Import and export folders

[kelok111]

I have 150 folders holding 15-20 images each.  I want to import the folders then export them into new folders after making the files a smaller size. 

This was the recommended steps from a facebook lightroom group.  It isn't working:

I have selected the folders that I want and use the Copy Import Method

I have set the Destination panel :

Into subfolder Checked "For Export"

Organize "By original folders.

Then hit Import

I select the For Export Folder and select Export 

In the Export Panel "Export to Same Folder as Original"

Add to this Catalog

Existing Files "Overwrite without Warning"

[dj_paige]

In general, I think the idea of desiring smaller file sizes is a poor workflow choice with LrC. I think the idea of overwriting originals is destructive and harmful and will produce problems. I would not recommend this workflow at all. In fact, I recommend you avoid this workflow. Why are you concerned about having smaller files?

[kelok111]

Because it is for school and I don’t want them screen shotting them as they have in the past - watermark and all.

Why do you think that is a bad idea and how is this a waste of my time?

To be specific and detailed the steps that I follow are not exporting the images.

I don’t know how else to explain what is going on.

Hope that helps you understand why I want smaller files and what is happening.

Thank you so much.

[dj_paige]

This problem of people capturing your photos via screen shot can be solved (or mitigated) by exporting only at low resolution; not by making the originals smaller.

[kelok111]

I want to export at a lower resolution with the same folder and file names - The original files will remain in tact.

Can you please just help me with this?

I have my methods.  I am secure in my decision making as to what I am doing.  

[dj_paige]

I want to export at a lower resolution with the same folder and file names - The original files will remain in tact.

Can you explain the entire problem in detail, instead of asking me to jump in without much understanding of the actual problem? I'm not asking for an explanation of the steps in your original post; I want to understand why you are doing this.

[kelok111]

I took my raw files into lightroom and I exported them into folders.  150 folders.  The folders are named the students last name as are the files in the folders.  These are high resolution images.  In the past I have put them in a gallery on my website.  Each student logs in via their name as password.  When I upload here there is a watermark placed on the image.  What I have come to realize is that the student, parent, whoever is still screenshotting and getting a decent jpeg for themselves.

So I want to import all those folders and export them as folders but I want to scale down the size of the images.  So then I will upload the low res files within folders.  Then when they order I will go back to my high res folder and place the order with that image.

[dj_paige]

If you upload low resolution images to your web site, the problem goes away. You don't have the change the size of the original images.

I don't see a reason why you want to change the originals.

[kelok111]

Because I exported them as High res not low res.  I DON'T HAVE LOW RES VERSIONS.

[dj_paige]

You can export the photos from LrC at low resolution and use those. You don't have to change the resolution of the originals.

[kelok111]

OMG Back to my original question - Can i import and export  folders.  If so how?

[dj_paige]

I don't understand the problem, so I will not gbe able to give additional advice.

[kelok111]

I get that. 

[DdeGannes]

Just my thought, you can select a folder to import images contained in the folder to a destination folder of your choice.

I do not understand the concept of importing folders and exporting folders.

When you select the import option you have 4 options, Copy, Copy as DNG, Move, Add. 
1, This option allows you to copy the images files from one location and save to another location of your choice.

2. This option allows you to copy the images from one location, copy to a DNG file and save to another location of your choice,

3. This option allows you to move images from one location to another location of your choice.

4. This options allows you to add images to the Catalog file and the image files remain at their origional  location.

There is no option to import folders or to export folders in LrC.

[kelok111]

Thank you.  I have 162 folders I need to do this with so I was hoping I didn't have to do each one individually. Obviously, since no one gets it, what I am thinking is not possible. Appreciate the feedback very much.  

[john beardsworth]

What exactly isn't working in the original FB suggestion? Any error messages? How are you sure it isn't working?

While it might not be the standard LR workflow to overwrite originals, the FB workflow doesn't look too wacky if you want to replace hi res with lo res files.

[john beardsworth]

What I'm thinking is that you'd need to import using the Add option, so you get your 150 folders in LR and not reorganised by the Import dialog's Copy option. Maybe make a copy of them first. Then the rest of the FB idea seems to match what you want. I think.

[kelok111]

Those steps didn't change the file size.  Thank you John.  I have a screen recording of those steps that I would be happy to send to you.  It is too large to post here.  I could send via WeTransfer or another way if youre willing to watch.  It is like 3 minutes long because I was following the steps suggested - going back and forth reading the steps and doing them.  

[john beardsworth]

How do you know they don't change the file size? In other words, what screen/app are you looking at that tells you the file size hasn't changed?

Also could it be that you might be comparing the wrong copies of the hi res JPEGs?

You could try my modified version of the FB workflow.

[kelok111]

I will retry yet again.  Thank you

[john beardsworth]

Here I followed my workflow, adding lo res to the exported files, brought them into LR and just selected them in Previous Import. You can see they're 400 px - the unselected previous export were full res.

[kelok111]

Trying this now.