Lightroom > Library Module >
1 - Importing Photographs
If you use Adobe Bridge or Picasa, read on.
If you don't use these programs,
jump ahead.
Bridge & Picasa Users
As you know, you don't have to import your photographs when using
Bridge or Picasa.
When you open these programs, your photographs are "in" the programs
already.
Bridge and Picasa are browsers.
They browse to your photograph files in My Pictures or Pictures.
Lightroom is a database.
You have to "tell" Lightroom where your files are located on
your computer.
You have to import them.
As described, Lightroom doesn't import your photograph files.
Lightroom imports:
• The locations of the files in My Pictures or Pictures.
• The metadata and previews (thumbnails) from the files.
Again, when you read . . .
import your photographs into Lightroom,
Think . . .
import shortcuts to my files, their
metadata, and their previews.
No Duplicates Are Imported
If Lightroom determines that a file already exists in a Lightroom
folder, the thumbnail of the duplicate file will be grayed-out in
the Import work area.
The default Import settings are fine for most photographers.
Check three of the settings, though.
Setting #1 - Both JPEG & Raw Files?
If you're saving both JPEG and raw files on your
camera, Lightroom will:
• Import the raw file.
• Add + JPG to the raw file name displayed in
Lightroom.
The JPEG file is hidden as a sidecar file.
If you want to edit the JPEG file, press Ctrl
+ r.
If you want to see both the raw file and the
JPEG file in Lightroom, do the following.
1) Go to Edit > Preferences (Windows) or Lightroom > Preferences
(Mac).
Or, press Ctrl + ,.
2) Click the General tab.
3) In the Import Options section, in the middle, select Treat
JPEG files next to raw files as separate photos.
Setting #2 - Date Folder Names
Lightroom folder names should start with the date the photographs
were taken.
If your camera doesn't start folder names with the date, change
the setting.
Do the following.
1) Connect your camera to your computer and turn the camera on,
or connect a card reader with a card.
2) Press g to make sure you're in the Library module.
3) Click Import in the lower-left corner.
4) Open the Destination panel on the right side.
5) In the Organize menu, select By date.
6) Choose a date format in the Date Format menu.
Setting #3 - Choose the Preview Size
Your photograph files have JPEG previews.
They're embedded in the files, or are in sidecar files.
You can specify how Lightroom creates previews when importing.
Many photographers use the default choice, Minimal.
That's because Lightroom can create a larger preview whenever
its required.
Therefore, most photographers can jump
ahead.
If you may have special needs, such as clients
who need to see huge previews instantly, go to
Previews.
Don't import hundreds of photographs at first.
Start with about ten.
Experiment with Lightroom before you import everything on your
computer.
Open when Memory Card Detected
When you connect your camera or a card reader, by default, Lightroom
will open the Import "module."
Doesn't Open?
If Lightroom doesn't open to Import when you connect a memory
card, do the following.
1) Open Lightroom.
2) Press g to make sure you're in the Library module.
3) Click Import in the lower-left corner.
Do the following.
1) Press Ctrl + , to open Preferences.
2) Click the General tab.
3) In the Import Options section, select or deselect Show import
dialog when a memory card is detected.
Most cameras create folders beginning with the date of the image
capture.
If your folders start with dates, jump
ahead.
If your folders don't start with dates, you must be careful when
importing folders into Lightroom.
Lightroom can't function when there are two folders with the
same name.
Let's say your about to import a folder called Birthday.
You must check to make sure there's no Birthday folder in Lightroom.
If there is, rename it.
Import from a Folder
You may want to import from an existing folder in My Pictures
or Pictures.
Include Subfolders
If you want to import subfolders, do one of the following.
• Select Include Subfolders at the top of the File panel
• Right click on a folder, and select Include Subfolders.
Dock Folder
To remove clutter, do one of the following.
• Right click on a folder, and select Dock Folder.
• Double click on a folder.
When you do so, the other folders are hidden.
Windows or Mac?
Choose Windows
or Mac.
1) Click Import in the lower-left corner.
2) On the left side, click the black triangle to open your hard
drive (C:).
3) Click the white triangle to open Users.
4) Click the white triangle to open Your Name.
5) Click the white triangle to open My Pictures or Pictures.
6) Click on a folder to select it.
7) Click Import on the lower-right corner.
8) Click Uncheck All.
9) Check about ten of the thumbnails in their upper-left corners.
10) Click Import.
Thumbnails of your photographs appear in the middle of your screen,
the work area.
1) Click Import in the lower-left corner.
2) On the left side, click the black triangle to open your
hard drive.
3) Click the white triangle to open Pictures.
4) Click on a folder to select it.
5) Click Import on the lower-right corner.
6) Click Uncheck All.
7) Check about ten of the thumbnails in their upper-left corners.
8) Click Import.
Thumbnails of your photographs appear in the middle of your screen,
the work area.
For more about importing, go to
Importing.
