Skip to main content
J
joseph motto
Inspiring
May 16, 2023
Answered

LR 6 has reverted to an earlier form and catalog

  • May 16, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 749 views

I have been using Lightroom since 2008, currently on LR Classic version 6.14. Am on PC, Windows 10 pro. I have one catalog with over 300,000 images. Had just finished downloading bird photos from flashcard, culled them, and had just renamed the folder. I may have tried to move that subfolder up one spot. Somehow I abruptly reverted to a much older catalog and an earlier LR panel in the Develop module. I cannot find a way to revert to my current LR again.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer joseph motto

First I must apologize as I was uncertain whether my question belonged in LR Classic or in LR 1-6 and posted in both. My problem has been solved and I am back in business. The forum members who responded are obviously head and shoulders above me in understanding LR; I appreciate the help I received and accept that somehow I must have touched on an older image. How I managed to do it while dealing only with 2023 images downloaded from a flash card and never seeming to have meandered from our current year is beyond me but those with knowledge indicate that is the case and I accept it. Wish I could remember the exact sequence of steps I took but I cannot. Many thanks again.

3 replies

JohanElzenga
Community Expert
JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 17, 2023

It's technically impossible for Lightroom to change catalogs 'on the fly'. Changing catalogs can only be done through a restart. It is indeed almost certainly a matter of having selected an image with an old process version, like @richardplondon suggested.

 

-- Johan W. Elzenga
    J
    joseph mottoAuthorCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    May 18, 2023

    First I must apologize as I was uncertain whether my question belonged in LR Classic or in LR 1-6 and posted in both. My problem has been solved and I am back in business. The forum members who responded are obviously head and shoulders above me in understanding LR; I appreciate the help I received and accept that somehow I must have touched on an older image. How I managed to do it while dealing only with 2023 images downloaded from a flash card and never seeming to have meandered from our current year is beyond me but those with knowledge indicate that is the case and I accept it. Wish I could remember the exact sequence of steps I took but I cannot. Many thanks again.

    R
    Community Expert
    richardplondonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 25, 2023

    Glad you are back on track! Speculating one possible explanation:

     

    one can inadvertently (or deliberately) copy/paste the Process Version of one image onto another, along with transferring other adjustments. It is also possible to do the same thing by applying a Develop preset that has been so defined.

     

    This is just a matter of having the Process Version option checked, in the Copy settings dialog as below - or else in the Preset creating dialog, which is very similar:

     

     

    Boxes that are checked, mean that those aspects of the target image will be made to match the source image. Boxes that are left un-checked, mean that those aspects are going to be left alone on the target image. IOW, these checkboxes let selected aspects of adjustment only be grabbed from one image, and applied onto another.

    R
    Community Expert
    richardplondonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 16, 2023

    Is it possible that you are encountering particular images within your Catalog, which were adjusted some time ago under an earlier 'Process Version'?

     

    In such cases the Basic Panel will show the sliders that go with those earlier adjustments. So you may see for example "Fill Light", still set to whatever value it was given at that tiime, even though that is not seen with newer images.

     

    Image by image, optionally, you can opt to switch up to the latest Process Version. Under the Histogram a lightning-bolt icon warns of older PVs, and one way is to click on that.

     

    You will then see latest editing options for the image(s) concerned instead of the older adjustments.

     

    This means that what those older adjustments were doing may not be exactly matchable - but by and large, I have found the newer adjustments more capable.

     

    It is a bit of extra effort to re-adjust. If you just want to keep the prior editing exactly, then you can safely leave the image using that older Process Version. Some other tools such as Masking may be somewhat impaired, but you can Export and Print etc fine regardless.

      Keith Reeder
      Keith Reeder
      Participating Frequently
      May 16, 2023

      Easiest way is probably just to track down the catalogue (*.lrcat) file you're interested in using Windows Explorer, and double-click it.

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