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dixonge
dixonge
Participant
May 15, 2022
Answered

Export then Delete all catalogs, previews, etc.

  • May 15, 2022
  • 4 replies
  • 311 views

Finally gave in, opened my wallet and purchased LR Classic. Two scenarios/workflows I am trying to settle on here.

 

1. Existing JPEG backlog

For this workflow I am producing JPEG exports w/ all needed metadata and edits. Vast majority are birds and/or other wildlife. 100% personal enjoyment only, no $ involved, unlikely to ever print. Main concern is actually getting *through* the photos. As much as 50-70% will be culled along the way. In this scenario I am working in batches of 50-500 photos, and since the final exports will be backed up online, I am pretty sure I will delete the catalog and previews at the end of each batch. 

 

2. Future photos, probably RAW/DNG?

For this workflow I will also produce JPEG exports w/ all needed metadata and edits. Vast majority will still be birds/wildlife. Still 100% personal, no $, still unlikely to print. Will theoretically have slightly more time, but will not want a backlog to reoccur. Exports still backed up online. Can't see any good reason to keep the originals here either.

 

So here's your chance to talk me out of these deletions. Is there a good reason I'm missing for keeping unedited  originals w/ missing metadata/GPS?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Ralf F

Deleting original RAW / DNG is a very personal decision.

 

I find original RAWs / DNGs not appealing and think you must do at least the automatic development in Lightroom Classic.

That will give you a similar level as the camera will do with JPGs.

 

Here is what I do.

1. I import all RAWs (Canon CR2) from my camera to Lightroom Classic

2. Quick check and delete photos that I don't like

3. Copy all these RAWs to an external hard drive, just in case I ever need them or if I ever go to a software that can nit read DNG

4. Converting all photos in DNG and do my edits on them. Most photos will be converted to "lossy DNG", that will drop the size / needed disk space significantly, but only after I have done my edits.

5. Export some photos as JPG in lower resolution and 75% JPG quality, based on my opinion that is sufficient for viewing them on my computer.

 

I would never delete Originals and keep as a minimum DNGs, but that is just me.

 

As long as you are happy with JPGs there is no reason to change your workflow.

But I would recommend that you look into lossy DNG.

 

Ralf

I use Lightroom Classic (LrC 11.3.1) / Photoshop (Ps 23.3.1) / Lightroom (Lr 5.3) with Creative Cloud on a MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017, Intel Core i7 / 16GB / 500GB SSD) with macOS Monterey Version 12.3.1

Cameras: Canon 5D Mark IV and Canon PowerShot SX720 HS

 

4 replies

R
Ralf FCorrect answer
Inspiring
May 16, 2022

Deleting original RAW / DNG is a very personal decision.

 

I find original RAWs / DNGs not appealing and think you must do at least the automatic development in Lightroom Classic.

That will give you a similar level as the camera will do with JPGs.

 

Here is what I do.

1. I import all RAWs (Canon CR2) from my camera to Lightroom Classic

2. Quick check and delete photos that I don't like

3. Copy all these RAWs to an external hard drive, just in case I ever need them or if I ever go to a software that can nit read DNG

4. Converting all photos in DNG and do my edits on them. Most photos will be converted to "lossy DNG", that will drop the size / needed disk space significantly, but only after I have done my edits.

5. Export some photos as JPG in lower resolution and 75% JPG quality, based on my opinion that is sufficient for viewing them on my computer.

 

I would never delete Originals and keep as a minimum DNGs, but that is just me.

 

As long as you are happy with JPGs there is no reason to change your workflow.

But I would recommend that you look into lossy DNG.

 

Ralf

I use Lightroom Classic (LrC 11.3.1) / Photoshop (Ps 23.3.1) / Lightroom (Lr 5.3) with Creative Cloud on a MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017, Intel Core i7 / 16GB / 500GB SSD) with macOS Monterey Version 12.3.1

Cameras: Canon 5D Mark IV and Canon PowerShot SX720 HS

 

    Bob Somrak
    Bob Somrak
    Legend
    May 15, 2022

     

     

    If you are going to shoot RAW you will probably be doing edits on every photo unless you just use a preset on all of them.  

    M4 Pro Mac Mini. 48GB
    JP Hess
    JP Hess
    Inspiring
    May 15, 2022

    You don't have to convince me of anything. It's your computer, your images, your workflow. I'm just telling you why I wouldn't do it your way. I just switched over to a new computer, and wanted to remake a 24 image panorama that I took four years ago to compare the difference in Lightroom as well as the performance on the new computer. I'm glad I still had the original NEF files to turn to.  If you feel you don't need your raw images, and are comfortable with what you plan to do, Then go ahead. There is no law that says you have to do it a certain way. I just expressed why I wouldn't choose to do it the way you did. There is no right or wrong way to do anything in Lightroom. There is just YOUR way.

    JP Hess
    JP Hess
    Inspiring
    May 15, 2022

    If you delete the catalog and all the previews then you will have deleted all the work you have done. Your workflow seems to be exactly backwards from the way I work. I work almost exclusively with raw images, and for the most retain ONLY my original raw images. I export JPEG images when I need them for email, or to send them to the lab to be printed, or to send a copy to someone else. I keep the catalog because that is where all of the editing history is stored. If you only want to keep the JPEG images and want to delete the catalog and the previews, that is your choice. But it certainly isn't the way I would want to work. Seems to be a completely backward process to me. Comparing it to the old days of film, it is the equivalent of throwing away negatives and just keeping a set of prints. Not really a very good idea, considering processing techniques improve. And Lightroom processing really has improved over the last few years.

    dixonge
    dixongeAuthor
    Participant
    May 15, 2022

    Jim,

    On my current laptop I have the majority of my image collection. There are 595 RAW images and over 53,000 JPEG's. This is the existing data set I have to work with, so RAW is currently a minor concern.

    Going forward I'm not opposed to shooting RAW, but I'm also not convinced that I'm going to do enough fine-tuning to justify it. But it's still a possibility.

    Regarding your film analogy, my current scenario would be like having *two* prints, one in a remote location. Each can be duplicated ad nauseum instantly/digitally. Yes, if I delete the originals then I am limiting my future ability to edit. However, I don't think that will ever be a problem, because of the following:

    1. The vast majority (95%?) of my existing photos have never, ever been edited. I am trying to do so, slowly but surely, but in the meantime I have often viewed them, copied and sent them, shared them on social media, etc. No edits were required.

    2. Once I *do* edit a photo, it is because I am fixing a problem, improving contrast, etc. Once that happens, why would I ever need to *re-fix* the things I've already fixed? I almost never print photos.

     

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