Backing up changes to photo files

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AJR

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Hi All

I convert to DNG and backup all photo files on import. My question is with regard to backing up the files after I have made changes to them (i.e. exposure, crop etc.) I've looked around the forum and can't seem to find much info except a reference to Chronosync by Victoria.

Question: Can I backup any changes I make to files, by having the original (on import) backup file, changed to include the changes I have made, using lightroom alone?

If not would Chronosync do this

Thanks Much


AJR
 
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The idea of LR ist to keep the RAW/DNG-files untouched and to save only the list of changes made to the original image. I don't see any need for a backup of changed images. I even don't keep any exports because I can do them again whenever I want.
Backup the RAWs, backup the catalog and backup the LR config, that's all.
 
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Hi

I thought that the adjustments/changes were stored with the .dng file. Are you saying that they are stored with the cataloge?

Thanks
 
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AJR;277'6 said:
Hi

I thought that the adjustments/changes were stored with the .dng file. Are you saying that they are stored with the cataloge?

Thanks
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that is what LR is all about. They are always stored in the Catalog! They are only stored in the DNG or other file or XMP sidecar, when you ask LR to, by either turning on auto XMP write or doing Cmd/Ctl-S.

Don
 
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Err....One last question

Where do I find the lightroom config file. I've checked the lightroom folder and searched the forum, without any luck.

Al
 
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What config file? What exactly do you mean? There is a way to do odd things with LR via a config.lua file, but I doubt that's what you're looking for.

John
 
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Preferences are here:

Windows Vista - [systemdrive]\Users\[your username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe
\Lightroom\Lightroom 2 Preferences.agprefs

Presets are here:

Windows Vista - [systemdrive]\Users\[your username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe
\Lightroom\Presets\

Is that what you mean?



* Courtesy Victoria's eBook, LR - The Missing FAQ, find it at www.lightroomqueen.com
 
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Thomas B, in the first response to my original post, stated-- "Backup the RAWs, backup the catalog and backup the LR config." Thomas, if you're out there, perhaps you could elaborate.

Al
 
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Backup the Raws: These are the original image files. Typically they're a raw or DNG format, but they can be JPG, TIFF or PSD. These are the files that you imported into LR, either in their original location, or in a filename/folder structure you copied them to during import. LR does not backup these files. You're on your own here. Most folks use some sort of sync/cloning backup software for this. Personally, I use Microsoft's SyncToy on Windows. There are hundreds of other alternative on Windows and Mac.

Backup the catalog: This is simply the *.lrcat file. LR can be configured to back this file up for you when you open LR. Since LR's catalog backup is simply an OS file copy, you can also copy/sync this file as well. Note that LR's catalog default backup location is on the same drive with the default catalog location. This may help in case of a catalog corruption, but not for a hard-drive failure. Again, most folks will periodically validate/check the backup copy to assure that it's functional. It's OK to remove/archive older backups as you add newer/later ones.

The LR config and presets are a little bit more complicated, as that info is maintained over several files and folders. Again, this has to be sync'd/copied outside of LR. The pertinent files are highlighted in my post #9 above.
 
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Brad,Don, Mark and John

First off I want to apologize for the convoluted thread I started here. As sometimes happens: I had a false assumption, which set off a string of unrelated questions--sorry for that.

For what it's worth (and it sometimes helps to see how less knowledgeable users can get mislead) I somehow came to think that the history of, non-destructive, adjustments to photo files (jpeg,raw,dng) was stored in the file itself, not the catalog file, which I thought only kept track of keywords etc.

I now not only realize that changes are all in the catalog, but that performing a comprehensive backup is a little more complex than I originally thought.

I'll see what other threads on backups in general have to say, and if I have any more specific questions will post later.

Thanks Again

Al
 
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