{"id":47770,"date":"2022-04-16T20:10:54","date_gmt":"2022-04-16T20:10:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thepicpedia.com\/lightroom\/question-lightroom-when-to-create-new-catalog\/"},"modified":"2022-04-16T20:10:54","modified_gmt":"2022-04-16T20:10:54","slug":"question-lightroom-when-to-create-new-catalog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thepicpedia.com\/lightroom\/question-lightroom-when-to-create-new-catalog\/","title":{"rendered":"Question: Lightroom when to create new catalog ?"},"content":{"rendered":"

To keep your Lightroom Catalog<\/strong> running smoothly, every once in a while you may want to optimize it. It is easy to do. Just go to File>Optimize Catalog. I typically only remember to do this every 6 months or so and Lightroom still runs fine for me.<\/p>\n

Correspondingly, should I create<\/strong> a new<\/strong> catalog in Lightroom<\/strong>? For typical Lightroom use, you should NOT be using multiple catalogs. Using multiple catalogs can slow down your workflow, hinder your ability to organize your photos, increase the chances for file corruption, and gives you no actual benefits.<\/p>\n

Considering this, how many Lightroom catalogs should I have? As a general rule, use as few catalogs as you can. For most photographers, that’s a single catalog, but if you need additional catalogs, think it through carefully before you act. Multiple catalogs can work, but they also add a degree of complexity that’s unnecessary for most photographers.<\/p>\n

You asked, what does New Catalog mean in Lightroom? What is a catalog<\/strong>? A catalog is a database that tracks the location of your photos and information about them. When you edit photos, rate them, add keywords to them, or do anything to photos in Lightroom Classic – all those changes are stored in the catalog.<\/p>\n

Amazingly, where should I keep my Lightroom<\/strong> catalog? The ideal approach is to put Lightroom<\/strong> and its catalog<\/strong> in the Pictures folder on your computer, no matter where you store the image files. (I find, however, it’s useful to store the primary copy of the catalog<\/strong> and the image files in the same folder location.)<\/p>\n

Do I need to keep old Lightroom Catalogues?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

So, to answer the question, you don’t need to keep all your Lightroom Catalog backups; only the most recent 2-3 should be good enough.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Can a Lightroom catalog be too big?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Assuming you mean the catalog file: You can make it smaller via File–>Optimize Catalog. Other than that, don’t try to make it smaller. You can move the catalog file to another disk using your operating system.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Can I delete my Lightroom catalog and start over?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

When you are done with the catalog deletion, start Lightroom once again. As the previous catalog is no longer available, it will ask you to start with a new catalog. A fresh new catalog will be opened.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

How do I organize my Lightroom catalog?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
    \n
  1. Set Up a Folder System in Lightroom. <\/li>\n
  2. Create a Catalog. <\/li>\n
  3. Customize Lightroom Preferences. <\/li>\n
  4. Adjust Catalog Settings. <\/li>\n
  5. Import Images Using Import Presets. <\/li>\n
  6. Cull Images with a System in Place. <\/li>\n
  7. Use Collections & Smart Collections (or Don’t) <\/li>\n
  8. Set Up Your Export Settings.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/p>\n

    How do I create a new catalog in Lightroom?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

    To create a new catalog in Lightroom Classic CC, select \u201cFile| New Catalog\u2026\u201d from the Menu Bar. The \u201cCreate Folder with New Catalog\u201d dialog box then appears. In this dialog box, enter the name and location of the new catalog folder. Then click the \u201cCreate\u201d button to create the catalog and close the dialog box.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

    Can you move photos from one catalog to another in Lightroom?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

    Once you have the catalog open, select all of the photos that you would like to migrate to another catalog. With the photos selected, click File > Export As Catalog. An “Export as Catalog” window will open and prompt you to name and select a location for your catalog.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

    How do I use Lightroom catalog?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n