In Lightroom on desktop, select Adobe Lightroom > Preferences.
Last updated on
Apr 16, 2026
The interoperability between Lightroom and Photoshop helps you make advanced photo edits.
The editing workflow between Lightroom and Photoshop helps you seamlessly edit Lightroom photos in Photoshop. Once you've made desired edits to your photo in Lightroom, you can quickly use the Edit In Photoshop workflow to open your photo in Photoshop. From retouching to composting, this workflow helps you achieve creative outcomes by combining the strengths of both Lightroom and Photoshop.
After editing your photo in Lightroom, open it in Photoshop to make advanced edits like adding graphics, retouching parts of the image, removing unwanted elements, applying text, etc. When you save your work in Photoshop, the updated image automatically appears in Lightroom, and the original version is saved.
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Select Edit in Photoshop. Select your preferred SDR or HDR settings before editing a Lightroom image in Photoshop.
- File format: Saves images in PSB, TIFF, or PSD format. See Supported file formats.
- Color space: Converts SDR photos to sRGB, AdobeRGB, ProPhoto RGB, Display P3, and Rec. 2020, and HDR photos to HDR sRGB (Rec. 709), HDR P3, and HDR Rec. 2020, and tags them with the color profile.
- Bit depth: Saves SDR photos with a bit depth of 8 bits or 16 bits per color channel (red, green, and blue) and HDR photos with a bit depth of 32 bits/component. 8-bit files are smaller and more compatible with various applications, but they do not preserve the fine tonal detail of 16-bit files.
- Resolution: Controls the level of detail in an image, defined by its pixel dimensions. A higher Resolution value produces sharper prints.
- Compression: Allows you to select the type of compression you'd like to use for files edited in Photoshop (zip, lzw, or none).
How to open Lightroom photos in Photoshop?
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Once you've edited the image in Lightroom, select File > Edit in Photoshop > Edit in Photoshop. Alternatively, right-click on the photo and select Edit In Photoshop > Edit in Photoshop from the context menu.
Tip- To edit a Lightroom photo in Photoshop, use Shift+Command+E (on Mac) and Ctrl+Shift+E (on Windows).
- You can select multiple images to edit them in Photoshop using the Edit in Photoshop tool.
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Your photo will automatically open in the latest installed version of Photoshop. If no additional edits have been performed on the photo in Lightroom, the original photo is launched in Photoshop. If you've applied some edits in Lightroom desktop, a flattened copy of the image is opened in Photoshop.
When you select Edit in Photoshop, a TIF, 16 Bit Pro Photo color space file format is opened in Photoshop.
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Once the image is launched in Photoshop, you'll see instructions with best practices.
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After making edits in Photoshop, Save your image. The applied changes are automatically saved in Lightroom in a stacked format for viewing.
Open photos as Smart Objects in Photoshop
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Open the photo that you want to edit in Photoshop.
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Right-click on the photo and select Edit in Photoshop > Open as Smart Objects in Photoshop.
Edit in Photoshop options selected in Lightroom.
Edit in Photoshop options selected in Lightroom. -
Your photo will automatically open as Smart Objects in the latest installed version of Photoshop. If no additional edits have been performed on the photo in Lightroom, the original photo is launched in Photoshop. If you've applied some edits in Lightroom desktop, a flattened copy of the image is opened in Photoshop.
When you select Edit in Photoshop, a TIF, 16 Bit Pro Photo color space file format is opened in Photoshop.
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After making edits in Photoshop, Save your image. The applied changes are automatically saved in Lightroom in a stacked format for viewing.
Open multiple photos as Layers
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Select multiple photos from the grid that you want to edit in Photoshop.
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In the filmstrip, right-click and select Edit in Photoshop > Open as Layers in Photoshop.
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Your photos will automatically open as Layers in the latest installed version of Photoshop. If no additional edits have been performed on the photo in Lightroom, the original photo is launched in Photoshop. If you've applied some edits in Lightroom desktop, a flattened copy of the image is opened in Photoshop.
When you select Edit in Photoshop, a TIF, 16 Bit Pro Photo color space file format is opened in Photoshop.
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After making edits in Photoshop, Save your image. The applied changes are automatically saved in Lightroom in a stacked format for viewing.
