Have been really enjoying playing around with Lightroom this last month but I'm having difficulty with the idea of catalogs, collections, and where files vs. edits are stored, and am wondering if anyone has any tips on organization that might help with my non-standard computer configuration?
I have a desktop that is super quick that is connected to my TV screen. I thought the monster monitor was going to be awesome, but as it turns out it makes my pictures look so remarkable that when viewed on my laptop, it makes me want to cry because they look like poo. Plus, the type/font on CS3 isn't big enough to really work hard or for long so editing on the desktop isn't working well. I need to do final edits (cloning etc.) on the laptop.
So my configuration goes like this: download files to desktop, weed through and dump with Lightroom. Pick up laptop, connect via home network to pix on the desktop, open Lightroom, get stuck. Add folder to laptop catalog. Sometimes I hit "Import" - is that basically the same thing? When on the laptop, I'm adding files to the laptop catalog without moving them. Now I have two catalogs - one on laptop and one on desktop? Make changes on laptop. I want the changes to reflect on the desktop via magic synchronization. I also want, if I create a JPG from a RAW file in CS3 and then save that new file in the same directory over the network to reside on the desktop, for the new JPG files to automagically appear in the desktop catalog. Should I be "exporting" something?
And what is this about collections? Would that accomplish what I'm trying to do, or is that more for something else?
Should I still be hanging on to a Windows Explorer-type tree structure when I'm importing my files, or is that just overkill now that I've got snazzy new Lightroom?
One way to do this is to set up a catalogue on the network that all computers running LR have access to. Set this as the default catalogue in LR on all computers.
I use collections to select specific shots, say for a slideshow or web album. Collections don't move your images from their catalogue location. They just contain pointers to the images in the collection.
Regarding edits... all Lightroom(LR) edits are non-destructive. You don't ever have to worry about screwing anything up with LR. The original images remain untouched in any way and your LR edits are stored in little XMP sidecar files. You can back out, reset and delete LR edits at any time.
Speaking of Lightroom - Are there any guidelines to which LR adjustments are allowed in the different types of DPC challenges? I guess all are OK in advanced (unless you exaggerate), but which ones are NOT OK in basic?
One way to do this is to set up a catalogue on the network that all computers running LR have access to. Set this as the default catalogue in LR on all computers.
I use collections to select specific shots, say for a slideshow or web album. Collections don't move your images from their catalogue location. They just contain pointers to the images in the collection.
I thought that a catalog had to be on a local drive.
Were you able to get lightroom to recognize a catalog on a network drive?
If so, then how did you do that?
One way to do this is to set up a catalogue on the network that all computers running LR have access to. Set this as the default catalogue in LR on all computers.
I use collections to select specific shots, say for a slideshow or web album. Collections don't move your images from their catalogue location. They just contain pointers to the images in the collection.
I thought that a catalog had to be on a local drive.
Were you able to get lightroom to recognize a catalog on a network drive?
If so, then how did you do that?
In LR 2 you can put catalogues anywhere. I think you're stuck with what you specified in the install with LR 1.
