Luminous Landscape Forum
Raw & Post Processing, Printing => Adobe Lightroom Q&A => Topic started by: Slobodan Blagojevic on August 26, 2014, 05:46:33 pm
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Hey guys, I need a quick advice.
I want to transfer original files and their processing from my desktop to my laptop. Both Lightroom versions are CC, both computers are Mac (iMac and MacBook Pro). I need to transfer just one project, a two-day shoot, where the original files reside in two different folders. What is the easiest method? Connect the computers via Ethernet cable or via wi-fi? What steps in LR?
Thanks in advance!
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I would put the project in a collection and export the collection as a catalog and include previews and originals, then on the laptop, import from the catalog.
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Hey guys, I need a quick advice.
I want to transfer original files and their processing from my desktop to my laptop. Both Lightroom versions are CC, both computers are Mac (iMac and MacBook Pro). I need to transfer just one project, a two-day shoot, where the original files reside in two different folders. What is the easiest method? Connect the computers via Ethernet cable or via wi-fi? What steps in LR?
Thanks in advance!
The least error prone is in my opinion to export the original pictures from the catalog on the MBP to an external HD (export as catalog) and the attach the HD to the iMac and choose import from catalog. This way you get everything moved including virtual copies and e.g. TIFF or PSD files you have created on the road as well as all edits of course. This is the way it is designed into LR, but there are other ways of moving e.g. if you didn't do any virtual copies or any other edits than on top of the RAW file. Then you can save all edits as XMP files by selecting all photos as choose cmd-s. Then copy the folders to the iMac and import (choosing Add) on the iMac. The the xmp files will be read and the keywords, edits etc. will be included into the catalog on the iMac.
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The least error prone is in my opinion to export the original pictures from the catalog on the MBP to an external HD (export as catalog) and the attach the HD to the iMac and choose import from catalog. This way you get everything moved including virtual copies and e.g. TIFF or PSD files you have created on the road as well as all edits of course. This is the way it is designed into LR, but there are other ways of moving e.g. if you didn't do any virtual copies or any other edits than on top of the RAW file. Then you can save all edits as XMP files by selecting all photos as choose cmd-s. Then copy the folders to the iMac and import (choosing Add) on the iMac. The the xmp files will be read and the keywords, edits etc. will be included into the catalog on the iMac.
Agreed, but it doesn't need to be an external HD. Just "export folders as catalog" to a temporary folder somewhere, make sure the laptop connected to a network where it can be seen by the desktop, and File -> Import from catalog, remembering to check the option to copy files (not reference them where they are).
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Agreed, but it doesn't need to be an external HD. Just "export folders as catalog" to a temporary folder somewhere, make sure the laptop connected to a network where it can be seen by the desktop, and File -> Import from catalog, remembering to check the option to copy files (not reference them where they are).
Of course it can be any storage location, e.g. a NAS. I just mentioned external HD as the most obvious for most people to understand.
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I know it's a performance hit, but I just keep all of my shots and my catalog on an external HD, currently using a USB 3. Then I can attach that whatever device I need to. Clearly not a good solution for a wedding photographer, but it's alright for a fine art guy.
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Make sure all metadata is updated, then select the folders or images, Export As Catalog command.
Seems SneakerNet via another HD might be fastest (and safest) and include a backup in the process.
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I know it's a performance hit, but I just keep all of my shots and my catalog on an external HD, currently using a USB 3. Then I can attach that whatever device I need to. Clearly not a good solution for a wedding photographer, but it's alright for a fine art guy.
I just use a single machine, a MBP 15" retina and hooked up to a 30" Dell U3014 in my office. On travel the LR catalog sits in the internal drive and when in office it sits the same place and no need to move anything. Can it be any simpler than this? Overflow of older shoots go to an external Thunderbolt storage in my office. All pictures are in one catalog on the MBP.
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I just use a single machine, a MBP 15" retina and hooked up to a 30" Dell U3014 in my office. On travel the LR catalog sits in the internal drive and when in office it sits the same place and no need to move anything. Can it be any simpler than this? Overflow of older shoots go to an external Thunderbolt storage in my office. All pictures are in one catalog on the MBP.
Nearly exactly the same setup I have.
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Ok, I transferred all files, but it appears they arrived without any edits. XMP files got lost in the transfer? I followed Jeff's workflow.
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Ok, I transferred all files, but it appears they arrived without any edits. XMP files got lost in the transfer? I followed Jeff's workflow.
So you don't have the Auto Save XMP preference on? And you didn't make sure all metadata is updated?
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Ok, I transferred all files, but it appears they arrived without any edits. XMP files got lost in the transfer? I followed Jeff's workflow.
Copy the LR Catalog from one computer to the other, open that catalog and do a search for the images in a new location
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So you don't have the Auto Save XMP preference on? And you didn't make sure all metadata is updated?
I never worked on more than one computer until now, so never paid attention to it. :-[
Is Auto Save XMP the same as what I see in Catalog Settings as "Automatically write changes into XMP"? It was unchecked and I checked it now. I did update metadata.
I guess now I have to repeat the transfer.
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Ok, I transferred all files, but it appears they arrived without any edits. XMP files got lost in the transfer? I followed Jeff's workflow.
So, you put the project images in a collection and exported the collection as a catalog with previews and originals? Then moved that folder to the other computer and imported the collection as a catalog?
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Is Auto Save XMP the same as what I see in Catalog Settings as "Automatically write changes into XMP"? It was unchecked and I checked it now. I did update metadata.
I guess now I have to repeat the transfer.
Yes and probably yes.
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I never worked on more than one computer until now, so never paid attention to it. :-[
Is Auto Save XMP the same as what I see in Catalog Settings as "Automatically write changes into XMP"? It was unchecked and I checked it now. I did update metadata.
I guess now I have to repeat the transfer.
The XMP route allows interchangeability with ACR but it won't carry over virtual copies, flags, and other features that are unique to LR.
Bill
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The XMP route allows interchangeability with ACR but it won't carry over virtual copies, flags, and other features that are unique to LR.
Well, I am transferring between two LRs, and flags did not go. I had to use stars instead.
In any case, mission accomplished, thanks everyone!
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Well, I am transferring between two LRs, and flags did not go. I had to use stars instead.
In any case, mission accomplished, thanks everyone!
Again, as I wrote, the most reliable way is as I described ;) Export as catalog and then import from catalog. In this case no need for XMP's....
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Again, as I wrote, the most reliable way is as I [and Jeff] described ;) Export as catalog and then import from catalog. In this case no need for XMP's....
+1
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I use the method advocated by Jeff Schewe without any problems!
if in doubt, look at Peter Krogh's excellent e-book on multiple catalogue workflow. (DAM website)
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I have two separate computers working off of the same image database (located on a NAS).
Computer #1:
Used for editing. *.lrcat resides locally (as Lightroom demands it), on every application exit, the *.lrcat is backed up to the NAS.
Computer #2:
Only used for viewing. I have got a batch script that copies the newest *.lrcat from the NAS prior to launching Lightroom.
This setup works fine for what I do, so long as one does not expect to use Computer # 2 for editing.
All of this is an awkward way of saying: copy the *.lrcat and the image files from A to B, and you will be mostly fine.
Note that things like custom camera profiles needs to be propagated manually.
-h
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I have two separate computers working off of the same image database (located on a NAS).
Computer #1:
Used for editing. *.lrcat resides locally (as Lightroom demands it), on every application exit, the *.lrcat is backed up to the NAS.
Computer #2:
Only used for viewing. I have got a batch script that copies the newest *.lrcat from the NAS prior to launching Lightroom.
This setup works fine for what I do, so long as one does not expect to use Computer # 2 for editing.
All of this is an awkward way of saying: copy the *.lrcat and the image files from A to B, and you will be mostly fine.
Note that things like custom camera profiles needs to be propagated manually.
-h
Great, but this is not a solution to the original question ;) Which was how to not only move images but also to merge the catalog related to these images from one machine to another and merge the catalog information into the main LR catalog on the desktop machine.
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Great, but this is not a solution to the original question ;) Which was how to not only move images but also to merge the catalog related to these images from one machine to another and merge the catalog information into the main LR catalog on the desktop machine.
I might have a reading comprehension problem, but I could not find any of those merging requirements in the original question.
Having said that, I do agree that the best option is to export as catalog as you and others suggested.
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I might have a reading comprehension problem, but I could not find any of those merging requirements in the original question.
Having said that, I do agree that the best option is to export as catalog as you and others suggested.
I reread the original question and strictly speaking your are right. There was no mention that the exported images and catalog information from his desktop should be merged with an existing catalog on the MBP. It was my interpretation that he would do that, but maybe no need as perhaps the pictures were to be shown to somebody else and there should be no other pictures in the exported catalog. In that latter case there would be no need for the import from catalog on the MBP. Simply a copy of the entire exported folder from the iMac would suffice. Then on the MBP simply double click on the lrcat file inside that folder and possibly correct the folder references for the pictures.
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...Simply a copy of the entire exported folder from the iMac would suffice. Then on the MBP simply double click on the lrcat file inside that folder and possibly correct the folder references for the pictures.
It would have been nice if LR could automagically include dependencies (i.e. custom camera color profile) so that the images in the catalog could be correctly developed using the set of files that were output.
-h
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It would have been nice if LR could automagically include dependencies (i.e. custom camera color profile) so that the images in the catalog could be correctly developed using the set of files that were output.
-h
Good point and it's not that easy to move these profiles from one machine to another. E.g. on the Mac you find them inside the user library which you only get access to via the option key and then navigate all the way down to cameraprofiles. Yes, easy enough if you know :) And as you mention it could be e.g. an option to also move the camera profiles for the pictures included in a catalog export. Another thing is, why does the profile need to reside insode the user library and not in a Lightroom location, e.g. in the catalog folder.
On both my Canon and Nikon cameras I find a significant difference between the built in camera profiles (like e.g. Adobe Standard) and a custom profile made using an xrite colorchecker.
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I just use a single machine, a MBP 15" retina and hooked up to a 30" Dell U3014 in my office. On travel the LR catalog sits in the internal drive and when in office it sits the same place and no need to move anything. Can it be any simpler than this? Overflow of older shoots go to an external Thunderbolt storage in my office. All pictures are in one catalog on the MBP.
No, that's certainly the simplest solution.