Thanks mate. Your reply put it into a bit of perspective. I have found that I can import my folder manually, I'm not sure what the point of auto importing is as it won't do that from external drives.
I'll play a bit more with it, but I'm pretty happy with my current work flow...especially as I rarely print. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Godfrey DiGiorgi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" <pdml@pdml.net> Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 6:59 PM Subject: Re: Forgive my ignorance, but what use is Lightroom? >I don't know about the USB drive issue ... my external drives are > connected with FireWire and Lightroom can import a folder of data > from them without any problems. I imported the two 70Gbyte > directories of photos -- 2003 and 2002 -- from my archive drive, > handled it without a hitch. > > Regards why it has to import rather than just open and work on a > file ... It's a database system so it has to collect information > about each of the files you want it to deal with. > > Regards why it has no "save as" function ... Again, it's a database > and supposed to be the environment in which you work. Edits are all > non-destructive ... you can go back to the original image file sans > edits at any time. When you want to solidify a particular rendering > into a final product, you "export" it with all edits applied. If you > want to edit something with Photoshop CS2 and keep it in the library, > you export it to PSCS2 with the edits you've done in LR intact, do > your editing, then return to Lightroom for printing and other > operations. It's a different workflow model compared to what you're > used to. > > You should look up some of the tutorial videos if you care enough to > learn and understand it. If you're happy with what your doing and > don't think it has any value for you, so it goes ... it was free, > right? Others can download the 30 free trial and have the same > capability. > > Adobe has useful tutorial videos: > http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshoplightroom/ > > Photoshop User has useful tutorial videos: > http://www.photoshopuser.com/lightroom/index.html > > I like Michael Tapes videos: > http://pictureflow.fileburst.com/_Tutorials/Photoshop_LR/01/index.html > > > My paid for copy hasn't arrived yet so I'm working with the free > trial until it gets here next week. So far, I've rendered 7 sets of > photos since I installed it yesterday ... so I'm pretty happy with it. > > Godfrey > > > > > On Feb 21, 2007, at 11:13 PM, J and K Messervy wrote: > >> I've just installed my free copy of Lightroom. My normal workflow >> involves >> Raw Converter, Adobe Bridge, ACR and Photoshop CS2. I organise all >> of my >> pics through Adobe Bridge and launch ACR and CS2 from there. That >> works >> well for me. >> >> Being offered something for free, I naturally checked it out. Now >> I've got >> to say the interface is not very user friendly. It tells me that I >> have to >> import a library of photos....why the hell can't I just open and >> work on >> photos I have saved already?! >> >> Fine I think, I'll import some photos and have a play. I try to >> set up auto >> import to import all of my recent photos. Nope, I'm told the >> folder can't >> be used. It appears that Lightroom will not allow me to use >> external hard >> drives that are connected by USB. WTF? I doubt too many >> photographers >> store all their images on their internal hard drive. I'm sure as >> hell not >> going to start trying to cram my 400 or so Gb of image files onto >> my 60Gb >> laptop drive! >> >> Anyway, I put that issue aside and managed to import a folder >> manually from >> my external drive. I tried developing a RAW file. It seemed to >> work okay. >> Of course, I then tried to save it as a converted file...no save >> option???!! >> It seems I have to 'export' it to CS2. >> >> Am I missing something obvious or is Lightroom an entirely to >> restrictive >> and useless application? What does it offer that the traditional >> Bridge-ACR-Bridge-CS2 workflow doesn't, besides frustration? >> >> Please enlighten me before I remove the programme from my computer! >> >> James >> >> >> -- >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >> PDML@pdml.net >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.441 / Virus Database: 268.18.3/696 - Release Date: 21/02/2007 > 3:19 PM > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
