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

Locations

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

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