Does Lightroom save images as file I can find on the Mac?

[AnotherMe]

I am trying to transfer my Apple Aperture files to Lightroom. But Aperture made it difficult in that it saved the images in library folders. Does Adobe Lightroom do that a well? Or, can I find the images in the find folder on the Mac?

[JP Hess · Accepted solution]

An interesting question. Please clarify what version of Lightroom you are using. In reality, Lightroom doesn't "save" your images anywhere. If you are using a desktop version of Lightroom that stores your images on your computer, Lightroom utilizes a catalog which is a database. Images must be imported or added to that catalog. The images are stored in folders on your computer. You specify where those images are stored, and the images become objects in the catalog or database. All of the adjustments that you make are stored in the catalog. Nothing is ever done or applied to the image itself. In order to have a copy of that image that has all of those adjustments it is necessary to export a new copy of that image from Lightroom. Are you new to using Lightroom?

[Neox99]

Excellent response Jim.

Imagine if everyone attempting to us Lr for the first time were required to watch a 2 minute video tutorial on Nondestructive Editing.

[AnotherMe]

JimHess  wrote

An interesting question. Please clarify what version of Lightroom you are using. In reality, Lightroom doesn't "save" your images anywhere. If you are using a desktop version of Lightroom that stores your images on your computer, Lightroom utilizes a catalog which is a database. Images must be imported or added to that catalog. The images are stored in folders on your computer. You specify where those images are stored, and the images become objects in the catalog or database. All of the adjustments that you make are stored in the catalog. Nothing is ever done or applied to the image itself. In order to have a copy of that image that has all of those adjustments it is necessary to export a new copy of that image from Lightroom. Are you new to using Lightroom?

Thanks for the great answer.

I am using the latest edition of LightRoom.

[JP Hess]

"Latest version" doesn't really tell us anything. Do you mean Lightroom 6 .14, Lightroom Classic CC version 7.1, or Lightroom CC version 1.1? They are different, have different features, and you need to understand what it is that you are using. Are you aware of what it is that you have installed?

[Neox99]

There are two ways the files in the cloud could also be on your Mac drive(s) and visible using Finder.

1 - If you synced from your drive and have not deleted them

2 - If you Saved To: from either the Lr Web and/or Lr CC desktop.

If you synced from a source not on your drive(s), then NO the files are not on your system.