Studying methods to transfer Lightroom to a brand new pc may sound like a scary proposition to many photographers. However, since we modify computer systems each three to 5 years, it’s unavoidable. That’s the reason I deal with it as a part of my pictures workflow.
Since I began utilizing Lightroom, I’ve migrated my Lightroom catalog no less than 4 instances. Right now, I give you my methodical, step-by-step strategy.
First, I don’t deal with my Lightroom setup as a monolith set up; it’s extra like a multi-piece entity with its elements scattered throughout totally different corners of my pc.
Let me clarify.
I preserve my Lightroom set up with the grasp catalog, configuration recordsdata, and previews on my major SSD (stable state drive) arduous drive. This can be very quick however comparatively small at solely 500 GB. Because of this I can’t retailer my complete photograph library (a complete of 5 TB) subsequent to my grasp catalog.
I’ve a traditional arduous drive (8 TB) devoted to my photograph library.
Lastly, I preserve my Lightroom catalog backups on a separate arduous drive the place I retailer all my archived recordsdata and the sources I don’t use frequently.
I deal with the method of migrating Lightroom to a brand new pc as a multistep course of the place I handle the totally different elements of the Lightroom setup individually.
Tips on how to Transfer Lightroom to a New Laptop
The method of migrating Lightroom to a brand new pc will be damaged down into seven steps, two of that are non-compulsory.
- Step 1 – Set up Lightroom
- Step 2 – Switch the Photograph Library to a brand new pc
- Step 3 – Transfer Lightroom Catalog from outdated pc
- Step 4 – Port Configuration and Settings
- Step 5 – Re-link the lacking folders
- Step 6 – Carry Preview Information (non-compulsory)
- Step 7 – Carry Catalog Backups (non-compulsory)
Whenever you handle every part individually, the entire course of turns into very logical and uncomplicated.
Step 1: Set up Lightroom
Earlier than putting in Lightroom, you could set up the Inventive Cloud software in your new pc.
After putting in the Inventive Cloud app, you could authenticate it utilizing your Inventive Cloud credentials.
Subsequent, deploy Lightroom by triggering the set up from the Inventive Cloud app.
As you in all probability know, Inventive Cloud lets you set up Lightroom on two totally different computer systems (Mac and PC). You probably have already put in and activated Lightroom on two computer systems, you could go to the Inventive Cloud internet portal (Plans & Merchandise tab) and disconnect certainly one of your installations.
TIP: Just remember to don’t disconnect the pc from which you’re at the moment performing the migration. You will have to entry it a number of instances all through the migration course of.
In my case, I’ve Lightroom activated on my desktop and on my journey laptop computer. Once I begin the migration course of, I deactivate my laptop computer set up in order that I can use Lightroom on my outdated and new computer systems through the migration.
Step 2: Migrate Your Photograph Library
Earlier than you begin shifting your photograph library to a brand new pc, be certain it’s properly organized.
I’ve a devoted tutorial the place I define my Lightroom photograph group and library construction that I exploit in my pictures. The concept behind
This organizational type makes it extremely easy to again up your images. It additionally makes it simple to maneuver your complete library from one location to a different.
You’ll have problem managing your library in case your images are scattered throughout totally different drives and directories.
Earlier than beginning the migration, I strongly advocate you conform your photograph library to a one-directory construction.
TIP: Ensure that to arrange your library from inside Lightroom utilizing the Folders Panel within the Library Module. In the event you use Explorer (Win) or Finder (Mac) to maneuver your picture recordsdata round, Lightroom will be unable to trace these modifications.
As soon as your library is so as, use an exterior arduous drive to repeat your complete library to your new pc.
If you’re migrating your Lightroom set up to a laptop computer with inadequate arduous drive house, use an exterior arduous drive to retailer your complete photograph library. Ensure that the exterior arduous drive is high-speed and dependable. You’ll find a few of my arduous drive suggestions right here: Greatest Exterior Laborious Drives for Photographers
Step 3: Migrate the Lightroom Catalog
The subsequent step is to maneuver the catalog file to a brand new pc. The Lightroom Catalog is a database the place the appliance shops details about the images and their group.
Associated: Tips on how to Export Lightroom Presets
It’s not at all times simple to find a catalog file as a result of, typically, it’s buried deep inside your pc’s set up folders. Happily, Lightroom gives us with a shortcut to an energetic catalog location.
Tips on how to Discover Lightroom Catalog Location
Listed here are the steps to pinpoint the Lightroom catalog location:
From the highest menu, choose EDIT (Lightroom on Mac) > Catalog Settings… Go to the Normal tab and click on the SHOW button. This can take you to the listing the place the Lightroom catalog resides.
The Lightroom catalog has an .lrcat extension.
You will have to repeat the catalog file to your new pc.
I extremely advocate that you simply preserve your catalog file in your quickest drive, ideally on a solid-state drive (SSD).
Step 4: Copy Configuration, Settings, and Presets
Lightroom combines all of the settings, configuration recordsdata, and presets underneath the Lightroom Settings listing.
The listing accommodates a large quantity of knowledge associated to your Lightroom Catalog. It shops all of the develop presets, import and export presets, metadata presets, key phrase units, and so forth. If you don’t import all of the configuration data to your new set up, it may well take weeks and even months to recreate it. Importing the listing is an important step of the migrating course of.
Relying in your preferences, the Lightroom Settings listing will be situated within the catalog listing or within the Lightroom set up folder.
In my case, I exploit one catalog group and like to retailer all my configuration recordsdata and presets subsequent to my catalog file. This helps me localize all catalog associated information in a single location, however it additionally signifies that the settings and presets can’t be shared throughout a number of catalogs.
You could copy all the Lightroom Settings folder to a brand new pc and place them in a brand new catalog folder or a brand new Lightroom set up listing.
Step 5: Re-link the New Catalog with the Photograph Library
When you might have accomplished the 4 earlier steps, you’re able to launch your imported Lightroom Catalog on a brand new pc.
The possibility that the file construction in your new machine is an identical to your outdated one may be very slim. Because of this Lightroom received’t be capable to discover your images as a result of they’re saved in a distinct location.
Associated: My High 15 Lightroom Workflow Ideas
Whenever you see a query mark subsequent to a folder contained in the Lightroom Library module, because of this it has no concept the place to search out them and that you must re-link the lacking folders to level them to a brand new picture location.
The excellent news is that you simply shouldn’t have to do that for each folder. All you must do is right-click on the prime of the dad or mum folder and level to the brand new location the place you positioned the photograph library in Step 2. Lightroom will do the remainder by mapping all of the folders to their new areas.
Step 6: Migrate Previews (Elective)
The best way Lightroom works is that for every photograph you import, to catalog it creates a preview file(s) or a JPEG model of your authentic picture. Relying in your preferences, Lightroom may create a full-size JPEG model of your RAW file plus a smaller model if you happen to use Sensible Previews performance. The preview recordsdata are an important a part of Lightroom’s non-destructive RAW workflow.
I do know that many photographers copy their authentic preview recordsdata to a brand new pc, however I by no means do.
In Lightroom Preferences, you possibly can specify how lengthy you need to preserve full-size previews earlier than they’re discarded. Due to the restricted disk house on my major SSD drive, I exploit the 30-day possibility. Because of this if I don’t use a specific picture for longer than 30 days, Lightroom discards its preview. However, I discover that Lightroom doesn’t handle this selection very properly. Over a interval of months, the preview folder measurement grows uncontrolled and I’ve to manually delete the previews to get well beneficial disk house.
The migration course of offers me a possibility to start out the preview technology course of from scratch with out importing any pointless recordsdata.
When I’m completed with the migration, I can start recreating preview recordsdata as I want them through the use of the handbook methodology in Library Module.
TIP: Mix Steps 3, 4 and 5 into one
motion
Since Lightroom shops the Catalog, Settingsand Previews contained in the catalog folder, it is sensible to mix steps 3, 4 and 5 right into a single transfer by copying all the catalog folder with all its content material to a brand new pc.
Step 7: Transfer Catalog Backups (Elective)
Lightroom has built-in performance to again up the catalog recordsdata in case the grasp catalog is corrupt. That is important as a result of the catalog recordsdata comprise years of gathered data. In the event you lose it, will probably be a catastrophe.
See additionally: Tips on how to Batch Edit in Lightroom
In my case, the backup course of is about to a weekly schedule. Nonetheless, you possibly can configure it to a distinct frequency.
By default, Lightroom shops catalog backup recordsdata contained in the Catalog folder.
However, it’s extremely advisable that you simply use a distinct location out of your grasp drive the place the catalog resides. The logic right here is that in case your grasp drive fails, you should have an intact backup on one other drive.
Whereas importing backup recordsdata to a brand new set up is advisable, it’s not important.
Within the 12 years that I’ve used Lightroom, I’ve by no means had any points with catalog recordsdata so I’m not very paranoid on this regard.
Once I full the migration course of and every part seems good, I create the primary backup on a brand new pc, which is greater than sufficient for me. Plus, I at all times have a couple of variations of the catalog backup saved on my Backblaze cloud.
Replace: Migrating Lightroom Preset Library
After Adobe modified the format of Lightroom presets in 2018 from .lrtemplate to .xmp, the placement of preset recordsdata on a pc arduous drive is just not at all times apparent.
Since XMP presets are shared between Lightroom and Photoshop, by default, presets are imported to Adobe Inventive RAW (ACR) software. It is sensible as a result of the presets will be accessed by Lightroom and Photoshop from a single location.
However if you happen to change the Lightroom settings and test the field Retailer presets with this catalog (what I do), the imported presets will likely be saved subsequent to the Lightroom catalog.
What it means is that Lightroom presets will be saved elsewhere in your arduous drive. Typically, particular person presets from the identical group will be saved in numerous areas. It doesn’t have an effect on your workflow whenever you use preset-based modifying however will trigger a headache when you must migrate your complete preset library to a different pc.
Right here is my resolution.
Use the brand new Lightroom performance ‘Export Group’ to export all the preset group. Lightroom collects presets, even when they’re situated in numerous areas, and zip them into one single file.
Whenever you import them to Lightroom on a distinct pc, all of the presets from the identical group will likely be saved in a single location.
It’s a good way to wash up your preset group.
Tips on how to Transfer Lightroom to a New Laptop | Conclusion
Transferring the Lightroom Catalog to a brand new location is a severe endeavor and could be a disastrous expertise if carried out unsuitable. However if you happen to comply with the outlined steps, the method will likely be painless and will be accomplished very quickly in any respect!