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Paynts1
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Working in LR4 on two separate computers

May 27, 2012 9:05 PM

Tags: #library #lightroom4

When I travel, I need to be able to work on my photos in LR4 on my laptop (Mac) and then transfer back to my desktop when I get home. In Aperture this was simply a matter of copying the App Library back and forth.

Can this be done in LR4

1273 Views   14 Replies   Latest reply: johnbeardy, May 29, 2012 4:16 AM
 
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  • johnbeardy
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    1. johnbeardy,
    May 28, 2012 12:07 AM   in reply to Paynts1
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    Yes.

     
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  • Paynts1
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    2. Paynts1,
    May 28, 2012 12:14 AM   in reply to johnbeardy
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    Thanks for your quick response - what do I need to copy across to the lap top (and then, obviously, back to the desk top?

    I assume I need the LR catalog as well as the individual photos?

     
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  • johnbeardy
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    3. johnbeardy,
    May 28, 2012 12:37 AM   in reply to Paynts1
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    That's correct. Do you know how to find the catalogue and are your images (a) easy to gather and (b) small enough to fit on the laptop?

     

    There is a difference IF you were using Aperture with managed files. Is this relevant to you? If so I'll explain more - basically all photos in LR are "by reference".

     

    There are 2-3 alternatives:

     

    - always keep photos and catalogue on an external hard drive

    - copy the catalogue and photos using Finder

    - File > Export as Catalog

     

    This last one is my preference. When I go on the road, I select a bunch of photos I want with me and Export as Catalog. I tick include previews and include negatives (originals). This produces a folder containing everything I need - a catalogue containing just those images, the images themselves. I move that folder onto the laptop and go. At the end of the trip, I bring this back onto my desktop, open my main catalogue, and run File > Import from Another Catalog. LR then brings in any changes made on the laptop and ties them back to the originals.

     

    John

     
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  • Paynts1
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    4. Paynts1,
    May 28, 2012 12:45 AM   in reply to johnbeardy
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    That's really helpful mate - thanks - just trying to do this now

     
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  • Paynts1
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    5. Paynts1,
    May 28, 2012 12:52 AM   in reply to johnbeardy
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    If I am travelling and upload my photos from the camera to the laptop first to work on them, can I simply import from another catalog onto the desktop to merge them with the main catalog when I return?

     
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  • ssprengel
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    6. ssprengel,
    May 28, 2012 12:52 AM   in reply to Paynts1
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    I use LR on two different computers, but cannot predict which one, nor which photos, so I use an external drive with my photos and catalog, ready to plug in to either computer.  Any time copying photos is overnight to my backup location, when I’m asleep.

     
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  • Paynts1
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    7. Paynts1,
    May 28, 2012 1:07 AM   in reply to johnbeardy
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    And one lasat one before I forget - if, while working on the catalog on the laptop, I delete photos I don't wantb to keep, will they also delete from the main catalog when I re-import onto the desk top

     
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  • johnbeardy
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    8. johnbeardy,
    May 28, 2012 1:16 AM   in reply to Paynts1
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    "If I am travelling...." - yes, by exactly the same process as I described.

     
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  • johnbeardy
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    9. johnbeardy,
    May 28, 2012 1:19 AM   in reply to Paynts1
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    "if, while working on the catalog on the laptop, I delete photos I don't wantb to keep, w..."

     

    No, so do something like use a colour label. Mark the image as yellow on the laptop, and it'll show up yellow after you do the File > Import as Catalog.

     

    By the way, you are able to do that Export - Import roundtrip without moving the pictures themselves. Providing LR has the previews, you can see them on the laptop and apply metadata - but you can't run them through Develop or output them in a meaningful way.

     
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  • Paynts1
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    10. Paynts1,
    May 28, 2012 1:26 AM   in reply to johnbeardy
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    cool thanks - I do want to develop however, it passes the time on planes

     
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  • Paynts1
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    11. Paynts1,
    May 29, 2012 2:19 AM   in reply to johnbeardy
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    Just when I thught I had it correct, here I am 2000 miles from home and LR tells me the photo is "offline or missing"

    What did I do wrong??

     
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  • johnbeardy
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    12. johnbeardy,
    May 29, 2012 3:48 AM   in reply to Paynts1
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    Assuming you followed my Export as Catalog" advice:

     

    "What did I do wrong??"

     

    Possibly forgotten to tick the "Include Negatives (originals)". In which case you can add metadata but not do Develop work.

     

    Alternatively, you moved the images in Explorer/Finder or they're not quite in the same fodler structure. Right click the folder, and Update Folder Location.

     
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  • Paynts1
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    13. Paynts1,
    May 29, 2012 3:59 AM   in reply to johnbeardy
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    Thanks mate - will need to redo this when I get home to try again, my real confusion here is that I do not have the photo originals on both machines so am confused what I am moving or working on.

     
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  • johnbeardy
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    14. johnbeardy,
    May 29, 2012 4:16 AM   in reply to Paynts1
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    Focus on that point about "Include Negatives (ie originals)". If you tick it, the folder created by Export as Catalog will include a set of subfolders containing copies of the originals, and you just move the whole lot over to the laptop.

     
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