Does my latest LR catalog contain all the previews from older catalogs from which it is descended?

Question

A while back I wanted to make more space on an external HD and foolishly deleted 5 years worth of travel photos, thinking that I had copies elsewhere. Apparently not 🤔.
Since then I’ve relied on previews of those deleted originals, sometimes upscaling them to produce full-screen sized digital memories.
I’ve been reluctant to delete old catalogs, thinking that the current catalog references them when displaying previews of the deleted original photos.

Those old catalogs now occupy Squillagigs of drive space.

Can I safely delete them and still be able to access all previews?

dj_paige · Answer

If your latest LrC catalog upgraded your previous catalog, and you used one and only one catalog throughout the years, then your current catalog has indexed the same photos as the previous catalogs. But there are scenarios where this is not true, especially if you ever used more than one catalog.

So you would be wise to open the old catalogs and see what is in them and if they are in your current catalog. It sounds like a lot of work, and it is, but its the only way to be 100% sure.

Regarding your title, the catalog does NOT (and never did) contain the previews. It contains indexes to your photos. The previews are separate and these will be used when you upgraded your catalog.

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