Catalog export - many folders/files, not just 2 files

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
October 27, 2019
7 replies
483 views

Hi all,

I am wanting to work with a freelance image editor by making the most of exporting catalogs and smart previews. All instructions I have read indicate that I should end up with two files after exporting - .lrcat (catalog) and .lrdata (smart previews).

However, when I do it, it is exporting a .lrcat file and then a .lrdata folder, which contains several other folders, which in turn contain one dng file per folder, but renamed beyond comprehension (see below). So when I try to import the edited catalog, it cant simply apply the edits to the exiting raw files because the naming does not correlate.

If it helps, I am working in Windows, selecting all 'starred' images and then exporting from there, although I have also tried copying/moving files to a separate folder etc.

Help please 🙂

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Correct answer Rob_Cullen

I could summarize the workflow-

1. You (the 'Client'), in your Master Catalog, selects a Folder (or a Collection), and

2. [Export as a Catalog], include only Smart Previews,

3.You send the 'Exported' Catalog + the Folder of Smart Previews to the 'Editor', (all in a ZIP)

4. The 'Editor' unzips and works with the 'Exported' Catalog to do all editing, (the Smart Previews provide the image Preview in the Develop module , standard Previews will be created automatically.)

5. The 'Editor' zips and returns the 'Edited' Catalog to you 'Client'.

*ONLY THE 'EDITED' CATALOG NEEDS RETURNING TO YOU- The Smart Previews are not needed!

6. You 'Client' opens your Master Catalog and does [Import from another Catalog]. Merging the 'Edited' Catalog back into your Master Catalog that contains the original photos.

Done! The Editor's work appears on the photos in your 'Client' Master catalog.

The Smart Previews are only 'Proxy' image files and NOT to be looked at in a file browser, nor should they be Imported, thus the file names are meaningless and should be ignored.

Your Exported catalog also does not need any standard Previews, so you only need to ZIP and send to the Editor (two files in the ZIP)- the Liz and Mark.LRCAT and the Liz and Mark Smart Previews.LRDATA .

E

erinnaimageryAuthor

Participant

Thank you everyone. I think I understand where I was going wrong.

I will have another go, and hopefully it works smoother this time. 🙂

Just Shoot Me

Legend

Somewhere in those funny long named DNG files that are the Smart Previews is a Reference to the original file name of the full image file.

When reimporting the catalog you will see the edits the external editing person has done.

They do NOT Export as a catalog. They just send you back the catalog and those Smart Previews that you sent them.

They also do not Import your catalog into there working catalog. They just Open the catalog file you sent them, Work on the edits and then Send it back to you.

Then YOU import as catalog into your main catalog.

Rob_Cullen

Community Expert

JSM wrote- "They just send you back the catalog and those Smart Previews that you sent them."

The Editor does not even need to send the Smart Previews back!

Only the temporary Catalog sent to the Editor needs to be returned! All the Development work is recorded in this temporary Catalog and will appear in the Master Catalog when merged.

"They also do not Import your catalog into there working catalog. They just Open the catalog file you sent them, Work on the edits and then Send it back to you."

True, the Editor simply works with the temporary catalog that they receive.

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.3, Photoshop 27.5, ACR 18.3, Lightroom 9.3, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.3 .

Rob_Cullen

Correct answer