Import and Convert to DNG Saving to NAS

Report · Sep 10, 2018

Hello,

I would like to speed up the performance of importing files. Here is my setup:

Main Lightroom machine is a high-end Windows laptop (Gigabyte Aero 15x) with 2 SSD drives; C: drive has OS and preview cache; D: drive has lightroom catalog.

I am connected to my Synology NAS via Gigabit Ethernet and save my files to a drive mapped to the NAS. I sync the catalog to an external USB drive so I can use Lightroom Classic from my high-end laptop or travel laptop.

As part of the import process, I apply some keywords/metadata and convert to DNG using smart previews and 1:1 previews. I also rename the files. It looks like my bottleneck is the network, as it copies my raw files to the NAS, and then converts them to DNG and builds previews etc. Is there anyway to perform all the I/O intensive operations locally on my SSD and then move the files after it is done processing and converting up to the NAS?

I was thinking of maybe using the standalone DNG converter to convert locally and then have Lightroom move the files through the import wizard as a 2 step process if there is no way to change Lightroom's behavior. I am not sure what Lightroom needs to do - I assume build the 1:1 previews that live with the catalog, but the fast-load data and conversion to DNG locally should at least speed things up a bit? I assume smart previews and 1:1 previews would be working off the network copy of the DNG file still?

FYI - I do like to have access from multiple machines to my NAS, and have a local and cloud backup strategy in place which is why I do not want to take the NAS out of the picture if possible.

If this is not a behavior that can currently be changed, it would be great to have local import processing options in a future release.

Thanks!

Report · Sep 10, 2018

Without testing it's difficult to say whether making the DNG conversion first and then importing into Lr will speed up your workflow. It may be a minor trade-off.

There's likely to be a good debate on the topic of when the best time to convert to DNG is with many believing it's more efficient to convert later to save time rather than upon import. This way you are only converting keepers to DNG and you can delete the RAW files to eliminate duplicates.

Report · Sep 12, 2018

I can't say what's faster, but to answer your question, "Is there anyway to perform all the I/O intensive operations locally on my SSD and then move the files after it is done processing and converting up to the NAS?", the answer is yes. In the Import dialog, in the Destination panel in the bottom right, choose a destination on your SSD. After import, once the operations are complete, in the Folders panel in Library, drag the folder from the SSD to a folder on your NAS.

Report · Sep 13, 2018

I do not know why I didn't think of that!

For me it seems like sending everything to a local folder, doing all the initial culling, ratings, keywords, edits, and then moving it to the NAS is way faster. I could do some timing comparisons if anyone is interested, but for now I think this will be my workflow. I tried working with a local catalog, then importing that catalog into my master catalog, but I lost my keywords in the process.

I think with your suggestion I can perform everything locally, use just one catalog, and when I am done and want my pictures saved and backed up I just move them to the NAS from within Lightroom.

Thanks again!