burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I remember 1996, when Delmar Studios and Yearbooks was sold to Herff Jones. I was a Delmar employee, a systems manager then, and one of the few with computer skills. The new management announced that all managers and supervisors would have to have *and use* computers. The secretaries were let go. We had one remaining administrative assistant in the building. It was made known that you could run away from, but not hide, from the need to do all your reporting, budgeting, memos (as email), letters, and presentations on the computer! Soon, a number of folks found jobs at other companies, or retired. Remaining managers and supervisors somehow learned Outlook, Excel, Powerpoint, and Word, how to navigate the Internet and Intranet, and where to find their files on network drives. But it took several years before people really got the idea that computers were not a fad, or a mistake, but a mainstream tool! By the time Lifetouch bought our Division of HJ in 2011, the entire business was automated from point of sale to point of delivery. The old guard were gone.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

There are always multiple ways to do something using a Computer. And there is more than one way to import images into Lightroom.

If you have images residing within an existing file structure you can keep that structure and and import the images and keep the image names the same. If you are creating new content, you can create the folder(s) from within Lightroom and rename the images, or not, using Lightroom. You can also create a new folder with new images rename them if you want, or not, then import it. You can do whatever you like better.

There is no right way, only the right way for you.

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

Great thank you

CliffMcKenzie Loc: Lake Athens Texas

JungleJim1949, all roads lead to Rome. What might appear to be confusing is different roads leading to the same target.

The best practice would be to have all your images on a remote drive (i.e. external portable drive or any drive that is not the main drive (typically C:)). Next create a new catalog (remember your catalog is the name of your database and where all the library cards are kept.).

Before I can move any further, I need to change something you said, “The confusing part is they said to bring over your external drive with already named folders into lightroom. Others say to create folders only in lightroom.” First, LRC does not create folders per se. LRC does allow you to import data regarding files and if new folders are requested, it uses your computer operating system to do so.
Need proof, just right click on an image and look at the drop down where it states Show in Explorer.

Now, let’s prove the point further. New folders needed? Keep old folders? What to do? I am teaching a refresher course via Zoom at month end to help students prepare for Image Development in LRC. From my booklet:
1. At the top you have 4 choices.

a. Copy as DNG - For some time this was my choice with the promise of reducing files size, Adobe as a universal language, “sidecar” is included, and Adobe will always be here. I found that how I was processing could lead to the doubling the number of files and therefore pulled away from DNG. “Copy as DNG” means to copy the image and to also convert to DNG. It is still a raw file and universally recognizable as such by all software. DNG stands for digital negative.

b. Copy – my choice; means to copy the Raw file as-is. Note, always shoot in Raw.

c. Move - If you have your photos in a different directory and want to organize them with the rest of your photos while importing them into Lightroom, you will select the Move option.

d. Add - If you want to keep your photos where they are on your computer, and just make sure they are in your Lightroom catalog, select the Add option.

Move and Add tells you can do it anyway you wish.

Bonus – make sure your catalogue is located on the same drive as your images. This will speed up your processing.

If you would like a copy of the refresher course, private message me with an email and I will send it to you for free.

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Jim, here is a different thought for you. Are you attracted to Lightroom and looking forward to its indexing and catalog functions? Or, are you more interested in the editing functions (develop module)? If you find that you want editing but not the catalog side, then a great alternative is to use Adobe Camera Raw combined with Bridge. ACR offers the same editing engine and capabilities. Both approaches are included in the same plan subscription.

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

I am more interested in editing. I will take a look.at Camera raw.
Thanks

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

There are many ways these days to process and search images. However, LrC (this is the desktop version) remains #1 in the marketplace for a reason. With Adobe LrC you get several programs in one, you can arrange and mark images in many ways (Library Module), process images (Develop Module), create a book (Book Module), create a slideshow (Slideshow Module), print an image (Print Module) and two modules I don't use, the Web Module and the Map Module.

Others have given you a background of how the software works. I've used the program, and many others, for over 10 years now. I cannot image using any other software that would give me the same degree of flexibility. For example, I import an image to LrC (think "link" to the program), process it, send from within the program to Topaz DeNoise, save that changed image, it goes automatically back to LrC, then I send it to PS to do something to it, save it and it goes automatically back to LrC. I can do this with multiple programs, with the changed image always saved as new image. In the end, I can export it for any use from the Export box or print it from the Print Module. The original image in LrC is never touched, any edits made in that program are layered over and that is what you see on the screen as you edit.

I recommend if you do get the software that you read what Adobe puts on online regarding the Library Module, that is the Module that seems to confuse most people. That is also where you will work, most often, when importing and exporting.

There are, of course, many other great software programs today.

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

Good info... thanks