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How do I delete the photos that I backed up when I imported them?

Explorer ,
Jan 23, 2017 Jan 23, 2017

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This is probably a very elementary question...

When importing, I checked the box that offers to "make a second copy." The problem is that it is taking up a lot of hard drive space. How do I safely delete all of those backed up photos?

Thanks in advance!

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correct answers 1 Correct answer

Community Expert , Jan 23, 2017 Jan 23, 2017

Be sure you understand that when you import using the "Copy" or "Copy as DNG" options- your photos are copied to the folder where they will permanently stay, and where Lightroom makes its references to the files. The "Make a second copy" function is designed to help protect you from loss of files- it creates another set of dated folders with the files grouped by import time (not really useful for long-term backup or restoration of the Lightroom folder structure).

Before you use the operating syst

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Community Expert ,
Jan 23, 2017 Jan 23, 2017

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Be sure you understand that when you import using the "Copy" or "Copy as DNG" options- your photos are copied to the folder where they will permanently stay, and where Lightroom makes its references to the files. The "Make a second copy" function is designed to help protect you from loss of files- it creates another set of dated folders with the files grouped by import time (not really useful for long-term backup or restoration of the Lightroom folder structure).

Before you use the operating system to delete the "Second Copies" be 100% certain (using Finder or File Explorer) that you have both the original files where they were imported AND at least one other backup of all your photos on another drive- including the most recent.

So use the OS to check you have the originals AND backups of the 'originals' folders, then use the OS to delete the "Second Copies"

Regards. My System: Lightroom-Classic 13.2 Photoshop 25.5, ACR 16.2, Lightroom 7.2, Lr-iOS 9.0.1, Bridge 14.0.2, Windows-11.

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Explorer ,
Jan 24, 2017 Jan 24, 2017

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This is very helpful, thank you!

Besides the photo files themselves, are there any other files I would need to delete? In the Download Backups folder, I see a file for the Lightroom Catalog and one for Lightroom Catalog Previews.

Also, can I do this all through the Finder, or is this something that needs to be done through Lightroom somehow?

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Community Expert ,
Jan 24, 2017 Jan 24, 2017

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any other files I would need to delete?

No.   (and done in Finder)

You MUST preserve the Lightroom Catalog and all your Original photo files -without fail!

The Catalog contains everything you do, and have ever done, in the Lr software. It does NOT contain your photos.

Be sure you recognize the difference between your Original photo files in folders, and the "Second Copy" folders-  they are not the same!

(The Lightroom Catalog Previews folder contains all the previews that Lr creates to display in the library and develop modules. It can be deleted, but only ever consider doing this, with expert advice, if you encounter corruption with the previews.)

ScreenShot088.jpg

Only delete the "Second Copy" folder ( named by the Date and Time of the Import)  using Finder- AFTER making archival backups -

ScreenShot087.jpg

Backups of original photos and the Catalog must be on a separate physical hard-drive, as should have been the "Second Copy".

Using different partitions on the same physical drive does not protect against mechanical drive failure.

Am I making it clearer, or harder to understand?

Regards. My System: Lightroom-Classic 13.2 Photoshop 25.5, ACR 16.2, Lightroom 7.2, Lr-iOS 9.0.1, Bridge 14.0.2, Windows-11.

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Community Expert ,
Jan 24, 2017 Jan 24, 2017

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I think the folder structure above can be miss leading the Photo Files "originals are not stored with your Catalog.lrcat and Catalog Previews.lrdata. They reside in the System folder that you have selected when they were imported.

Regards, Denis: iMac 27” mid-2015, macOS 11.7.10 Big Sur; 2TB SSD, 24 GB Ram, GPU 2 GB; LrC 12.5, Lr 6.5, PS 24.7,; ACR 15.5,; Camera OM-D E-M1

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Community Expert ,
Jan 24, 2017 Jan 24, 2017

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Folder structure modified- thanks!

Making better sense?

ScreenShot090.jpg

Regards. My System: Lightroom-Classic 13.2 Photoshop 25.5, ACR 16.2, Lightroom 7.2, Lr-iOS 9.0.1, Bridge 14.0.2, Windows-11.

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Explorer ,
Jan 24, 2017 Jan 24, 2017

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Great, thanks!

So, there are photos in dated folders for the "second copy". Is there a way, in Lightroom, to search for photos on the basis of import date?

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Community Expert ,
Jan 25, 2017 Jan 25, 2017

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search for photos on the basis of import date?

I do not think this is possible in Lightroom. You can use the Sort option "Added Order" but it does not show a date.

There may be a plug-in available that can pull this information from the Catalog. Something like "Any Filter" Any Filter Lightroom Plugin: Criteria Reference

(Capture Time is certainly searchable.)

(It would not be sensible to store "Added Order" in a file's metadata, as this would change if the image were to be imported to other catalogs on different dates.)

Regards. My System: Lightroom-Classic 13.2 Photoshop 25.5, ACR 16.2, Lightroom 7.2, Lr-iOS 9.0.1, Bridge 14.0.2, Windows-11.

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