Grayed out thumbnails

[kayak107]

I've finally accepted the many grayed out thumbnails in my catalog as corrupted files never to be seen again.

Why are they usually some of my favorite images?

How prevalent is this problem?

Hopefully one possible solution is that I will no longer be erasing images from my memory cards.

[GoldingD]

Please post a screen capture. In Library Module, with the grid view, perhaps a grayed out thumbnail selected, Histogram visible, Folders panel Visible.

[dj_paige]

Why do you think the files are corrupted? the normal indication of a corrupted file is either it is displayed improperly (but not greyed out), or there is a black circle with a white exclamation point inside.

Why do you think the files are gone forever? You simply need to restore the photos from your backups (using Time Machine or other backup method).

[kayak107]

Yes, the greyed out thumbnails have the ! mark within a square.  when attempting to locate (message says original file missing)-the original is indeed missing.  I've tried punching in the missing file name in FINDER on my Mac and usually another image pops up with the same file name or there are no results.

think I got the corrupted idea from google.

[dj_paige]

The exclamation point icon in a square means that LrC cannot find the file for that photo. You need to point LrC to the exact location of the photo, see this document for instructions. There is nothing in what you have said that indicates corruption of files or catalog corruption.

[kayak107]

Thanks for the doc. I will read it.  When I click the ! on any of the greyed out thumbnails the corresponding folder opens in finder and the selected file is not there.  I showed Adobe that as a result of the latest version I am finding images from 2023 in 2022.  They are supposed to be working on it.

However, long before this new version I have been experiencing greyed out files.

[KR Seals]

That's becaues LrC is looking in the wrong folder, where it thinks the photo should be. Point LrC to the correct folder per DJ's instructions above.

[kayak107]

Thank you and I hope that works for me.

[kayak107]

ok, let's forget about corruption.  I have read the doc you sent.  When I click the ! the CORRECT FOLDER opens in finder and the files corresponding to the greyed out files in LRC are not there.  I'm not missing any folders.  All of the visible thumbnails do show up in the opened folder in finder.  Your doc speaks more about locating missing folders.

If I'm still missing the point....

[GoldingD]

In that screenshot that shows your Folders panel.  see that you have selected a folder, I see that folder has no indication of being missing. I see that some images appear fine,  some not so fine and include a ! indicating they are missing (odd that the preview is also missing, but..)

I am wondering if, when you look at more of the Folders Panel, when you scroll up and/or down, do you see another folder of similar name?

If you scroll up, what is the parent folder? And as you scroll up and/or down, does that parent folder show up again?

Point is, are their duplicate folders or what appears to be duplicate folders in the Folders Panel? Especially parent folders.

Something like this:

[kayak107]

The Folders panel is fine.  No ?s anywhere.  The parent folder is Images.  No dupliacte folders.

[dj_paige]

ok, let's forget about corruption.  I have read the doc you sent.  When I click the ! the CORRECT FOLDER opens in finder and the files corresponding to the greyed out files in LRC are not there.  I'm not missing any folders.  All of the visible thumbnails do show up in the opened folder in finder.  Your doc speaks more about locating missing folders.

If I'm still missing the point....

By @kayak107

The first part of that document is about missing files (not missing folders). If the file doesn't show in the folder when you click on the ! that's because the file is not in that folder. It must be somewhere else (or it has been deleted). You need to find that somewhere else, the folder that the file is actually located in; and then point LrC to that file in the folder where it actually is located. How do you find where the file is now? You can use your operating systems search feature to search all folders on all disks for a file by that name. Once you find it, then you can point LrC to that file in whatever folder it is in.

[kayak107]

Guys - I want to thank you for your time and patience on this topic.  I am closing it out.  Just got off an a very thorough and exhaustive phone call with Adobe where it was explained to me in a way that I finally understand.   The missing images issue hasn't occurred in 2 years and I'm gonna put it to bed.

[GoldingD]

So a summary

• Some images shown as missing, Dark Gray ! shown in Grid View boxes, and Filmstrip Preview boxes as to indicate a missing photo
• Some of the missing photos do display a library preview in the grid view and the filmstrip
• Some of the missing photos do not show a library preview in grid nor filmstrip
• In the provided screenshot, one of the images without a preview is selected. In this case the Navigation Panel, and the Histogram panel are blank. Histogram does state Photo is Missing.
• In the example mentioned above, while the Navigation and History panels are blank, at least one bit of metadata , keyword tags, has text.
• In the example above, the selected photo has a DNG file type
• Does not appear to be any filtering on.
• No folders involving the photos are showing ? mark
• At least one folder, but not involving the missing photos does have a ? mark
• One hard drive in the folders panel has a ? mark. This is apparently a different hard drive than that with/without the missing photos.
• No duplicate folders to indicate possible capitalization error
• In the folders panel, their are some strange entry's, Other Lightroom device.
• Author has attempted using Finder to find the photos, no joy.
• Per the Author, the parent folder is named Images. INQUIRY, what hard drive is that on?

Please comment on any errors or missing info in the above.

A few questions, and sorry to beat a dead horse. A few of these you probably did state as trying, I may have missed or misunderstood.

• If you right click on one of the missing photos that do have a preview shown, and click Show in Finder. Do you get the error message about the image not being found, if also, note and record the file name and where LrC thinks it was supposed to be. Then click on Locate. Does clicking on Locate provide a solution?
• Same question for one or more of the missing photos that do not have a preview.
• If locate fails. Use Finder to search on the noted file name(s) and if found, try again.
• Fix the possibly missing folder. Is it missing? or was it removed. A messy folders panel represents a messy database, and can lead to issues.

• And this apparent missing drive, that should be fixed.
• Inqury, this drive named PHOTOS, does it contain your folder named Images?

• And does anyone know what these are:

And to finish up this long wordy reply. And I did not see it above , in case of disaster:

• Where do you keep your backup of your catalog? Does that backup exist? Any reason to think it might not be healthy.
• If you have a backup, a good backup, consider an integrity check.
• Where do you keep your backup of your original photos? Do any of the truly missing folders, show up in this backup. Please please tell me you do have a backup.