LIGHTROOM QUESTION

hombredelmar · Jul 25, 2014

Can someone explain the situation?

I open lightroom then I import a folder I work with in lightroom. I save a couple of versions of the same picture and I can see them each time I save it, however I cannot see it in the original folder on my computer. What do I do?

Lightroom creates lots of unneeded folders, I guess the folders I import to lightroom. It does not help but creates confusion. What do I do?

Thank you for in advance for your help !

lambertpix · Jul 25, 2014

LR has a ton of file handling options it can use during imports. It sounds like you might need to just sit down and figure out what your typical workflow is going to be. I know when I started, I was working way too hard with LR -- I copied files off my memory cards manually, then used LR to point to those folders. When I finally figured out I could let LR just copy the files off the card and into a destination directory, it saved me a ton of time.

The multiple versions, btw, sound like maybe you created the copies in LR. If that's the case, you're experiencing the non-destructive editing in LR. Since it's storing all of its edits as "instructions" rather than actual image changes, creating a copy is also an instruction, which means that your original file is untouched and uncopied. The copy is virtual.

hombredelmar · Jul 25, 2014

lambertpix said:
LR has a ton of file handling options it can use during imports. It sounds like you might need to just sit down and figure out what your typical workflow is going to be. I know when I started, I was working way too hard with LR -- I copied files off my memory cards manually, then used LR to point to those folders. When I finally figured out I could let LR just copy the files off the card and into a destination directory, it saved me a ton of time.

The multiple versions, btw, sound like maybe you created the copies in LR. If that's the case, you're experiencing the non-destructive editing in LR. Since it's storing all of its edits as "instructions" rather than actual image changes, creating a copy is also an instruction, which means that your original file is untouched and uncopied. The copy is virtual.

Thank you for your prompt response, I definitely need to seat and figure this out.
Thanks once again

sscarmack · Jul 26, 2014

Check out youtube, ton of helpful videos.

astroNikon · Jul 26, 2014

hombredelmar said:
I open lightroom then I import a folder I work with in lightroom. I save a couple of versions of the same picture and I can see them each time I save it, however I cannot see it in the original folder on my computer. What do I do?

You only see the "final" picture when you EXPORT the image or work with it in Lightroom. Then Lightroom takes the original file, all the respective changes (crop, exposure, etc) and exports it to a JPEG or other file for you. A RAW/NEF file provides more ability of changes than a JPEG when imported.

Info on how Lightroom uses a Catalog (where it stores all the changes to the image) --> Lightroom Catalogs Explained

Other info --> Lightroom catalog FAQ
More --> Where are my Lightroom Files? - Digital Photography School

hombredelmar said:
Lightroom creates lots of unneeded folders, I guess the folders I import to lightroom. It does not help but creates confusion. What do I do?

You should learn how to use Collections

info --> Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 * Photo collections

more collection info --> How I use Lightroom?s Collections | Scott Kelby's Photoshop Insider

BenjaminJ · Jul 26, 2014

Lightroom doesnt save actuall copies of photo edits, it just saves the information of the edits and puts that info into a different folder. In other words, you can take a certain photo, make copies of it in lightroom and do different edits on them. In your photo folder, you will still have the single photo and it will appear unedited unless you view it in lightroom. In order to make the edits permanent you have to save as (called export in lr) a jpeg file. Those will appear in the folder of the original picture. This is also why it is important to use the weekly back up function of lightroom and have it saved to another drive incase something goes wrong on your computer. Without the backup, if something happens to your computer, all your edits will be lost on any photo that you didn't save as a jpeg (which can end up taking up a lot of space).

PWhite214 · Jul 26, 2014

A good beginner's source is The Lightroom Queen, The Lightroom Queen - Tips, Tricks, Tutorials & Troubleshooting.

Phil

KmH · Jul 26, 2014

There is a lot to consider when it comes yo managing your digital image assets.

You can spend hours gleaning disjointed bits and pieces from some number of YouTube videos you may or may not discover, or you can get all the info you need in one place:
The DAM Book: Digital Asset Management for Photographers

hombredelmar · Jul 27, 2014

KmH said:
There is a lot to consider when it comes yo managing your digital image assets.

You can spend hours gleaning disjointed bits and pieces from some number of YouTube videos you may or may not discover, or you can get all the info you need in one place:
The DAM Book: Digital Asset Management for Photographers

Thank you for the link!!!

hombredelmar · Jul 27, 2014

PWhite214 said:
A good beginner's source is The Lightroom Queen, The Lightroom Queen - Tips, Tricks, Tutorials & Troubleshooting.

Phil

Thank you for the info, to tell you the truth i am kind of lazy to read the book and to spend money on it. However that you for your time, i might deside to buy it one day.

hombredelmar · Jul 27, 2014

BenjaminJ said:
Lightroom doesnt save actuall copies of photo edits, it just saves the information of the edits and puts that info into a different folder. In other words, you can take a certain photo, make copies of it in lightroom and do different edits on them. In your photo folder, you will still have the single photo and it will appear unedited unless you view it in lightroom. In order to make the edits permanent you have to save as (called export in lr) a jpeg file. Those will appear in the folder of the original picture. This is also why it is important to use the weekly back up function of lightroom and have it saved to another drive incase something goes wrong on your computer. Without the backup, if something happens to your computer, all your edits will be lost on any photo that you didn't save as a jpeg (which can end up taking up a lot of space).

thank you, that was very informative