Exporting whole Lightroom library

[Joe Falchetto]

I am trying to migrate away from Adobe Creative Cloud. In order to do so I need to export my photo collection, which is stored in the cloud and so far managed with Lightroom (the web based version, not classic).

However there is a problem. If I use the Adobe Lightroom Downloader the photos are downloaded and saved in a sensible chronological folder structure (yyy/yyyy-mm-dd) along with their XMP sidecars. However keywords and similar metadata are not embedded.

If I use the export menu items then metadata are embedded but there is no folder structure.

Is there any way to have both? Is there any sensible way to migrate away from Lightroom or the software tries pretty hard to lock you in?

Thanks!

 

[robgendreau]

I am trying to migrate away from Adobe Creative Cloud. In order to do so I need to export my photo collection, which is stored in the cloud and so far managed with Lightroom (the web based version, not classic).

However there is a problem. If I use the Adobe Lightroom Downloader the photos are downloaded and saved in a sensible chronological folder structure (yyy/yyyy-mm-dd) along with their XMP sidecars. However keywords and similar metadata are not embedded.

If I use the export menu items then metadata are embedded but there is no folder structure.

Is there any way to have both? Is there any sensible way to migrate away from Lightroom or the software tries pretty hard to lock you in?

Thanks!

I wasn't aware it didn't embed that metadata; the documention says it embeds "edits." I'd ask at the lightroomqueen.com forum. I had seen this, which seemed to suggest that the downloader was created to allay such concerns. But I don't use the non-Classic version much, so I haven't tried it.

You could export and then something else to group images into date based folders perhaps; I know exiftool can do it. Or maybe this: https://www.mjbpix.com/automatically-move-photos-to-directories-or-folders-based-on-exif-date/

If you had not too many images and a bunch of time one other way to possibly do it is to create an Lr Classic catalog and have it sync with your cloud photos, which could download originals with edits. Not sure about the keywords and some other metadata (keywords are treated differently in non-Classic and don't sync in the download direction, I believe).

Not sure what "both" you are referring to.

This is the sensible way to do this. At least there is a downloader; sometimes it's even harder. The software didn't lock you in; your choice of what to use did I'm afraid. Cloud based storage has benefits; now you're seeing the downside.

 

[Andy Hewitt]

I am trying to migrate away from Adobe Creative Cloud. In order to do so I need to export my photo collection, which is stored in the cloud and so far managed with Lightroom (the web based version, not classic).

However there is a problem. If I use the Adobe Lightroom Downloader the photos are downloaded and saved in a sensible chronological folder structure (yyy/yyyy-mm-dd) along with their XMP sidecars. However keywords and similar metadata are not embedded.

If I use the export menu items then metadata are embedded but there is no folder structure.

Is there any way to have both? Is there any sensible way to migrate away from Lightroom or the software tries pretty hard to lock you in?

Thanks!

I wasn't aware it didn't embed that metadata; the documention says it embeds "edits." I'd ask at the lightroomqueen.com forum. I had seen this, which seemed to suggest that the downloader was created to allay such concerns. But I don't use the non-Classic version much, so I haven't tried it.

You could export and then something else to group images into date based folders perhaps; I know exiftool can do it. Or maybe this: https://www.mjbpix.com/automatically-move-photos-to-directories-or-folders-based-on-exif-date/

If you had not too many images and a bunch of time one other way to possibly do it is to create an Lr Classic catalog and have it sync with your cloud photos, which could download originals with edits. Not sure about the keywords and some other metadata (keywords are treated differently in non-Classic and don't sync in the download direction, I believe).

Not sure what "both" you are referring to.

This is the sensible way to do this. At least there is a downloader; sometimes it's even harder. The software didn't lock you in; your choice of what to use did I'm afraid. Cloud based storage has benefits; now you're seeing the downside.

Yes, I just switched fully to the Lightroom (cloud) account, for various reasons, but I still maintain a backward sync to my 'Classic' library.

Even though you might only have the Lr (cloudy) version account, you can still install Lr Classic, and use it with the Develop, Print and Map modules disabled - it comes up with a warning about not being subscribed, but you can ignore that, and use the DAM part - and it does sync OK, or at least it does here, so far.

It's a tricky process though, Adobe don't recommend running both apps, and it's easy enough to foobar your cloud collection (I know). You have to make sure you only use a one way syncing process (for example; if you delete images from Lr Classic, they get deleted *everywhere*, if you delete them in Lr (cloudy), they delete from the cloud system, but remain in Classic).

Also note that Folders and Albums in Lr (cloudy) do not equate to Collection Sets and Collections fully in Classic, you'll only see Albums appearing as Collections in a flat list (inside a Collection Set called 'From Lightroom'), you still have to put them into Collection Sets to organise them - and they will appear in Lr Classic, as they'll automatically get synced from Lr Cloudy to Lr Classic - any duplicated named Albums will also get renamed (appending a numeric counter), unless you organise before creating the next batch.

You'll need to do a bit of setting up before you proceed with this option. You can of course ignore the Collections, but remember it will rename all the duplicate Album names across the sync. You'll also need to set up a storage location for the synced images in Lr Classic (enough pace for all the images you're syncing), but you can reorganise the folders once they're synced.

And as Rob says, things like Keywords are not synced anyway, only edits, star ratings and flags.

It can get messy, and could be much more work than you expect.

AFAIK, Lr (cloudy) doesn't use xmp files for its normal operation, it uses 'Smart' Previews, so they'd have to be created on an as-needed basis.

FWIW, Graphic Converter has quite a comprehensive set of organising tools for putting images into various folder structures, and even renaming if you want to go that route.

In any case, I'd probably be inclined to work with small chunks of the collection at a time, and keep backing up as you go.

 

[Joe Falchetto]

Dear Rob and Andy, thanks to both for the useful advices!

Rob, for both I meant the possibility of simultaneously maintaining some chronological folder structure and embedding keywords and other metadata at export.

I think is something reasonable to ask from a software, and not providing it does go a bit in the direction of locking you in. Just my opinion and probably not worth discussing.

By the way I do not mean to only speak negatively of Lightroom. I found it a fine software for my needs, and I am only looking at an alternative since the use I make of it does not warrant paying for a monthly subscription (sometimes I use it intensively but there are also long periods in which I do not use it at all).

 

[Johanfoto]

Dear Rob and Andy, thanks to both for the useful advices!

Rob, for both I meant the possibility of simultaneously maintaining some chronological folder structure and embedding keywords and other metadata at export.

I think is something reasonable to ask from a software, and not providing it does go a bit in the direction of locking you in. Just my opinion and probably not worth discussing.

By the way I do not mean to only speak negatively of Lightroom. I found it a fine software for my needs, and I am only looking at an alternative since the use I make of it does not warrant paying for a monthly subscription (sometimes I use it intensively but there are also long periods in which I do not use it at all).

As your exported images will have the capture date in their metadata, it should not be too difficult to export them all to one single folder first, and then use some other software to move them into a dated folder hierarchy. In fact, you could use Lightroom Classic to do this, even an expired version of Lightroom Classic. Import the images in Lightroom Classic, let Lightroom Classic move them into a dated hierarchy on import, and then throw away the Lightroom Classic catalog and application again when that’s done.

 

[Andy Hewitt]

Dear Rob and Andy, thanks to both for the useful advices!

Rob, for both I meant the possibility of simultaneously maintaining some chronological folder structure and embedding keywords and other metadata at export.

I think is something reasonable to ask from a software, and not providing it does go a bit in the direction of locking you in. Just my opinion and probably not worth discussing.

To be fair, that's a statement often made to criticise, but in fact it's a problem that affects all software of a similar type. The fact that you (or anyone) may choose to use a non-destructive workflow (as you do with the likes of Lightroom, Photos, On1, Capture One, darktable, and so on) then you are essentially locking yourself into that software, simply because of the nature of the beast.

All them use proprietary methods to process images (in particular Raw images of course), so inevitably you will be locked into whichever one of them you choose.

There may be a standard format for the sidecar files, in this case xml/xmp files. However, the content of those files is not necessarily standard. Such data as keywords, copyright, and general info is usually portable. However, not always, and almost never is editing data portable - and when it is, it rarely works out very well anyway.

By the way I do not mean to only speak negatively of Lightroom. I found it a fine software for my needs, and I am only looking at an alternative since the use I make of it does not warrant paying for a monthly subscription (sometimes I use it intensively but there are also long periods in which I do not use it at all).

For sure, I have been in a similar situation myself. For two years now I have been trying to find an alternative to the subscription plan. Trouble is, I can't find anything that actually works out at better value, or actually does work better. If I take into account 1TB of cloud storage (eliminates some local storage requirements and costs), along with the use of the software, then it's value is very hard to beat.

It's often easy to forget all the factors when considering running costs. Consider the usual, annual upgrade costs of non-subscription software (yeah, I know you can choose not to upgrade, but in reality, how many don't?), and then there's your storage plan. Local storage requires multiple units of storage, and perhaps regular replacements of the drives (I'm generally finding I'm replacing HDDs about every 2-3 years now, reliability is definitely not as good as it used to be).

And now I want to sync my photos, easily and quickly, to all my devices, so add the cost of cloud storage - and find one that's reliable and secure.

You may not 'use' the software all the often, but it does store your photos offsite, and allows easy uploading, syncing and downloading from multiple devices (should you find the need).

Just some thoughts, that's all, in the end, it's all up to you to decide how best to store and manage your photos.