In at the moment’s Lightroom tutorial I wish to present you the way merge Lightroom catalogs performance helps me to handle a number of catalogs after I journey.
How to Merge Lightroom Catalogs
If you might be right here solely to discover ways to merge catalogs in Lightroom, beneath is the straightforward reply in 5 straightforward steps. But, if you wish to understand how I take advantage of the merger performance in my journey images, undergo the article.
- Step 1: Open the catalog you wish to hold as a Master after the merger.
- Step 2: From the highest menu, choose File > Import from Another Catalog… possibility.
- Step 3: Select the catalog you wish to merge with the open one and click on the Choose button.
- Step 4: From the Import from Catalog menu, choose what recordsdata and folders you wish to merge.
- Step 5: Click the Import button.
- Step 6 (non-obligatory): Rebuild previews for merged pictures by choosing from the highest menu Library > Previews > Build 1:1 Previews.
As an early adopter of Lightroom, my enhancing workflow has gone by a sequence of evolutions over time. When Lightroom’s beta model was launched, there have been no tutorials or guides, which left early adopters like me to determine each step of the workflow on our personal.
My first huge mistake in how I used Lightroom was as a result of the truth that I didn’t absolutely perceive the idea of the Lightroom Catalog. After utilizing Adobe Premiere and After Effects ceaselessly for years, I assumed that the Lightroom Catalog was the equal to the Project in different functions.
This assumption led me to create and handle a number of catalogs in my early Lightroom days. As a end result, I gained firsthand expertise and a better understanding that managing a number of catalogs was hell. Since it’s unattainable to seek for pictures throughout separate catalogs, I needed to shut and open catalogs a number of occasions. I additionally needed to bear in mind what pictures I saved in every catalog. Like I stated, it was absolute hell.
After I realized my lesson, I mixed my catalogs collectively by creating one Master Travel Catalog. At the identical time, I saved a separate catalog for my household pictures. The thought was to separate (and hold separate) my journey images from private stuff.
Related: How to Change Lightroom Catalog Location
But, this didn’t work effectively. The line between skilled and private work is blurry at occasions. I usually had pictures from each classes on the identical reminiscence card. This meant that I needed to import pictures twice into totally different catalogs.
It didn’t make any sense.
That is after I realized that one catalog method fits me the most effective.
Right now, I’ve one catalog of about 120,000 pictures with skilled and private initiatives organized by tags and albums below one umbrella – the MASTER Catalog.
But, there may be nonetheless a spot for a number of catalogs in my journey images workflow. I take advantage of them after I journey.
How I Use Multiple Lightroom Catalogs
Today, I wish to exhibit how I take advantage of a number of catalogs throughout my images journeys.
My desktop pc is the middle of my enhancing workflow. This is the place I completely hold my Master Single Catalog.
I do know some photographers who convey their grasp catalogs with them once they journey by transferring it from their desktop to their laptop computer; however, this isn’t efficient or environment friendly for my workflow.
Lightroom Workflow On the Road
For each journey, I create a TEMP catalog on my laptop computer. After my journey is over, I delete it and create a brand new one as the subsequent journey approaches.
Related: How to Revert Editing Steps in Lightroom
I create the TEMP catalog on the first onerous drive of my laptop computer and by default Lightroom generates the preview recordsdata subsequent to the catalog.
At the tip of every day of my journey, I import the brand new pictures from that day to my TEMP Lightroom catalog. For the RAW recordsdata vacation spot, I select considered one of my exterior onerous drives.
To summarize, the results of my import course of is:
- Lightroom Catalog resides on the laptop computer’s onerous drive
- Preview recordsdata reside on the laptop computer’s onerous drive
- RAW pictures reside on the exterior onerous drive
I take advantage of the next settings through the import course of.
For Previews, I take advantage of the MINIMAL possibility. I examine the Create Smart Previews possibility for the reason that Smart Previews are an integral a part of my journey workflow.
I keep away from doing any critical enhancing after I journey. I desire concentrating on exploration and taking pictures. But, what I love to do when I’m on a airplane for wherever between 6 and 10 hours is to begin organizing and culling new pictures.
This is when Smart Previews come into play.
When Smart Preview is generated for any given picture, it permits you not solely to view it within the library but additionally edit it within the Develop module when the unique picture just isn’t bodily preset in your pc.
Instead of getting to attach my exterior drive with all of the RAW pictures, I can handle the Catalog just by utilizing Smart Previews.
First, I manage all the brand new pictures into Stacks utilizing the approach I outlined intimately in considered one of my earlier tutorial (Automating Photo Organization in Lightroom) .
Next, I take advantage of the REJECT keyboard shortcut (“X”) to mark all of the unhealthy photographs, like these out of focus or taken accidentally. After I’m completed, I delete the pictures immediately since I don’t wish to import them into my Master Catalog after I get residence.
Finally, I take advantage of the FLAG keyboard shortcut (“P”) to mark the pictures I like and plan to edit sooner or later.
Related: Soft Proofing in Lightroom Workflow
This is all of the Lightroom Classic work I do after I journey.
Lightroom Workflow Back Home
When I’m again residence, I join my exterior onerous drive with all the brand new pictures to my journey laptop computer and duplicate the non permanent journey Catalog file from the laptop computer to the exterior drive.
I then join the exterior onerous drive to my desktop pc. Rather than utilizing the command to Import Photos and Video, I take advantage of the Import from Another Catalog… performance as a substitute.
Next, I choose the TEMP catalog, which is situated on exterior HD and I hit the CHOOSE button.
This opens the Import from Catalog menu, which supplies me a number of choices together with the choice to import solely selective recordsdata from the TEMP catalog. In my case, I at all times import all the catalog contents since I by no means hold pictures from any of my different journeys in my TEMP catalog.
I specify the folders I wish to import and the vacation spot on my desktop pc for brand spanking new pictures.
And if you choose Show Preview checkbox, you’ll be able to import pictures selectively.
When I hit the import button, Lightroom not solely brings the brand new pictures to the Master Catalog but additionally the metadata, edits, tagging, previews and albums.
Related: My Top 15 Lightroom Workflow Tips
When you utilize Import from Another Catalog performance, Lightroom doesn’t generate model new previews. It solely brings present ones from one other catalog. And in case, you might want to construct 1:1 previews you might want to use command Library > Previews > Build 1:1 Previews.
As I discussed earlier than, it takes time for Lightroom to generate Full Size Previews and Smart Previews on the identical time. If I import 5,000 to six,000 RAW pictures in a single setting, it’d take hours. Normally, I begin the import course of within the night and go to mattress. By the subsequent morning, every part is prepared and I can begin enhancing with out losing any time on group (stacking, tagging) and culling.
This is when I’m lastly able to delete the TEMP catalog.
How to Merge Lightroom Catalogs: FAQ
Can I Combine Lightroom Catalogs?
Absolutely. Lightroom provides us a fairly superior Import from Another Catalog performance.
You have the choice to import all the catalog or solely particular person folders and even single photographs.
To entry the Import from Catalog module, choose from the highest menu File > Import From Another Catalog… possibility.
Where Should I Store Lightroom Catalog?
Lightroom just isn’t a really quick utility typically, and as your catalog progress is getting slower. And to get the most effective efficiency out of Lightroom, you might want to retailer its catalogs on the quickest drive you have got.
You can hold your picture library on an exterior drive, and it received’t have an effect on the efficiency by a lot. But you might want to hold the catalog and its cache on the quick drive.
For instance, I’ve 3 varieties of drives on my pc, exterior, inner spinning drive, and inner SSD drive. And by storing my Lightroom catalog on an SSD drive, I get the most effective efficiency by an enormous margin.
Where are Lightroom Catalogs Stored?
It is a quite common query as a result of Lightroom catalog will be saved wherever in your pc.
When you create a brand new catalog, you have got the choice to maintain it in your required location. But if you don’t specify it, Lightroom saves the catalog to the default location. The default areas are totally different on Mac and PC. After utilizing Lightroom for some time, it may be difficult to recollect the catalog location.
Luckily, we are able to ask Lightroom for assist. From the highest menu, choose Edit > Catalog Settings. Open the General tab to seek out the particular folder the place the lively catalog is saved and its file title. For extra information, please examine my devoted article: Where are Lightroom Catalog and Presets Stored?
How Do I switch my Lightroom Catalog to Another Computer?
To transfer the Lightroom catalog to a different pc is a multi-step course of. You want to put in the applying, and transfer the picture library, catalog, settings, cache, and preview recordsdata. And essentially the most essential half is to relink lacking folders to new areas. It just isn’t an advanced course of, however it takes a while.
For extra information, please examine my devoted tutorial right here: How to Move Lightroom to a New Computer
Should I Move Lightroom Catalog to an External Drive?
I might not suggest it. As I discussed above, you’ll be able to transfer your whole picture library to an exterior drive with out sacrificing Lightroom efficiency. But you might want to hold your catalog and its cache on the quickest inner drive you have got.
Should I Use Multiple Catalogs in Lightroom?
It just isn’t a simple query to reply as a result of each photographer has totally different workflows and necessities. In my case, I went from a number of catalogs to 2 catalogs and eventually ended up with one catalog. One catalog setup completely suits my skilled and private initiatives.
But in case you are an occasion photographer, you would possibly create a separate catalog for every occasion. Because after you delivered pictures to a consumer, you aren’t going to entry them usually.
If you have got a really giant catalog of 200K or extra photographs and Lightroom turns into sluggish, you’ll be able to separate a single catalog into two. One is lively for present initiatives and archive for outdated pictures you don’t entry usually.
If you might be uncertain the place to begin, begin with a single catalog setup. And while you really feel that you might want to develop to a a number of catalog setup, you are able to do it simply.
You create a model new empty catalog, and through the use of the Import From Another Catalog performance described on this article, convey needed recordsdata and folders out of your unique catalog.
How to Merge Lightroom Catalogs | Conclusion
Even although one catalog group fits my images the most effective, the Import from Catalog performance in Lightroom offers me the flexibleness to make use of a number of catalogs when needed with out jeopardizing the simplicity of my journey images workflow.