Help with migration to Lightroom 3

[Ste]

We would like to start using LR more in our workflow for adjustments as PS is sometimes over kill. We can also use use LR to assign metadata, rename files etc...

This is the first part of our current workflow using Bridge:


Copy images from card reader to a desktop folder
Use Bridge to view images in the folder and then delete rejected images.


My FIRST question is... how do you do this in LR?

I have tried using the navigator to view the images with no success.
Do we need to start the import process in LR to do this?
Ben, I have viewed your tut for LR2 but you connect the camera rather than viewing a folder.

Apologies if this has already been covered elsewhere.

Thanks
Steve

[benjiblanco]

yes you do need to import them first, although you can import from a folder already on your comp.

Clicking the import button (bottom left) in the library module, then in the import window select a source, and navigate to the folder.

I know my lightroom tutorials are a bit limited on this site, therefore i would strongly recommend this site for learning LR

http://www.lynda.com/promo/trial/Default.aspx?lpk35=370

its free for 7 days as well. nothing to sign up for.

Then let Chirs Orwig talk you through 13 hrs of the best training out there on Lightroom.

http://www.lynda.com/home/DisplayCourse.aspx?lpk2=59972

It's silly me trying to duplicate it on here, when its available for free there.

I will of course help as much as you want Ste, but that is a really sensible way to go, and much easier than reading the manual, or searching for other free help.
:top:

[benjiblanco]

just realised, the tutorial for importing from a folder is one of the demo videos, so you dont even need the 7 day trial for that.

http://www.lynda.com/home/Player.aspx?lpk4=69116

[Ste]

Thanks Ben

I have a subscription for lynda.com and Chris' tut's are the best I have seen on the net.

Steve

[benjiblanco]

ahhhhh, cool! :top:


in that case, i'll just answer you :)
which i guess i already have, you need to import them into LR.

Remember LR is a library system, very important that its an All or Nothing kind of program, Let it do everything, let it know everything, or it and you get very confused. ie never touch a photo via finder/explorer or rename anything outside of LR.

[Marvin]

Ste, I found the switch to LR a little confusing at first but once I had mastered it I never looked back. WELL worth sticking with.

You can set it to recognise your camera, card reader or whatever and open the 'Import' dialog as soon as you connect. It can even ignore duplicates if you add more piccies to the card then import from it again.

IMO this is one of the most intuitive bits of software I have ever encountered.

As Ben just said, do ALL your filing in LR or it will bite you. It has all the tools built in for creating/deleting/moving folders and files.

[benjiblanco]

IMO this is one of the most intuitive bits of software I have ever encountered.




Have to agree with that Nigel, once the theory is mastered, it all falls into place very easily.

I find that i am using Lightroom and Niksoft Viveza (LR plugin) 99% of the time in my workflow. Only photoshop when i have to do a large amount of cloning.

[Ste]

Thanks both, really helpful. :top:

[kev w]

interesting, l have lightroom but was a little lost with it so never really used it, l will go back to it and have another go, good advice:top:

[Marvin]

Kev, you have to trust that it is 'all or nothing', once you put a piccie in LR you cannot touch it WITHOUT using LR. Sounds daft, I know, I hated it at first but once I got to use it properly it just fell into place. ;)