Adobe Elements 15 optimal workflow when using laptop and desktop

[ed4360241]

Wondering if anyone has suggested workflow for managing photos when returning from vacation/shoot with laptop containing new photos (including keywords & ratings) and wanting to update desktop for same.

I store the actual photos in the cloud so both computers sync well in this regard however all the keywords and ratings details entered while using my laptop on the shoot (data contained in the catalog file) do not sync,  This is not a feature offered by Adobe.

Understand I would need to locate the catalog file and manually copy to desktop but naturally for this workflow to be 100% I must be vigilant about version control (if keywords were entered on desktop and I overwrite the catalog file with the file from my laptop the desktop data will be lost)

I understand Lightroom has a similar issue. 

[MichelBParis · Accepted solution]

ed4360241  wrote

Wondering if anyone has suggested workflow for managing photos when returning from vacation/shoot with laptop containing new photos (including keywords & ratings) and wanting to update desktop for same.

I store the actual photos in the cloud so both computers sync well in this regard however all the keywords and ratings details entered while using my laptop on the shoot (data contained in the catalog file) do not sync,  This is not a feature offered by Adobe.

Understand I would need to locate the catalog file and manually copy to desktop but naturally for this workflow to be 100% I must be vigilant about version control (if keywords were entered on desktop and I overwrite the catalog file with the file from my laptop the desktop data will be lost)

I understand Lightroom has a similar issue. 

From the title of your post, the obvious answer is to store both your photo gallery and your catalog on an external drive, plugged alternatively on both computers. Your catalogs are always updated. No delay to sync, no need for a web connection.

Using the Cloud as the main storage location? Totally irrealistic for me because I shoot a number of big raw files and I am struggling to keep my library under 70 000 items... too big, too slow, expensive.

That said I use Dropbox (and Google or OneDrive) to maintain a subset of my best edited photos and sync two computers as you describe. The other advantage is that I can access that Cloud library from any device.

Suggestions:

- Keep your library and catalog on the external drive as suggested above.

- Use a syncing utility to sync that library to the Dropbox or equivalent folder in the internal drive of your desktop (I use Microsoft Synctoy). Dropbox will do the job of synchronizing with the cloud and with the laptop.

- It will help if you don't only rely on the catalog, but if you use a simple folder tree to find your files. I would also always 'write metadata to files'. That way, any device, phone or tablet will have access to the cloud library and a way to retrieve pictures without the catalog.

That way you have:

- a single master bundle of library plus catalog totally manageable when you are away from your computer

- you have three 'backup copies' (not working ones) on the cloud and on each computer

- you can access your library from any device (admittedly without access to the catalog).

[ed4360241]

Thank you Michael, I'm new to Elements, big help to know about 'write metadata to files'. 

As I generate more photos can see how the combination of external drive and cloud for subset of best edits is the way to go.

[arshla jindal]

Hi,

Following forum post would provide you a good information about file metadata:

Save metadata to file?? What's it good for?

Thanks,

Arshla

[MichelBParis]

You might have additional questions:

- how to move both library and catalog to the external drive? Move Elements Organizer catalog | Elements 6 or later

- Do I need the organizer backup solution now that I have three copies of the library (and possibly the catalog)? Yes, you'll need it if your external drive crashes or has to be replaced. Even if you save the catalog via the cloud, it will show all files 'missing' and require a long and tricky reconnection process to recognize the new external drive. You can't foresee a crash, but you can plan an organizer backup for a drive replacement. (That question is if you have chosen to manage all your library on the Cloud, no problem if you have a 'subset' library without catalog).

- If I work on a subset of the library, can I synchronize subset catalogs on both laptop and desktop?

Yes, sort of...

You can always create a catalog for the contents of your Dropbox or similar folder on each computer. If you have written the metadata to files before entering the new files into that Dropbox folder you can create and maintain (update) the catalog separately on desktop and laptop by importing, checking missing files and using watched folders. You'll be able to search by date or keywords. You won't synchronize albums, stacks or version sets between both computers.

- ideas to create the 'subset'?

Keep only 'top of version sets' or 'top of stacks' and forget the originals.

Don't include big raw files. The export function lets you convert to jpeg.

Include only files with enough star rating.

Create albums and export them as new folders/subfolders into your Dropbox folder.

Before exporting, be sure to write metadata to files.

Give those subfolders descriptive names.

Periodically remove outdated subfolders to keep the size manageable.

Remember that the subset of files itself is synchronized, but not the catalogs on both computers. If you add tags in the desktop, the synching will update the file if you write metadata to files, but that will not update the tags in the catalog of the other computer.