Lightroom Classic Importing Experience

TiffK

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Hi All,

Importing photos for the first time into Lightroom Classic 7.0.1. The experience is atrocious. Status bar is not moving. Some previews are finally showing up, but the whole program is so hindered by the import process that I cannot even start to rate the photos that are showing up. It has not responded to selecting a change in the sort options. I could go on. This is the worst performance I have seen from Lightroom. I thought the main improvements to Lightroom since the split was supposed to be to to the import process. Is this a normal experience? This is terrible.
 
The main improvement in importing was to improve the Embedded and Sidecar Previews preview option so that you don't have to wait for previews to build before rating pictures because it will use the camera-generated previews. If that was not selected at import, it's spending time to build previews like it always has.
 
The main improvement in importing was to improve the Embedded and Sidecar Previews preview option so that you don't have to wait for previews to build before rating pictures because it will use the camera-generated previews. If that was not selected at import, it's spending time to build previews like it always has.
The first time I tested this Sidecar imports did not appear to work correctly. I could not get a 100% view (1:1) at all. This time I tried it and I'm getting a full view. The crew at Lightroom Queen suggested to use Standard. I tried importing at 1:1 but that takes the longest.

Not sure how accurate this video is .

 
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Without more details it is difficult to help. How big are the files you are trying to import? RAW? or jpeg? Card reader or cable connected to camera? USB 2.0 or 3.0? What memory card? How fast is it? What computer? How much RAM? What operating system? How many images? How long does it take? What kind of previews are you generating? Are you setting up Smart Previews? Are you backing up at the same time?
 
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The main improvement in importing was to improve the Embedded and Sidecar Previews preview option so that you don't have to wait for previews to build before rating pictures because it will use the camera-generated previews. If that was not selected at import, it's spending time to build previews like it always has.
The first time I tested this Sidecar imports did not appear to work correctly. I could not get a 100% view (1:1) at all.
Which camera? Some cameras (Olympus) do not embed a full size preview, only a small one. In that case you must shoot raw+jpeg to get a 1:1 view possibility if you use this option. That's why the option is called 'Embedded & sidecar'.
This time I tried it and I'm getting a full view. The crew at Lightroom Queen suggested to use Standard. I tried importing at 1:1 but that takes the longest.
That has always been the case.
 
I was having a similar problem and very slow appearance of any image file once selected.

I noticed a comment in one of the Adobe LR forums about this and followed the suggestion to set an Exclusion for the LR classic folder in my anti-virus software.

This has transformed the entire operation of LR classic and it now works as it used to in the old days

As I understand it, unless the exclusion is set the anti-virus software checks every single file as its loaded

It worked for me, no guarantees it will do the same for you but give it a go and see (I am no longer about to ditch LR Classic in favour of another package because of the speed-up I have seen)

(Malwarebytes was the "Villain" in my case)

--
So much to learn, so little time left to do it! :D
 
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I was having a similar problem and very slow appearance of any image file once selected.

I noticed a comment in one of the Adobe LR forums about this and followed the suggestion to set an Exclusion for the LR classic folder in my anti-virus software.

This has transformed the entire operation of LR classic and it now works as it used to in the old days

As I understand it, unless the exclusion is set the anti-virus software checks every single file as its loaded

It worked for me, no guarantees it will do the same for you but give it a go and see (I am no longer about to ditch LR Classic in favour of another package because of the speed-up I have seen)

(Malwarebytes was the "Villain" in my case)
That is interesting. Thanks. When LR chokes it seems that everything else does. I have Mac cleaning process I put together I run through that wakes it up.
--
So much to learn, so little time left to do it! :D
 
I was having a similar problem and very slow appearance of any image file once selected.

I noticed a comment in one of the Adobe LR forums about this and followed the suggestion to set an Exclusion for the LR classic folder in my anti-virus software.

This has transformed the entire operation of LR classic and it now works as it used to in the old days

As I understand it, unless the exclusion is set the anti-virus software checks every single file as its loaded

It worked for me, no guarantees it will do the same for you but give it a go and see (I am no longer about to ditch LR Classic in favour of another package because of the speed-up I have seen)

(Malwarebytes was the "Villain" in my case)
That is interesting. Thanks. When LR chokes it seems that everything else does. I have Mac cleaning process I put together I run through that wakes it up.
 
I was having a similar problem and very slow appearance of any image file once selected.

I noticed a comment in one of the Adobe LR forums about this and followed the suggestion to set an Exclusion for the LR classic folder in my anti-virus software.

This has transformed the entire operation of LR classic and it now works as it used to in the old days

As I understand it, unless the exclusion is set the anti-virus software checks every single file as its loaded

It worked for me, no guarantees it will do the same for you but give it a go and see (I am no longer about to ditch LR Classic in favour of another package because of the speed-up I have seen)

(Malwarebytes was the "Villain" in my case)
That is interesting. Thanks. When LR chokes it seems that everything else does. I have Mac cleaning process I put together I run through that wakes it up.
So I added exclusions for all my editing software. Thanks again.
--
So much to learn, so little time left to do it! :D
 
I was having a similar problem and very slow appearance of any image file once selected.

I noticed a comment in one of the Adobe LR forums about this and followed the suggestion to set an Exclusion for the LR classic folder in my anti-virus software.

This has transformed the entire operation of LR classic and it now works as it used to in the old days

As I understand it, unless the exclusion is set the anti-virus software checks every single file as its loaded

It worked for me, no guarantees it will do the same for you but give it a go and see (I am no longer about to ditch LR Classic in favour of another package because of the speed-up I have seen)

(Malwarebytes was the "Villain" in my case)
That is interesting. Thanks. When LR chokes it seems that everything else does. I have Mac cleaning process I put together I run through that wakes it up.
So I added exclusions for all my editing software. Thanks again.
 
I was having a similar problem and very slow appearance of any image file once selected.

I noticed a comment in one of the Adobe LR forums about this and followed the suggestion to set an Exclusion for the LR classic folder in my anti-virus software.

This has transformed the entire operation of LR classic and it now works as it used to in the old days

As I understand it, unless the exclusion is set the anti-virus software checks every single file as its loaded

It worked for me, no guarantees it will do the same for you but give it a go and see (I am no longer about to ditch LR Classic in favour of another package because of the speed-up I have seen)

(Malwarebytes was the "Villain" in my case)
That is interesting. Thanks. When LR chokes it seems that everything else does. I have Mac cleaning process I put together I run through that wakes it up.
So I added exclusions for all my editing software. Thanks again.
--
So much to learn, so little time left to do it! :D
maybe you can report back and let other Mac users know if it sorts your problem?
Yeah let me run for it for a while. I'm using Bit Defender but I'm sure what it does because never see a virus, etc. Been out there for years that Macs do not get them. I only got it as it seemed when I visited here I got adds that took over my whole Safari screen. That may be a coincidence. Later I found out about clearing Website Data and where the persistent cookies or scripts hide but it started again so I also re-activated Ad Blocker Plus that solved the issue.

I'm still trying to decide about import options but I think I'll stick to Standard.
--
So much to learn, so little time left to do it! :D
 
I've just imported a card full of images to LR classic and although faster than before creating the exclusion it still had that odd hesitation at the start when nothing seemed to be happening. I checked my Task Manager and sure enough the CPU usage was around 100%.

Once it did start the upload was fast (and CPU usage dropped back to 30-35%) and processing of the individual image files was lightning fast.

It looks like there may still be something else to be sorted to totally unblock the importing process, I'll have a dig around an see what I can find (but at least the file processing problems are resolved)

It would be good to hear what anyone else has seen / found out on this

--
So much to learn, so little time left to do it! :D
 
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I've just imported a card full of images to LR classic and although faster than before creating the exclusion it still had that odd hesitation at the start when nothing seemed to be happening. I checked my Task Manager and sure enough the CPU usage was around 100%.

Once it did start the upload was fast (and CPU usage dropped back to 30-35%) and processing of the individual image files was lightning fast.

It looks like there may still be something else to be sorted to totally unblock the importing process, I'll have a dig around an see what I can find (but at least the file processing problems are resolved)

It would be good to hear what anyone else has seen / found out on this
Maybe it preps to build previews.

--
So much to learn, so little time left to do it! :D
 
A few links


 
A whole bunch of info here.

Preferences - Performance - Generate Previews in parallel and use Graphics processor

Lightroom - Catalogue settings - File Handling you can tell when you want to delete 1:1 previews if you import that way.

In Library panel

File - Optimize the catalogue - now and then.

Still trying to understand the most efficient way to import. If you want the fastest shoot in Jpeg and RAW and import using embedded and sidecar. Not for me.

The consensus at LQ was to use standard. However if you use minimal and some quick culling you can build previews later.

Library - Previews

Right now I'm using Standard and the default standard size of 1440 and quality = medium. Getting more info on that. Not having any issues but I'm curios.

 
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More from the link in the previous post

-Keep the catalog and preview cache in the same folder

- Leave autowrite XMP turned off

- Keep 1:1 previews as long as possible (if you use it)

- Increase the Camera Raw cache size

- Keep standard-size previews as small as possible

- Delete the Lightroom previews cache
 
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Last thing tonight. From the ink. I was wondering if you needed to shoot RAW and Jpeg and you don't. The author recommends trying it to see how it performs.

http://lightroomsolutions.com/embedded-sidecar-workflow-in-lightroom-classic/

The author says when you choose embedded and sidecar you should see this - only in the preview build mode. I just tried it with RAW files only and I did see it.

9247cab312f241aea8189b2931455dd3.jpg
 
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thanks Zeee, aware of and using those (been with LR since its original Beta release), useful reminders though

Always shoot jpg and raw by the way

--
So much to learn, so little time left to do it! :D
 
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thanks Zeee, aware of and using those (been with LR since its original Beta release), useful reminders though

Always shoot jpg and raw by the way
Mine was set up like the suggestions. Did that long ago with LR6. I don't shoot both but the author says if you have newer Nikon or Canon cameras you probably don't need to.

I just got seriously interested in this the last few days. All very interesting. Have to decide if I will use the sidecar or Standard and what size. Sidecar is faster at the start for culling, etc and you can tell LR to build previews while idle. It will only build a Standard preview.
--
So much to learn, so little time left to do it! :D
 

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