4 Replies Latest reply: Mar 10, 2009 10:37 AM by MikeV99 RSS

    Changes in LR catalog versus file

    MikeV99 Community Member
      Some items, such as history and flags, are only maintained within the
      catalog database. Hence, if the images are removed from the catalog that
      data is lost (although develop, color class, ratings, and so on can be
      saved in the file or xmp sidecar).

      Obviously, after a while, the catalog can grow rather large.

      From a long term perspective, is it better to keep one large catalog,
      create individual catalogs, or just delete the images from the catalog
      after processing and not be concerned about the history and flag data?

      Thanks

      Mike
        • 1. Re: Changes in LR catalog versus file
          john beardsworth Community Member
          One large catalogue, backed up regularly, and not be too concerned about history or flags. History doesn't mean anything much - it's just an audit trail. Flags should be used for temporary judgements, such as keep or reject - use ratings and labels for permanent evaluation.

          John
          • 2. Re: Changes in LR catalog versus file
            MikeV99 Community Member
            On Mon, 9 Mar 2009 10:00:16 -0700, johnbeardy@adobeforums.com wrote:

            > One large catalogue, backed up regularly, and not be too concerned about history or flags. History doesn't mean anything much - it's just an audit trail. Flags should be used for temporary judgements, such as keep or reject - use ratings and labels for permanent evaluation.
            >
            > John

            Do you keep the image files in separate folders based on some criteria
            (date, event, and so on)? That could result in the folders panel increasing
            in size?

            Do you save any of the develop settings in the files/sidecars or depend on
            the catalog alone?

            Do you keep raw files or convert to dng?

            I appreciate your comments. Thank you.

            Mike
            • 3. Re: Changes in LR catalog versus file
              john beardsworth Community Member
              Date-based folders within DVD-sized buckets. It really doesn't matter if the folders panel is lengthy as I organize pictures by adding them to project/job specific collections, giving them ratings, keywords, other metadata, and find them via smart collections.

              I import raw files, get rid of the junk, save out sidecars, then create DNGs and archive the raw files (probably never see them again). Any further metadata, Library or Develop, will be saved back to the DNGs. So while depending on the catalogue, the key info is also with the file.

              John
              • 4. Re: Changes in LR catalog versus file
                MikeV99 Community Member
                On Mon, 9 Mar 2009 12:52:18 -0700, johnbeardy@adobeforums.com wrote:

                > Date-based folders within DVD-sized buckets. It really doesn't matter if the folders panel is lengthy as I organize pictures by adding them to project/job specific collections, giving them ratings, keywords, other metadata, and find them via smart collections.
                >
                > I import raw files, get rid of the junk, save out sidecars, then create DNGs and archive the raw files (probably never see them again). Any further metadata, Library or Develop, will be saved back to the DNGs. So while depending on the catalogue, the key info is also with the file.
                >
                > John

                Thanks. I am rethinking my approach based on your comments!

                Mike