Recovering photos from a LR catalog
May 20, 2018 11:23:51 #
How do I get photos from a LR catalog-when I click on a catalog or back up at most a single picture comes up in LR or a bunch of PS icons come up. When they are opened a nonsense dialog comes up. Also some pictures come up in LR but cannot be highlighted and it says 'this photo already exists
May 20, 2018 12:10:51 #
The photos are not in the LR catalog. That is just a record of changes made and their location on your hard drive.
You select them in LR and "export" to where you want them and it brings up a copy of the original, applies all the changes and then puts a copy at the location you picked to export it to. I usually export to my desktop and then put them in e-mails etc from there.
If you are trying to print then you print from LR or PS. If you have a Canon printer they have an app that ties in with LR and PS called "Print Studio Pro" which gives you much more control over the printing process.
Your actual photo files are probably in "Pictures" if you are using a PC.
Never move, rename etc an image file outside LR, do it from LR. Otherwise LR loses track of the image and then you have to have it search for it - a process that "usually" works - key word "usually". If it doesn't you have to look up the process and let LR know where/what name they are manually-a pain in the rear.
You select them in LR and "export" to where you want them and it brings up a copy of the original, applies all the changes and then puts a copy at the location you picked to export it to. I usually export to my desktop and then put them in e-mails etc from there.
If you are trying to print then you print from LR or PS. If you have a Canon printer they have an app that ties in with LR and PS called "Print Studio Pro" which gives you much more control over the printing process.
Your actual photo files are probably in "Pictures" if you are using a PC.
Never move, rename etc an image file outside LR, do it from LR. Otherwise LR loses track of the image and then you have to have it search for it - a process that "usually" works - key word "usually". If it doesn't you have to look up the process and let LR know where/what name they are manually-a pain in the rear.
May 21, 2018 06:42:42 #
jedcardio wrote:
How do I get photos from a LR catalog-when I click on a catalog or back up at most a single picture comes up in LR or a bunch of PS icons come up. When they are opened a nonsense dialog comes up. Also some pictures come up in LR but cannot be highlighted and it says 'this photo already exists
It doesn't sound like you are using the catalog properly. I've got one catalog, with over 200,000 pictures in it. You don't need to make multiple catalogs, and it is easier to search for images if they are in one catalog.
Describe the nonsense dialog.
The only time you will see a message that says the photo already exists is when you are trying to import an image.
If you understand file management in Windows or MacOS, you can more easily make changes to files and folders for images already in the catalog, but you must remember to sync the destination and source folders when in the Library module, so that your changes are reflected in the catalog.
You seem to be all over the place with file management, so I don't think you should start messing around at the OS level and instead use LR to do all of your file management.
What do you mean by "get a file from the catalog"?
May 21, 2018 08:19:36 #
I think I understand that the catalog only contains information about the pictures, but how do you find the actual pictures themselves. Also when the I'm told the picture already exists where is it?
May 21, 2018 13:07:31 #
jedcardio wrote:
I think I understand that the catalog only contains information about the pictures, but how do you find the actual pictures themselves. Also when the I'm told the picture already exists where is it?
As RobertJerl stated previously, your actual image files are probably in the "Pictures" folder of your computer if you are using a PC (as opposed to a MAC). That would be because Lightroom placed them there pursuant to a default setting or preference. My understanding is that the default setting/preference on PC's for storage of actual images after import is the "Pictures" folder. That default setting/preference can be changed to have the images stored in any folder in/on your computer.
An alternative import procedure would be to first create on your computer (in "Pictures" or wherever you choose) a uniquely named folder, preferably with an identifying date. Then transfer or copy your images from your memory card (or whatever digital source) into this "unique" folder. Then go to Lightroom, in the Library module initiate the import procedure, find your "unique" folder among all those on the left side of the screen, and click on this "unique" folder and import your images from it into Lightroom. The actual image files will remain undisturbed in your "unique" folder in the location where you created it. When you have additional images to be imported, you can utilize this folder, or create another "storage" folder with its own "unique" name.
There are video tutorials on this subject and almost any other than you can name regarding Lightroom. Videos by Juliana Kost are particularly helpful. You might wish to browse them.
Best regards,
May 21, 2018 19:26:54 #
jedcardio wrote:
I think I understand that the catalog only contains information about the pictures, but how do you find the actual pictures themselves. Also when the I'm told the picture already exists where is it?
In grid mode, Right-Click on the image and select show in explorer(Windows) or finder(Mac)
May 21, 2018 19:34:39 #
jedcardio wrote:
How do I get photos from a LR catalog-when I click on a catalog or back up at most a single picture comes up in LR or a bunch of PS icons come up. When they are opened a nonsense dialog comes up. Also some pictures come up in LR but cannot be highlighted and it says 'this photo already exists
I think it would be good if you could do a screen shot of your existing catalog in Library/grid view so what you do have can be seen. Also, a screen shot of the problem issues with explicit information. It does appear that you are unaware of how to use the program properly. You "get" photos from an LR catalog by opening the application, then marking the desired photo or photos, then clicking on export and exporting them in the format you want them in to where ever you want them to be stored. You can only "get" LR linked/edited photos by opening the application and then working with the photos from within the application.
May 21, 2018 19:59:41 #
jedcardio wrote:
I think I understand that the catalog only contains information about the pictures, but how do you find the actual pictures themselves. Also when the I'm told the picture already exists where is it?
Either:
Where you put it when downloading manually from memory card or camera,
OR:
Wherever you told Lightroom to put them!
May 21, 2018 20:00:02 #
Here is a link to a very thorough downloadable lightroom classic cc reference manual. You should be able to read through the section on how LR is organized and importing and exporting your images...
https://helpx.adobe.com/pdf/lightroom_reference.pdf
https://helpx.adobe.com/pdf/lightroom_reference.pdf
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