- Why we updated this tutorial page
- What is LRTimelapse?
- Start here: basic tutorial without Lightroom
- Complete basic tutorial with Lightroom Classic
- What's new in LRTimelapse 7
- Import and split time-lapse sequences
- Advanced tutorials
- Expert tips
- Which tutorial should you watch first?
- Official resources
Why We Updated This Tutorial Page
The previous LRTimelapse tutorials on Time Lapse Network were based on much older versions of the software (LRTimelapse 3 and 4). They played an important role at the time, but the software has evolved significantly since then.
LRTimelapse 7 introduced major changes to the workflow, including internal editing, improved rendering, direct processing options, a more modern interface and many workflow refinements. LRTimelapse 7.5.x continues that evolution with additional improvements to stability, performance, deflicker, importer behavior and file management.
Instead of rewriting or duplicating Gunther’s official documentation, this page is designed as a curated learning path. It helps you understand where to start, which official tutorials to watch, and how to progress from the basic workflow to advanced and expert-level techniques.
All the videos embedded here are created by Gunther Wegner, the developer of LRTimelapse.
What Is LRTimelapse?
LRTimelapse is a professional application for editing time-lapse image sequences. It is especially known for its ability to create smooth transitions across thousands of still images by combining keyframe-based editing, automatic transitions, visual previews and deflickering.
It can be used for many different kinds of time-lapse projects, including:
- Classic landscape time-lapse
- Day-to-night and night-to-day Holy Grail sequences
- Astro and Milky Way time-lapse
- Cityscape and architecture time-lapse
- Long-term construction time-lapse
- HDR time-lapse
- Sequences edited with or without Lightroom Classic
The basic idea is simple: instead of editing every single image manually, you edit selected keyframes, let LRTimelapse calculate the transitions between them, and then render a smooth final video.
LRTimelapse was created by Gunther Wegner, a German photographer, filmmaker, author and software developer who has been one of the key figures in the modern time-lapse photography community. For this reason, we strongly recommend learning LRTimelapse directly from his official tutorials.
1. Start Here: Basic Tutorial Without Lightroom
Beginner No Lightroom
This is the best starting point for most beginners. The shorter basic tutorial teaches the simplified LRTimelapse workflow without requiring Lightroom Classic. It covers the core logic: loading a sequence, creating keyframes, editing inside LRTimelapse, calculating transitions, using Visual Previews, applying Visual Deflicker and exporting the final video.
What you will learn:
- How to open and prepare a time-lapse sequence in LRTimelapse
- How to create and edit keyframes
- How to work with the internal LRTimelapse editor
- How to calculate automatic transitions
- How to use Visual Previews and Visual Deflicker
- How to export and render a final time-lapse video without Lightroom
2. Complete Basic Tutorial With Lightroom Classic
Beginner Intermediate Lightroom
Once you understand the internal workflow, the next step is the complete basic tutorial. This version includes the LRTimelapse workflow together with Lightroom Classic. It is the recommended path for photographers who want to use the full power of RAW editing while still keeping smooth transitions across the entire sequence.
What you will learn:
- How the LRTimelapse workflow works with Lightroom Classic
- How to define keyframes and edit them in Lightroom
- How to synchronize edits correctly
- How to calculate transitions between keyframes
- How to handle Holy Grail compensation when required
- How to use Visual Deflicker
- How to export through Lightroom using the LRTExport plugin
- How to render the final video
3. What’s New in LRTimelapse 7
Intermediate
If you already used an older version of LRTimelapse, this video is highly recommended. LRTimelapse 7 introduced significant changes compared to previous generations, and understanding what changed will help you avoid following outdated workflows.
4. Import and Split Time-Lapse Sequences
Beginner
Before editing, it is important to organize your time-lapse sequences correctly. This tutorial explains how to use the LRTimelapse Importer to import files from a memory card, split them into separate sequences and remove unwanted files.
A clean folder structure makes time-lapse editing easier, faster and safer. This is especially useful when you shot multiple sequences on the same memory card, your camera produced thousands of images, or you need to separate different scenes.
5. Advanced Tutorials
Advanced
After mastering the basic workflow, you can explore more advanced techniques. The topics below cover Holy Grail shooting, batch editing, long-term workflows, and color management.
5.1 Speed Up Editing Multiple Sequences
LRTimelapse Pro
If you edit many sequences from the same shooting session, LRTimelapse Pro can dramatically improve your efficiency.
5.2 Long-Term and Construction Time-Lapse Editing
Long Term
Long-term time-lapse projects require a different approach. They may include inconsistent lighting, changing weather, camera movement, different times of day, and large image collections captured over weeks, months or years.
5.3 Shooting the Holy Grail
Holy Grail
Holy Grail time-lapse refers to seamless day-to-night or night-to-day transitions. It is one of the most fascinating and technically demanding forms of time-lapse photography. Gunther’s official tutorial explains how to shoot Holy Grail sequences automatically using qDslrDashboard, with exposure, aperture and ISO ramping.
For the full Holy Grail workflow, visit the LRTimelapse advanced tutorials page.
5.4 Color Management
Color Management
Correct color management is essential for predictable results across Lightroom, LRTimelapse, rendered files, YouTube, HDR workflows and different displays. The official guide is available on the LRTimelapse advanced tutorials page.
Get LRTimelapse6. Expert Tips
Expert
The Expert Tips series is designed for users who already understand the core LRTimelapse workflow and want to solve specific problems or learn advanced techniques. Each video focuses on a real-world issue: reediting sequences, animating gradients, managing Lightroom problems, removing dust spots, and much more.
Full series: lrtimelapse.com/tutorial/expert/
Expert #1 — Reediting Time-Lapse Sequences
Expert #2 — Animating Linear and Circular Gradients
Expert #3 — Working With Individual Manual Transitions
Expert #5 — Stop Lightroom From Messing Up Your Time-Lapses
Lightroom Troubleshooting
Expert #6 — Remove Sensor Dust Spots
Expert #7 — Advanced Keyframe Synchronization
Expert #8 — Remove Lens Condensation
Expert #9 — Animate the Crop / Ken Burns Effect
Expert #10 — Stamp and Stabilize With After Effects
After Effects Color Management
Expert #11 — HDR in Photography
HDR
Expert #12 — HDR Time-Lapse for YouTube With DaVinci Resolve
HDR DaVinci Resolve
Expert #13 — Keyframe Changes in LRTimelapse 7.4+
Expert #14 — New Features in LRTimelapse 7.x You Probably Missed
Expert #15 — Timestamp Overlays and Subtitles
Long Term
Which Tutorial Should You Watch First?
- Complete basic tutorial with Lightroom
- Expert Tip #5 — Stop Lightroom issues
- Expert Tip #7 — Advanced keyframe sync
- Complete basic tutorial with Lightroom
- Shooting the Holy Grail
- Expert Tip #3 — Individual transitions
- Expert Tip #13 — Keyframe changes in 7.4+
- Import and split sequences
- Long-term timelapse editing
- Expert Tip #15 — Timestamp overlays
- Expert Tip #10 — Stamp and stabilize
- Color management
- Expert Tip #5 — Lightroom issues
- Expert Tip #6 — Sensor dust spots
- Expert Tip #8 — Lens condensation
- Expert Tip #12 — HDR with DaVinci Resolve
Official Resources
Learn From the Official Source
Time-lapse photography has changed a lot since the early days of this website. Cameras are better, workflows are faster, editing tools are more powerful, and LRTimelapse itself has evolved into a mature professional application.
Our goal with this page is not to replace Gunther’s documentation, but to help Time Lapse Network readers find the right tutorial faster, understand the learning path, and avoid outdated workflows.
If you are serious about time-lapse photography, LRTimelapse remains one of the essential tools to master.
Happy time-lapsing.
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