Adobe has announced the availability of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 beta for Windows and Mac. Adobe Lightroom is a photography workflow application that allows photography enthusiasts and professionals to enhance, organize and share photos.

The Lightroom 5 beta offers a free, public preview of new features and tools that will be offered in the final release, expected later this year. Winston Hendrickson, vice president of digital imaging products, Adobe, says the Lightroom 5 beta offers photographers and enthusiasts many new features including:

° Advanced Healing Brush allows customers to heal imperfections and remove distracting elements;

° Upright tool analyzes an image to automatically level horizons and straighten objects like buildings to correct a keystone effect;

° Radial Gradient tool creates off-center or multiple vignette effects;

° Smart Previews allow customers to edit images without needing the original raw file;

° Video slideshow enables customers to combine still images, video clips and music in a creative HD slideshow;

° Upgrades to the Book module enhancing the ability to create, customize and order elegant photo books using a variety of tailored templates.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 beta is available immediately as a free download on both Mac and Windows at http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom5/ .