15 Replies Latest reply: Feb 11, 2007 11:35 AM by Geoff the kiwi RSS

    Wait or use LR now?

    KateMann Community Member
      I have had the beta on my windows computer throughout the testing period. I use it occasionally, but I have never relied upon it for my main workflow. I can hardly wait for the release!

      I am wondering what you guys and gals would advise that I do at this point. I could just start importing my files and add the metadata that I wish to use (there is only about 100 gigs of it - I edit). Or I could wait until the release, completely uninstall the beta and start fresh.

      I am concerned that the new install will be clean and not plagued by files that are left over from the beta, or that are not overwritten properly.

      I have PSCS3 and Bridge CS3 so I am not missing powerful tools.

      What do you think? Should I wait?
        • 1. Re: Wait or use LR now?
          Community Member
          I have decided to wait. I have been here since Beta 2, I think, and although I have done lots of imports I ended up deleting them all preferring to do nothing with my files using a Beta program. I have waited this long to do serious work so 2 more weeks will not cause me any pain.

          It's been an interesting experience for me. Although I've made few comments myself, I have read almost every post on the old site and this new one. You kind of feel like you "know" some of the people who are on here all the time and most all questions and responses have been extremely helpful. To start out with a brand new program and know as much as I do now will be pretty amazing. If only I had had the same opportunity when I first loaded Photoshop 3!

          Thanks to all.
          • 2. Re: Wait or use LR now?
            Andreas Norén Community Member
            I would suggest you to wait.
            Thats not that long time left.
            And even though the beta libraries are compatible with v.1.0 the shoots structure that gets transfered and converted to collections are not especially pretty.
            I would suggest that you start fresh with v.1.0.
            • 3. Re: Wait or use LR now?
              Wolf Eilers Community Member
              I agree with Bobby. I have used Lightroom in a strict beta mode; no production work and have imported only about 2000 images for testing purposes. I am chomping at the bit to get everything into Lr V1 but will wait patiently the few extra weeks.

              In the meantime I have used Bridge to update the location metadata fields in order to use the new metadata browser in Lr V1.

              I also plan on doing a clean install of V1 by deleting my B4.1 libraries. Once I import all my raw files -- which will no doubt take some time -- I'll be off and running (with no learning curve to climb).
              • 4. Re: Wait or use LR now?
                (Andrew_Rodney) Community Member
                Wait if you can. Be aware that you'll probably lose some stuff in the translation since the RC is vastly different in terms of options than the beta. At the very least, rebuild the database from the existing folder structures (you'll lose collections and such but that's not a big deal to rebuild).
                • 5. Re: Wait or use LR now?
                  KateMann Community Member
                  Thank you! I guess I'll just have to wait (impatiently) for the release. It's not so long now ...
                  • 6. Re: Wait or use LR now?
                    Community Member
                    What ever adjustments you make now in ACR Bridge now is saved to xmp sidecars. If you also tag, rate and label in Bridge. All that should at least come into LR V1.0 when you import and/or update B4.1's dB. The rest you can do later. That will get you something of a jump start.

                    Don
                    • 7. Re: Wait or use LR now?
                      Community Member
                      One big difference you'll see when moving to version 1 is the removal of "shoots" and addition of folder support (assuming you use referenced files). I'd suggest waiting for version 1 to come out.

                      - Pierre
                      • 8. Re: Wait or use LR now?
                        Community Member
                        Referneced or managed become the same. There is no mention of Managed anymore.

                        The work done in ARC and saved as XMP will not be wasted time is all I'm saying.

                        Don
                        • 9. Re: Wait or use LR now?
                          Community Member
                          Since, in LR B4.1, 'Managed Photos' and 'Shoots' mirror each other structurally (they do, right?), can I safely assume that when I upgrade, my 'Managed' 'Shoots' will translate straight across as 'Folders' without any rearrangement?

                          Tim Wilson
                          Studio Lab
                          • 10. Re: Wait or use LR now?
                            john beardsworth Community Member
                            Yes.

                            IIRC shoots are also added to keywords.

                            John
                            • 11. Re: Wait or use LR now?
                              Seán McCormack CommunityMVP
                              My B4 stuff came across as a long list of folders, but if you go in and use + to create a new folder and then choose the parent folder of the shoots (eg Managed Photos), it will recreate the folder hierarchy. At least that's what I was told. I did it the hard way!

                              Also, you current Shoot hierarchy gets saved as a collection, with the shoots as child collections.
                              • 12. Re: Wait or use LR now?
                                Community Member
                                I'm new at this; here's a question I have. If I start "fresh" with Version 1, by uninstalling Beta 4.1, then how do I save/keep the work I have done with photos currently in 4.1? Can I export the current photos into another folder somewhere, then import them back into Ver.1? If so then what about:

                                "And even though the beta libraries are compatible with v.1.0 the shoots structure that gets transferred and converted to collections are not especially pretty." Andreas Noren

                                So, do I just start all over? Thanks.
                                • 13. Re: Wait or use LR now?
                                  Seán McCormack CommunityMVP
                                  V1 will backup, convert and verify your B4.1 Library when you run it first.
                                  Each shoot becomes a folder and the shoot hierarchy is saved as a collection.
                                  If the shoots are in a parent folder, then if you hit '+' beside the word Folders and instead of creating a new Folder, navigate to the parent folder. Select it and hit return. LR will then put the folders in the same order as they exists in the folder.
                                  • 14. Re: Wait or use LR now?
                                    Manticore999 Community Member
                                    I wanted to use Beta 4 until the release, but I just can't. I love what I see so far, but even with a Core 2 Duo at 2.66ghz and 4gb of memory - this thing is so slow and beats up the hard drive so badly that it's just not usable. I sure hope my hopes aren't dashed, but if there aren't significant speed improvements then I'll just have to stay with what I have now.

                                    8 days and counting ..... !
                                    • 15. Re: Wait or use LR now?
                                      Geoff the kiwi CommunityMVP
                                      v1.0 is much faster Steve. It really is a work tool now.