P: Add a master catalog view for browsing multiple catalogs

I’d like to request a master catalog feature in Lightroom Classic that lets users browse thumbnails from multiple catalogs in one unified view without fully merging them.

Why this matters

Many photographers organize work into separate catalogs for practical reasons such as client jobs, years, shoots, or business divisions. That structure is useful for performance and organization, but it creates a major drawback: there is no fast, visual way to search or compare images across catalogs. Right now, if I want to find a photo, locate similar shots, or review older work, I have to open catalogs one at a time, which is slow and inefficient.

What I’m asking for

A master catalog or global browser that can:

• Display thumbnails from multiple catalogs in one place.

• Search across catalogs by filename, keyword, rating, date, and other metadata.

• Let users filter by catalog, project, client, or folder source.

• Open the source catalog when a photo is selected for editing.

• Optionally sync or reference previews only, so the feature remains lightweight and does not require fully merging catalogs.

Workflow benefit

This would make Lightroom much more practical for photographers who manage large archives, separate client work from personal work, or maintain catalogs by year or project. It would preserve the organizational benefits of multiple catalogs while solving the biggest downside: fragmented browsing and search.

Suggested implementation

A good approach might be:

• A new “Library” or “Catalog Hub” view.

• Support for adding multiple catalogs as indexed sources.

• Cached previews and metadata-only indexing for speed.

• An option to pin favorite catalogs for quick access.

Why Adobe should consider it

This would reduce friction for advanced users, improve archive management, and make Lightroom a stronger long-term cataloging tool for professionals with large photo libraries. It would also help users avoid the need to merge catalogs just to find and review images efficiently.