Maintaining JPEG Copies or not
Dec 11, 2022 06:36:36 #
I currently keep a copy of all photos I exported as Jpegs (in addition to the RAW originals and original Jpegs).
Of course I can reduce storage space by simply re-exporting the edited original image (Lightroom Classic) should I need to share again, post or whatever. And storage is cheap
I am interested in what members practices are since I starting to feel that I am adding an additional level of complexity by saving the Jpegs which then have to be imported into Lr, add keywords, create duplicate folders and manage all that. Maybe I am best to 'just' maintain the originals and fully utilize Collections.
Thoughts?
Of course I can reduce storage space by simply re-exporting the edited original image (Lightroom Classic) should I need to share again, post or whatever. And storage is cheap
I am interested in what members practices are since I starting to feel that I am adding an additional level of complexity by saving the Jpegs which then have to be imported into Lr, add keywords, create duplicate folders and manage all that. Maybe I am best to 'just' maintain the originals and fully utilize Collections.
Thoughts?
Dec 11, 2022 07:21:36 #
Ysarex
Loc: St. Louis
Bogin Bob wrote:
I currently keep a copy of all photos I exported a... (show quote)
I save my raw files. Edited raw files are in separate folders from the originals and are copies of the originals. I export an RGB image as needed and discard it after use.
Dec 11, 2022 07:53:23 #
I save RAW+JPEG.
I use the RAW as my editing source, and peruse the images in File Explorer. I use Explorer as my "catalog".
My wife, who probably would not care to use a cataloger let alone an editor, would also peruse the images in Explorer. If I want to share, they are available without opening an editor, saving as JPEG, closing the editor, then sharing.
I don't have a bazillion photos, so I'm not worried about storage. I don't take 25+ shots of the same thing, I'm very selective. All versions of an edit remain in the same folder with the originals, I don't scatter them.
It's all up to the individual...
I use the RAW as my editing source, and peruse the images in File Explorer. I use Explorer as my "catalog".
My wife, who probably would not care to use a cataloger let alone an editor, would also peruse the images in Explorer. If I want to share, they are available without opening an editor, saving as JPEG, closing the editor, then sharing.
I don't have a bazillion photos, so I'm not worried about storage. I don't take 25+ shots of the same thing, I'm very selective. All versions of an edit remain in the same folder with the originals, I don't scatter them.
It's all up to the individual...
Dec 11, 2022 08:02:53 #
I keep original downloads from the camera(s) on a separate hard drive as an extra back up. I keep them also as originals in folders listed by subject (not by date - I learned my less on that!). After they have been worked in LR, I export TIFFs of the best images as a subfolder. I will use these for printing and uploading to my main website. I also export small worked jpegs into another subfolder for uploading to one of my websites.
Dec 11, 2022 08:10:28 #
Bogin Bob wrote:
I currently keep a copy of all photos I exported a... (show quote)
When I started with LRClassic, I did a final full-sized JPEG export, adding those image files into my backups as well as the original RAW. I did not import them back into LR too.
Over the years, especially after creating Export Presets for every unique image need, I stopped with the additional JPEG export. I only retain the original RAW files and regular back-ups of the LR catalog files & previews. The as-needed JPEG exports are discarded after their purpose is completed.
Storage may be cheap, but time isn't, time to run back-ups, to run recovers, to figure out how to add new storage space, etc.
Dec 11, 2022 08:20:13 #
Name the JPEG files by the main subject, including the date of exposure. Organize the files at a minimum by date -- month and year. As convenient, you could further organize the files within a month by a significant event.
This is a big subject, and all the more so if you take thousands of photographs over time. You will thank yourself later for spending the time now to label and organize your photographs.
This is a big subject, and all the more so if you take thousands of photographs over time. You will thank yourself later for spending the time now to label and organize your photographs.
Bogin Bob wrote:
I currently keep a copy of all photos I exported a... (show quote)
Dec 11, 2022 08:25:20 #
anotherview wrote:
Name the JPEG files by the main subject, including the date of exposure. Organize the files at a minimum by date -- month and year. As convenient, you could further organize the files within a month by a significant event.
This is a big subject, and all the more so if you take thousands of photographs over time. You will thank yourself later for spending the time now to label and organize your photographs.
This is a big subject, and all the more so if you take thousands of photographs over time. You will thank yourself later for spending the time now to label and organize your photographs.
Are you suggesting to perform all that redundant work effort and wasted time at the OS-level after doing the same inside Lightroom?
Dec 11, 2022 08:29:13 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
...
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Storage may be cheap, but time isn't, time to run back-ups, to run recovers, to figure out how to add new storage space, etc.
...
Storage may be cheap, but time isn't, time to run back-ups, to run recovers, to figure out how to add new storage space, etc.
I start my backup and go do something else, checking progress periodically. I don't babysit the backups.
Never had to recover, but I'd rather spend the time (or have the computer spend the time) than loose anything.
The space on my primary drive is about 1/4 used. If needed, I'll go with an added USB external until I decide to open the box and replace the primary drive with a larger one (cloning it) or add another internal.
Even when I clone a drive, I start it and go do something else.
Dec 11, 2022 08:33:01 #
Longshadow wrote:
I start my backup and go do something else, checki... (show quote)
As pointed out by this author NUMEROUS times: wasting valuable time at the OS-level while also paying for the leading digital asset management software is the dumbest approach possible. Of course, everyone is free to waste their own time as they see best. But, when it comes to recommending best-practices to be emulated, those ideas are not so good to share.
Dec 11, 2022 08:35:07 #
I only save jpegs if I have printed from them. I often reedit images but want to keep edits I may reprint. I keep these jpegs in a separate folder and find no need to import into Lightroom.
Dec 11, 2022 08:43:18 #
Bogin Bob wrote:
I currently keep a copy of all photos I exported a... (show quote)
I heavily cull my raw files
Then make JPEGS and share them here and elsewhere.
If they are not worth showing they are generally not worth keeping, with a few exceptions.
I keep the raw in a raw folder and the JPEGS in a Fixed folder and both in a folder using my filing system.
Keeping it pretty simple and not keeping hundreds of basically the same photo with extremely slight variations, or zooming.
Dec 11, 2022 08:51:52 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
As pointed out by this author NUMEROUS times: wasting valuable time at the OS-level while also paying for the leading digital asset management software is the dumbest approach possible. Of course, everyone is free to waste their own time as they see best. But, when it comes to recommending best-practices to be emulated, those ideas are not so good to share.
Dec 11, 2022 11:43:07 #
Ysarex wrote:
I save my raw files. Edited raw files are in separate folders from the originals and are copies of the originals. I export an RGB image as needed and discard it after use.
Perhaps you can expand on what you mean by "edited raw files." If you edit a photo in raw file with Lightroom, the edits are stored in the catalog and the raw file is unchanged. Of course, you can export the results as JPGs or TIFs or other formats.
Dec 11, 2022 12:39:24 #
Ysarex
Loc: St. Louis
DWU2 wrote:
Perhaps you can expand on what you mean by "edited raw files."
I have an old habit that pre-dates the existence of LR or other software and I'm not changing. I begin by copying raw files from the camera to a disk/folder that contains originals. I cull through that folder deleting duds etc. and I copy files I intend to edit to another disk/folder -- LR catalog if you like. Those will be "edited raw files."
My habit is intended as a security/backup practice. The disk with unedited originals is an external disk and it frequently gets duplicated to another external disk. Once the original culling has taken place nothing happens to those disks. They stay disconnected from the computer and exist for the sole purpose of security/backup.
The disk/folder with "edited raw files" is internal in the computer. It also gets backed up to an external disk periodically.
DWU2 wrote:
If you edit a photo in raw file with Lightroom, the edits are stored in the catalog and the raw file is unchanged.
By "edited raw files" I mean files I have edited using a parametric editor.
DWU2 wrote:
Of course, you can export the results as JPGs or TIFs or other formats.
Dec 12, 2022 05:30:13 #
Bogin Bob wrote:
I currently keep a copy of all photos I exported a... (show quote)
I keep both.
Raw files are stored i a systematical order, and exported (a.k.a. final tender) in another.
This way:
A) I can quickly show on screen / send them
B) I can see how much (if any) improvements in a editing skills I aquired over the years
C) even if the editing/exporting software (LR, CO1, whatever) goes belly up, I still have my renderings until I fix the program. Yes I am somewhat paranoid
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