YOU can help me help others learn photography. You can quickly offer your support here where I receive 100% of your kind gift: ko-fi.com/anthonymorganti You can change the default amount to the amount you'd like to donate. In this tutorial, I make my case for why most of you, should have this Lightroom catalog setting turned on. Please help support my channel - consider purchasing my Lightroom Presets: www.anthonymorganti.com/ and my Lightroom Profiles: onlinephotographytraining.shop/lightroom-profiles/ ** I am an affiliate for all of the other companies mentioned below EXCEPT Affinity Photo and Capture One. Please read my Code of Ethics Statement: onlinephotographytraining.com/code-of-ethics/ My Current Gear I’m always trading in cameras and lenses trying out new products. As of the recording of this video, here is the gear I currently own and use. All gear is purchased by me at normal retail pricing - I’m not sponsored by anyone nor am I an ambassador for any camera/lens manufacturer. The links below are my Amazon affiliate links. **As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases Cameras: Nikon Z9: bit.ly/32Pa9Kg (Adorama Affiliate Link) Nikon Z7ii: amzn.to/351PPmL Nikon Z6ii: amzn.to/3399eS7 Nikon Z6: amzn.to/2TIBGnR Nikon Zfc with Nikon 16-50mm f3.5-6.3 Lens: amzn.to/3ykA07w Nikon D500: amzn.to/2WyO8Lt Sony A7Riv: amzn.to/3amo9JJ Lenses: Nikon Z-Mount: Nikon Z 24-70mm F4.0 Lens: amzn.to/2Z0hW55 Nikon Z 24-70mm F/2.8 S: amzn.to/2JWo5IX Nikon Z 24-200mm F4-6.3 Lens: amzn.to/3j4xVrA NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S: amzn.to/3Cw4CVU TTArtisan 11mm F2.8: amzn.to/354Vnji Sony E-Mount: Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art Lens: amzn.to/3iKdbBQ Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art Lens: amzn.to/36fD8F1 Nikon F-Mount: Nikon 200-500mm F5.6 Lens: amzn.to/2WpggM2 Nikon 24-70mm F2.8 Lens: amzn.to/2VQMKi9 Nikon 28-300mm F3.5-5.6 Lens: amzn.to/2QuWmyb Nikon 14-24mm F2.8 Lens: amzn.to/2ZXR55C Nikon 70-200mm F2.8 VRii Lens: amzn.to/2WG1p5f Nikon 1.4x Teleconverter: amzn.to/2WlkZ1z Nikon 18-200mm F3.5-5.6 DX Lens: amzn.to/2MiEKUk Tokina 100mm Macro Lens: amzn.to/2ZRgxfK Sigma 105mm 1.4 Art Lens: amzn.to/32PmFDZ Other Gear: Battery Grip: VG-C4EM for Sony A7Riv: amzn.to/3g3Wvnm Tripods & Ballheads Vanguard Tripod: amzn.to/2WqWB2u Siriu Ballhead: amzn.to/2W1MyS0 MeFOTO Travel Tripod: amzn.to/31GVvys The Carbon Fiber Version: amzn.to/2LjVt9m Joby GorillaPod: amzn.to/2zMNAEc Camera Straps & Backpack Peak Design Camera Strap: amzn.to/2Sqi4Eg Peak Design Slide Camera Strap: amzn.to/2DoLxLl Peak Design Everyday 30L Backpack: amzn.to/2MJPFcb Spider Pro Hand Strap: amzn.to/30k170u Spider Pro Hand Strap ver 2: amzn.to/3aC3p1Z Memory Cards Sony 120GB XQD Card: amzn.to/2HlfR8Y Sony TOUGH-G series SDXC UHS-II Card 64GB: amzn.to/2PUJHoD Sony TOUGH-G series SDXC UHS-II Card 128GB: amzn.to/3oP6EZX Sony XQD/SD Card Reader: amzn.to/2NBuSHB Sony 128GB CFExpress Card: amzn.to/353hWC4 Delkin Devices 256GB CFExpress Card: amzn.to/3pULMDR CFExpress Card Reader: amzn.to/2X2xMbQ Anthony Morganti’s MUST HAVE applications: At least one Non-Destructive RAW Editor Lightroom - bit.ly/2zwQ0nW Capture One - www.captureone.com Luminar - bit.ly/2JUJxKw (Save with the Promo Code AM16) On1 Photo RAW - on1.sjv.io/EaGR2K (Save 20% with Promo Code: AM20) Exposure X7 - bit.ly/2U8UxrK (Save 10% with Promo Code: AnthonyMorganti) PhotoLab 5: tidd.ly/2HhiN9X At least one FULL Editing App: Photoshop - bit.ly/2zwQ0nW Affinity Photo - affinity.serif.com/en-us/photo/ My MUST-HAVE Plugins: Topaz Gigapixel AI - bit.ly/3cDqa5J Topaz Sharpen AI - bit.ly/3cDqa5J Topaz Denoise AI - bit.ly/3cDqa5J *Save 15% on all Topaz Labs apps - use the Promo Code: AMDISC15 or instead of Topaz Denoise AI: On1 NoNoise AI - on1.sjv.io/EaGR2K (Save 20% with Promo Code: AM20 - May not work on sale product) Nik Silver Efex Pro 3 - tidd.ly/3dc4gYm The Best Sky Images I've Seen Available -- Ocudrone - bit.ly/3vtDpjR *Save 10% with Discount Code: Morganti10 ** Note that all of the promo codes listed above may not work on sale products. *** I am an affiliate for all of the companies listed EXCEPT Affinity Photo and Capture One. Please read my Code of Ethics Statement: onlinephotographytraining.com/code-of-ethics/ Please follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/anthonymorganti/ Thank you!
Excellent. Thank you. I often tune into what you do. Your photographic points are clear, important and concise. One other thing - and this is important - your speaking voice is also extremely clear and understandable. You have clearly thought out what you're going to say, how you're going to say it and then you present it in a manner which is easy for the listener to hear and assimilate00. So many others who create similar threads gabble and rush their words and do not seem to realise that if you cannot communicate and explain your thoughts clearly to other people, all the knowledge you might have is rendered useless because the listener is unable to understand what you're saying. Once again, thanks. Roger Cable
Hi Anthony, thanks so much for your excellent editing videos. You are a valuable resource to have. I have a question about this setting. I use both my mac mini as well as macbook pro for editing and store my images on portable SSDs. If I use this setting, will I be able to see the edits done on one computer when I open it in the other?
Thank you Anthony. Your advice is very much appreciated, you are a walking, talking photography computer who keeps us ahead of our limited ideas and knowledge.
Even if you have a moderately sized library (my main one is about 40,000 photos), if you do a batch process (something like modifying your copyright info for example) to even just a couple hundred to a couple thousand photos, the update to all those xmp files will defintely slow your computer down. Granted, I do all my work on laptops, but they each have 32gb of RAM and one is running a pentium i7 while the other has an i9 chipset, both at > 1.5 GHz processor speeds. Even so, I still recommend doing this. Also, if you export your photos using lightroom classic, there's an option to write metadata (and select certain metadata) directly to the exported photo file. This won't include your LR edits, but it does include GPS coordinates, copyright info, keywords, etc.
I've been on this page since the beginning! GOOD ADVICE, Anthony!!! My catalog is on my SSD/C:, Backed up to Google Drive automatically (a few $/mo extra storage). All "Current Images" (10 yrs) and XMP on Internal drives, backed up to NAS nightly, and moved to . Archived images (>10yrs) saved 3 times to BU drives, I keep Memory cards filed until all backups are complete and verified. I use a VIRTUAL Desktop "Photos/LR" and have BACKUP CATALOG ON EXIT turned ON. This way the screen isn't tied up when LR is backing up the catalog. I just swap to my MAIN virtual desktop. Sorry, I do not use APPL, so I have no clue if they have virtual desktop. But you Windows users should really use it if you aren't already!!
Yes, excellent advice. My catalog recently got corrupted and could not be read. I had no backup since version 11 got installed and forced a new catalog. Those XMP files that you spoke of years ago saved my butt. I hope people listen.
Great videos as usual. I've also been using PS along Luminar Neo & AI (as plug-ins) and assuming when I expor to one of these apps, the xmp is also updated? Plus, I have been thinking of leaving LR & PS (primarily for the expense) and just using Luminar, so how would the xmps work in that case? Are they recognized by Luminar. Thanks.
Great Tip Anthony. I have Lightroom on my laptop to edit photo's at vacantion. Now I can easely transfer my edits to my main PC later. I only have to switch on XMP creation on my laptop
100% agree. I didn't originally, and it only took losing edits on about 100+ images when I had corrupted catalog. The only reason I didn't lose everything was a backup catalog. Yet, 100+ image edits was hours of work I had to redo. Now, I have XMP sidecars on everything just for redundancy.
Personally, I use the XMP File option as a "backup" so if the catalog crashes (or gets corrupt) I can rebuild it without losing much of anything, if anything. Usually though what I've found is if LR crashes, you may lose the last edit you did, but the XMP file option is valuable, plus it lets you jump between LR and Bridge/ACR quickly. But for me the biggest benefit is it's another "backup" in addition to the LR Catalog backup. It does have a slight performance hit on the system (even when using an SSD) but still worth the slight impact on performance.
Very interesting. I do enjoy videos where I actually learn something useful. I keep excellent backups, but I really like the added protection of the XMP because sometimes on older pictures, I have the RAW and the finished image in JPEG, but not the edit information as its lost on a catalog from a million years ago. I have those old catalogs, but not sure which catalog matches that image. I am about to begin a project of creating a "master catalog" where I import every catalog I've had into one catalog which might solve the problem, but the XMP is still a great alternative. I'd rather have the option than not have the option.
A friend assisted me in the setting up of my Lrc and organizing my photos as they were not organized. Now after watching the video i did notice that my photos are organized in folders on the Desktop along with the Catalog. My intension is to move my photos into an external hard drive to free some space. What do you advise i do with the Catalog? Do i move it to the external drive as well or keep it on my hard drive. Knowing that whenever i need to access my photos i will have the hard drive connected to my iMac. Thank you
Thanks always informative. . . Caused me to go check, making sure I still have safe file management. Been using LR CC before it was CC & had several desktop failures. And have always put my catalog and the library with XMP files on separate hard drives. That has saved me in both cases.
It just makes sens. And for those using lightroom on a so old computer that xmp files writing slowdown the performance, then, think of updating your equipment. A dual core 3ghz and a 1gb mem video card should do the job. Thx for your video!
I've lost my edits twice (not catastrophically, but annoying nevertheless) exactly because of what you describe: catalog backup on laptop, images on external disk. I was annoyed that Lightroom wouldn't have XMP files, as is the case with Bridge, since I much prefer to do all the catalogizing work in Lightroom rather than Bridge. And here you are, telling us that it is possible to have XMP files in Lightroom :D. Thanks Anthony, I always enjoy and learn from your videos.
Exactly my reasoning for switching these on too. I have to add that e.g. DxO have adapted their app to read the XML file with the photo you want to process in it and I believe they write the edits back into it.
XMP files are a great way to share edits on a particular image. Drive space is cheap and processing power is not an issue unless you are writing to tens of thousands at a time. Sports photographers may want this off, and when I was still shooting sports, I had it off for those catalogs. My other working catalogs it’s on.
You're right, this should be on. If you care enough to backup your images on import to a 2nd drive, you should back up your edits too. I've been using Lightroom since the beta, and I've only just turned it on now. Thanks! *UPDATE: I don't know how much longer I can keep this on, it makes it SO SLOW!!!!! My catalog is enormous (350,000+), so maybe it will settle down once it's finished everything, but I didn't think it would go back and do every photo.
After doing just fine without XMP files for years, I was finally persuaded to turn this on just to try it. Realizing this isn’t a good choice for me because it was adding clutter and the accompanying unnecessary writes an rewrites on my expensive SSD, I turned it back off. That’s when all hell broke loose with my metadata! I thought it would just simply the use the metadata that is already in my catalog, but no! After trying all sorts of things like closing and reopening, optimizing the catalog, and waiting days for it to sort itself out, I finally just gave up and turned it back on. Whatever you do, do not turn this on to just try it out unless you know for sure you want to commit to it. Apparently, I’ll just have to live with all this unnecessary clutter and excessive writes on my SSD.
I'm not sure myself. All those extra files just creating thousands more reads and writes. I know people say storage is cheap, but actually GOOD storage is not cheap, the fast throughput and high read/write reliability just isn't cheap. I do see the benefits to separate XMP files, don't get me wrong, however if you do actually set up your catalogue backups to backup to a different location, you're only dealing with subsets of files within the catalogue as opposed to each and every image. And obviously, keep a backup of the backup. I backup mine to a separate internal hard drive in the same location as my actual photos but that then syncs with the cloud. It's just going to be down to how people like running their backups and dealing with catalogues I guess.
You mention backing up the catalog which I have set to once a week but I'm trying to find how to change the location of the backups. I thought there was a setting to change where the backups are stored but I'm unable to where that is.
Assuming you're asking about LR Classic, choose Edit > Catalog Settings (Windows) or Lightroom Classic > Catalog Settings (Mac OS). On the General tab, I recommend setting Backup to "Every time Lightroom exits." Now when you close LR, a window pops where you can change the Backup Folder location (at least in Windows). It should remember the new location until you change it again. Even set to backup the catalog file "Every time...," when you close LR, you will still have the option to "Skip this time" a catalog backup if you haven't changed anything, as in editing or importing.
IIRC it's in the dialog box that pops up when LrC asks you if you want to backup your catalog - it's neither in the general LrC nor the Catalogue preferences
@@jss27560 OK but the setting for the Backup Folder location is *not* found at Catalog Settings. That's where you set how often you back up. I recommend setting that to Every Time; then close Catalog Settings. Now close Lightroom. A window pops, and *that's* where you can change the backup folder location. Just because you set it to back up Every Time you close LR doesn't mean you actually have to back up Every Time. You can click the Skip button when you close LR if you don't need to backup your catalog file for any new importing or editing.
I have deliberately set this setting to OFF so that the XMP files are not permanently written during the editing process. However, when I'm done, I update the XMP files manually. The down-arrow indicator ("Metadata file needs to be updated") in the filmstrip gives me a visual reminder to do this.
Blows my mind that after 15+ years since the introduction of Lightroom that this setting is still OFF by default. Imagine how many millions of image adjustments have been lost over the years due to this incorrect default!
I shot Pentax for years and it is one of the few cameras that shoots in DNG. I never had to worry about sidecar XMP files until I changed to the Nikon Z camera! Every camera should shoot in DNG!
Really not fond of the way Lightroom catalogues. When I first started using it I moved a folder and lost the edits to those photos. If a free program like Canon DPP can use the normal folder tree it seems odd that Lightroom can't.
But if the catalogue is stored in the pictures folder, then this is backed up together with everything else on your computer drive. Am I missing something?
@@gosman949 backing up on the same drive is what Lr does. I'm talking about 3rd party or OS s/w like time machine that backs up away your whole disk. So why should I care where Lr backs up its catalogue? In actual fact I have been operating under the assumption that Lr makes no back up whatsoever so it has always been my responsibility to back up the catalogue like I do with all my other (non Lr) files.
Rename your photos when you import them, and unless you've shot thousands with the same new name, there won't be duplicates. I use a format such as 2022-06-09 Disneyland with the original file number. You can websearch how to rename photos on Import; it's not hard and doesn't take much time, and you can certainly choose a different format that works for you. If I give you a link here on how to do it, my comment won't display.
IIRC in Lightroom Classic (LrC), upon "Import..." you can copy and rename your images to another location. Imagine you upload your shots from your memory cards to a file server (partition) that needs a special account for write access - one to use to copy / upload your files to it. Here, I would create folders per, say 100 images, or per shoot, or whatever logic. So the new images you add are placed in new folders, using default or as-is camera file names. Then in LrC you can import from that location and copy/rename. Here I would choose a bulletproof uniqueness. Say, you start the filename with YYYYMMDDHHMMSS and already you have potentially a unique name (unless you remotely fire a second camera triggered by the first), but you could add a main subject (person) name, and event description, and a sequence number. You still have the original with the original name in one location and now the image that you will process in another location. When you generate JPEGs from these, you can retain the same file name, but here again you can play with user account names and rights so your network can look at these images, but not change them. Shift happens - a relative panicked their files were gone when accidentally an entire folder had been drag-dropped to another location. Just architect/design your workflow to cope with that and build it accordingly.
Precisely. And people with e.g. a notebook and a single SSD forget they are reading and writing from/to the same device all the time - concurrently - and overlook the potential of additional drives on different I/O paths to the CPU.
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Thank you!
I am with Jeffery S. How can I backup my catalogue to an external hard drive?
Thanks Anthony, this is stuff I need to know and pay more attention to. I'll be watching this one again soon!
Fully Agree Anthony, and I turn it on a long time ago after I saw your recommendation
Excellent. Thank you. I often tune into what you do. Your photographic points are clear, important and concise.
One other thing - and this is important - your speaking voice is also extremely clear and understandable. You have clearly thought out what you're going to say, how you're going to say it and then you present it in a manner which is easy for the listener to hear and assimilate00. So many others who create similar threads gabble and rush their words and do not seem to realise that if you cannot communicate and explain your thoughts clearly to other people, all the knowledge you might have is rendered useless because the listener is unable to understand what you're saying.
Once again, thanks.
Roger Cable
Hi Anthony, thanks so much for your excellent editing videos. You are a valuable resource to have. I have a question about this setting. I use both my mac mini as well as macbook pro for editing and store my images on portable SSDs. If I use this setting, will I be able to see the edits done on one computer when I open it in the other?
Thank you Anthony. Your advice is very much appreciated, you are a walking, talking photography computer who keeps us ahead of our limited ideas and knowledge.
Even if you have a moderately sized library (my main one is about 40,000 photos), if you do a batch process (something like modifying your copyright info for example) to even just a couple hundred to a couple thousand photos, the update to all those xmp files will defintely slow your computer down. Granted, I do all my work on laptops, but they each have 32gb of RAM and one is running a pentium i7 while the other has an i9 chipset, both at > 1.5 GHz processor speeds. Even so, I still recommend doing this. Also, if you export your photos using lightroom classic, there's an option to write metadata (and select certain metadata) directly to the exported photo file. This won't include your LR edits, but it does include GPS coordinates, copyright info, keywords, etc.
I've been on this page since the beginning! GOOD ADVICE, Anthony!!!
My catalog is on my SSD/C:, Backed up to Google Drive automatically (a few $/mo extra storage).
All "Current Images" (10 yrs) and XMP on Internal drives, backed up to NAS nightly, and moved to .
Archived images (>10yrs) saved 3 times to BU drives,
I keep Memory cards filed until all backups are complete and verified.
I use a VIRTUAL Desktop "Photos/LR" and have BACKUP CATALOG ON EXIT turned ON. This way the screen isn't tied up when LR is backing up the catalog. I just swap to my MAIN virtual desktop.
Sorry, I do not use APPL, so I have no clue if they have virtual desktop. But you Windows users should really use it if you aren't already!!
If you use time machine on a separate hard drive, is that considered a different external backup?
Also please a video about whether to use Native RAW files or Adobe DNG. Would love your opinion about it. Thanks in advance.
I do this every time... Thanks :)
Yes, excellent advice. My catalog recently got corrupted and could not be read. I had no backup since version 11 got installed and forced a new catalog. Those XMP files that you spoke of years ago saved my butt. I hope people listen.
Great videos as usual. I've also been using PS along Luminar Neo & AI (as plug-ins) and assuming when I expor to one of these apps, the xmp is also updated? Plus, I have been thinking of leaving LR & PS (primarily for the expense) and just using Luminar, so how would the xmps work in that case? Are they recognized by Luminar. Thanks.
Does that make a difference if I’m using raw native files or if I’m using dng files? Thanks for all you wonderful videos!!
Great Tip Anthony. I have Lightroom on my laptop to edit photo's at vacantion. Now I can easely transfer my edits to my main PC later. I only have to switch on XMP creation on my laptop
100% agree. I didn't originally, and it only took losing edits on about 100+ images when I had corrupted catalog. The only reason I didn't lose everything was a backup catalog. Yet, 100+ image edits was hours of work I had to redo. Now, I have XMP sidecars on everything just for redundancy.
Personally, I use the XMP File option as a "backup" so if the catalog crashes (or gets corrupt) I can rebuild it without losing much of anything, if anything. Usually though what I've found is if LR crashes, you may lose the last edit you did, but the XMP file option is valuable, plus it lets you jump between LR and Bridge/ACR quickly. But for me the biggest benefit is it's another "backup" in addition to the LR Catalog backup. It does have a slight performance hit on the system (even when using an SSD) but still worth the slight impact on performance.
Very interesting. I do enjoy videos where I actually learn something useful. I keep excellent backups, but I really like the added protection of the XMP because sometimes on older pictures, I have the RAW and the finished image in JPEG, but not the edit information as its lost on a catalog from a million years ago. I have those old catalogs, but not sure which catalog matches that image. I am about to begin a project of creating a "master catalog" where I import every catalog I've had into one catalog which might solve the problem, but the XMP is still a great alternative. I'd rather have the option than not have the option.
A friend assisted me in the setting up of my Lrc and organizing my photos as they were not organized. Now after watching the video i did notice that my photos are organized in folders on the Desktop along with the Catalog. My intension is to move my photos into an external hard drive to free some space. What do you advise i do with the Catalog? Do i move it to the external drive as well or keep it on my hard drive. Knowing that whenever i need to access my photos i will have the hard drive connected to my iMac. Thank you
Thanks always informative. . . Caused me to go check, making sure I still have safe file management.
Been using LR CC before it was CC & had several desktop failures. And have always put my catalog and the library with XMP files on separate hard drives. That has saved me in both cases.
Thanks! You answered my question. 👍🏻
Thanx a million, important lesson!
Do you have any videos on how to save my LR files to an external HD?
very useful, thanks so much!
It just makes sens.
And for those using lightroom on a so old computer that xmp files writing slowdown the performance, then, think of updating your equipment.
A dual core 3ghz and a 1gb mem video card should do the job.
Thx for your video!
I've lost my edits twice (not catastrophically, but annoying nevertheless) exactly because of what you describe: catalog backup on laptop, images on external disk. I was annoyed that Lightroom wouldn't have XMP files, as is the case with Bridge, since I much prefer to do all the catalogizing work in Lightroom rather than Bridge. And here you are, telling us that it is possible to have XMP files in Lightroom :D.
Thanks Anthony, I always enjoy and learn from your videos.
Exactly my reasoning for switching these on too. I have to add that e.g. DxO have adapted their app to read the XML file with the photo you want to process in it and I believe they write the edits back into it.
What if you backup your complete computer HD with time machine for Apple users?
Question: But first, thanks for this!!
Yes, the xmp files from Bridge are compatible with Lightroom. I use a hybrid system of Bridge and Lightroom and it works well.
Does this XMP file also include edits in PS or DeNoise if we get to the program via LR?
XMP files are a great way to share edits on a particular image. Drive space is cheap and processing power is not an issue unless you are writing to tens of thousands at a time. Sports photographers may want this off, and when I was still shooting sports, I had it off for those catalogs. My other working catalogs it’s on.
Would you be kind enough to expand on why sports photographers should have it off? E.g. would that apply to wildlife? Thanks.
You're right, this should be on. If you care enough to backup your images on import to a 2nd drive, you should back up your edits too. I've been using Lightroom since the beta, and I've only just turned it on now. Thanks! *UPDATE: I don't know how much longer I can keep this on, it makes it SO SLOW!!!!! My catalog is enormous (350,000+), so maybe it will settle down once it's finished everything, but I didn't think it would go back and do every photo.
yeah, dont do it.
I use a desktop pc with files written to an external drive and backed up to another drive. I do not use Lightroom to catalogue or backup my photos.
After doing just fine without XMP files for years, I was finally persuaded to turn this on just to try it. Realizing this isn’t a good choice for me because it was adding clutter and the accompanying unnecessary writes an rewrites on my expensive SSD, I turned it back off. That’s when all hell broke loose with my metadata! I thought it would just simply the use the metadata that is already in my catalog, but no! After trying all sorts of things like closing and reopening, optimizing the catalog, and waiting days for it to sort itself out, I finally just gave up and turned it back on. Whatever you do, do not turn this on to just try it out unless you know for sure you want to commit to it. Apparently, I’ll just have to live with all this unnecessary clutter and excessive writes on my SSD.
I'm assuming that with DNG files, the catalog changes and metadata are within the DNG files since they don't have .xmp files?
Yes, that's right. I do not write XMP data for DNG on the fly (while editing) but only once the editing is complete.
Thank You!
I'm not sure myself. All those extra files just creating thousands more reads and writes. I know people say storage is cheap, but actually GOOD storage is not cheap, the fast throughput and high read/write reliability just isn't cheap.
I do see the benefits to separate XMP files, don't get me wrong, however if you do actually set up your catalogue backups to backup to a different location, you're only dealing with subsets of files within the catalogue as opposed to each and every image. And obviously, keep a backup of the backup. I backup mine to a separate internal hard drive in the same location as my actual photos but that then syncs with the cloud.
It's just going to be down to how people like running their backups and dealing with catalogues I guess.
You mention backing up the catalog which I have set to once a week but I'm trying to find how to change the location of the backups. I thought there was a setting to change where the backups are stored but I'm unable to where that is.
Assuming you're asking about LR Classic, choose Edit > Catalog Settings (Windows) or Lightroom Classic > Catalog Settings (Mac OS). On the General tab, I recommend setting Backup to "Every time Lightroom exits." Now when you close LR, a window pops where you can change the Backup Folder location (at least in Windows). It should remember the new location until you change it again. Even set to backup the catalog file "Every time...," when you close LR, you will still have the option to "Skip this time" a catalog backup if you haven't changed anything, as in editing or importing.
IIRC it's in the dialog box that pops up when LrC asks you if you want to backup your catalog - it's neither in the general LrC nor the Catalogue preferences
@@sounderdavis5446 I'll have to check tonight when I get home. I looked on the catalog settings and didn't see it there.
@@jss27560 OK but the setting for the Backup Folder location is *not* found at Catalog Settings. That's where you set how often you back up. I recommend setting that to Every Time; then close Catalog Settings. Now close Lightroom. A window pops, and *that's* where you can change the backup folder location. Just because you set it to back up Every Time you close LR doesn't mean you actually have to back up Every Time. You can click the Skip button when you close LR if you don't need to backup your catalog file for any new importing or editing.
I have deliberately set this setting to OFF so that the XMP files are not permanently written during the editing process. However, when I'm done, I update the XMP files manually. The down-arrow indicator ("Metadata file needs to be updated") in the filmstrip gives me a visual reminder to do this.
Blows my mind that after 15+ years since the introduction of Lightroom that this setting is still OFF by default. Imagine how many millions of image adjustments have been lost over the years due to this incorrect default!
What is your take on converting RAW files to DNG?
I shot Pentax for years and it is one of the few cameras that shoots in DNG. I never had to worry about sidecar XMP files until I changed to the Nikon Z camera! Every camera should shoot in DNG!
Jpeg do not have xmp files, are edits written to the jpgs?
Yes.
Agree 100%!
Really not fond of the way Lightroom catalogues. When I first started using it I moved a folder and lost the edits to those photos. If a free program like Canon DPP can use the normal folder tree it seems odd that Lightroom can't.
But if the catalogue is stored in the pictures folder, then this is backed up together with everything else on your computer drive. Am I missing something?
correct, but do you really want your catalog backed up on the same drive?
@@gosman949 backing up on the same drive is what Lr does. I'm talking about 3rd party or OS s/w like time machine that backs up away your whole disk. So why should I care where Lr backs up its catalogue? In actual fact I have been operating under the assumption that Lr makes no back up whatsoever so it has always been my responsibility to back up the catalogue like I do with all my other (non Lr) files.
@@dimitristsagdis7340 you want your LR catalog backing up to a different drive. It is just an extra precaution.
@@dimitristsagdis7340 You can select within LR where the backup of the catalog is to be stored.
@@TorstenVillnow tnx
I agree- Use XMP files
Here's a question. How to prevent old photos with the same file number as new ones being overwritten? it happens.
Rename your photos when you import them, and unless you've shot thousands with the same new name, there won't be duplicates. I use a format such as 2022-06-09 Disneyland with the original file number. You can websearch how to rename photos on Import; it's not hard and doesn't take much time, and you can certainly choose a different format that works for you. If I give you a link here on how to do it, my comment won't display.
IIRC in Lightroom Classic (LrC), upon "Import..." you can copy and rename your images to another location. Imagine you upload your shots from your memory cards to a file server (partition) that needs a special account for write access - one to use to copy / upload your files to it. Here, I would create folders per, say 100 images, or per shoot, or whatever logic. So the new images you add are placed in new folders, using default or as-is camera file names. Then in LrC you can import from that location and copy/rename. Here I would choose a bulletproof uniqueness. Say, you start the filename with YYYYMMDDHHMMSS and already you have potentially a unique name (unless you remotely fire a second camera triggered by the first), but you could add a main subject (person) name, and event description, and a sequence number.
You still have the original with the original name in one location and now the image that you will process in another location. When you generate JPEGs from these, you can retain the same file name, but here again you can play with user account names and rights so your network can look at these images, but not change them.
Shift happens - a relative panicked their files were gone when accidentally an entire folder had been drag-dropped to another location.
Just architect/design your workflow to cope with that and build it accordingly.
I have that setting turned on and none of my DNG files have XMP data, only my camera raw files
XMP are stored within the DNG files.
@@TorstenVillnow OK, thank you.
i have copies of both Catalog & Library on at least 3 separate drives so i do not need this turned on...
Too much SSD writing. It’s very easy to set any drive/folder where catalogs and backups are going to be saved. Separately for catalog and backup!
If writing an xmp file is causing a problem you have a lot bigger problem than xmp.
Precisely. And people with e.g. a notebook and a single SSD forget they are reading and writing from/to the same device all the time - concurrently - and overlook the potential of additional drives on different I/O paths to the CPU.