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D0nald
D0nald
Inspiring
November 2, 2018
Question

Lightroom Classic as backup client

  • November 2, 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 913 views

Dear Adobe,

I came up with the idea of syncing originals from Lightroom CC down to Lightroom Classic. This way I would have a local backup including my edits, and I also could perform some editing functions via Lightroom Classic, which are missing in Lightroom CC (like batch file renaming).

While this may sound like a possible workflow I stumbled upon this interview on "https://prolost.com/blog/migratinglightroom " with Benjamin Warde, product manager on the Lightroom team. Benjamin advised against this workflow, but the exact reasons why were censored by Adobe PR:

>Adobe recommends against syncing Classic and CC, despite the fact that they are designed to do just that. However, Adobe PR asked >me to replace all that helpful information (three paragraphs worth) with this:

>...But it's not a workflow we recommend or plan to invest in going forward.

>Adobe seems really touchy about this stuff. I think what Benjamin wrote would have helped clear the air with some refreshing honesty, >and I’m sad that you didn’t get to read it.

I really think Adobe should be open about the possibilities and limitations when using LRCC and Classic together, otherwise users will run into pitfalls. So, whats wrong with using Lightroom Classic as an additional sync client? Are there just minor issues one could work around or live with till LRCC catches up, or are there major problems endangering ones data?

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

    LocalHero1953
    LocalHero1953
    Inspiring
    November 4, 2018

    I'm going through the same process at the moment with 38k images. Thanks for your reported experience - very useful. I wish I'd thought of the 'Lightroom download' option - it's taken about a week to download all mine, but done now. Lessons I've learned are:

    - avoid getting mixed up between LR CC and LR Classic clients on desktop PC (where the download/sync is happening) and on tablet (Surface Pro) and android phone, all of which may be the devices from which I may import photos to LR CC. At one stage some photos could not be imported because of a reported database error, which I suspect was due to different LR CC clients being out of sync with each other. I'm syncing them all sequentially to avoid this happening again.

    - even downloading smart previews, to devices which are not being used for local image storage, seems to take a long time.

      D0nald
      D0naldAuthor
      Inspiring
      November 4, 2018

      Thank you for your feedback! I have no problems with performance between the new native cloud based LRCC clients (Mac OS / iOS). If in doubt, you can completely delete your local LRCC client and start over again. "The truth is in the cloud", everything will be synced again from the cloud to your local LRCC client.

      Also good to know, how to find all unsynced photos in Lightroom Classic (e.g. when you delete photos in LRCC they will not be deleted in LR Classic, just unsynced):

      From Finding 'unsynced' photos

      Richtige Antwort9. Re: Finding 'unsynced' photos

      johnrellisMost Valuable Participant

      johnrellis  12.01.2018 12:23 (als Antwort auf: john15973)

      In Lightroom Classic I have 641 photos showing  in 'All Photos'. But only 638 showing in 'All Synced Photos' (I sync to LRCC). How do I filter to see which photos these are that are not synced.

      Here's a method that doesn't involve flags: 

      1. In the Catalog panel on the left, click All Synced Photographs.

      2. Do Edit > Select All.

      3. In the Catalog panel, click All Photographs.

      4. Do Photo > Stacking > Expand All Stacks.

      4. Do Edit > Invert Selection.  The unsynced photos are now selected.

      5. Add the selected photos to the Quick Collection or do Library > New Collection to create a new collection containing them.

      JohanElzenga
      Community Expert
      JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      November 3, 2018

      D0nald  wrote

      Dear Adobe,

      I came up with the idea of syncing originals from Lightroom CC down to Lightroom Classic. This way I would have a local backup including my edits, and I also could perform some editing functions via Lightroom Classic, which are missing in Lightroom CC (like batch file renaming).

      That already happens. Just sync the Lightroom Classic catalog and it will download the originals from the cloud. Many things you do in Lightroom Classic will also sync back, file renaming is one of those things.

      -- Johan W. Elzenga
      D0nald
      D0naldAuthor
      Inspiring
      November 3, 2018

      Dear Johan, please read my post again. Adobe recommends against it but does not go into detail why.

      JohanElzenga
      Community Expert
      JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      November 3, 2018

      Just use it. Many people do and it works fine.

      -- Johan W. Elzenga
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