Lightroom File Sharing (Page 2): With only a few images that are duplicated on both computers, I agree with Gene that you could copy the .xmp files for just those files. However, since...

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

joehel2 wrote:

Bill, thanks for helping. My unsophisticated backup method is to import from the camera card to both computers. I normally only edit on the desktop but I did edit a couple of images on the laptop recently because I had Silver Efix on there but not the desktop. I just resolved that and have Silver Efix on both. I can see that editing on both creates unnecessary confusion.

With only a few images that are duplicated on both computers, I agree with Gene that you could copy the .xmp files for just those files. However, since LR Classic records your edits in both the catalog and the .xmp, I question which is "primary". Will bringing the .xmp to the desktop update and change the catalog? Or, will it be the other way?

Since you write that this is due to using Silver Efex, that changes the answer! Silver Efex does not save RAW files. On mine, using Silver Efex out of LR Classic starts by creating a new TIFF file for editing in Silver Efex. Once done, the new TIFF is in the catalog.

In your situation, you could transfer the Silver Efex TIFF files to the desktop computer and Import them the regular LR Classic way.

If in the future you do a lot of this there is a "Import from another catalog" routine in the File menu. Julian Kost, Tim Grey and others have tutorials on how to use a laptop for travel, come home and then import the images from the trip to a "master computer".

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

joehel2 wrote:

I have LR Classic on a desktop and laptop. I have duplicate RAW images in both locations. When I edit a photo in the Develop module on the laptop, what is the easiest way to bring the edited image into the desktop. I know this has been asked before but I couldn't find the answer.

There's a couple ways to do this. One is to copy the raw files along with the sidecar files from one computer to the other and also remember to copy the catalog from the computer that you just edited the pictures on and copy it to the other computer over the existing catalog file. They will be identical now. For all things to be the same you have to have all the files in exactly identical folder names etc.

The other way was mentioned by someone else here and that's to use an external drive for all your editing but remember to keep the catalog on that drive as well. That way no matter what computer you are using the LR catalog and files will always be the same. Remember to start LR after you have plugged the external drive into the USB port so that when LR starts it opens the catalog on that external drive.

skot917

I've had a great experience utilizing DropBox. DB is one of my backup solutions and it made sense to move the catalog file there as well. Easy enough on your second PC to locate the catalog once it has been uploaded, need to remove the preexisting catalog so LR will ask where it is.

PhotosBySteve

joehel2 wrote:

I have LR Classic on a desktop and laptop. I have duplicate RAW images in both locations. When I edit a photo in the Develop module on the laptop, what is the easiest way to bring the edited image into the desktop. I know this has been asked before but I couldn't find the answer.

Put it into a collection on your desktop and sync that collection to Adobe cloud. Use Lightroom CC on your laptop or any mobile device to edit the image and the edits will be reflected on your desktop.

Paul Buckhiester Loc: Columbus, GA USA

brucewells wrote:

Joe, you'll get workable responses to your dilemma. If it were me, I'd put the catalog/previews/images on an external drive and move the drive to whichever system I would be working on. That assures only one copy of the image you're working on.

calla Loc: California

brucewells wrote:

Joe, you'll get workable responses to your dilemma. If it were me, I'd put the catalog/previews/images on an external drive and move the drive to whichever system I would be working on. That assures only one copy of the image you're working on.

Question- I have recently put my LR program on an external hard drive (trying not to fill up my new Mac (1TB). When LR has an upgrade, can I just plug in my external HD & upgrade to that? Thx for any advice 😊

scubadoc Loc: Sarasota, FL

Keep Lightroom in your internal drive, it does not take up that much room, and it will load faster and upgrade itself faster. You can keep your images on a fast SSD external hard drive. Your images will take up vastly more memory than will your program.

calla Loc: California

scubadoc wrote:

Keep Lightroom in your internal drive, it does not take up that much room, and it will load faster and upgrade itself faster. You can keep your images on a fast SSD external hard drive. Your images will take up vastly more memory than will your program.

Thank you for your advice. So currently, again, since I got my new desktop iMac, I loaded LR program onto external. If I now want to transfer all of that to my iMac, guessing I just move it from the external drive to my new iMac?
Sorry- initially, I was getting confused (even tried to talk with Adobe help several times, but they didn’t seem to have answers)....now I’m trying to remember what the issue was- I think it was that none of my pre-sets came up when I opened LR on new computer, & I was hoping not to have to re-install all of those into LR on new computer.

scubadoc Loc: Sarasota, FL

I wouldn't just move the program, I would reinstall it. As long as you don't move your images, it should keep track of everything. You will have to open the original catalogue, however. I'm sure others will hop in here and give you additional advice, tips.

calla Loc: California

scubadoc wrote:

I wouldn't just move the program, I would reinstall it. As long as you don't move your images, it should keep track of everything. You will have to open the original catalogue, however. I'm sure others will hop in here and give you additional advice, tips.

The problem with reinstalling is that I don’t think it keeps my presets.

scubadoc Loc: Sarasota, FL

If you know where your presets are stored, you can access them in Lightroom preferences and just point the program to where you put them. They should be in the same folder wher you originally put them.