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D
David C Anderson
Inspiring
December 15, 2022
Answered

How do you edit a Print module Smart Collection?

  • December 15, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 2121 views

Yesterday, I began to investigate the abilities of LrC to create photo collages. Within the Print module, I successfully created a collage of old family photos, but now wish to edit it to add some more photos from my 'Scans of old family pictures' folder, which contains 146 images.

 

The existing filmstrip below this collage is based on a Smart Collection called 'Old family photos' that contains 29 images from the above-mentioned folder. I created that collection yesterday but don't remember how or why it was just limited to those 29 images. 

 

My problem is that I can't see how to edit this Print module Smart Collection. Right-clicking on it doesn't offer me the Edit option or any other obvious way to add more images. Is there a way round this?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Rob_Cullen

When you have designed a Custom Page (Collage), there are two things you can do-

 

1) Create a User Template. It saves your custom layout of photo cells as a template that you can use any time in the future, by selecting any photos (eg. a standard Collection), open the Print module, select the template, add the photos.

   

 

2) Create a "Saved Print Collection". This saves the current Template design with the photos you have used in a special 'Print Collection' (Not a Smart Collection). This preserves your collage 'print', including the used photos, for recall and print once again in the future.

You can simply Drag & Drop other photos into this special 'Print Collection' (From a Smart Collection if needs be) if you want to replace the previous photos with the newly added.

  

 

(Note: A Custom page will only be ONE page, unless you add more cells that do not fit on Page#1.)

Smart Collections play no part in this, other than you might gather your photos for the collages by setting the criteria to search for. (Keyword, Person Keyword, etc)

 

2 replies

Rob_Cullen
Community Expert
Rob_CullenCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
December 16, 2022

When you have designed a Custom Page (Collage), there are two things you can do-

 

1) Create a User Template. It saves your custom layout of photo cells as a template that you can use any time in the future, by selecting any photos (eg. a standard Collection), open the Print module, select the template, add the photos.

   

 

2) Create a "Saved Print Collection". This saves the current Template design with the photos you have used in a special 'Print Collection' (Not a Smart Collection). This preserves your collage 'print', including the used photos, for recall and print once again in the future.

You can simply Drag & Drop other photos into this special 'Print Collection' (From a Smart Collection if needs be) if you want to replace the previous photos with the newly added.

  

 

(Note: A Custom page will only be ONE page, unless you add more cells that do not fit on Page#1.)

Smart Collections play no part in this, other than you might gather your photos for the collages by setting the criteria to search for. (Keyword, Person Keyword, etc)

 

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .
    D
    David C AndersonAuthor
    Inspiring
    December 16, 2022

    Thanks for the tip about dragging and dropping additional images onto the collection name in the Collections list. That works fine. I had been looking for a way to add images directly to the filmstrip, which isn't possible.

     

    I'm struggling to understand the correct terminology in this area. According to https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/lightroom-classic/help/photo-collections.html, there are only 3 types of collection (Regular, Smart, and Quick). No mention is made of a 'Print Collection'. 

     

    I previously called my 'Old family photos' collection a Smart Collection. However, the lack of an edit facility means that it isn't very smart, so why does LR display it within my Smart Collections list, albeit with a different icon?

     

     

    R
    Community Expert
    richardplondonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    December 16, 2022

    Within that help article, there is a section for "output collections" including for Print: linking to separate pages, where those are explained:

     

     

     

      J
      JimHess
      Inspiring
      December 15, 2022

      A smart collection is generated based on some criterion or criteria, and the images that are in that collection meet that criteria. It could be a keyword, a date, a combination of names, or whatever. In any case images cannot just be added to that smart collection randomly. Whatever the criteria is for that smart collection, images will have to "match" the other images before they will be added.

        D
        David C AndersonAuthor
        Inspiring
        December 15, 2022

        I understand the concept, but the lack of an edit option for this Print module Smart Collection means that it's criteria are not viewable.

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