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naomil62745158
naomil62745158
Known Participant
March 12, 2018
Question

Can I change an image link to an .NEF file from a .DNG file, in bulk?

  • March 12, 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 579 views

Hi community!

I am cleaning up my image library, and have decided for simplicity's sake to not keep a .DNG copy of my master files. In some older image folders, my catalogue reference went to the .DNG copy I made rather than the .NEF version, and I'd like to update everything to a consistent state. Is there any way to change the file pathways in a whole folder easily? I'm a wedding photographer, so we are talking about thousands of individual images to change the link on if I have to do it one at a time.

Thanks a bunch!

(I am working on a fresh tertiary backup to make the changes before I delete any old information, so no worries about losing catalogues or backups!)

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    2 replies

    Just Shoot Me
    Just Shoot Me
    Legend
    March 12, 2018

    First there is no reason to do this. The DNG files contain all the info that is in the NEF files. DNGs are RAW files.

    If you edited the DNG files and not the NEF files then all the edits you did are stored in the catalog file for just those DNG file and if you had the option turned in the Catalog settings dialog to Auto write changes into XMP then the edits were also written into the DNG file in a special section. They will not be applied to the corresponding NEF files. So if you do this you will lose all the edits you made to those images.

    If you really want to pair down your storage space then I suggest you get rid of the NEF files that have corresponding DNG files.

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    March 12, 2018

    naomil62745158  wrote

    Hi community!

    I am cleaning up my image library, and have decided for simplicity's sake to not keep a .DNG copy of my master files. In some older image folders, my catalogue reference went to the .DNG copy I made rather than the .NEF version, and I'd like to update everything to a consistent state. Is there any way to change the file pathways in a whole folder easily?

    No.

    You might want to look for a plug-in named Syncomatic which can copy the settings (edits) from the DNG file to the NEF file. I believe this plugin will do this in bulk. You would have to import the NEFs first.

    The other solution, which is what I would do, is to not insist that everything be .NEF. Keep the DNGs. This takes zero effort, so it is a winning strategy in my mind.

    naomil62745158
    naomil62745158Author
    Known Participant
    March 12, 2018

    Thanks so much! I suspected this might be the answer.

    I appreciate the input and will look for the app! I was inconsistent before regarding .DNG copies, and I kept running out of drive space... inconsistency is your doom in Lightroom. I had a drive crash a ways back and I'm not sure if I backed up the .DNG's and the .NEFs.  With my new master catalogue I'm trying to keep the organizational system as simple as possible, even if it means I miss out on some of the benefits of the DNG. One .NEF copy (per drive), a well maintained LR catalogue, and a .JPEG archive of the client deliveries for weddings.

    Thank you again!

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    March 12, 2018

    naomil62745158  wrote

    inconsistency is your doom in Lightroom.

    There's no conceivable "doom" from having some photos as DNG and some as NEF. That's not the kind of inconsistency that makes the slightest bit of difference to Lightroom, nor will it cause a problem for the human user.

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