Deleting hard drive copies after importing to Adobe.cloud

[iLuv2photo13]

I want to know how to delete the photos that I have uploaded in LR and LRC to the cloud so that they remain in the cloud but are no longer on my hrs drive.  

[Rob_Cullen]

Be careful with this. I don't have the expertise to advise, but a couple of facts I know-

1) If you use Lightroom-CLASSIC to Sync, then it WILL DOWNLOAD a copy of every image file imported to Lightroom-Mobile or Lightroom-Desktop, from the Cloud, to a folder in your computer system. There is no avoiding this other than to disable Sync in LrC entirely. An external USB drive might lessen the impact of local storage on you Mac HD.

2) Lightroom-CLASSIC can only access 'local' image files. ie. they must be stored on a local drive. They cannot exist only in the Cloud. LrC would be unusable if files only existed in the Cloud.

3) Lightroom-Desktop has the option to 'not store' the original files on a local drive. Then only Smart previews exist locally, and original files are downloaded only when required (eg. to edit in Photoshop).  LrC will override this option as in note 1).

[Theresa J]

Anything added (uploaded) directly to LR can be removed from the hard drive after the sync his complete. You can confirm the sync status by logging into your account at lightroom.adobe.com. 

Keep in mind that LR stores originals in the cloud, but it caches some content to a local drive to speed up your workflow. You can also enable local sync, which downloads everything to a local drive. You probably don't want to do this. Local sync is helpful when your computer is often disconnected from the internet.

LRC does not actually upload your photos to the cloud. It manages files on local hard drives. Smart previews are uploaded for syncing to LR. If you use LRC to manage your photos, DON'T delete them from the drive.

@Rob_Cullen is 100% right by saying, "be careful." If you don't fully understand how files are managed, you could end up sorry.

[iLuv2photo13]

Hi!

Thank you for the information.  Since I did upload some of my files through LRC, should I delete those cloud photos and then bring them in through LR so I don't have any issues with hard copies.  It is not that I don't want to keep back ups, it is just that I want to be able to use the cloud images to download the original raw/dng files and not smart previews when I want them in another program, including PS.  Thanks!

[Theresa J]

Using both LRC and LR together on the same machine can get really confusing and cause duplication of originals. I don't recommend the workflow you are describing.

You do not need original images in the cloud to use them in another program, unless the other program is on a different computer. Use Lightroom if you use more than one computer and you want access to your originals everywhere you work. Be careful about also using LRC with this workflow. 

[Rob_Cullen · Accepted solution]

Here it is - plain and simple:

If you use LIGHTROOM-CLASSIC and have 'Sync' turned on- then ALL YOUR ORIGINAL FILES WILL EXIST ON A LOCAL HARD-DRIVE. (Either by direct Import to LrC, or automatic download from the Cloud.)

"should I delete those cloud photos and then bring them in through LR so I don't have any issues with hard copies."

Yes- IF YOU NEVER USE Lightroom-Classic SYNC!

Even if you [Add/Import] the originals to LIGHTROOM (Cloud based app), and you turn on 'Sync' again in LrC, it will again download ALL the full-size files to a hard-drive.

Buy more local storage drives. (Or do not use Lightroom-Classic.)

[iLuv2photo13]

TY