I hate Lightroom!!!! (Page 8): I don't use LR's catalog either, for many of the reasons given. it seems to cause more problems than it solves.

fantom Loc: Colorado

Raptor wrote:

Im at photo workshop in Maine. Im learning to use... (show quote)

I don't use LR's catalog either, for many of the reasons given. it seems to cause more problems than it solves.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Longshadow wrote:

My thoughts -
I don't use catalogers like in LR or PS. More trouble than they are worth, to me.
I use File Explorer and my photo directory structure as my "catalog".
I either double-click on an image in Explorer, having a default editor assigned to that extension, or right-mouse click and "Open With" to select an editor.
I normally don't open an editor then go looking for something to edit. I peruse the images in Explorer.

Same here. Using cataloging software results in long-term dependency on that software. If for some reason that software is no longer available, no longer works or becomes too expensive to continue to use, then you're basically screwed and have to start cataloging all your accumulated images from scratch.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

rook2c4 wrote:

Same here. Using cataloging software results in long-term dependency on that software. If for some reason that software is no longer available, no longer works or becomes too expensive to continue to use, then you're basically screwed and have to start cataloging all your accumulated images from scratch.

Just like if cars go to unleaded gas. Or, 3.5 disk drives no longer exist in computers. Or, your cell phone network goes to 5G. You know .... things that actually have a bit of lead time, like what to do if it seemed Adobe was going to go out of business. But for LR, actually the catalog remains operational even if you stop paying the subscription. So, it's not like how you'll have to react when the power grid failed ...

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

rook2c4 wrote:

Same here. Using cataloging software results in long-term dependency on that software. If for some reason that software is no longer available, no longer works or becomes too expensive to continue to use, then you're basically screwed and have to start cataloging all your accumulated images from scratch.

Well, I will submit to you that renaming image files is quite helpful (I use a YYYY-MM-DD-description-NNN format) allows me to find, say, all images I took in White Sands or at rodeos by doing searches at the finder level for those filenames. But LR affords me the ability to organize in any number of sub-categories (as has been described quite well above by others). My point being - should Adobe "pull an Apple" and unilaterally decide to kill off LR I can still do rudimentary searches. But while it's working, LR allows me infinitely more flexibility.

Again, if you have a total of 750 image files, this is moot. If you have 75,000 files, no matter what basic folder naming scheme you use will fall short at some point.

tropics68 Loc: Georgia

Bill_de wrote:

If you are looking for people to agree with you, count me in. Use what works for you and what you enjoy working with.

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JD750 Loc: SoCal

f8lee wrote:

Well, I will submit to you that renaming image fil... (show quote)

I don't think we need to worry about Adobe pulling an Apple. Adobe wants the creative community as customers and in fact they listen to their customers. We are their bread and butter so to say. So long as Lightroom is profitable, Adobe will keep it active.

srat50 Loc: Ware, Massachusetts

I love lightroom I just don't use the catalog system

shackcf

I have used Nikon's View nx when I started in digital photography. I continued to use it when I started taking RAW shots. I am retired IT so I have my own method for tracking and nsming of files. I did use GIMP as an editor for a while. Then I had a sponsor for 4 years and was using LRC & PS. I got tired of Adobe breaking PS everytime an update came out as well as glitches in LRC. I now use DXO PL4 & Affinity Photo. I have been using NIK for years too.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Raptor wrote:

Im at photo workshop in Maine. Im learning to use... (show quote)

I don't like LR either. Ps and ACR and Bridge and Window for me please.

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

JD750 wrote:

I don't think we need to worry about Adobe pulling an Apple. Adobe wants the creative community as customers and in fact they listen to their customers. We are their bread and butter so to say. So long as Lightroom is profitable, Adobe will keep it active.

Not the point of what I said, but agreed.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

f8lee wrote:

Not the point of what I said, but agreed.

I understood and agree with your point.

I also have a filling system that allows me to find things independently from the catalog software. Should that suddenly go away I have not lost my organizational structure.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

f8lee wrote:

Well, I will submit to you that renaming image fil... (show quote)

Key operator: ...affords YOU the ability...
You like it for how you work, wonderful.

Somehow, for some reason, my desires and requirements are different.

RonH Loc: Shoreview MN

I have never really used light room as I also have my own catalog system and the ability to understand it and remember what I constructed. I simply don't use LR. I use PS and Bridge and that's it. Simple solution to this issue. I also don't ever eat some foods I don't like, tomatoes and olives. Handle LR in the same manner, avoid it like something you don't like and wouldn't eat (use).

Ralf11 Loc: PNW

I use LR6 on a Mac. I don't hate it but I do hate Adobe...

FWIW, I think cataloging functions should be built into the OS and recognized by the Finder or file mgr.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Ralf11 wrote:

I use LR6 on a Mac. I don't hate it but I do hate Adobe...

FWIW, I think cataloging functions should be built into the OS and recognized by the Finder or file mgr.

It might actually be a good idea to convert Finder/Explorer into a database. Get people used to databases.