Importing Lightroom Catalogs from my Laptop to the Studio Computer

This tip describes the simple process of importing my laptop catalogs into my studio computer Lightroom Master Catalogs after returning from a week on the road. While on the road with my travel computer, I created a separate catalog for each event, job, and topic. In addition I devoted some time to inputting my keywords, editing, rating and some basic image adjustments. Most heavy lifting on the image development side is performed on my studio tower computer.

Now I want to import each catalog and the images from the laptop and merge it with the appropriate master catalog resident on my studio computer. This is really simple with the Multi Catalog Workflow I use with Lightroom. I have Lightroom’s General preference tab Default Catalog feature set to “prompt me when starting Lightroom. (fig_2.1) This allows me to select the appropriate master catalog when launching Lightroom.

First, I launch Lightroom and select my Fine Art Master catalog on my studio system. With the correct master catalog open, I now proceed to hook up my laptop or my travel external hard drive to my studio computer.

Next within Lightroom go to the File menu and click on Import from Catalog.  (fig2.2)

Then navigate to the catalog location on my laptop and choose it. (fig2.3)

This selected catalog will then be merged into the current Master Fine Art Catalog that Lightroom currently has open. All my ratings, keywords  and image adjustments made to the laptop catalog produced in the field will now come with the merge.

The import stage dialog box will appear and it’s now a matter of selecting the copy feature and the path to the Master Fine Art Catalog. (fig2.4)

The images and all the Catalog information will be merged into the Master Fine Art Catalog from my laptop.  When the import function is complete, I proceed to trash the laptop catalog and the images to free up laptop disk space.

Stay tuned, more on Exporting Catalogs next week

Jerry Courvoisier