How to backup Elements 2018 Camera RAW Database in Windows 7?

[digitaldog]

A few further comments: LR's catalog 'contains' a lot more important data than the ACR database (all that DAM stuff for one  ). So it's absolutely important to back up the catalog even if you use proprietary raws and sidecar files. And you can store some editing data in both locations (belt and suspenders). But going back again to the topic; back up everything. Or anything you can't afford to lose.
I cannot see any reason to use the ACR database! I can see lots of reasons to back it if if one insists on using it. I can see lots of reasons to back up any file that falls into the useful camp.
As for why some of us use LR vs. an ACR/Bridge workflow is Bridge isn't a DAM, it's a browser. And for some of us, the Print module in LR is worth the price of admission alone. Photoshop from day one is kind of a 'one file at a time' workflow where LR bypasses that, even for printing.
ACR as a filter is pretty slick. But it's not the same as using ACR on raw data!

[nirpat89]

A few further comments: LR's catalog 'contains' a lot more important data than the ACR database (all that DAM stuff for one  ). So it's absolutely important to back up the catalog even if you use proprietary raws and sidecar files. And you can store some editing data in both locations (belt and suspenders). But going back again to the topic; back up everything. Or anything you can't afford to lose.
I cannot see any reason to use the ACR database! I can see lots of reasons to back it if if one insists on using it. I can see lots of reasons to back up any file that falls into the useful camp.
As for why some of us use LR vs. an ACR/Bridge workflow is Bridge isn't a DAM, it's a browser. And for some of us, the Print module in LR is worth the price of admission alone. Photoshop from day one is kind of a 'one file at a time' workflow where LR bypasses that, even for printing.
ACR as a filter is pretty slick. But it's not the same as using ACR on raw data!

I understand all those differences between the 2 approaches.  I can see if you process and print lots and lots of photos, LR would be a better application.  My needs are more modest.  And I love to see the layers and masks all lined up nicely where I can follow what's going on and who is doing what.  May be someday in the future I might come around and move to LR...

[Alan Goldhammer]

My main image editor is Photoshop and it also saves the XMP metadata alongside the RAW images. The approach seems uncomplicated.

Thanks, it wasn't clear from Andrew's post that this was the case.  I use Affinity Photo rather than Photoshop for things that I need to do outside of LR as I want to support developers other than Adobe.

[fdisilvestro]

...think about this scenario:

You start with a Windows computer and chose to store ACR edits in the ACR database. Then, after a few years and thousands of edited images, you decide to migrate to Mac ... I wish you luck!

I performed some tests based on this scenario. I could not find a way to create the XMP files directly from ACR, but LR is capable of retrieving the edits from the ACR database when importing the raw files that have been edited in ACR into Lightroom. So even if this is a workaround, it works very well.

I stand corrected: It is a scenario easy to solve.

[digitaldog]

I performed some tests based on this scenario. I could not find a way to create the XMP files directly from ACR, but LR is capable of retrieving the edits from the ACR database when importing the raw files that have been edited in ACR into Lightroom. So even if this is a workaround, it works very well.

I stand corrected: It is a scenario easy to solve.

Cool! How did you get LR to retrieve the ACR database?

[fdisilvestro]

Cool! How did you get LR to retrieve the ACR database?

I did nothing. When I imported the images they had the edits performed in ACR, just as if I had used XMP files. In any case there is a difference in the case of doing modifications in ACR after the file has been imported in LR:

- Using XMP: Lightroom will show a warning in the top right corner (grid view) that there has been an external change and gives you the option to choose to update either the LR database or the external settings

- Using ACR Database: Lightroom will not show any warning, but you can update the settings in LR database with the menu option "Metadata -> Read Metadata from File"