Importing Archive into Lightroom

I need a little direction before I start this huge project. I have been put in charge of organizing a main archive that is totally uncategorized, not keyworded or even separated by subfolders. I also need to add images from current projects to the archive and organize/keyword in the same way. So, my plan is to create a LR catalog for the archive and keyword as I import. I do use LR for editing smaller projects, but I have not used LR for such a daunting project involving keywording and I just want to make sure I do this right from the get-go
Should I import the entire archive into LR, create collections and then keyword? Or should I create subfolders outside of LR and then import the subfolders individually so that I can keyword them in groups? Also, should I keep jpegs and tifs of the same image together in the same collection or keep them separate? Any tips or advice are greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

Hal P Anderson wrote:
Look here for a wealth of information on best practices.
Peter Krogh, the author of The DAM Book  directed the creation of that website.
Hal
What a great website, thanks Hal. But where should I take all the time from to read through it?
Beat

Similar Messages

  • I am not able to import photos into Lightroom 5.7.  When I select a folder, it doesn't show a preview of the images and the import button is greyed out. ??

    I am not able to import photos into Lightroom 5.7.  When I select a folder, it doesn't show a preview of the images and the import button is greyed out. ??
    I have been using Lightroom 5 for 2-3 months now and all worked well, up until today's effort to import a new set of photos. I am working on a Mac with Yosemite 10.10.1.

    Go to the bibliothec module, select the folder, right click on the folder and hit synchronize
    Sorry I have only a german version , so don't know what your menu will show.

  • I just got a new Mac Mini, and now when I try to import photos into Lightroom, iPhoto try to load them first, then Lightroom can't find the files.  Big problem.  What to do?

    I just got a new Mac Mini, and now when I try to import photos into Lightroom, iPhoto ties to load them first, then Lightroom can't find the files.  Big problem.  What to do?

    Simple:
    File -> Export to get your photos out of the iPhoto Library. In the Export dialogue you can set the kind to Original and you'll get back exactly what you put in.
    Apps like iPhoto2Disk or PhotoShare will help you export to a Folder tree matching your Events.
    Once exported, you can then trash the iPhoto Library - just drag it from the Pictures Folder to the trash and empty it.
    After that, if you're entirely neurotic about it, just put the iPhoto app in the trash and empty it.
    Regards
    TD

  • I can not import photos into lightroom 4.4  Had no problem before this time.

    I can not import photos into lightroom 4.4  Had no problem before this time.  I have camera raw7.4 and use a NikonD7100.  I have a Mac using 10.6.8.  I can see the images and selected for import in Lightroom, but after I check "import" I get a message that Lightroom could not read the files.  This happens with both raw and jpeg files.  Thanks for a repl

    thanks for the reply. would you please tell me how to check for the folder to have write permission.  I have done the same settings as before but this time does not transfer.  It says can not read files with a code "298".  I can see the thumbnails on the screen prior to trying to import the photos, also can see them with the card in the camera and using the view mode.  I have up to date camera raw 7.4 for my Nikon D7100 and the settings allow for 7.1 and above

  • I import photos into lightroom and they appear just fine and then after 'developing' some disappear from the library though they still exist in the previous import window

    I import photos into lightroom and they appear just fine and then after 'developing' some disappear from the library though they still exist in the previous import window

    Running MacOS 10.9.4 16 Gb RAM Lightroom v5.2

  • Problems with importing images into Lightroom cc

    Problems with importing images into Lightroom cc
    I have installed lightroom cc and having trouble imortera images from my Canon 1DX.
    Lightroom starting the capture, but then nothing happens more, if I turn off the camera, I get error message photo 100-200 could not be loaded.
    Now I have left lightroom 5 and where the input port works fine.
    What happened to the upgrade from Lightroom 5 to lightroom cc?
    The camera has the latest software.

    I've now tested in various ways.
    First, I have images on both memory cards in the camera.
    Test1) Selects Not all of the photos in the camera at the input port bearings, it seems to work fine.
    Test 2) selects all cards in the camera and then get the following, Lightroom starts inportera short but stops and nothing happens (Fig.1).
    I turn the camera off after a while and get the next meddelnade (picture 1)
    Which can be translated:
    "The following files were not imported because they could not read (351)
    Property 1-100
    etc. "
    Picture 1.
    Picture 2

  • Can I save a dng file from Photoshop6 to import back into Lightroom 4

    Can I save a dng file from Photoshop6 to import back into Lightroom 4. I don't understand why this is not straight forward.

    Hello!
    The DNG format's goal is to be an universal file formats for camera raw files: http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/extend.displayTab2.html?promoid=DTEHA
    You can save a DNG from camera raw without a problem.
    Just go the the bottom left hand corner of the interface, and select "save image".
    (as explained here in the help files: http://help.adobe.com/en_US/creativesuite/cs/using/WS91C1E0BD-9600-42b2-8EBE-1E012ED61058. html#WSB0DC278F-B3DF-4a60-88BC-B3D6A852C242 )
    Or are you trying to save an file edited in Photoshop as a DNG?
    For what purpose, exactly? A TIFF, PSD or PSB file can have a raw file, saved as a Smart Object (to allow later reprocessing in Camera Raw) and all the pixel/vector editing layers intact.
    If saved with maximize compatibility, it can be opened in Lightroom for cataloging, and editing, if needed.

  • Problems importing video into Lightroom 5.3

    I am using LR 5.3 on a Macbook running Mavericks.  Since upgrading from Lightroom 4 I have had trouble importing videos into Lightroom. 
    The generic video thumbnail appears, but the import hangs and never completes.  When cancelling the import the error message is shown "No photos or video were found to import."
    After reading on various forums I have tried:
    restarting computer (many times)
    uninstalling previous version of LR
    purging video cache
    changing source location
    changing destination and/or import type
    reinstalling LR5.3
    I have also noted that old videos already in the catalogue that played fine in LR4 won't play back in LR5.3.  They play fine in Quicktime.
    Has anyone else solved this problem?

    Hi InVisionMedia
    I found a Simular Poste regarding this topic: http://forums.adobe.com/message/5397854
    So going over it might enlighting you on the issue. Also i would suggest to start with the Basic Troubleshoot for Playback issues on Lightroom: http://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/kb/troubleshoot-video-issues-lightroom-4.html
    If you have Lightroom 4 still installed, Also make sure that you can still use the footage in the original L4 catalog.
    See if the files still work fine in the "old" version.
    Hopefully it will help you to fix the issue.

  • How can I avoid importing video into Lightroom CC?

    Hi all,
    I am using Lightroom CC on my iMac to catalogue my photos, a task I really find Lightroom perfect for.
    However, I am also using my DSLR for shooting video´s, which I edit with Final Cut Pro. Lightroom is _not_ a part of the video import/editing workflow, so I really do not want to have Lightroom import all videos in addition to all my photos.
    My question is:
    How can I set up Lightroom so that it no longer import videos?
    My current workflow is tedious, and really not one I like: I import everything into Lightroom, and then manually delete all the video´s.
    Your help is kindly appreciated!
    K

    Lr isn't particularly good at separating out individual files types within the import window. However, some of the third party plugins usually provide the sort of filtering you require. Unfortunately, I can't recall exactly which ones do, but you could try this one from Rob Cole as a starter http://www.robcole.com/Rob/ProductsAndServices/ImporterLrPlugin/ or http://www.robcole.com/Rob/ProductsAndServices/OttomanicImporterLrPlugin/

  • Trying to import photos into Lightroom 5 isn't working

    I am trying to import photos into my lightroom 5 catalog and it isn't working.  Done this MANY times before and this time nothing.  Tried importing directly from memory card and copying the files to the hard drive both just start the process and it never moves.  Even tried putting the files in the folder I was going to use and then selected to Sync the folder.  Lightroom recognized the 203 times in that folder...  but nothing.  Just sits there.
    Using Lightroom on the Mac, importing JPG and a few AVI files.  Tried single JPG (that I could open in preview) but nothing...
    Any help would be appreciated!

    Seems like this is related to specific files.  If I make a new folder with only certain files it works.  But seeming like it is more then a handful.  Really painful, because once it has the issue you need to close lightroom, then lightroom needs to be forced to quit... it doesn't close cleanly.....
    All the images that cause the problem seem fine in any other viewer....

  • How do I correctly import images into Lightroom?

    Before installing Adobe Creative Cloud, I deleted Adobe Elements and all files in My Pictures on my hard drive so I could start fresh. I copied groups of images from CS5 Bridge on my old pc onto an empty flashdrive and tried to import them to Lightroom. In addition to those copied images, whole bunches of other images imported. Even worse, those added images were sorted strangely, not even belonging to the groups as I had them in my old pc.

    Since you used the Copy import type, at least the images are also where they originally were, other than those on the flash-drive which was a temporary location for images from another location except when you plug it in.
    So there seem to be two unexpected things: more images were imported than you wanted to be imported, and some of the images are in folders that don't match the date they were taken.
    The folder-date mismatch might be due to some of the photos not having a taken-date in the exif information so the date they were last modified is used, instead.  You should check your destination naming options in LR to see if you have things set to import into date folders or not.  If not, then you actually specified that LR import a particular import's photos into a specifically-named folder that you typed the name of.
    As far as how extra photos got imported, only you can answer that.  It would have to do with where you told LR to import from and if you have Include Subfolders selected.  There is a way to specify an Auto Import folder using LR / File / Auto Import where LR will watch for photo files and import photos it see show up in that folder, but I doubt that is the problem.
    You'll have to decide on what to do now.  If you have all the photos still on the flash drive, then you might want to start over.  However, also think about if you want to be doing a Copy Import into your pictures folder from everywhere else, or if you want to use Explorer to copy the photos, yourself, outside of LR and do an Add import.  A Copy import from the flash drive could make more sense, since that is only a temporary location for the photos, but for other photos already on your computer, an Add import might make more sense.  If you use your OS copy commands to move photos from the flash drive to your computer's internal drive, you can decide what to name the folders, instead of LR choosing, if you have LR Import set to use dates.
    If things aren't in completely the wrong places, you can drag-and-drop within the LR Library Folders panel to put things where you want, and you can also right-click Remove (without deleting from disk) any extra photos.
    Also, there is nothing magic about the Pictures folder.  You can choose to make a new folder and put your LR photos under it. 
    The bottom line is that LR isn't doing anything more than what you told it to do, and it sounds like you just aren't aware of all the settings enabled during your imports so unexpected things happened.

  • Cannot import RAW into Lightroom 4 (Sony@500)

    I am unable to import my RAW files into Lightroom 4.  My camera is a Sony Alpha 500 DSLR.
    All reasearch I've done online hasn't resulted in any help.  Has anyone else had this issue?

    Welcome to the forum.
    Give a little more info. Are you trying to import direct from the camera, from a card reader, or are the files on your hard drive.
    If you are getting a message that the files "could not be read" it is possible that you may be trying to copy the files to a location where you may not have full permission to read and write.
    Your camera is listed as supported.
    Are you updated to the latest version of LR 4.4?

  • Problem importing pictures into lightroom 5.4 on a Mac.

    I have lighroom 5.4 on a Mac and I am having some trouble importing pictures into my library on lightroom. The other day I was trying to import some from another folder in my computer and the files were showing up empty (although they were not). And today I was trying to import from an SD card and I was having the same problem. I shoot in raw on a Nikon. So what can I do to fix this problem?
    This is what it looks like when I try to import

    Ask in the LR forum and provide exact technical info - "I shot raw on Nikon" and "on a Mac" is not.
    Mylenium

  • Problem importing images into Lightroom 5.6

    I use an iMac 10.9.5. I've been importing CR2 files converting to DNG into Lightroom 5.6 with no problems.
    Suddenly, files are taking an age to import and Lightroom hangs without loading all the files. I have to force quit Lightroom and then my computer hangs and won't shut down. I close by holding the button down on the back of the iMac. Then Lightroom fails to open. After many attempts I've managed to start Lighroom again but I still have the same problem loading the files. I have tried deleting the com.adobe.Lightroom5.plist file in the Preferences folder, as suggested on this forum but that hasn't cured the problem. I don't know whether this has caused a problem but I used a Transcend multi card reader for the first time this week instead of my usual reader. Perhaps there was some kind of issue with compatibility although there shouldn't have been. Now though, I can't upload from my old card reader properly either.
    Any ideas?

    Thanks for your reply dj..paige. It could have been the new card reader that caused the initial problem but I used more than one card so I don't think the card is the problem. The original reader wouldn't work either.
    Update: Lightroom now seems to be back to normal. I don't know why but it seems to have sorted itself out. Perhaps deleting the com.adobe.Lightroom5.plist file in the Preferences folder had an effect after all, after a few attempts at opening and closing Lightroom.
    I'm sending the Transcend multi card reader back for a refund as I'm sure this started the problem.
    I've wasted two days sorting this - nightmare!

  • Trouble importing photos into Lightroom 3

    I was no longer able to  import photos into Light room 3 so I removed everything to "My Pictures" to a folder named Light room Photos and uninstalled and reinstalled Light room, but when I try to import my photos back into Light room from that folder it "no photos found" which was why I tried this to begin with as whenever I tried to import from a memory card it came up with "no photos found.  Any ideas?@

    I'm having the same problem as you.
    Lightroom 5.2 has been running for a year and now it's just stops importing from my CF cards.
    Is that the same problem, or a different problem?
    What is the error message?
    I've got Permissions set to allow me to do anything so, that ain't the issue either.
    This is often the first response and when we insist that we see screen captures of the Import dialog box and the permissions on the folder specified under "Destination", it turns out the permissions are not set properly.
    So, we need to see screen captures of both your Import dialog box and the permissions on that exact folder specified under Destination

Maybe you are looking for