bleirer

Yes, as described here about midway in the article. I usually back up the canon raw files to a backup folder on the main hard drive when getting them off the camera but also want to make a third set on an external hard drive. It seemed feasable to select all images (I only use one catalog) and click export negatives along with the catalog. You think it's better to just copy the folder(s) onto the external drive using the folders panel?

https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/create-catalogs.html

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Well, you could try it. LR is designed to do things in many ways to meet the needs of multiple users. It might take a long time, depending on your equipment. It would be my opinion, note simply an opinion, that it would be quicker to do that third backup with a copy in some way. My external drive is one of those that backs up itself, so 4T for storage and then the other 4T for a backup of that first 4T. I also back up to other places, but I am no back-up expert! Others may have a different opinion. I am not someone who is any kind of expert in equipment or backups, just someone who knows a bit about LR and how to use it. My backup plan is on paper so that I don't forget what is stored where.

tcthome Loc: NJ

I back mine up to a external ssd drive. I also copy my actual pictures folder to the drive also. On that drive I also keep another copy of the originals. Soon in the future I will keep a copy of my originals on yet another hard drive. If you look at the back up window I believe there is a box where you can choose where your catalog info will go. If not it will most likely be in catalog preferences.

Have fun , Tom

jedcardio

I may be stupid, but I am still confused. Every time I exit LR it asks if I want to backup the file. I usually answer yes. My question is where does that file go and how do I retrieve it. I of course also backup all pictures to an external drive.

bleirer

That backup is only a backup of the catalog, which is a 'recipe' for your edits to the image files, but it is not the image files themselves. Lightroom doesn't alter the image files themselves. If you export or move to Photoshop a copy is made but the original file is not changed.

jedcardio

what does the catalog consist of? Are my photos in the catalog and if so how do I retrieve them?

bleirer

Think of the catalog as a recipe for the changes you made. If you change contrast for example it remembers that adjustment but doesn't change the contrast of the original file, so you can hit the reset button anytime. When you export a copy is made baking in the changes but the original is not changed. The original pictures are still in the folder you put them in, look at the folder panel on the left side in library. Lightroom links the recipe to the picture in the folder without changing the picture.

So you have to back up your originals as a separate operation to backing up the catalog.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

The first thing you need to do is read the LR Help Manual that can be found on the Adobe website. Read any part having to do with the Library Module. Your photos are not "in" the catalog. Your photos reside on your desktop somewhere. The go to place that the programs automatically uses is the Pictures folder. If you ever need to find out where your catalog is, at least on a Mac, you can right click on the top bar in LR and it will list the location (see example below). LR is an application. It contains a "catalog." The "catalog" is simply metadata that is layered over an image once the image is exported in some manner: I often use the frosting on the cake analogy. The "catalog" and the images are separate and each one resides where you put it or where the program automatically puts it.

(Download)

jrm21

The answer depends on your settings.

I'm on a Mac, but I imaging the process is similar for Windows:

Go to "Catalog Settings" in the Lightroom Menu (should be just under "Preferences). A Dialog Box will open.

Under the "General" tab you will see the backup options. You can choose a frequency for catalog backups (including 'none). You will also see a "location" listed. That is where your catalog is stored.

Depending on the backup frequency you set, you may be asked if you want to backup the catalog when quitting LR. This will include a dialog showing you the location of your catalog backup. There will also be a 'choose' button where you can change the backup location. Navigating to that directory will allow you to retrieve your catalog backup files.

I suggest changing your backup location to a different drive from where your catalog is stored. It is usually a bad idea to store any backup on the same device as the original.