Comments on: Lightroom Top 10 Gotcha’s

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:07:37 +0000

So if I delete images outside of lightroom (say in bridge), that have been cataloged previously in lightroom, there is no way to globally update that lightroom catalog to get rid of the previews of those deleted files?

[You could use 'find missing files' under the Library menu from memory, and then remove those from the catalog. - VB]

By: Jamie

Jamie — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:26:06 +0000

Regarding #10: If you flag images in the collection sets then the flags carry over to the catalog> all photographs… strange but it works. If you flag in the catalog they do not carry over into collection sets, but not the collections within the sets. The same is true with folders.

By: Lars Clausen

Lars Clausen — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:46:59 +0000

I knew the other ones, but #10 was new to me, too, and I’ve even started teaching classes on LR. Makes both collections and flags more useful. Thank you!

By: dswift

dswift — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:20:04 +0000

re: annoying metadata entry behaviors, I did some prowling last night. Turns out a lot of people have this trouble and no one can determine where LR's spasms come from. Bottom line: the standard type-tab-type-tab routine we all know and love for database entry stumps LR. (I do have 2.4) However, I found a simpler, faster workaround: Use the Sync Metadata window instead of direct entry, for one image or 1,000. LR doesn't record the typing until you close the window, and the interface is more concise. [Well done for finding a solution. It'd be worth putting in a Official Feature Request/Bug Report Form too. - VB]

By: dswift

dswift — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:27:29 +0000

re #9, Lightroom uses the term “active” to differentiate between “selected” and “really totally selected to the max.”

For the still-befuddled: Any number of images can be selected. Only one can be active. However, all selected images in Grid view are basically active. Think of Grid as “Batch.”

My gotcha, to which I have no answer: When entering metadata, why does the cursor lose focus (data entry stops) and suddenly I’m typing hot keys? Happens all the time, can’t figure out what I’m doing to change focus.

[Hmmm, I've heard a couple of reports of that one. Have you updated to the 2.4 update? - VB]

By: Jon R

Jon R — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:34:47 +0000

Go ahead and call me dense, but I’m still not understanding #9 (and I’m not referring to the 2 vs. 3 debate).

I do see two level of gray, but what is meant by “most selected” and “also selected”??

Thanks,

Jon

[Jon, select 2 files - one will be lighter grey that the other, and the unselected ones will be dark grey. That lightest grey one is the 'most-selected' and that's the one that would be used as the source for syncing settings, changing capture times, that sort of thing. As an example, if the 'most-selected' image had grayscale settings applied, and you used Sync to copy those settings to the other images, the grayscale settings from that 'most-selected' or active image would be applied to the other selected (mid-grey) images. - VB]

By: Ian Fuller

Ian Fuller — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:44:19 +0000

One gotcha I would add is that Lightroom’s plugins and presets are used by all catalogs (databases) under your login name. This is true for Windows – I don’t know about the Mac.

This means if you are developing your own plugin and want to test it before unleashing it on your production catalog you need to do it as a different Windows user. Setting up a new catalog for Test isn’t sufficient. I have a Windows user on my PC called LRDev for that purpose.

Similarly if you change a preset in one catalog it affacts all the others for your user name – which may or may not be what you wanted.

[Good points Ian. Developing plugins probably isn't the first thing on new users minds, but it's still useful information. It works the same for Mac too.

As to your presets, there's a checkbox in Preferences called 'Store Presets with Catalog' which will make any presets catalog-specific (but then confuses people when all their presets have disappeared because they've switched to the different catalog..... - VB]

By: Theodore Nugent

Theodore Nugent — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:09:52 +0000

Hands up, who thinks Chad is a niggling twit?

Great info Victoria, I link this post every chance I get.

By: Jack Varney

Jack Varney — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:18:40 +0000

Regarding #9, my first thought was that by not selecting an item it is not a mamber of the set of selections. Further thought leads me to the conclusion that by not selecting items they are placed in the set of selected items by default! Three levels, indeed.

By: Billy Andrews

Billy Andrews — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:32:44 +0000

Thanks Victoria,
I have been destroying my files with Elements 7 adjustments and have just purchased lr & cs4. Is there any comparsion to E-7 and CS-4?

Billy Andrews

[Hi Billy. I don't have any links to hand comparing between the Elements and CS4. CS4 is Elements on steroids. There is a big difference between Elements and Lightroom though - everything Lightroom does is non-destructive. - VB]