redlegfrog

I am curious about cataloging software such as Lightroom. Once you have committed to a program like LR, how hard is is to switch to a new, different program?
I'm a "hands on" learner, I need to play with something to learn it, so I want to try different programs before I commit to one.
Your thought?

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

There are multiple Lightrooms, all from Adobe. The one with the robust catalog is called "Lightroom Classic". It has a 7 day free trial. Since Lightroom Classic never does anything to your original image files, you can end using it at anytime. Editing adjustments are recorded in the catalog, not in the photo file.

If you try it, pay attention to the timeing. You actually signup, complete with credit card, for a year that can be billed monthly. You have 7 days. If you cancel, you are not supposed to be charged.

Even long time users of Lightroom can cancel their subscriptions. The catalog "Library" section will continue to work. It is the Develop and Mapping section that stop working.

redlegfrog

Can your photos be moved out of the LR catalog / program to a new different program?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

yes ish ...

There's two considerations:

1) Edit history / settings

2) Keywording metadata

You can do two things today within LR regarding edit history. True 'history' is not transferable (I mean the step-by-step history from image import onward), but your current / final status of edits to the image can be stored actively as XMP 'side cars' if you update your LR settings to make this action. Check your LR Catalog Settings on the Metadata tab. Any new tool that can read and understand these XMP files can accept LR input. You'd have to 'touch' all your existing images to generate the missing XMP side-cars to generate these files that will begin to be created for new images added to the catalog. I believe just adding a mass keyword to all your images would be the 'touch' action.

You can also run a mass-export from LR to the DNG format. Again, the target software has to understand the DNG format, but this is a method to transfer the images and their current edit status from the LR catalog.

Regarding keywording and collection organization, those keywords are stored in the XMP files and / or DNGs discussed above. The collection organization somewhat depends. I've transferred DNGs between different LR catalogs, and it seems one image in multiple collections doesn't transfer all that collection data into the new catalog. I haven't tested the full implication / limitations, but it seems your collection organization from LR is internal to the source LR catalog and transferring individual images doesn't recreate the complete LR catalog organization into the target.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Paul's answer is kind of deep!

The short answer is yes. If your thought process is along the line of shoot, edit, finish, the last part is creating the final product image file. Lightroom does that calling it an "Export". Export gives you a few choices of file format that are universal to anything and everything.

For work that you don't finish with an export, it would have to be considered work in progress. Paul's answer addresses that with optional techniques like sidecar files.

In the end, Lightroom Classic is "non destructive" meaning that your original files are not changed unless you force them to change.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

xmp not xml

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

corrected, thanks.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

How hard is it to change? It depends. If you are using LR and edit just raw files AND you turn on write metadata changes to xmp, your files and edits will be readable by any application that can read Adobe xmp files. Generally, information like collections are not stored in xmp.

If you are looking at LR and at the same time looking for a bailout if you don't like it, I would suggest you forget about the bailout. LR has outstanding cataloging/asset management that has yet to be fully implemented by any other software publisher. The best way is to commit to fully jumping in rather than just testing the water in the pool with your big toe.

It does take a little work up front to set it up to match your workflow, but once you do, it's easy. You won't likely get there with a half-hearted approach. I have nearly 200,000 images in my catalog - 21 years worth of digital and a few more years of scans - and I don't know where I'd be without LR's catalog.

redlegfrog

Thank you and the rest of the folks that responded.
Not everyone drives a ford or a chevy, why? who knows. I was hoping to test drive a few of the different programs to see which one appeals to me the most. Looks like thats not a good idea. On to plan B!

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

"Looks like thats not a good idea. "

A test drive is a great idea! Adobe gives you a full week of Lightroom test drive.

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

The short answer is that LR uses proprietary cataloging and once you have it you cannot transfer it to some other software. As far as I know-- I never use it because personally I detest its workflow and organize everything in Windows and just use Bridge.

cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

It depends on how you use them. From prior discussions with Adobe, I believe that certain information, like the number of stars, the color label, or flags, is kept in LR, and is not contained in the xmp files. I use colors and flags to instantly tell me the type of file it is, such as the final edited image, part of a focus stack, part of a panorama, a scanned slide etc. If you use those features, i don't believe they transfer. If you work on developed raw files and preserve the xmp file, another software may develop the image slightly differently, at least according to some friends who opened some LR developed files in another software (though that may have changed over time).

As a prolific focus stacker, I have generated an amazing number of images in the past 15 years (over a million) that would be nearly impossible to track and organize without LR. I don't know who I would be able to find anything quickly without its organizational tools.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

Edits can also be stored separately in an XMP file that is saved right next to the original.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

There are a lot of document management applications available, some for free. My personal preference is to NOT use a photo processor for data management.
--Bob

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

The LR Catalogue is a database. Other programs may or may not be able to read portions of that database but not all of it. I use Photoshop Elements that catalogues with a similar database to LR since it’s an Adobe product. It has an easy learning curve. I don’t use any other software to do my edits other than the Editor that comes in Elements. The Organizer in Elements is the database part.