After creating your new catalog and setting the preferences, you are ready for your first import.
When you open Lightroom, you should be in the new catalog you created during your Lightroom setup.
- Choose the Library module (or press G on your keyboard).
- Next to Folders click on the plus sign and choose Add Folder. Navigate to the folder where you want to store all your original supply files. This location will be different than your current Main Scrapbooking folder as we will be moving things to import them into Lightroom.
- Choose File > Import Photos (or CTRL/CMD + Shift + I).
- Choose Select Source > Other Source and then navigate to and select your main scrapbooking folder you created pre-class. Double click on it and then click Choose.
- File Handling Panel: Choose Minimal for Previews and check the box next to Don’t Import Suspected Duplicates
- Apply During Import Panel: Set both drop down menus in Develop settings and Metadata to None.
- Destination Panel: Choose By Original Folders in the Organize drop down menu.
- Destination Panel: Navigate to the folder you added in the Add Folder above and click on it to select it as the folder to move your files to. Choose Import.
Now you have most of your digital supply files in your Lightroom catalog. In the next step, we will start converting PNG files.
Vivian
I am typing in the password, but it says invalid password, so I can’t watch the video. Help? Please? Thank you.
Kayla Lamoreaux
I set the videos up with passwords because the posts were pre-written and the videos are already on Vimeo. I removed the passwords from the videos and as subsequent videos are posted, I will remove them in the morning after they go live. Hope that helps.
Carlaskipper
Hi Kayla – I have 1 BIG digiscrap folder with nested folders for kits, elements & so on. There are also some folders I don’t want to import. It’s a bit more work but can I do multiple imports and grab just the folders I want 1 at a time or should I move the other folders out and import just the main folder? Hope this makes sense. Thank you so very much for this class!!!!!
-c-
Kayla
It does make sense – I would import the large folder. Then as you go through the folders in Lightroom, you can remove the folder from your catalog by right clicking on the folder and choosing Remove.
If you want to delete the folder and its contents, you would need to click on the folder, press “G” to go into Library mode and then press CTRL/CMD + A to select all the items and then right click on the items and choose Delete Photos. Then Lightroom will come up with a dialog and you will choose Delete from Disk. After the folder is emptied, you can right click on it and choose Remove to remove it from your catalog.
rsheedy
I’m curious as to why we are actually moving the files for our import, instead of importing the files from their current location? I’m wondering about the files that are left behind, such as abr and txt files. Am I getting ahead of myself here?
Kayla
Great question! I setup the system to move the files specifically because Lightroom does not recognize some file types for abr, txt, etc.
As you go through the posts, we do clean up everything after PNG conversion and your second import.
rsheedy
Thanks for the quick response! I am so excited about this class and looking forward to having a better organization system.
Carlaskipper
Ok I got my initial import done. I did notice that I got a list of some files that could not be imported. They were jpg’s & I couldn’t find anything wrong with them. Digging in, I found they were in “read only” or locked. I edited the properties on each, unchecked the locked box, reimported & everything worked fine. I thought I’d post this just in case anyone has the same thing happen.
connie miles
I have a question about folder organization by designer. I’ve looked through other comments and didn’t find any that addressed this issue so if i missed one, please excuse.
I need to know how to organize kits when they were created by more than one designer. In most cases the designers’ initials are included in the file name for each paper, element, etc. In whose folder do I put these kits? One? or All? Also, I’ve organized collab kits by the store – is this correct?
Kayla Lamoreaux
Great question! The post that is answered in is not named very well so here is a link – http://www.digiscrap101.com/2011/03/lightroom-class-qa.html. Hope you find it helpful.
Kayla Lamoreaux
Thanks Carla!!
candyK
I get a message that this link is broken…?
candyK
How did you ‘edit the properties in each’?
candyK
I got it to go! I imported from 2 seperate files, but dumped everything into one big file. Is that right? Tons in one place to deal with?
Kayla
** Destination Panel: Choose “By Original Folders” in the Organize drop down menu. this will bring everything in by designer folder instead of just one big folder. Hope that helps!
Carlaskipper
Hi Candy – This is how I did it on my Mac. In Finder, navigate to the file and click “Get Info”, then uncheck the “Locked” box in the General part of the popup (it’s the top portion of the popup). You’ll need to do this for each file listed in LR. When you’re done just do another import with the same options as you used for the first one. If you use Windows, let me know which version and I’ll see if I can figure it out on my hubby’s laptop.
HTH
-c-
Kayla Lamoreaux
Thanks again
ava-j
Hi Carlaskipper! I haven’t gotten around to the imports yet, but JUST in case I run into the same problem, I’d like to know what to do on a PC running vista basic…Thanks in advance!
Carla
Hi There! I’m away from a Vista pc for a couple of days but when I get back I’ll take a look. It should be really easy.
-c-
Jayne
I’m really behind and I know that you are taking time off but I’m hoping that I can get an answer to my questions. (I’m hoping you have time) First when I imported all my supplies for some reason they show up in year not according to the designer (I have them organized on my hard drive according to designer as you suggested) and then secondly my file handling tab is gone – the one where you change it to “minimal”. I’m scoured the internet trying to find out where the tab went but I can’t seem to find it. Is there something that I’m missing?
Sorry to bother you. If you are unable to answer then I will try to forge ahead and know that you are doing what is most important in your life!
Thanks for the unbelievable lightroom course!
Kayla Lamoreaux
I dont have screenshots so I am going to guess at solutions here.
In the import dialogue on the right side under Destination, if you chose Organize By Date that is why your folders are the way they are. You need to make sure to select Organize by Original Folders from the drop down menu.
For File Handling on the right hand side of the import dialog (CTRL/CMD+SHIFT+I) – if you cant see it in the import dialog, you need to click the arrow to the right to reveal the dialog box.
Hope that helps!
Jayne
OH, thanks so much!!! I think I’ve got it now. Not sure what I did but it makes sense now. Thanks for the reply.
Sara
Hi Kayla! So I’m just making the switch to LR after getting it for my birthday! I’ve watched you doing the class but am just now taking the plunge. Are you still answering questions? I’m working on getting my pictures imported to LR from iphoto. I’m having trouble…does anyone have any experience with this? I’ve read a couple of different options (1. copy original and modified folders to desktop and then import to LR and 2. export photos from iphoto to desktop folder and then import). option 1 didn’t work at all – it said no photos found to import even though they were there. so I’m trying to export and will try that route. Just wondering if anyone knows any tricks.
Thanks! Can’t wait to get organized!
Sara
Kayla Lamoreaux
Hi Sara! I’m still here answering questions! I am so excited you are making the move to Lightroom! There is an ongoing discussion in this post – Margie has a very helpful comment in the comments for getting RAW photos to LR. I think you will find it all helpful – http://www.digiscrap101.com/2010/06/iphoto-considerations-and-export-notes.html
All the best to you – can’t wait to hear how it goes for you!
Kayla Lamoreaux
Still here – still answering questions – might be a bit slow this summer but Ill be here!
As for iphoto – you may want to check out this post -http://www.digiscrap101.com/2011/01/iphoto-and-dam.html
and this post on export considerations -http://www.digiscrap101.com/2011/01/iphoto-and-dam.html(be sure to check the comments here as there is help with RAW files)
hope that helps!
Katy
Hi Kayla–I’m unable to see a “Destination Panel” on the right side of my LR screen…I only seem to have the first two panels you referenced. I went ahead & completed the import anyway (?)…not sure what I did/didn’t do correctly?
Thanks for any help you can provide with this!
Kayla Lamoreaux
Is there anyway you can email me a screenshot of what you do see? That would be really helpful. My email – kayla at Digiscrap101.com – thanks!
Jan_GodBlessAmerica
Kayla is there a way to have the first import go into the new folder
I created without having the old folder they are being moved from
under the new folder name. Ex: folder moving to 0_LR_DigitalKits/then
Designer names/kits by that designer?
Instead of 0_LR_DigitalKits/DigitalKits_byDesigner/Designers Names/kits by that designer?
Maybe I am being picky, but I don’t like all the nested folders.
Kayla Lamoreaux
You can import them however you want to – the main goal is to have the designer folders separate so you dont have to spend a lot of time tagging them. Here is a screenshot of mine – it may not work so I am copying your email just in case -
I keep all my supplies on an external drive so the name of the external drive (SEAGATE) is at the top and then my main scrapbooking folder (0KJL_Scrapbooking Originals) then the designer folders. (There are question marks because at the time of this screenshot my EHD wasnt connected.)
I know in my workflow it is a lot easier to keep all my designer folders (all 250 of them in one folder) I also have other items on my EHD so it makes things a lot neater for me on the physical folder structure to have them organized in one folder.
Hope that helps. Email me at kayla at digiscrap101 dot com if I can help further.
Katy
Hi Kayla–For some reason I hadn’t selected “Move”! Le Duh. Sorry I missed your response here…I’ve been making progress and your tutorials have been INVALUABLE! Ready–finally–for Keywording next.
Kayla Lamoreaux
No worries! Just glad you found your answer – grateful you reported back! Happy Lightrooming!
Michele
You should add in your directions that we have to click on the Move link at the top middle of the screen to get those Destination choices. It was a frustrating long time before I figured that out.
Kayla Lamoreaux
Thanks Michele – I really appreciate your feedback. I apologize for missing that in the tutorial. Your comment is extremely helpful. Thank you!
MonicaB
I have a problem with my first import. When I select the folder with my digi supplies on my hard drive I only have two panels on the right: File Handling and Apply During Import. I do not have the Destination Panel or any of the others that are int he video. I’m using Lightroom 3. I’m not sure if that makes a difference. I canceled out of the import because I couldn’t tell it where to copy the files too. Any suggestions on what I should check to make this work? Thanks.
MonicaB
I figured out the problem. At the top of the screen in Lightroom I had to select Move, not Add.