Error message when trying to edit in PS

[EkStrodl]

After editing in lightroom and then right clicking to edit in PS I get the following message;

Lightroom was unable to prepare the selected file at
H:\DCIM\299CANON\_MG'273CR2 for editing
it will not be opened

H is the compact flash in my card reader after having inmported the files into lightroom

Thanks

 

[Victoria Bampton]

Hi Ek, welcome to the forum!

When you imported the files from your memory card, did you set it to copy them to a new location? It sounds like Lightroom thinks the original file is still on the memory card.

 

[EkStrodl]

Thanks for your reply....it's weird and has got me baffled. I edited some photo's in Lightroom three days ago from my 5D with out any problem

I then tried to edit some photo's from my 3'D and, after editing 6 photos it came up with this error massage.....although using different compact flash cards for each camera.... oddly they both had the same folder number...I thought this might be the problem so I renamed the folder number in Lightroom,but to no avail

I don't think I have set them to be copied ....if so how do I undo....the original photos are still on the card and I presume that is where lightroom is reading them from (or does it store them in lightroom's memory)...if I remove the compact flash card the "edit in PS" feature is greyed out

 

[Kiwigeoff]

Welcome, Lr contains no image files only references to the disk/folder they are stored on. When you import into LR a link is made to the file on the disk/HD and a preview created that LR stores and uses to display changes.
Do you want to edit your files on the card? If so why?

 

[EkStrodl]

I might be missing something here....I am just giving lightroom a try(trial version)

Here's what I did....last week I imported into lightroom... photos on my compact flash card and adjusted them.... finally editing in Photoshop (right click "edit in cs2")

When I tried to do it on Monday (different camera and compact flash card) I imported them into lightroom for work and I completed 6 photos ( FINAL edit in PS) then trying to continue in the same manner I got the error message (outlined in my first post)
Why is that error message popping up

You may need to expalin to me how and why Lightroom is copying the files and storing them somewhere else

Thanks

 

[Victoria Bampton]

Ah, ok, that's probably the problem. Lightroom doesn't import photos 'into Lightroom' - when you import, it adds a link to the file into its database. Now, if you've set it to import at the existing location on the compact flash card, when you remove the compact flash card, it can no longer find the files to be able to edit. Also, when you do 'edit in Photoshop' it tries to save a PSD or TIFF file next to the original - which is still on the compact flash card and is probably running out of space.

So, course of action....

When you import files into Lightroom which are currently on a memory card or camera, you want to select 'Copy to a new location' in the import dialog, and you want to let it copy them to a place on your hard drive. Once you've done so, don't forget to back those photos up, just like you would if you were using any other program. Don't delete them from your hard drive, because Lightroom just has a pointer to that file.

Make a bit more sense?

 

[Brad Snyder]

Ekstrodl, welcome.

First, recognize, as Geoff says, that fundamentally Lr is a database with some photographic capabilities. When photos are 'imported' into Lr, the only thing that happens is that an entry is made into the database which points to where the file is actually located on your computer system.

Now, at import time, two basic situations arise:
1) The photos are on your camera, or its removable flash media. In this case, Lr has to copy the photo files to disk storage, somewhere on your computer, because eventually you'll have to eject the camera or flash media, taking the photo files with it. In this method of import, you are given options for filenaming/folder organizations.

2) The photos have already been copied from the camera/media to a local hard-drive. Lr will offer you the choice to import 'in place', that is, leave the images where they are currently (useful if you've pre-organized them somehow), or to copy the images to another location on the hard-drive using the organization tools in 1) above.

Note, that it is possible, in some instances, to treat the camera/flash card as a separate disk drive, and to 'import in-place'. This is not good, as I/we said above, because that location is temporary, and disappears when you eject the memory.

If we've missed the point, and are explaining the wrong things, or something you already know, please follow-up.

Edit:
LOL, VB's on the case already...... (at least we gave the same answers )

 

[Denis Pagé]

Once you get it resolved, give a look at The Starter Kit. Doing so, you will avoid other beginners' pitfalls... 8)

 

[EkStrodl]

Thanks for your input to all of you....I am slowly getting to grips (I think LOL)

Aha.....so I click on import from a device and it will store the files (i presume) now then....when it saves them to a new location does it store them as CR2 or dng

I notice in my catolgue it says 221 photos....when I looked at them in grid preview some of them are CR2 and also DNG files are (I did export some from lightroom as dng files to a different location....external hard drive) is there any need to do this as lightroom seems to save the files anyway.

My grateful thanks again and when I get a moment I will look at that starter kit (Thanks Denis)...I'm feeling my way....suck it and see (more or less)

 

[Denis Pagé]

Thanks for your input to all of you....I am slowly getting to grips (I think LOL)

Aha.....so I click on import from a device and it will store the files (i presume) now then....when it saves them to a new location does it store them as CR2 or dng

I notice in my catolgue it says 221 photos....when I looked at them in grid preview some of them are CR2 and also DNG files are (I did export some from lightroom as dng files to a different location....external hard drive) is there any need to do this as lightroom seems to save the files anyway...

Hou la la! Seem you don't get it yet! No offence, we will help you get it...

The way you do it is like in the film days when the film was shot, you buyed a new one to put in the camera to continue shooting. Do you really want to buy a new memory card each time one is filled with images! :shock:

I don't believe! :roll: You really have to store your images somewhere else than on the memory card like on a hard disk. So, the option to import from the memory card with the option to "Add photos to the catalog without moving" is not for you unless you copied the photos to an hard disk first before importing. This line appear right at top of the import dialog box beside File handling. Notice the arrows to the right? They give you the following options:

1. Add photos to the catalog without moving
2. Copy photos to a new location and add to catalog
3. Move photos to a new location and add to catalog
4. Copy photos as Digital Negative (DNG) and add to catalog

#2 will copy you images to the choosen location as your original CR2 file format.

#3 is not a good idea until you have a backup of your originals as it will empty the memory card from the chosen images. Best used for images already on hard disk from older days or from someone else external hard disk for example.

#4 is like #2 except that you will now have DNG files RATHER than the original CR2. Choosing between option #2 or #4 is another discussion in itself and is much discussed elsewhere in our forums.

The next line of the Import dialog box is the Move to:. Here, you decide where on which hard disk or network storage ressource available. You MUST CHOOSE ONE!

Then is the Organize: line. We can discuss a long time about it and again, see elsewhere in the forums. If you start, I suggest from the arrows at right of the line to choose By date: 2''5/2''5-12-17 or one similar one combined with option #2 above (or #4 if you already know that you prefer DNG to CR2).

Under that, there is a tall list of what Lightroom found to import. Check as appropriate.

Notice that below that tall box, you can put a check mark beside Backup to:. If you check it this is the only time that lightroom save the files or originals if you will... As we saw, otherwise, it copies or move or translate to DNG...

ALWAYS remember that the lightroom database is a single file with the .lrcat extension! It DOES NOT CONTAIN any images but IT DOES CONTAIN all the modifications you did to your images. The images you see in the Library module are created by Lightroom in the .lrdata folder or package (Win/Mac) but are not the ones you are working on. It is when you go to the Develop module that your originals are needed.

This is a bunch of information to start with and I will stop here for now in the hope to cover these first questions from you.

All this was not specific to the machine you use (Mac, PC?) nor to the Lightroom version you have at hand. If you feel that you will stay here for more help, this will eventually be needed for us to know such things. So, may I please request you to fill your signature as per Rules & Regulations: Signature. Go to "User CP" in the blue bar above just under the LR logo...