Skip to main content
Z
Zachariahprime
Participant
September 2, 2020
Answered

Importing RAW images

  • September 2, 2020
  • 6 replies
  • 1194 views

I HAVE UPDATED ALL THE MY MAC OS SOFTWARE AND I STILL CANNOT "ADD" PHOTOS TO MY LIGHTROOM! I FEEL LIKE IVE TRIED EVERYTHING PLZZZZ HELP!

 

My you that the only option its giving me is the options to either COPY or COPY AS DNG.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer JohanElzenga

This sounds like you are trying to ADD photos from a memory card or a removable drive. The ADD option is switched off in that case, because this would be asking for troubles. ADD will only add the images to the catalog, not copy them to your hard disk. That means that if you reformat the memory card in the camera to start using it again for new photos, your existing photos will be lost. To safeguard people against this common and fatal mistake, Adobe decided to disable ADD for these types of storage media.

6 replies

martindoersch
martindoersch
Participating Frequently
January 27, 2022

Hi @Zachariahprime !

 

Check my tutorial on importing images:

https://youtu.be/HBW1DyxCf8g

 

You are importing from a card or camera. So there are no other options.

If your images are on the harddrive, you can move or add them.

Z
ZachariahprimeAuthor
Participant
September 5, 2020

All my photos were taken and saved to an SD card ive been using for at least a year. Ive had no trouble in the past with the ADD function but now it just wont let me.

 

UPDATE:

I tried uploading them to my external Hard drive but no luck with that either.

I think my SD could be damaged in some way. When i tried moving them to the external it said " The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in “IMG_1132.CR2” can’t be read or written.
(Error code -36)"

 

It does this for all current photos Ive taken. But not for ones ive taken a year ago. so i think i may just need a new SD card?

JohanElzenga
Community Expert
JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 5, 2020

To answer your first remark: Lightroom has disabled ADD for memory cards for a very long time. This is definitely not something new, although it may have been possible many years ago, and I really mean many.

 

To answer your second remark: yes, if the Finder has problems copying images from that memory card, then I would stop using it right now! Check the connection as well, however. It could also be a faulty cable.

-- Johan W. Elzenga
kentdesign
Community Expert
kentdesignCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 2, 2020

One of the safest ways to import photo files into Lightroom, is to make a folder on your desktop and copy or drag the photo files into that folder. Bonus is that you have a backup copy  of your photo files in addition to their original location (usually a memory card). Then you can launch LR, and in the Import Dialog box,  after directiong LR to import from that folder, you should have all 4 options: Copy as DNG, Copy, Move and Add. Copy as DNG adds the photo files to the LR catalog, makes a copy of the photofile and turns it into a DNG if possible —you select the location where you want the photofile moved to in the right side panel.  Copy adds the photo file to the LR catalog and makes a copy and moves the copy to the location you select on the right hand side. Move, adds the phtoofile to the catalog and takes the photo file out of the folder and moves it to the selected location. Add only adds the photo data to the catalog, The photo files (original photos) stay where they are. Hope that helps.

JohanElzenga
Community Expert
JohanElzengaCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
September 2, 2020

This sounds like you are trying to ADD photos from a memory card or a removable drive. The ADD option is switched off in that case, because this would be asking for troubles. ADD will only add the images to the catalog, not copy them to your hard disk. That means that if you reformat the memory card in the camera to start using it again for new photos, your existing photos will be lost. To safeguard people against this common and fatal mistake, Adobe decided to disable ADD for these types of storage media.

-- Johan W. Elzenga
    Theresa J
    Community Expert
    Theresa JCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 2, 2020

    There is information about the security settings here. https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/kb/macos-catalina-compatibility.html

    Theresa J
    Community Expert
    Theresa JCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 2, 2020

    Where are the photos located? If they are on a memory card, that is the only option you will get. If they are on the internal drive, or an external drive you should be able to import with the Add option. If that is not available you probably need to set the security preferences to allow Lightroom access to the drive.

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices