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Lightroom CC mobile to Lightroom classic workflow

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
October 4, 2019
5 replies
10651 views

Hello,

I use Lightroom Classic on my Mac to import, edit and organize photos which are stored on an external hard drive. When I travel I use an iPad pro to import photos and sometimes start editing them in Lightroom mobile. When I get back to my mac, the original Raw images are downloaded to my Mac and Lightroom classic which is awesome! However, I would like to be able to move these photos on to my external hard drive into the folder structure I use (as if I had imported them from my SD card through Lightroom Classic as per my normal workflow) and remove the orignal raw files from Adobe cloud (to free up space). I have no been able to figure out how to do this, so I currently just keep the photos on my sd card after importing with my iPad and import a second time through Lightroom Classic onto my external hard drive. This makes the initial import with the iPad through lightroom mobile somewhat redundant and a waste of time.

Is there a way to move the original raw photos which Lightroom classic has downloaded from the cloud onto my external hard drive?

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer JohanElzenga

By default the images are downloaded into 'Mobile Downloads.lrdata'. That is a special folder (package on a Mac), that will appear in the Lightroom folder panel as if it was a different drive. You can move images from this to any normal folder in the same way you would move any other image from one folder to another: by using drag & drop.

In the Lightroom preferences you can change this download location and select a normal folder. You can then also specify that Lightroom should create dated subfolders. That should make it possible to let Lightroom download the images in the same folder hierarchy as your other images.

S

stefpix

Known Participant

I am in the same boat, and I feel it could be simple for Adobe to address a mobile workflow when fast internet is not available.
just allow to export original raw files with the metadata of adjustments, ratings, captions to a folder on an external SSD.
I write this elsewhere, but it is relevant to this thread:

Please Adobe enable Lightroom for iPad pasting a caption and keywords to multiple photos at once, like in the Android version.

Please Adobe allow the export of RAW files to a folder on the iPad or SSD to include the ratings, captions, adjustment metadata via an XMP file.

Expanded below.

the workflow for Lightroom on my iPad mini could be simpler.
some issues:
- I like to copy the images from the SD card to an external SSD.
Import in Lightroom, edit, caption, rate. Export back to the SD drive the RAW files, and at home connect the SSD to my iMac. Import the photos in LR Classic. But no metadata with edits, rating captions are in the exported images.
This method would be a lot faster than relying on the cloud when in a rush. Also would be good for when I travel to areas with slow or limited internet. Workaround, but not very acceptable could be converting and exporting as DNG.

- I can not paste captions from a photo to multiple photos at once. I can do that on the Android phone version. Can this essential feature be implemented in the Apple ecosystem?
if I have 20 images from the same shoot I need to submit captioned, it is time-consuming to do copy/paste one at a time.

These are dealbreakers for a working photographer. I have LumaFusion and FinalCut Pro X, and those 2 allow editing on the iPad on an external SSD and finish on the Mac at home.

I would expect Adobe would allow its software to have a similar integration.
The lack of copy-paste of captions and keywords to multiple photos at once is puzzling, as it is allowed on the Android version. I wrote about this to Adobe 2 - 3 years ago, but the simple issue has not been addressed.

I love Lightroom Classic, but I am looking forward to some competitive alternative to Lightroom for the iPad.

kevinm91307720

Participant

Similar to you I use Macbook Ait with Lightroom CC when on my travels. I have developed the simple workfow that you can see at this link. Lightroom CC (On Location) to Lightroom Classic (Home) Workflow Diagram

It works for me and avoids duplication of files. I end up with the original RAW on my NAS and the images imported into my LR Classic catalog. Happy for viewers to add comments if you spot any flaws in the workflow

S

Speez

Participating Frequently

Wondering about this as well - what are the right methods/options/process/whatever to remove the synced files from the local travel device and adobes cloud after sync is complete?

Similar to everyone else, while traveling I want to upload through my ipad with CC mobile, then let that sync (original raw+jpeg included) back through Adobe cloud to my desktop at home running my classic catalog. Once all that is done and I am home, what are the steps to delete the original copies off the iPad AND remove the original copies from the cloud without messing anything up on the desktop classic instance and losing originals?

Also, assuming I could remote desktop in and verify that my stuff from say Monday had synced overnight and by Tuesday morning everyone had safely made it onto my desktop, is there a way to remove from the cloud while still remote on the iPad without again messing up the originals on the desktop? Reason being is I usually shoot a lot more than 20gb on a 1-3 week trip so being able to empty the Adobe storage every few days would be a good thing.

Jim Wilde

Community Expert

@Speez

See my response to Kevin above. The easiest way to delete the images from the cloud and the iPad when back at home is to remove them from the All Snced Photographs special collection in Classic.

If you want to do it while still on location, you can remove them from the cloud (and thus your iPad) by using remote desktop to access your Classic system to do the same removal from All Synced Photographs. If you can't remote into Classic you can remove them from the cloud by deleting the images from the LrMobile app on the iPad....but you'd have to KNOW that they are safely stored in your Classic catalog....but without some form of remote desktop I don't see how you could be sure that they're safe in Classic. I know there are people taking portable storage drives with them when travelling, but trying to work within that 20GB limit is not going to be easy for a volume shooter.

JohanElzenga

Correct answer

Community Expert

By default the images are downloaded into 'Mobile Downloads.lrdata'. That is a special folder (package on a Mac), that will appear in the Lightroom folder panel as if it was a different drive. You can move images from this to any normal folder in the same way you would move any other image from one folder to another: by using drag & drop.

In the Lightroom preferences you can change this download location and select a normal folder. You can then also specify that Lightroom should create dated subfolders. That should make it possible to let Lightroom download the images in the same folder hierarchy as your other images.

-- Johan W. Elzenga

99jon

Legend

Keep sync paused in Classic until you return home. Then choose your nominated external drive folder in Classic preferences. Hover over the identity plate top-left to re-start sync and the originals will download exactly where you want them. No need to move folders.

selondon

Community Expert

As you rightly say, the photos are downloaded from the Cloud, to the designated download folder. Once downloaded they can be deleted from the Cloud.

I don’t really use Classic, but my understanding is (or was) that, within Classic, you just move the photos to the folder where you want them.

Maybe do a test on a photo of no importance, so you’re happy with the workflow.

There is no need to reimport again.

ProDesignTools

Community Expert

The Lightroom Queen just published a helpful little ebook about the LR Mobile to Classic workflow:

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/community/threads/where-is-the-travel-workflow-ebook-download-link.44926/

"Integrating the mobile apps into your Lightroom workflow doesn't mean giving up Lightroom Classic. Lightroom Classic can remain your primary photo archive."

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