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Ron in IL
Known Participant
May 30, 2019
Question

How to share LR work across 2 computers

  • May 30, 2019
  • 2 replies
  • 1056 views

So I have two computers that use a network hard drive.  What I've been trying to do up to now is if one computer does work in LR on files, the other computer, when it needs to work on those files in LR, I'll open it in Library, select all the pics and read the metadata from file.  But it doesn't always work, esp with the color labels. 

There has to be a better way of sharing work on Lightroom across two computers attached to the same network hard drive.  Can you guys please enlighten me?

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    2 replies

    R
    Community Expert
    richardplondonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 30, 2019

    (If you are attempting to employ two installations under the same subscription at the same time, by two people, you may want to check terms of usage. But employing the same Catalog using two different subscriptions should be no problem).

    If you are seeking to carry out LR work yourself sometimes on one PC, sometimes on another - the best way is probably to maintain a single Catalog. Just to complicate things LR refuses to "open" a Catalog directly from a network shared location and there are no multi-user options.

    But you can as you finish each editing session, replicate/sync copies of your Catalog file between two local locations - one local to each computer - e.g. via the network storage, e.g. with local Dropbox app. Or via a cloud location even. The main thing is that LR must be closed in both places in order for this replication to happen properly. And previews are a bit of a complicating factor.

    Otherwise you can keep the Catalog (and its previews) on just one portable external drive and carry that physically from PC to PC, at which point when connected, this drive appears as local storage for each one.

    Whichever option is used, the addressing of the folders and images themselves, within the Catalog, should happen consistently in each context (because referring to a network location). So you should be able to simply pick up where you left off.

    You may also want to replicate / sync your LR presets, profiles and camera defaults, watermark graphics etc between these two computers' local LR installations, so that you get identical working facilities in each.

    R
    Ron in ILAuthor
    Known Participant
    May 30, 2019

    Okay, this is weird.  First, I wish I could edit my OP to state I have mulitiple licenses.  I'm suddenly feeling like I'm the only studio in the USA, or editing company, that employs more than one person to edit using LR.  This doesn't make any sense.   We should be able to easily share our work with each other, not disconnect external drives and move from one to another, or use Dropbox, or cloud storage.

    I appreciate the help, if this is what LR is limited to.  But this doesn't make any sense to me.  As a photo studio with multiple editors, we need access to each other's work on LR.  I can't even imagine how Adobe isn't taking this into consideration.

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    May 30, 2019

    https://forums.adobe.com/people/Ron+in+IL  wrote

    Okay, this is weird.  First, I wish I could edit my OP to state I have mulitiple licenses.  I'm suddenly feeling like I'm the only studio in the USA, or editing company, that employs more than one person to edit using LR.  This doesn't make any sense.   We should be able to easily share our work with each other, not disconnect external drives and move from one to another, or use Dropbox, or cloud storage.

    I appreciate the help, if this is what LR is limited to.  But this doesn't make any sense to me.  As a photo studio with multiple editors, we need access to each other's work on LR.  I can't even imagine how Adobe isn't taking this into consideration.

    Lightroom Classic and predecessor programs called Lightroom simply were not designed to do what you want. I'm sorry it doesn't make sense to you, but nevertheless, the functionality you want is not available in LR. You need to find other software that allows multiple users to access your library/catalog, there are such programs, but as I don't use them, I make no recommendations.

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    May 30, 2019

    Assuming you mean Lightroom Classic

    If you have to work on both computers AT THE SAME TIME, then there is no way that I know of to get this to work properly and easily. (It is also a violation of the Lightroom End User License Agreement unless you have two licenses)

    If you can work on two computers at different times (not at the same time), then please read this: https://www.lightroomqueen.com/how-to-lightroom-catalog-multiple-computers/

    R
    Ron in ILAuthor
    Known Participant
    May 30, 2019

    I have multiple licenses with Adobe.  Yes, LR Classic.  Not at the same time on the same project.

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