings Checklist for Bird Photography
Lightroom Settings Checklist for Bird Photography
Optimise Lightroom Classic for bird photography with this practical settings checklist covering RAW files, AI Denoise, masking, sharpening, export and backup for perched birds and birds in flight.
Good Lightroom editing is mostly good order and good habits. This checklist sets out, step by step, the recommended Lightroom Classic settings for post-processing perched birds and birds in flight (BIF) shot on Canon EOS R5 and R6 series cameras. Work through it image by image, tick each box, and you will edit faster and more consistently. A printable A4 version is available for learners.
How to use the numbersSlider ranges are practical starting points for Canon EOS R5 and R6 raw files in Lightroom Classic 15.x. They are not Adobe specifications and not fixed rules. Judge each image on screen and change one thing at a time. Menu names can differ slightly between versions.
Five principles
- Denoise first, once. Adobe advises applying it before other tools, including AI masks and Remove.
- Cull before you edit. Edit only the keepers.
- Set for the bird, not the sky or surround. Shape the bird with masks.
- Work in one direction. Global first, masks next, sharpening last.
- Check at 100%. Eye, edges and background, before you export.
1. One-time set-up
Do this once, before your first bird session. It makes every later step faster and protects your files.
| Tick | Setting | Perched birds | Birds in flight |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Catalog and image drivesFaster loading and previews; a drive failure does not take both. | Catalog on the internal SSD. Images on a separate drive. | |
| ☐ | Preferences > Performance > Graphics ProcessorDenoise is GPU-intensive (Adobe), so a capable GPU shortens waits. | Auto (or Custom with all options on). | |
| ☐ | Camera Raw cacheLarge R5 and R6 raw files reopen faster. | Raise well above the default (20 GB or more) and keep it on the SSD. | |
| ☐ | Catalog Settings > File Handling > Standard previewFast Grid and Loupe without bloating the catalog. | Size at or above your screen. Quality: Medium. Discard 1:1 previews after 30 days. | |
| ☐ | Catalog backupThe catalog holds every edit and mask. | Back up on exit (at least weekly) to a different drive. | |
| ☐ | Metadata presetApplied at import, so every file carries it. | Create one: name, copyright, contact, website. | |
| ☐ | Develop preset “Bird base”A neutral, consistent start for every bird image. | Profile Adobe Color; Remove Chromatic Aberration on; Use Profile Corrections on. Do not bake in exposure or white balance. | |
TipName presets clearly (for example “Bird base”, “Blog 2000px”). You will see them in the same place every session.
2. Import
Get the files in safely, with the right presets applied, and back them up before you format the card.
| Tick | Setting | Perched birds | Birds in flight |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Import methodDenoise writes its own DNG; your originals stay untouched. | Copy (keep Canon CR3). Do not convert to DNG. | |
| ☐ | Don’t import suspected duplicatesAvoids double copies from re-inserted cards. | On | |
| ☐ | File namingUnique, sortable names that survive moving drives. | Date plus sequence, for example 20261020_0001. | |
| ☐ | DestinationMatches how you find sessions later. | By date, to the image drive. | |
| ☐ | Apply during importSearchable from day one. | Develop preset “Bird base”; metadata preset; keywords: location, “bird”, “perched”. | Develop preset “Bird base”; metadata preset; keywords: location, “bird”, “BIF”. |
| ☐ | PreviewsMinimal is quickest; Standard is smoother when culling. | Minimal or Standard. | |
| ☐ | Make a second copy toPart of 3-2-1 backup (3 copies, 2 media types, 1 off-site). | A second drive. | |
| ☐ | Format the cardNever wipe the only other copy. | Only after the copy is verified on two drives. | |
3. Cull and select
Cull before editing. Edit only the keepers; a smaller set means faster, better decisions.
| Tick | Setting | Perched birds | Birds in flight |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | SortKeeps each sequence together. | Capture Time | |
| ☐ | Auto-Stack by Capture TimeLibrary > Stacking. A starting point; tune it to your burst length. | Gap of about 5 to 10 seconds; adjust until one behaviour is one stack. | Gap of about 1 to 3 seconds; adjust until one fly-by is one stack. |
| ☐ | Assisted Culling (optional)Adobe describes the eye criteria for people. Check results on birds before trusting them. | Run as a first pass; criteria include subject focus, eye focus and eye state. | |
| ☐ | Pass 1: GridFast and ruthless. Do not zoom yet. | Press X on the obvious failures: out of focus, bird clipped, empty frames. | Press X on blur, missed focus, bird clipped, empty frames. |
| ☐ | Pass 2: Loupe at 100% (Z)Check the eye first, then everything else. | Eye sharp; catchlight present; head angle pleasing; perch and background clean. | Eye sharp; wing position strong; head turned to camera; wing tips and tail inside frame; room to fly into. |
| ☐ | Compare (C) / Survey (N)Side-by-side comparison avoids keeping near-identical frames. | Pick the best one or two in each stack with P. | |
| ☐ | Rate and labelEdit the picks first; ratings can be refined after editing. | P = pick, X = reject, 1 to 5 stars for quality; one colour label for “edit now”. | |
| ☐ | Remove rejectsSaves space and clutter. Only after you are sure. | Filter by Rejected, then Photo > Delete Rejected Photos. | |
TipKeep your selection discipline in the field and it pays off here: fewer, better frames make this stage quicker. See the companion R5/R6 pre-shoot report.
4. Start the edit: Denoise, lens corrections, crop
Order matters. Adobe advises applying Denoise before other tools, including AI masks and Remove, because it can change their results.
| Tick | Setting | Perched birds | Birds in flight |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Detail > DenoiseOpen the preview, choose the lowest Amount that cleans the sky or background. High values soften feathers. Starting points only. | Amount about 30 to 50 (up to 60 above ISO 3200). | Amount about 50 to 70 (higher for ISO 6400 and above). |
| ☐ | Denoise is once onlyAn enhanced image cannot be enhanced again (Adobe). | Run it before any other adjustments, and only once. | |
| ☐ | Raw DetailsApplies to Bayer and X-Trans raws; creates a large enhanced DNG. | Not routine. Test on a few files. | |
| ☐ | Super ResolutionDoubles linear resolution (4x pixels). Also once only; the file is large. | Only for a heavy crop you want to print or display large. | Useful for distant birds you must crop hard. |
| ☐ | Lens CorrectionsRF lens designs expect corrections to be applied. Confirm the profile is detected. | Enable Profile Corrections on; Remove Chromatic Aberration on. | |
| ☐ | Crop (R)Crop before masks and vignettes so they fit the final frame. | Leave space in the direction the bird faces; place the eye on a third. | Leave space in the direction of flight; never clip wing tips or tail. |
Watch outDenoise runs on the GPU and creates a new DNG beside the original. Allow disk space and time. Run it on the keepers only, and queue a batch before a break.
5. Basic panel: tone and colour
Work top to bottom. Use the histogram and clipping warnings (J), and hold Alt (Option) while dragging Whites and Blacks to see where clipping starts.
| Tick | Setting | Perched birds | Birds in flight |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | ProfileA consistent base makes later comparison honest. | Adobe Color (or Camera Standard). Keep it the same for the whole session. | |
| ☐ | White BalanceJudge by the bird’s plumage, not the background. | Start as shot. Sample a true neutral (grey rock, white feather) with the dropper if needed. | Start as shot. Do not sample the blue sky; it is not neutral. Use a white cloud or feather. |
| ☐ | Exposure | Set for the bird, not the surround. Keep bright plumage unclipped. | Set for the bird, not the sky. Lift the bird later with a mask. |
| ☐ | ContrastPrefer a gentle tone curve for feather depth. | 0 to +10 | |
| ☐ | HighlightsRecover white plumage and bright wing tops. | −20 to −60 | −30 to −70 |
| ☐ | ShadowsOpen dark plumage; lift underwings in backlight. | +10 to +40 | +20 to +60 |
| ☐ | WhitesSets the bright end. | +10 to +30, stopping before clipping (Alt-drag). | |
| ☐ | BlacksAdds depth without crushing dark feathers. | −10 to −30, stopping before clipping (Alt-drag). | |
| ☐ | TextureToo much exaggerates sky noise. Refine on masks later. | +10 to +25 | 0 to +15 |
| ☐ | ClarityHeavy Clarity creates halos around birds. | 0 to +10 | |
| ☐ | DehazeIt darkens, shifts colour and amplifies noise. | 0 to +5 | |
| ☐ | Vibrance / SaturationProtects natural plumage colour. | Vibrance +5 to +15; Saturation 0. | |
6. Colour refinement
Keep plumage natural. Fix colour problems locally rather than globally.
| Tick | Setting | Perched birds | Birds in flight |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Color Mixer / Point ColorPoint Color is available in recent Lightroom Classic releases; otherwise use HSL. | Fix a stray cast on one plumage colour (for example a yellow-green cast). | |
| ☐ | Sky blues (HSL / Color Mixer)Better still, do this on a Sky mask so the bird is untouched. | Not usually needed. | Blue Luminance −10 to −25 for a deeper sky; Blue or Aqua Saturation −5 to −15 if too cyan. |
| ☐ | Foliage castGreen bounce light can stain the bird. | Lower Green saturation on the background mask, not the whole image. | |
| ☐ | Color GradingAvoids tinting the bird. | Leave neutral. | |
7. Masking: the core of the edit
Add masks in this order. Name each one. Press O to show the overlay. Use Subtract and Intersect to keep adjustments off the bird.
| Tick | Setting | Perched birds | Birds in flight |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Select SubjectLifts the bird off its surround. | Click Select Subject, then refine with Add and Subtract. Exposure +0.2 to +0.6; Shadows +10 to +30; Texture +10 to +20. | Exposure +0.3 to +0.8 (backlit); Shadows +20 to +40; Highlights −20; Texture +10 to +20. |
| ☐ | Select Background / Select SkyCalms distractions. Subtract the subject if the mask touches the bird. | Background: Texture −10 to −30; Clarity −10 to −20; Exposure −0.2 to −0.5; Noise up a little. | Sky: Highlights −20 to −40; Exposure −0.1 to −0.5; Dehaze +5 to +15; Noise up a little. |
| ☐ | Eye (Brush or Select Objects)Small and subtle. Over-brightened eyes look unreal. | Exposure +0.2 to +0.5; Clarity +10; Sharpness +10 to +20. Keep the catchlight natural. | |
| ☐ | Plumage detail (Brush, Auto Mask on)Auto Mask keeps the brush on feathers. | Texture or Clarity +10 to +20 on wings and head, feathered edge. | |
| ☐ | Color RangeUse Intersect to limit it to the bird. | Adjust one plumage colour (for example breast) with Saturation or Luminance. | |
| ☐ | Luminance Range + IntersectTargets only the brightest tones. | Pull down Highlights on bright feathers. | |
| ☐ | Linear GradientSubtract the bird if it overlaps. | Tame a bright upper band: Highlights −, Dehaze +. | |
| ☐ | Radial Gradient (inverted)Guides the eye to the bird. Keep it unnoticeable. | Subtle vignette: Exposure −0.3 to −0.7, Feather 100. | |
| ☐ | Depth Range / Lens BlurCheck feather edges at 200%. See the Lightroom Masking Guide. | Optional. Use only if your file has depth data; test Lens Blur on a copy. | |
| ☐ | Remove tool (Q)Run Remove after Denoise, as Adobe advises. | Remove perch clutter and distracting twigs. | Visualize Spots; remove sensor dust specks in the sky. |
| ☐ | Sync across a burstAI masks are recalculated per image. Check each frame. | Develop one frame, then sync settings to the stack. | |
TipIf you are unsure which mask to use, work through the 12-mask atlas in the Lightroom Masking Guide.
8. Detail: sharpening and noise
Sharpen last, at 100% (Z). Denoise has already done the heavy lifting, so you need less sharpening.
| Tick | Setting | Perched birds | Birds in flight |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Sharpening AmountLower after Denoise. | 40 to 60 | 30 to 50 |
| ☐ | RadiusFine feather detail needs a small radius. | 1.0 (0.8 to 1.0 for high-resolution files) | |
| ☐ | DetailRaise only if feathers still look soft. | 25 to 35 | |
| ☐ | MaskingWhite is sharpened. Raise so plain sky and background are left alone. | 40 to 70 (Alt-drag to view) | 50 to 80 (Alt-drag to view) |
| ☐ | Noise Reduction (manual)Avoids double processing and plastic feathers. | Leave at default after Denoise. | |
| ☐ | Output sharpeningSee section 9. | Applied at export, not here. | |
9. Export presets
Make a preset for each destination so you never re-type settings.
| Tick | Setting | Perched birds | Birds in flight |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Blog / web (Blogger)Fast pages and enough detail for viewers. | JPEG, sRGB, quality 80 to 90, long edge 1600 to 2500 px. | |
| ☐ | Sharpen for ScreenOutput sharpening, applied automatically. | Standard (Low for already-crisp files). | |
| ☐ | SocialPlatforms recompress heavily; do not over-sharpen. | JPEG, sRGB, long edge 1080 to 2048 px. | |
| ☐ | PrintSharpen for Matte or Glossy paper, Standard. | JPEG quality 100 or 16-bit TIFF; Adobe RGB (or the printer’s profile); 300 ppi. | |
| ☐ | MetadataProtects your work and sensitive sites. | Include copyright and contact; remove location if sensitive (nests). | |
| ☐ | File namingEasy to find and identify later. | Date_Species_Sequence | |
10. Metadata, collections and backup
Close the loop so you can find and protect every image.
| Tick | Setting | Perched birds | Birds in flight |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | KeywordsSearchable library. | Species (common and scientific), location, behaviour, “perched”. | Species, location, “BIF”, behaviour. |
| ☐ | Smart CollectionsYour best work in one click. | Make one for 4 and 5 stars, one for “perched”, and one for “BIF”. | |
| ☐ | Save metadataKeeps ratings and keywords with the files. | Photo > Save Metadata to Files (or write XMP automatically). | |
| ☐ | Backup3-2-1 rule. | Catalog backup on exit; image copies on 2 media types, 1 off-site. | |
| ☐ | HousekeepingKeeps Lightroom quick. | Delete rejects; clear old 1:1 previews; keep the catalog tidy. | |
11. Final check before export
Run this list on every image you intend to share or print.
- Original CR3 files copied to two drives and verified.
- Cull complete: rejects removed, one or two picks per stack.
- Denoise run first, once per image, at the lowest effective Amount.
- Lens profile corrections and chromatic aberration removal on.
- Crop leaves room to look or fly into; nothing important clipped.
- Histogram and clipping (J) checked; bright plumage retains detail.
- White balance judged on the bird, not the sky.
- Subject, background or sky masks named and checked with the overlay (O).
- Mask edges checked at 200%: no halos around wings or head.
- Eye sharp, with a natural catchlight.
- Sharpening applied at 100%, with Masking so plain areas stay clean.
- Dust spots removed in the sky; distractions removed.
- Before/After (\) compared: the edit looks natural.
- Exported with the right preset; metadata and keywords added.
- Catalog backed up.
Keyboard shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| G / E / C / N | Grid / Loupe / Compare / Survey |
| P / X / U | Pick / Reject / Unflag |
| 1 to 5 | Star rating |
| Z | Zoom to 100% |
| D | Develop module |
| R | Crop |
| M | Masking |
| Q | Remove tool |
| O | Show mask overlay |
| J | Clipping warnings |
| \ | Before / After |
| Alt (Option) + drag | Threshold view on Whites, Blacks, Masking |
Verify on your own gear
- Assisted Culling’s eye criteria are described by Adobe for people. Test them on your birds before relying on them.
- Whether Denoise behaves the same on C-RAW as on full RAW. Compare one file both ways.
- Lens Blur and Depth Range results on feathers vary with the image. Always check edges at 200%.
- Menu names, panel positions and defaults can change between Lightroom Classic releases.
References
Adobe. (n.d.). Improve image quality using Enhance. Adobe Lightroom Classic Help.
Adobe. (n.d.). Assisted Culling. Adobe Lightroom Classic Help.
Adobe. (n.d.). Masking tool. Adobe Lightroom Classic Help.
Adobe. (2026, August 5). Adobe Lightroom Classic release notes. Adobe Help Center.
Companion guides: Lightroom Masking Guide; Canon EOS R5 and R6 pre-shoot workflow report. © Vernon Chalmers Photography.
