Upgraded from iMac to Mac mini and LR 6 not working

[grdnangl313]

Operating System

1. macOS 12 Monterey
2. macOS 15 Sequoia

I just installed my new mac mini (macOS 15 Sequoia) and it has now transferred my data from iMac (macOS 12 Monterey)
over. My LR icon shows up but I am not able to open it. I also now cannot open LR on my old computer. I haven't used LR in a couple years and don't know where my catalog is located now. I thought I would be able to find it on the new computer, but it will not even open. Do I have to upgrade my LR now to the Classic subscription based? What happens to my old catalog and how do I find out where it is located now if I have to upgrade it? Will the old catalog still work if I need to upgrade to the LR Classic version?

I will be using my LR a lot more now that I will have more time, so don't want to lose it all.

 

[Zenon]

Not sure why it won't open. Have you tried stating your computer? Others with more experience may help with that. In the mean time by default LrC stores the catalogue in Pictures. The LightRoom folder has everything in there.

When upgrading to LrC the new catalogue will import the old catalogue into it so that part is OK. All your previous edits will be there. If you have not used LR6 in a few years what else have you been using instead? Have you been moving older files around without issuing LR6? The catalogue needs to know where the previously imported files are located so there may be some issues with that part.

 

[clee01l]

Do I have to upgrade my LR now to the Classic subscription based?

This is probably best since LR6 is over 10 years old and well past its prime. Adobe no longer supports it.

Your master catalog will be a file with the ".lrcat" extension. You can search using Finder for all of your ".lrcat" files. One will be the master.

 

[grdnangl313]

Not sure why it won't open. Have you tried stating your computer? Others with more experience may help with that. In the mean time by default LrC stores the catalogue in Pictures. The LightRoom folder has everything in there.

When upgrading to LrC the new catalogue will import the old catalogue into it so that part is OK. All your previous edits will be there. If you have not used LR6 in a few years what else have you been using instead? Have you been moving older files around without issuing LR6? The catalogue needs to know where the previously imported files are located so there may be some issues with that part.

I may have moved my catalog onto an external hard drive, so will have to look there for it. I restarted my computer and it will just flashes when trying to open it.

I have not even used it the latest several years due to working full time and being caretaker for my elderly parents. I really want to get back into my photography now and will most likely upgrade to the LR Classic and relearn it all again now.

 

[Zenon]

I may have moved my catalog onto an external hard drive, so will have to look there for it. I restarted my computer and it will just flashes when trying to open it.

I have not even used it the latest several years due to working full time and being caretaker for my elderly parents. I really want to get back into my photography now and will most likely upgrade to the LR Classic and relearn it all again now.

If you do I think you will be very surprised. Adobe has added so much to Lightroom since LR6. A few details Lightroom has two versions now.

One is Lightroom Classic (LrC) which is the same as LR6 which is you are familiar with. The version is LrC 15. While the word cloud is used in todays terminology LrC still requires local file storage. You can sync to the cloud but it only sends Smart Previews, not your actual files. You can access those Smart Previews with mobile device, edit and those edits sync back to you desktop. That is just one example so you get the big picture of what it does. You don't need use sync right away or ever if you don't feel like using it.

The other is Lightroom (Lr) which was introduced in 2018. Designed for actual file cloud storage but you can store files locally or in the cloud. No catalogue and it does not have all of the features that LrC has but it has come a long way.

If I was in your place I'd start with LrC and get yourself familiar with all the changes. You will have to install the Creative Cloud (CC) App. From that app you install whatever you want to use. You don't even need to install Lr if you don't want to start with it. You can do that later.

There are some changes this year. Adobe discontinued the 20GB Cloud Storage Photo Plan that was $9.99 US a month for new subscription customers. Now Adobe only offers the 1TB Cloud Storage plan for $19.99 a month US. That plan comes with LrC, Lr and Photoshop (PS).

Do you need PS? Since about LrC 12 I have stopped sending files to PS. With the advanced masking and generative AI, LrC has everything I need. $19.99 US a month can be a little steep for some. This year Adobe also made a change to the 1TB plan that only had Lr. They added LrC to that plan for $11.99 US a month. That plan has everything except PS.

All plans come with up to 5 personal websites via Portfolio. You can share your images with family, friends, etc.

 

[Jim Wilde]

The other is Lightroom (Lr) which was introduced in 2018. Designed for actual file cloud storage but you can store files locally or in the cloud. No catalogue and it does not have all of the features that LrC has but it has come a long way.

I see that comment about Lightroom not having a catalog quite a lot, but it's actually incorrect. Lightroom does have a catalog (where else does all the edit data and other metadata get stored in a non-destructive environment) but it's a lot different from the LrC catalog scheme that many of us are familiar with. With Lightroom, there can only be one catalog per user account and there's a sub-servient local version of the cloud-based catalog on each device that the Lightroom app is used, and the user has no control over the name or location on those local catalogs. Another difference is that local catalog backups are rather pointless, lose the local catalog and Lightroom will automatically rebuild it from the cloud catalog on next launch of the local app.

 

[Zenon]

I see that comment about Lightroom not having a catalog quite a lot, but it's actually incorrect. Lightroom does have a catalog (where else does all the edit data and other metadata get stored in a non-destructive environment) but it's a lot different from the LrC catalog scheme that many of us are familiar with. With Lightroom, there can only be one catalog per user account and there's a sub-servient local version of the cloud-based catalog on each device that the Lightroom app is used, and the user has no control over the name or location on those local catalogs. Another difference is that local catalog backups are rather pointless, lose the local catalog and Lightroom will automatically rebuild it from the cloud catalog on next launch of the local app.

I knew I wasn't 100% accurate about it not having something for data storage. I don't use Lr but I'll keep your post as a bookmark. Thanks for clarifying.

Also a new user these days may prefer Lr over LrC. I revert back to my old school tendencies and suggest LrC first. Also trying to keep the post short. My main point (which is what I also should have mentioned) is don't start with both as there's also a learning curve on how they interact. Pick one or the other. I'm going to post a video but someone new to the modern day apps should check both out. Let me know (or anyone else) how up to date it is.

 

[Zenon]

A video you may find interesting.

15 Things You Might Miss in Lightroom vs. Lightroom Classic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW2y1i9jUfU&t=3s

 

[grdnangl313]

This is probably best since LR6 is over 10 years old and well past its prime. Adobe no longer supports it.

Your master catalog will be a file with the ".lrcat" extension. You can search using Finder for all of your ".lrcat" files. One will be the master.

Yes I figured I would have to upgrade which is fine and should have looked to see where my catalog was pointing to, since I have not used it in such a long time.

 

[Zenon]

I see that comment about Lightroom not having a catalog quite a lot, but it's actually incorrect. Lightroom does have a catalog (where else does all the edit data and other metadata get stored in a non-destructive environment) but it's a lot different from the LrC catalog scheme that many of us are familiar with. With Lightroom, there can only be one catalog per user account and there's a sub-servient local version of the cloud-based catalog on each device that the Lightroom app is used, and the user has no control over the name or location on those local catalogs. Another difference is that local catalog backups are rather pointless, lose the local catalog and Lightroom will automatically rebuild it from the cloud catalog on next launch of the local app.

Just to add to this. So my guess is there is no need insure that the Lr needs to know where your files are located like LrC? My question is directed to local file storage. Over the years I don't know how many times I've read how people disliked the LrC catalogue because it does need to know where the files are located. Most of the time it is based on not understanding how it works. It somehow takes over control of file storage but as we know it doesn't. The user has complete control of that.

So I guess if a person is not interested in maintaining folder structure, keeps files all over the place and wants to move them around using the OS, etc without consequence Lr would be a good option? I had no choice with LrC because I had to come up with a storage plan. That was over 10 years and today I'm grateful I had to do it.

 

[Jim Wilde]

Just to add to this. So my guess is there is no need insure that the Lr needs to know where your files are located like LrC?

Correct. In Local Mode LrD operates as a File Browser, i.e. it can show the entire file system. It doesn't matter if the user moves files around, But then it's up to the user to tell LrD which folder it wants to open, i.e. until a folder is opened by LrD in Local mode it doesn't know if that folder contains any images. There's no option to tell LrD to show only folders that contain images, although it now does allow the user to select a parent folder and it will show any/all images in the entire sub-structure below it.

 

[Zenon]

Correct. In Local Mode LrD operates as a File Browser, i.e. it can show the entire file system. It doesn't matter if the user moves files around, But then it's up to the user to tell LrD which folder it wants to open, i.e. until a folder is opened by LrD in Local mode it doesn't know if that folder contains any images. There's no option to tell LrD to show only folders that contain images, although it now does allow the user to select a parent folder and it will show any/all images in the entire sub-structure below it.

Thanks.

 

[grdnangl313]

This may sound silly to you but is the LRClassic the LR plan with 1TB for $11.99? They don't call it LRClassic on the site. Just making sure since I am leaning toward getting this one. Another question is why do I need the 1TB storage if this one is the same as the version (LR6) I have where I can store my photos on my own external hard drive vs on the cloud?

 

[clee01l]

This may sound silly to you but is the LRClassic the LR plan with 1TB for $11.99?

Actually it is even cheaper if you pay it all upfront for your annual plan ($119.88 USD which works out to be $9.99/mo). This plan includes Lightroom and Lightroom Classic but not Photoshop.

 

[Zenon]

This may sound silly to you but is the LRClassic the LR plan with 1TB for $11.99? They don't call it LRClassic on the site. Just making sure since I am leaning toward getting this one. Another question is why do I need the 1TB storage if this one is the same as the version (LR6) I have where I can store my photos on my own external hard drive vs on the cloud?

While exploring the plan if you click on this you will see if comes with LrC. A lot has changed since 2018. The plans come with cloud storage and there is no way to opt out. Also you can't get less than 1TB. The only option is not to get an Adobe plan and find something else.

Note: $15.99 is in Canadian is which what I pay. It would not let me open the US link which is $11.99

 

[Zenon]

I should have been more specific. Using LrC you have to store your files locally. There is no way to send actual files to the cloud. You can send your files to the cloud using Lr. As I said all the plans as bundled these days. Some like to use both but I would not start out that way.

 

[grdnangl313]

If you do I think you will be very surprised. Adobe has added so much to Lightroom since LR6. A few details Lightroom has two versions now.

One is Lightroom Classic (LrC) which is the same as LR6 which is you are familiar with. The version is LrC 15. While the word cloud is used in todays terminology LrC still requires local file storage. You can sync to the cloud but it only sends Smart Previews, not your actual files. You can access those Smart Previews with mobile device, edit and those edits sync back to you desktop. That is just one example so you get the big picture of what it does. You don't need use sync right away or ever if you don't feel like using it.

The other is Lightroom (Lr) which was introduced in 2018. Designed for actual file cloud storage but you can store files locally or in the cloud. No catalogue and it does not have all of the features that LrC has but it has come a long way.

If I was in your place I'd start with LrC and get yourself familiar with all the changes. You will have to install the Creative Cloud (CC) App. From that app you install whatever you want to use. You don't even need to install Lr if you don't want to start with it. You can do that later.

There are some changes this year. Adobe discontinued the 20GB Cloud Storage Photo Plan that was $9.99 US a month for new subscription customers. Now Adobe only offers the 1TB Cloud Storage plan for $19.99 a month US. That plan comes with LrC, Lr and Photoshop (PS).

Do you need PS? Since about LrC 12 I have stopped sending files to PS. With the advanced masking and generative AI, LrC has everything I need. $19.99 US a month can be a little steep for some. This year Adobe also made a change to the 1TB plan that only had Lr. They added LrC to that plan for $11.99 US a month. That plan has everything except PS.

All plans come with up to 5 personal websites via Portfolio. You can share your images with family, friends, etc.

I've just spent a little more time looking at the plans and what I have used in the past and I do have Photoshop Elements, which I really liked and have used a lot for my digital scrapbooking pages for photo books that I make, so I may need to get that photography package. My question is why do they have both LR and LRC in that package - do I really need both of them? - and that price for the Photography Plan is so much more than the LR package for $11.99. I guess they have you if you want both of them you have to pay that higher price then - UGH!!

 

[clee01l]

I've just spent a little more time looking at the plans and what I have used in the past and I do have Photoshop Elements, which I really liked and have used a lot for my digital scrapbooking pages for photo books that I make, so I may need to get that photography package. My question is why do they have both LR and LRC in that package - do I really need both of them? - and that price for the Photography Plan is so much more than the LR package for $11.99. I guess they have you if you want both of them you have to pay that higher price then - UGH!!

Until recently the Lightroom plan only included the Cloud version app and the Photography plan included Lr, LrC and Photoshop. Photoshop is not the same as Photoshop Elements. Photoshop is the most powerful, versatile image editor available.
Both plans include Lightroom (cloud). Before the price change you had to get the Photography plan to get Lightroom Classic and it was available with just 20GB of cloud storage. Now, all plans come with both Lightroom (cloudy) and Lightroom Classic AND 1TB of cloud storage. Only the Photography plan includes Photoshop (which when it was sold as a standalone app sold for over $1000USD. Photoshop Elements is still sold as a standalone app and not included in either package. I would consider Photoshop Elements as Photoshop 'light' as it is not as full featured as the Photoshop app included in the Photography Plan.

 

[grdnangl313]

I've just spent a little more time looking at the plans and what I have used in the past and I do have Photoshop Elements, which I really liked and have used a lot for my digital scrapbooking pages for photo books that I make, so I may need to get that photography package. My question is why do they have both LR and LRC in that package - do I really need both of them? - and that price for the Photography Plan is so much more than the LR package for $11.99. I guess they have you if you want both of them you have to pay that higher price then - UGH!!

Until recently the Lightroom plan only included the Cloud version app and the Photography plan included Lr, LrC and Photoshop. Photoshop is not the same as Photoshop Elements. Photoshop is the most powerful, versatile image editor available.
Both plans include Lightroom (cloud). Before the price change you had to get the Photography plan to get Lightroom Classic and it was available with just 20GB of cloud storage. Now, all plans come with both Lightroom (cloudy) and Lightroom Classic AND 1TB of cloud storage. Only the Photography plan includes Photoshop (which when it was sold as a standalone app sold for over $1000USD. Photoshop Elements is still sold as a standalone app and not included in either package. I would consider Photoshop Elements as Photoshop 'light' as it is not as full featured as the Photoshop app included in the Photography Plan.

Thank you for your reply. I know that PSE is not as full as the full Photoshop, but for my previous needs it was all that I needed, and I did not ever look at the difference between them. Do you know what the full PS does that PSE cannot do? And can the full PS do everything I had previously used PSE to do for my digital scrapbooking?

The stand alone PSE costs $69.99 for 3 years.

Would it work if I purchase the 3 year license for PSE and then also subscribe to the $11.99/month to LR, LRC (and Firefly which I am not familiar with at all.)

The $11.99 subscription comes with both LRC and LR? I guess I am confused by having to buy both the LR and LRC and how they work together in the package or am I able to use each one independently? Why would I have to buy both of them in the package? Is it because LR does not yet have all the editing capabilities of LRC?

 

[Zenon]

Thank you for your reply. I know that PSE is not as full as the full Photoshop, but for my previous needs it was all that I needed, and I did not ever look at the difference between them. Do you know what the full PS does that PSE cannot do? And can the full PS do everything I had previously used PSE to do for my digital scrapbooking?

The stand alone PSE costs $69.99 for 3 years.

Would it work if I purchase the 3 year license for PSE and then also subscribe to the $11.99/month to LR, LRC (and Firefly which I am not familiar with at all.)

The $11.99 subscription comes with both LRC and LR? I guess I am confused by having to buy both the LR and LRC and how they work together in the package or am I able to use each one independently? Why would I have to buy both of them in the package? Is it because LR does not yet have all the editing capabilities of LRC?

I don't know what the full PS can do compared to PSE. PSE is a scaled back version of PS so my guess PS will do everything PSE can and much more. Other members may be able to help you with that.

About your question about what would you have to buy with Lr and LrC? There is nothing you can do because you can't buy them separately. They come as a package. You can use them both separately or together.

If you are looking at getting the $11.99 plan that has Lr and LrC and the 3 year PSE plan then you should consider the 1TB Photo plan. If all you really need is PSE then maybe that will work best you.

Sorry I can't be more specific to your exact requirements. You know what you need better than anyone else.

 

[Zenon]

More info on what Lr and LrC do.

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/lightroom-cc-vs-classic-features/

 

[clee01l]

Thank you for your reply. I know that PSE is not as full as the full Photoshop, but for my previous needs it was all that I needed, and I did not ever look at the difference between them. Do you know what the full PS does that PSE cannot do? And can the full PS do everything I had previously used PSE to do for my digital scrapbooking?

The stand alone PSE costs $69.99 for 3 years.

Would it work if I purchase the 3 year license for PSE and then also subscribe to the $11.99/month to LR, LRC (and Firefly which I am not familiar with at all.)

The $11.99 subscription comes with both LRC and LR? I guess I am confused by having to buy both the LR and LRC and how they work together in the package or am I able to use each one independently? Why would I have to buy both of them in the package? Is it because LR does not yet have all the editing capabilities of LRC?

If your current version of PSE does what you need to do for your Digital Scrapbooking, you probably do not need to upgrade PSE as long as your current version will install on your new Mac.

As for subscriptions they come in two packages. Three separate apps One package without Photoshop, the other with Photoshop. Lightroom stores it imported images in the Adobe Cloud. Lightroom Classic stores your images locally. The benefit of storing images in the cloud is that they are available everywhere and can be managed using a mobile device like a phone or tablet. You can also access your images using any web browser (like Safari). Once the images are in your Adobe Cloud you can share the link to them with others. The benefit of storing your images locally with Classic is that you have complete control over them and they can be backed up using a System backup like timeMachine.

 

[Gnits]

Before Lightroom arrived and before I became familiar with Photoshop… I dabbled with Elements, as I think I may have got a free version with a scanner or similar. I discovered early on that Elements did not let me save to 16 bit files. This was a show stopper for me and left me with a very bad impression of both Elements and Adobe marketing of it as it was never easy for me to find a simple list of its practical limitations, as opposed to vague marketing general waffle.

I am sure Elements has changed a lot since and limitations may have changed to differentiate it from the full version…

I would regard myself as an advanced Photoshop user, but advances in LrC means I now rarely use Photoshop (but glad I have the skills to do so for those occasions.

I have moved from using InDesign to Affinity publisher, as the Photoshop / InDesign Data Merge feature now belongs in the digital dustbin, as the Affinity Data Merge tool is far far superior. This allows me automate placing of metadata professionally on the page, which I do if printing high quality images.

Affinity Publisher is a full blown Desktop Publishing Tool and has all the features needed to produced sophisticated multipage documents or books… and for some… their licensing prices and model is very attractive (and may be a better tool for doing scrapbooks).

 

[Zenon]

If your current version of PSE does what you need to do for your Digital Scrapbooking, you probably do not need to upgrade PSE as long as your current version will install on your new Mac.

As for subscriptions they come in two packages. Three separate apps One package without Photoshop, the other with Photoshop. Lightroom stores it imported images in the Adobe Cloud. Lightroom Classic stores your images locally. The benefit of storing images in the cloud is that they are available everywhere and can be managed using a mobile device like a phone or tablet. You can also access your images using any web browser (like Safari). Once the images are in your Adobe Cloud you can share the link to them with others. The benefit of storing your images locally with Classic is that you have complete control over them and they can be backed up using a System backup like timeMachine.

Just an update for the . Now Lr offers both local and cloud storage.

 

[grdnangl313]

I don't know what the full PS can do compared to PSE. PSE is a scaled back version of PS so my guess PS will do everything PSE can and much more. Other members may be able to help you with that.

About your question about what would you have to buy with Lr and LrC? There is nothing you can do because you can't buy them separately. They come as a package. You can use them both separately or together.

If you are looking at getting the $11.99 plan that has Lr and LrC and the 3 year PSE plan then you should consider the 1TB Photo plan. If all you really need is PSE then maybe that will work best you.

Sorry I can't be more specific to your exact requirements. You know what you need better than anyone else.

So I could use LR on my tablet and LRC on my desktop?

If your current version of PSE does what you need to do for your Digital Scrapbooking, you probably do not need to upgrade PSE as long as your current version will install on your new Mac.

As for subscriptions they come in two packages. Three separate apps One package without Photoshop, the other with Photoshop. Lightroom stores it imported images in the Adobe Cloud. Lightroom Classic stores your images locally. The benefit of storing images in the cloud is that they are available everywhere and can be managed using a mobile device like a phone or tablet. You can also access your images using any web browser (like Safari). Once the images are in your Adobe Cloud you can share the link to them with others. The benefit of storing your images locally with Classic is that you have complete control over them and they can be backed up using a System backup like timeMachine.

Unfortunately I am not able to use either my LR or PSE on my new desktop as they both just flash when I ty to open them and have not been able to open either of them. Not sure if I am doing something wrong or if they are just not working on my new iMac mini since transferring all my files over from my old desktop.