First I gotta say I have thoroughly been enjoying your tutorials!!! I just got LR this weekend and have been poring over them.

One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is about folder monitoring. For the time being, I’d like to use my old way of importing pics to my computer and manually creating folders for them. Is there a way to tell LR to monitor a folder (such as “My Pics”) and automatically add to LR new folders/pics? I know this isn’t your recommended way and maybe someday I’ll get in line with your advice

Thanks again for all your tutorials!

I am not sure that I understand your comments here. This tutorial is part of a series of posts on the different features within Adobe Photoshop Lightroom’s Import Dialog. Duplicating your images does not increase your “control” over them at all. You are right that there are other programs that can copy files off your memory card but few of them offer the complete package that Lightroom delivers. Almost no other software program offers a powerful image database module, a sophisticated raw file enhancer, and the ease of output.

We are in complete agreement though that Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is not for everyone. The program is the wrong choice for “point and shoot” hobbyists and professionals who need a network driven image management system. We are in agreement that the Adobe marketing department should make it clearer who will and will not be pleased with this software.

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David Marx

There are plenty of other programs that will let you organise the files like you want and move photos from card with no pain at all.

The author really should underline that Lightroom is not for everyone. But not because they are “not serious photographers”

First, in your Preferences Menu > General Tab make sure that you turn on the “Treat JPEG next to raw files as separate files.” Next set your View Options, and system preferences, so that you can see the complete filename with extension in the Library Module Grid View. Now use some variety of the Import Command to create references points for all your working files.

Before Importing everything consider re-organizing your working files into folder’s named for the year-month-day of capture. Keeping any and all derivative files in the same folder as the original capture from now on will simply your life too. Finally, consider building a much more robust backup system to protect all of your work including your Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Catalog files. See Professional-Grade Backup Plans.

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David Marx

May I politely suggest a review of how Photoshop Lightroom functions for you? If I may suggest, you need to study up on the Lightroom Catalog, on what Import means in this context, and on the basics of Lightroom navigation before leaping into the software. Tutorials such as Getting Started: Where Should I Keep My Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Catalog, Getting Started: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3′s preference menus, Selection Secrets in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, and Searching with Metadata in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom might help you better understand this program and its user interface.

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David Marx

Brian

You need to test all three variables to figure out what’s causing the problem. To solve this one you need to make sure that the files on the card are indeed readable. You need to make sure that the card is properly formatted and that the card reader works properly. Try testing each component.

Try using the same card with a different card reader. Try using that card reader with a different card. Try using that card reader with another computer. Try all the variations: the files, the card, the card reader until you isolate the trouble.

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David Marx

Thank you! Barbara

If you think that having descriptive words in the folder’s name will help then my advice is to let Lightroom create the Year-Month-Day system on import. Once imported just right click on your folder’s name in the Library Module’s Folders Panel and use the Rename command to add additional text. Personally, I think that adding descriptive metadata to each and every image is a better use of your data entry time but for some folks folder names with words are an old habit that they find comforting. For more on the power of metadata see:

http://thelightroomlab.com/2010/08/searching-with-metadata-in-adobe-photoshop-lightroom/

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David Marx