How to bypass LR 6's file management functions?

[Architeuthis]

I use LR 6 and find it very annoying that I have to import the raw files before I can edit and export them. I am pretty well organized with my image files without LR and LR's system interferes with mine...

Is it somehow possible just to switch to a certain subdirectory and edit the files there - without import function?

Thanks, Wolfgang

 

[mclewis]

I use LR 6 and find it very annoying that I have to import the raw files before I can edit and export them. I am pretty well organized with my image files without LR and LR's system interferes with mine...

Is it somehow possible just to switch to a certain subdirectory and edit the files there - without import function?

Thanks, Wolfgang

No you can't do this. If you want to work this way DO NOT USE LIGHTROOM. Using Lightroom to work the way you want will only end up in frustration as you will be constatntly fighting the way Lightroom is designed to work.

Your preferred way of working would be ideal for Adobe Bridge combined with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop if you want to skick with Adobe products.

If you want to use Lightroom you will have to embrace the Lightroom library and import your images into Lightroom. If you learn how to use it you may end up liking it. Otherwise I would advise to stop using Lightroom.

 

[Austinian]

I use LR 6 and find it very annoying that I have to import the raw files before I can edit and export them. I am pretty well organized with my image files without LR and LR's system interferes with mine...

Is it somehow possible just to switch to a certain subdirectory and edit the files there - without import function?

Thanks, Wolfgang

I tried hard to get around the Lightroom import process when I used it years ago, and had no real success. So I trialed a number of other raw processors.

DxO Optics Pro (now DxO PhotoLab) proved to be much more agreeable as to how I wanted my raw processor to work, and I've used it happily ever since.

I've also read that the free RawTherapee works in a browser-like mode, but it's been years since I tried it. Darktable is also free, and can be used in a similar way with the appropriate settings, but it takes some tweaking.

There may well be other raw software that would be suitable for your needs; perhaps their users will speak up. You could also post in the Retouching forum.

 

[BrianPriceUK]

No, images always have to be imported into LR.

However, you can set LR to import them in exactly the same way as you do now, whatever that is.

Brian

 

[richdm]

I use LR 6 and find it very annoying that I have to import the raw files before I can edit and export them. I am pretty well organized with my image files without LR and LR's system interferes with mine...

Is it somehow possible just to switch to a certain subdirectory and edit the files there - without import function?

Thanks, Wolfgang

Another program that works the way you want is ON1 Photo Raw 2019.2 (current version). They offer free trials.

 

[Box Brownie]

I use LR 6 and find it very annoying that I have to import the raw files before I can edit and export them. I am pretty well organized with my image files without LR and LR's system interferes with mine...

Is it somehow possible just to switch to a certain subdirectory and edit the files there - without import function?

Thanks, Wolfgang

Firstly sorry if I am repeating any of the others posts or indeed misunderstanding your plea

One of the key functions of LR is as a DAM (Digital Asset Management) program so it needs to "import" the images before any activity can take place.

I (also?) found the way LR handled "importation" odd if you are importing directly off of the memory card.

What I always do is copy the card contents into a folder structure & titling of my choice and import that folders contents into LR. This means I can see my folder structure and it is keyworded for any filter searches I might need to do.

Once I have found the image(s) I want to process in LR and any external program like PS or DxO PL off I go and get on with it.

I hope that, perhaps, helps.

 

[AikenMooney]

+10

 

[PhotoFactor]

I use LR 6 and find it very annoying that I have to import the raw files before I can edit and export them. I am pretty well organized with my image files without LR and LR's system interferes with mine...

Is it somehow possible just to switch to a certain subdirectory and edit the files there - without import function?

Thanks, Wolfgang

That's the reason I chose not to use LR at all.

I like to organize my files myself.

 

[skyglider]

I use LR 6 and find it very annoying that I have to import the raw files before I can edit and export them. I am pretty well organized with my image files without LR and LR's system interferes with mine...

Is it somehow possible just to switch to a certain subdirectory and edit the files there - without import function?

I avoided using LR since I didn't want to use its DAM to manage my files. I like to manage my image files my own way like you. I was able to get a good deal on LR 5 so decided to try using it without using its DAM.

What I do after a vacation or wedding or whatever:

1. I download all of the images from our cameras into a folder.
2. Make a backup of that folder.
3. Cull the images using Faststone Image Viewer.
4. In LR, create a new catalog and import all of the keeper images into it.
5. Post process all of the images.
   1. For consecutive images taken in the same lighting, I can use LR's ability to apply the same adjustments to multiple images that saves a lot of time and effort.
   2. All post processing are done on the full resolution images.
6. My wife does not use computers so she wants all keepers printed. So in LR I make 3 collections.
   1. One collection cropped as 3:2 for 6x4 inch prints.
   2. One cropped as 5:7 for 5x7 inch prints.
   3. One cropped as 4:5 for 8x10 inch prints.

Note that I'm using a new catalog for each job. This avoids using LR's DAM to manage all of my files in the same catalog. Since I'm going to post process every keeper image anyway, importing all of the keepers into LR for the job is fine with me. (When I say post process EVERY keeper image, I mean I check every image. Some images don't need any adjustments done to them so I don't do anything to them. But I check them all and only do what's needed.)

This method has made LR fit my file organization rather than vice versa,
Sky

 

[Jestertheclown]

I use LR 6 and find it very annoying that I have to import the raw files before I can edit and export them. I am pretty well organized with my image files without LR and LR's system interferes with mine...

Is it somehow possible just to switch to a certain subdirectory and edit the files there - without import function?

Thanks, Wolfgang

No you can't do this. If you want to work this way DO NOT USE LIGHTROOM. Using Lightroom to work the way you want will only end up in frustration as you will be constatntly fighting the way Lightroom is designed to work.

Your preferred way of working would be ideal for Adobe Bridge combined with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop if you want to skick with Adobe products.

If you want to use Lightroom you will have to embrace the Lightroom library and import your images into Lightroom.

I don't. At least, not for very long.

I download the raws from my card to an appropriate folder, the allow Lightroom to import the contents of said folder. I then do to them, whatever needs doing and export the results, usually as Tifs. to a second appropriate folder.

The unasked for catalogue that Lightroom will have created simply gets deleted.

Consequently, I use Lightroom to convert my raws and do whatever else I want it to without having to tolerate its cataloguing/filing system.

If you learn how to use it you may end up liking it.

I know how to use it but I'm never going to like it.

Otherwise I would advise to stop using Lightroom.

Not really sound advice, since there is an alternative


"It's good to be . . . . . . . . . Me!"

 

[apathyman]

I don't. At least, not for very long.

I download the raws from my card to an appropriate folder, the allow Lightroom to import the contents of said folder. I then do to them, whatever needs doing and export the results, usually as Tifs. to a second appropriate folder.

The unasked for catalogue that Lightroom will have created simply gets deleted.

Consequently, I use Lightroom to convert my raws and do whatever else I want it to without having to tolerate its cataloguing/filing system.

I don't use Lightroom often (I prefer ACR/Photoshop) but I occasionally use it in precisely the same manner. Works well.

Cheers

Brian

 

[Jestertheclown]

I don't. At least, not for very long.

I download the raws from my card to an appropriate folder, the allow Lightroom to import the contents of said folder. I then do to them, whatever needs doing and export the results, usually as Tifs. to a second appropriate folder.

The unasked for catalogue that Lightroom will have created simply gets deleted.

Consequently, I use Lightroom to convert my raws and do whatever else I want it to without having to tolerate its cataloguing/filing system.

I don't use Lightroom often (I prefer ACR/Photoshop)

Actually, although I used it for years, I'm not a great fan of Lightroom.

Thee days, I've migratred to Capture One.

but I occasionally use it in precisely the same manner. Works well.

Cheers

Brian

"It's good to be . . . . . . . . . Me!"

 

[Bobthearch]

I use LR 6 and find it very annoying that I have to import the raw files before I can edit and export them. I am pretty well organized with my image files without LR and LR's system interferes with mine...

Is it somehow possible just to switch to a certain subdirectory and edit the files there - without import function?

Thanks, Wolfgang

That's the reason I chose not to use LR at all.

I like to organize my files myself.

Ditto.

 

[mclewis]

If you learn how to use it you may end up liking it.

I know how to use it but I'm never going to like it.

Otherwise I would advise to stop using Lightroom.

Not really sound advice, since there is an alternative

If you like Adobe processing then Bridge and ACR will get you all the image adjustment tools as Lightroom without the library aspect you don't like. It is the ideal alternative for your preferred way of working.

 

[skyglider]

If you like Adobe processing then Bridge and ACR will get you all the image adjustment tools as Lightroom without the library aspect you don't like. It is the ideal alternative for your preferred way of working.

Curious.

1. Can ACR apply develop adjustments for an image to multiple images?

2. Does ACR have collections capability where cropping and resizing can be done to the master photos, where only the crop and resize information are stored in the collection without affecting the master photos?

Thanks,
Sky

 

[Ernie Misner]

Clearly you are not alone. Do you have PS? You can use the Camera Raw section which is mostly the same as the edits in Lr.

Or if you want to try simplifying your use of Lr just for editing, paste just the file you want to edit into a temporary folder on your desktop, then import that folder into Lr but it's just the single image being imported.

 

[mclewis]

If you like Adobe processing then Bridge and ACR will get you all the image adjustment tools as Lightroom without the library aspect you don't like. It is the ideal alternative for your preferred way of working.

Curious.

1. Can ACR apply develop adjustments for an image to multiple images?

Yes

2. Does ACR have collections capability where cropping and resizing can be done to the master photos, where only the crop and resize information are stored in the collection without affecting the master photos?

No. You need library functions for collections and ACR does not have that. If you want library functions you need Lightroom in the Adobe world.

 

[MikeDixonPhoto]

I use LR 6 and find it very annoying that I have to import the raw files before I can edit and export them. I am pretty well organized with my image files without LR and LR's system interferes with mine...

Is it somehow possible just to switch to a certain subdirectory and edit the files there - without import function?

Thanks, Wolfgang

You've stated that "...LR's system interferes with mine..." but you haven't described how. LR leaves the images in the same folder when you import them from a hard drive. It also allows you to only import the ones you select. I don't see how it could interfere with the way you're doing it unless you're constantly renaming or moving files.

 

[Jestertheclown]

If you learn how to use it you may end up liking it.

I know how to use it but I'm never going to like it.

Otherwise I would advise to stop using Lightroom.

Not really sound advice, since there is an alternative

If you like Adobe processing then Bridge and ACR will get you all the image adjustment tools as Lightroom without the library aspect you don't like. It is the ideal alternative for your preferred way of working.

Unsurprisingly; I've been using Photoshop since CS2 and Lightroom since V2, I've tried Bridge and ACR and although, in theory at least, it's supposed to be the same as Lightroom, in reality, it's not.

Which makes perfect sense if you think about it.

If Bridge and ACR, which cost nothing once you've paid for Photoshp, were the same as Lightroom, no-one would ever have bought it.


"It's good to be . . . . . . . . . Me!"

 

[Architeuthis]

You've stated that "...LR's system interferes with mine..." but you haven't described how. LR leaves the images in the same folder when you import them from a hard drive. It also allows you to only import the ones you select. I don't see how it could interfere with the way you're doing it unless you're constantly renaming or moving files.

Hi Mike,

Yes - it is also because I often move my files: import them from the card to LR6, create directory on my notebook. Later move the entire directory (raws ordered by date, developed jpegs for slideshow, other materials, like titles, videos of the trips etc...) to my NAS server (working directly from the NAS server is much slower, so I do'nt do it).

Another problem is that I have now trillions of directories in LR that I do not need and also do not want to see (just making working complicated), where all the raws are supposed to be, but are not. If I want to re-adjust a raw it is not only not found, but it is even not possible to re-import it, since it is considered to be a duplicate...

As I wrote, I do not need a program to help me organize my files. I thought it may be possible to just switch this function off - but obviously it is not as, all the nice people here explain...

Wolfgang