Editing w/ Smart Previews multiple computers: Still need regular previews file?

[ryane87568853]

Hello Adobe community!

We are a studio of three photographers and post production artist who recently discovered smart previews!  I know, I wish I would have learned about it a long time ago!

Anyhow, my question is whether or not we need to use the regular preview.lrdata file when transferring between computers.  Or, do we just need to share the .lrcat and Smart Previews.lrdata files? 

My understanding was that the smart previews essentially replaces what the regular previews do.  We use to just render 1:1 previews but were bummed to find out that those are only used in the Library module.

Sorry for this is a question that has been covered before.  I tried scanning the forum first without any luck.

Thanks for your time!

Ryan in Denver

[F. McLion]

You do not need to share the normal previews as these can and will be recreated as needed.

[ryane87568853]

Thanks F Mclion for the reply!  So if those previews will be recreated as needed, would it make sense to at least render minimal regular previews and share those?  Our goal is to reduce the amount of load time between clicking through photos while editing.

[F. McLion]

Of course, sharing the previews does speed up using LR. If space and syncing/sharing time is not an issue, go for it.

I'm interested to learn about your workflow. Your copying from the same source to all artists and they work 'offline'. Are there plans to merge the work of the artists back together ... or what is the target?

[ryane87568853]

Thanks for your continued help!  Here's our workflow:

We use a Synlogy Server to store all of our images.

Photographer imports all wedding photos (approx 2500 images) with smart previews and minimal previews.  The catalog references the photos on the server.

Photographer makes selections of images to be edited (approx 800-1000)

Photographer transfers catalog to server.

In-house post production artist transfers catalog (currently just smart previews and .lrcat file) to their computer and then edits the wedding.

Transfer .lrcat file and smart preview file back to server.

Our owner approves all weddings.  They transfer same catalog files from server to their computer to approve and make any final changes.  Photos are then exported to final .jpg to provide to client.  Final catalog is placed back on server for future reference, making albums etc.

___

Before smart previews, we just rendered 1:1 previews and passed that file and the .lrcat file around the same way listed above.  We learned that those previews are only used in Library mode.  That works for making selections but isn't worth it for the editor or at the approval stage. Currently, when the photographer makes selections and minimal edits for blog etc. they are experiencing immediate file load time which is awesome.   However, the editor and final approval by owner are noticing a lag in time when clicking through files in Develop mode(only .5 second but still not immediate like the photographer experiences).

My understanding was that smart previews renders a screen version of the file so that it can be viewed more rapidly(and also without being connected to the original file).  Ultimately, the purpose of my question is to achieve the quickest load time when clicking through thousands of photos.   Do we also need to copy over minimal or standard previews after the photographer makes selections?

Thanks so much!

[john beardsworth]

ryane87568853  wrote

Hello Adobe community!

Or, do we just need to share the .lrcat and Smart Previews.lrdata files? 

My understanding was that the smart previews essentially replaces what the regular previews do.  We use to just render 1:1 previews but were bummed to find out that those are only used in the Library module.

The smart previews are substitutes for the originals, not for the standard or 1:1 previews. They give you the ability to edit the images even though the originals might not be available - eg you're working away from home. So in your words, the smart previews essentially replaces what the originals regular previews do, to some extent.