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Dan Perry
Dan Perry
Known Participant
July 30, 2022
Answered

Backing up image files

  • July 30, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 314 views

Do I understand this correctly?

Lightroom Classic does not back up image files to cloud storage. Right or Wrong? Does it put anything on Adobe Cloud?

Lightroom (not Classic) uploads image files to the Adobe Cloud. Right? Thats why I had to buy more storage space. Right?

When I upload image files to Lightroom (not Classic) and sync them I can access them with Classic.

Are they the whole image file? Not a virtual copy? Not a smart preview?

By uploading to Lightroom (not Classic) I can back up all my image file to Adobe Cloud. Right?

Am I missing anything?

 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer DdeGannes

Do I understand this correctly?

Lightroom Classic does not back up image files to cloud storage. Right or Wrong? Does it put anything on Adobe Cloud?

LrC does not sync original image files to Creative Cloud. You can create Collections and sync Smart Previews to the Creative Cloud where they will be available in Lightroom (cloud-based) and Lr Mobile. The smart previews do not count against your creative cloud allocation.

 

Lightroom (not Classic) uploads image files to the Adobe Cloud. Right? Thats why I had to buy more storage space. Right?

Correct and those original images utilize your cloud storage allocation. Copies of the original files will download to your computer where LrC is installed and can be utilized by LrC.

 

When I upload image files to Lightroom (not Classic) and sync them I can access them with Classic.

Are they the whole image file? Not a virtual copy? Not a smart preview?

Correct.

 

By uploading to Lightroom (not Classic) I can back up all my image file to Adobe Cloud. Right?

Am I missing anything?

It is not recommended that you utilize Cloud Storage as .your back up, use an alternate backup of your image files,

 

2 replies

TheDigitalDog
TheDigitalDog
Inspiring
July 30, 2022

The simple answer is: do not rely on LR to backup anything! Yes, there is a schema to backup only your catalog. Yes, you can upload images to the cloud. Don't consider this a sufficient backup plan! Backup anything you can't afford to ever lose. Images, Presets, Camera Profiles, Catalog, maybe previews (they can be regenerated but that takes time). 

Get a dedicated backup utility that will backup everything, daily, ideally to multiple destinations (HD's and a cloud) and all automatically. If you're on a Mac, I can recommend something very simple and inexpensive like SuperDuper or something a bit more powerful and expensive: Chronysync. 

Again, do not rely on Adobe for this task. 

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"
    J
    Community Expert
    Jao vdLCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 30, 2022

    Just want to underscore this. The cloud storage in Lightroom is NOT a backup. When you delete an image from it, it gets deleted everywhere (funnily enough except in Classic). Always make sure you have your own backup whether on a separate cloud backup service or on local hard disks. Best to do both. Make sure to backup everything. Adobe does some great work with Lightroom and friends but they do not help you secure yourself against hardware failure. Putting your full images in the Lightroom Cloud is better than nothing but it is not a very good backup solution.

    DdeGannes
    Community Expert
    DdeGannesCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    July 30, 2022

    Do I understand this correctly?

    Lightroom Classic does not back up image files to cloud storage. Right or Wrong? Does it put anything on Adobe Cloud?

    LrC does not sync original image files to Creative Cloud. You can create Collections and sync Smart Previews to the Creative Cloud where they will be available in Lightroom (cloud-based) and Lr Mobile. The smart previews do not count against your creative cloud allocation.

     

    Lightroom (not Classic) uploads image files to the Adobe Cloud. Right? Thats why I had to buy more storage space. Right?

    Correct and those original images utilize your cloud storage allocation. Copies of the original files will download to your computer where LrC is installed and can be utilized by LrC.

     

    When I upload image files to Lightroom (not Classic) and sync them I can access them with Classic.

    Are they the whole image file? Not a virtual copy? Not a smart preview?

    Correct.

     

    By uploading to Lightroom (not Classic) I can back up all my image file to Adobe Cloud. Right?

    Am I missing anything?

    It is not recommended that you utilize Cloud Storage as .your back up, use an alternate backup of your image files,

     

    Regards, Denis: iMac 27” mid-2015, macOS 11.7.10 Big Sur; 2TB SSD, 24 GB Ram, GPU 2 GB; LrC 12.5,; Lr 6.5, PS 24.7,; ACR 15.5,; (also Laptop Win 11, ver 24H2, LrC 15.0.1, PS 27.0; ) Camera Oly OM-D E-M1.
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