While Lightroom islight yearseasier to use than most editors , it works in a unequalled way and , as such , has several pieces and parts . This begs ( legitimate ) questions such as , “ Where are my picture show ? ” , not to mention “ Where are my presets ? ” , and everyone ’s favorite , “ Which files do I back up ? ” In this pillar , you ’ll learn all that and more .
Where does Lightroom store my images?
The short response is that it does n’t . Unlike Photoshop and its image browsing companion , Adobe Bridge , Lightroom is adatabase(other databases you might do it are iPhoto , the newPhotos , the Photoshop Elements Organizer , and FileMaker Pro ) . Lightroom does n’t hive away your images , it put in data about your range in a catalogue that contains a record for each ikon you enjoin it about ( technically speaking , the catalogisthe database ) .
Each record includes a assortment of effigy info , including where it live on on your private road , television camera configurations at capture , any descriptions , keywords , wizard ratings , flags , or labels you ’ve applied in Lightroom ’s Library faculty , and every edit you ’ve ever made in the Develop module . ( If you ’re using Lightroom Mobile on an iOS equipment , you ’re editingpreviewsof the simulacrum cite by the Lightroom catalogue back on your background Mac . )
As this infographic instance , your Lightroom experience consist of four parts : your images , the Lightroom software , catalog(s ) containing records that point to your figure , and a presets folder .
This segregation of image file cabinet from editing information means you may undo anything you do to an image in Lightroom anytime you need . This setup also lets you store images wherever you want : in your Pictures folder or in a usage folder social organization ( say , by date or event ) on an internal or extraneous drive , or internet server . you could also verify where your Lightroom catalog lives , though you ca n’t put it on a server ; catalogue must repose on local private road tie to your Mac . For the rapid Lightroom experience , hive away your catalog(s ) on your fastest drive — say , a square - state ( SSD ) or hybrid ( part SSD , part traditional spinning platter drive ) .
Once you ’ve told Lightroom about your images using its Import dictation , do n’t move , rename , or blue-pencil them behind its back ( say , using your Mac ’s Finder ) . If you do , Lightroom wo n’t be able to find them ( though you’re able to relink figure if you bury ) . It ’s ripe to reserve such file cabinet management chores for the Folder instrument panel in Lightroom ’s Library module so it can update image records as you go . By the way , when you delete an image in Lightroom , the app asks whether you desire to delete it from the catalog , which only deletes its record , or if you want to delete it from your unvoiced drive , which moves the range to your Mac ’s Trash .
As you could see , delete a Indian file from Lightroom does n’t necessarily stand for it ’s deleted from your campaign .
There ’s no limit point to how many double register a Lightroom catalog can contain . you may also produce multiple catalog and easily switch between them , though such organizational overachievement come at a lowly price : you may only open one catalog at a prison term , and Lightroom ’s filtering and search tools ca n’t see record in a catalog that is n’t undecided . So if you create a separate catalog for your professional employment and another for personal exposure , you ’ll need to remember which catalogue contains the records for the image you require to find .
Where do my presets live?
One of Lightroom ’s many advantage is that you may produce a preset for just about anything — file name conventions , copyright info , anything you do in the Develop faculty , exportation place setting ( more on that in a mo ) , watermarks ( both graphic and text - based ) , slideshow and web gallery preferences , photo book page layout , and more . you may even watch when certain presets are applied — on import or export .
Exporting an image from Lightroom incite the programme to create a copy of the original , with or without your edits applied , at the sizing and file format you specify , with or without a watermark , copyright information , and so on . As the infographic above show , Lightroom presets are stored in a whole separate folder ( you could keep in line its location , too ) .
Backing up your files
When it comes to indorse up your Lightroom Life , you have to back up all the pieces and parts advert above : your original images ( wherever they live ) , your Lightroom catalog , and your Lightroom presets pamphlet . Arguably , you should back up the Lightroom program , too , though you could re - download it from Adobe ’s situation .
Ever the helpful one , Lightroom prompts you to back up your catalog each time you quit the program , and you could pick where the duplicate is stored . Since your catalogue contains only teaching and not actual image , it does n’t take long to re-create .
The Choose push allow you pick where your backup catalogue is stored . If potential , store it on a different drive than your original .
Now that you understand where Lightroom stores your stuff , you could put your focus back where it belong — editing your images . Until next fourth dimension , may the creative military force be with you all !
