Question on organizing LR catalog's image files between folders and sub folders

[hassiman]

I have 89 images in one LR catalog.. they are in a number of different folders and sub-folder in the same catalog.
How can I move all of the images in this catalog into just one folder and get rid of all of the subfolders... then generate new folders for specific image types? Can I cut and paste or drag and drop image files as long as it is done within LR without risking corrupting my catalog?

 

[johnbeardy]

You can just drag them. Get into Grid view, select them, and drag and drop into the folder panel.

You should also question why you feel the need to do "generate new folders for specific image types" (use smart collections and the Library Filter Panel) and certainly why you have 89 pictures in one catalogue and by implication others in other catalogues. LR is designed to control all your pictures, and fragmenting that control only leads to confusion.

John

 

[hassiman]

Dear John,

As a Art photographer I have loads of images... most of which are in iPhoto as I like the way they are organized by event. The images that I think worthy are exported and then imported into LR. I am also using LR to work on my major project which is scanning 4' years with of slides and negs with a CoolScan 9''' into very large TIF files. These go directly into LR.

I only have one catalog in LR. If I decide to add another catalog for scanned images VS RAW output can I drag and drop image files from one catalog to another?

Thanks....

 

[dj_paige]

[quote author=hassiman link=topic=799'.msg545'1#msg545'1 date=1254331333]
As a Art photographer I have loads of images... most of which are in iPhoto as I like the way they are organized by event. The images that I think worthy are exported and then imported into LR. I am also using LR to work on my major project which is scanning 4' years with of slides and negs with a CoolScan 9''' into very large TIF files. These go directly into LR.

I only have one catalog in LR. If I decide to add another catalog for scanned images VS RAW output can I drag and drop image files from one catalog to another?
[/quote]

There are no functions in Lightroom that work across catalogs.

Which brings us back to the point ... why have separate catalogs? There are some reasonable and meaningful reasons to have separate catalogs, but separate catalogs by capture device doesn't seem to meet my understanding of what is a good reason to have separate catalogs.

Normally, if you have completely non-overlapping subject matter (like personal and work), then separate catalogs might be a good idea (and might not be a good idea, it depends). Professional photographers, who work on distinct jobs, also sometimes choose separate catalogs, and sometimes choose a single catalog. In almost all other situations, one catalog makes the most sense.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

[quote author=hassiman link=topic=799'.msg545'1#msg545'1 date=1254331333]
I only have one catalog in LR. If I decide to add another catalog for scanned images VS RAW output can I drag and drop image files from one catalog to another?
[/quote]

And in answer to your question, no you can't drag/drop between catalogs, but you can use the Import from Catalog and Export as Catalog commands if you do need to move between catalogs. Not the simplest exercise to do on a regular basis, but ok for a one-off move.

 

[hassiman]

Cool!

Thanks Vic.