Letting client look at catalog: a la stock library

[Atma Singh]

i want to be able to let a client literally treat one of my catalogs as though it were a mini stock library they can search through with keywords, via collections etc. they will need to be able to see the image in a 'half-decent form' via the loupe view. they wouldn't need any kind of 1:1 preview. whatever they like, they can tell me the file name or create a collection from.
ideally, I want to take my main catalog, which has thousands of pics and filter them down to a few hundred. the previews from the image cache relating to these pics need to be identified (don't mind sending all previews if this is easier...and causes no probs!), sending the catalog is the easy bit.
Which of the LR system-related files/folders would i need to supply them and where would these need to be placed?
I am Mac and they are PC - i don't think this raises any issues does it?
when they create a collection, how can i then go back into my original unfiltered catalog and bring-up this collection...is there a file they can send me back which i can then place somewhere and 'voila'?

many thanks. i am hoping that LR proves to be a very useable DAM tool.
ps - i'm using safari Version 4.'.2 (553'.19) - none of my return/enters show-up...the above should be showing up as paragraphs but it's not.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

Have a look at Marc Rochkind's LR/Viewer as a possibility Atma - http://imageingester.com/LRViewer-info.php - might be a good way of protecting your images too.

Other than that, run an 'export as catalog' with previews checked and negative unchecked. Give them the *.lrcat and *.lrdata that it's created. They would need LR on their computer for that to work, obviously. They double click on the *.lrcat to open it. I'd then suggest using LR/Transporter (Tim Armes' plugin) to do the next bit - either they install it and get it to output a text file, which you then use to identify the files, again using LR/Transporter, or they send you back the catalog and do the LR/Transporter bit yourself.

With regard to the line breaks/returns/enters, did you type it directly in the post window, or copy and paste it from another program? I found the same trying to copy/paste earlier on FF3.5.

 

[Atma Singh]

thanks victoria - as always, very helpful, very quickly!

LRViewer seems excellent and perfect for the job. I must say that it almost seems like there is a Lightroom plugin for everything...i'm just waiting for the Adobe CS plugin - would pay £5 for that ;-)

re: safari issues - i didn't paste text from elsewhere.
EDIT: erm - the paragraphs are showing now - i must have done something dumb without realising it. wouldn't be the first time

 

[Victoria Bampton]

Adobe CS plugin? What do you want it to do?

 

[Atma Singh]

lol - that was me trying to be cheeky and imagining that they could let us use all the features of cs via lightroom plugin.

basically, i'm a silly billy!

re: serious plugin/LR3 ideas (sorry-don't know just how much plugins can leverage feature-wise):

- being able to SEE which images were taken on which date...a graphical calendar type feature?

LR3 or 2.x specific:

- import selected/filtered pics TO an existing catalog; at the mo we can only import FROM an existing catalog or to a new catalog and i hate dealing with those folders from that pop-up menu...or maybe i'm missing something that's there already...?

- when importing from catalog, allow text/other search filters/columns; again, hate looking through folders to decide which images need to be chosen via pop-up menu.

- 2 x hitting enter key to register new keywords when entering them via Keywording panel 2nd field...why? should just be able to hit it once

- re: above field - when searching, should be able to use arrow keys to move down list instead of reaching for mouse

- crop option via library...possible without too much coding...not sure but quick develop is there so why not.

- short-cut for develop settings>copy + another for pasting them to new pic(s)

- develop module: why does image have to 1:1 size when wanting to hold alt within detail panel to check detail/sharpening/masking etc.? would be nice to have the whole image on-screen when doing this.

- sc for switiching black/white clipping in histogram within develop module off/on

- short notes feature, in library - handy when noting things like which client received pics as exports...prefer this to saving exports as a folder and using disk space. creating new collection, adding keywords just for this or exporting to new catalog not always convenient this way, if these notes are searchable (via LR directly a la metadata).

i've yet to really 'seriously' use the slideshow, print and web modules but will certainly be moaning about something within the nest 12 months regarding them lol

ps - i'd love to be a beta tester for LR3. i use LR pretty much every day from 3'mins - 6 hours plus and although i'm only 'a semi-pro aspiring to go fully pro someday photog', i feel capable of giving potentially useful advice. for what it's worth, LR is easily one of the most enjoyable pieces of software i have ever used...probably in my top 3 (would need to think about the other 2! lol) so would be really interested in giving something back.