Catalogs - Lightroom Classic

Intro

Lightroom Classic uses a catalog file to organize your images. The catalog file is a database that tracks the location and information about your photos.

Default Catalog

When Lightroom Classic is open for the first time it will make a catalog with the default settings.

• The name of the currently open catalog is displayed in the top of the Lightroom Classic window.
• Control click on the name to see the file path

Default Locations

• macOS
  • /Users/[user name]/Pictures/Lightroom
• Windows
  • \Users\[user name]\Pictures\Lightroom

Default Name

• Lightroom Catalog.lrcat

Image Locations

• Images are not stored in the catalog
• They can be stored in various places on the hard drive depending on how you imported them.
• https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/import-photos-video-catalog.html
• https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/importing-photos-lightroom-basic-workflow.html

Opening a Catalog

• Lightroom Classic can open different catalogs.
• Only one catalog can be opened at a time.

1. Go to File ... Open Catalog
2. In the new window browse to the catalog
3. Select the catalog file
   • it will end with .lrcat
4. Click Open
5. A dialog window will appear. Click Relaunch
6. Lightroom Classic will reopen with the other catalog

Exporting a Catalog

1. Go to File ... Export as Catalog
2. Enter a meaningful name in the Save As field.
3. Browse to the Desktop
   1. Uncheck Exported Selected Photos only to export the entire catalog.
   2. Check Export negative files
   3. Check Include available previews
4. Click Export Catalog
5. The catalog files and photos will be exported to a folder with the name you entered in the Save As field
6. The original catalog will still be open. If you need to open the exported catalog follow the steps in Exporting a Catalog.

Moving Between Computers

• If you need to work on different computers you need to make sure to backup your catalog file and your photos.
• Export the catalog to collect everything to one folder on the Desktop.

External Hard Drives

• If you have a fast USB 3 drive you should be able to export your catalog and photos to the drive.
• Then open the catalog from the USB 3 drive from any computer.

Using OneDrive

You can use OneDrive to moves files between computers.

Upload to OneDrive

You want to make sure that you backup your catalog file and your photos. Export the catalog to collect everything to one folder on the Desktop.

1. Quit Lightroom Classic
2. Go to office.com
3. Click Sign In and sign in with your Evergreen email and password.
4. Click the grid of dots in the top left and select OneDrive
5. Click My Files. Click Add New on the top left
6. Select Folder Upload
7. Browse to your folder
8. Click Upload.

Download from OneDrive

1. Go to office.com
2. Click Sign In and sign in with your Evergreen email and password.
3. Click the grid of dots in the top left and select OneDrive
4. Find the folder with the catalog and photos.
5. Click the three dots to the right of the folder name and select Download
6. The folder will be downloaded as a zip file.
7. When the download is finished drag the zip file to the Desktop
8. Double click the zip file to uncompress it
9. The open the catalog following the steps in the Opening a Catalog section above.