[quote=georgevedwards]Ok I have 2 big thick different books on Lightroom. I really want to understand this first stumbling block or I can't get on. Sources say that lightroom doesn't use the master file in cataloging...says some photographers deleted master files after importing to lightroom and lost all their originals.[[/quote]
if by master file you mean the one on the memory card, it depends on how paranoid you want to be. Do you have other backups of your images on a regular basis? maybe only delete the memory card versions after you have created 2 or more copies on your hard drive (the working copy and the backup copy).
if master files means the one on your hard disk (the ones you edit via lightroom), then you should never delete them unless you really don't want the pic anymore
georgevedwards wrote:
On the other hand says use an external hard drive instead of using the default "My Pictures" folder on the computer hard drive as it can quickly exceed 100 gigabytes.
Depends on how many pics you plan on having. if you are going to have 100G of picture, then its a waste of c: drive disk space to keep them on there (forces larger main disks, limits use of sdd if budget limited and causes longer bare metal image creations/restores in case of catastrophe].
georgevedwards wrote:
Also says to change where you download your camera pictures, because when you plug it in for download, Lightroom will send them automatically to "My Pictures".
Just to save you the extra step of where to save the pics - external hd or my pictures
georgevedwards wrote:
So how can I tell what I am dealing with here? Are there "thumbtack" image files being used instead of real master files?\
Previews are created and stored in the catalog (I believe) and used in library module and develop module (the strip along the bottom).. you cant see them separately.
The files you imported and are working on are viewable via windows explorere and are in the folder indicated by LR (also probably the one you imported into unless you moved the pics after import).
again with the master files..
georgevedwards wrote:
Do these abbreviated versions have separate file extensions instead of jpg, nef, cr2, etc?
There are no files that represent the abbreviated versions
It took me a while to ramp up on light room; its two totally different functions, the library module and the develop modules. There are some things you can do in either one, but you are better off for now to assume they are two different programs and each has it own features.
To supplement what SS wrote
1. decide where you want to have the bulk of the files stored; my pictures or c:\allmypictures or F(external drive):\photos etc
2. decide on a picture back upstrategy. either a file based backed (using any one of a number of available programs), or, lightroom has its own photo backup thing, but thats only making a copy on import and does not necessarily mimic the directory structure in windows.
3. The original files are stored in the directory you imported into. The original raw data is never altered. LR keeps track of edits in the catalog file or optionally in the "sidecar" xmp file (if you so choose to have one). If you are using dng, then edits are also stored in the .dng file (but this does not change the image in the dng fil).
4. one you are done editing you export, probably as jpg. Put them wherever you want (file wise or photo service wise) to for public viewing and easy access to yourself
Also, just create a test catalog, import 3 photos and try things out. look at the change dates on files to get feel on what is being imported, what new files are created, etc