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bunkieboy
Known Participant
November 30, 2017
Answered

Saving a target collection on a 2nd hard drive

  • November 30, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 448 views

Hi,

Could some tell me if you can save--that is,make a back-up copy-- a target collection to a second external hard drive.Can this be done just by moving pictures

to a target collection and having your second drive turned on, or does it require manipulating things. I'd hate to spend days making a target collect and have no back-up for it. This is in lightroom 5, by the way.

Thanks,

Al Marotta

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer JP Hess

    At target collection simply means you have designated a collection that you have created to be the target rather than the quick collection, which is the default. But the collection only exists within the catalog. It isn't something that actually exists on disk. The only way you would be able to have that collection exist on disk would be to export the collection to a folder on the external disk.

    2 replies

    Just Shoot Me
    Just Shoot Me
    Legend
    November 30, 2017

    A collection, any collection, standard or Target, is just a List of image file names. It does not contain any actual image files.

    It is like a list you write down on a piece of paper.

    To answer your specific question, Yes you can take any LIST (Collection) of images and make a second copy of them. Just select the collection name (LIST name) to show only those images. Find out exactly where they are store on your drive. Open the file manager program for your OS and select them and Copy them to another drive and folder.

    But you should already have a complete backup of all your images. So I really don't see why you want to make another copy of certain images.

    If you didn't know LR is just a Database program and only references your images into the LR Catalog file, a Database file, from where they are stored on your hard drives.

    No images are actual "IN" LR.

    R
    Community Expert
    richardplondonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 30, 2017

    Another method of making a backup onto a second drive, of selected pictures which all belong to a given stated Collection, would be to highlight and Export those pictures to a folder on that second drive using the "Original" file type selection.

    This does not render a brand new file, but instead duplicates the originally imported image file as-it-is; while appending to that some metadata describing your current Lightroom adjustments plus other info such as keywords etc. This metadata may sit inside the file or else alongside it within an XMP sidecar, depending on the file type involved. Note this will not include anything to do with the Collection itself BTW; you would need to group these images within a suitably named folder there.

    These copies would then be capable of arriving into another Catalog (your own or someone else's) or else arriving into Photoshop via ACR, showing the same non-destructive editing ready to be altered further, that you currently see within the current Catalog.

    Alternatively, if all that is wanted is to make a copy of these pictures 'as currently edited', but without any need to further reconsider their editing later, they could be simply Exported in JPG or else TIFF format.

    JP Hess
    JP HessCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    November 30, 2017

    At target collection simply means you have designated a collection that you have created to be the target rather than the quick collection, which is the default. But the collection only exists within the catalog. It isn't something that actually exists on disk. The only way you would be able to have that collection exist on disk would be to export the collection to a folder on the external disk.

    B
    bunkieboyAuthor
    Known Participant
    November 30, 2017

    Thank you, Jim. You have nailed it for me.

    Al Marotta

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