513 Messages
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11.1K Points
Lightroom: Delete Images on Card after Import
I would love to get an option to let LR automatically delete images from the card after they have been successfully imported. Images on the card that have not been imported, are let alone, of course.
It would serve two purposes for me:
1. It would save me deleting the images manually.
2. It would dramatically improve the experience of importing images from one card into different catalogs.
An incremental import of subsets of images on one card into a single catalog (but e.g., different folders) is well supported by the "New Photos" filter in the import dialog. However, when I switch catalogs while downloading images from a card -- because some subset of images on the card needs to go into a different catalog -- the "New Photos" filter no longer works. As a result, I have to remember and wade through a lot of images I already imported into a different catalog.
I realise that deleting images from the card is a sensitive issue. It must not happen prior to having verified that the image indeed has been copied (or converted) to a new location. Picasa supports this double checking.
As a safety net, Lightroom could offer a "restore deleted images" feature that would resurrect deleted files from cards. Users will find such a feature tremendously useful for other occasions as well.
I'd be happy with the following compromises as well:
* The option to delete images after import is available only if one activates a second backup location.
* Images are not deleted but the tracking of which images have already been imported is extended to work across catalogs. A record of what images still need to be imported could be associated with a currently inserted card.
It would serve two purposes for me:
1. It would save me deleting the images manually.
2. It would dramatically improve the experience of importing images from one card into different catalogs.
An incremental import of subsets of images on one card into a single catalog (but e.g., different folders) is well supported by the "New Photos" filter in the import dialog. However, when I switch catalogs while downloading images from a card -- because some subset of images on the card needs to go into a different catalog -- the "New Photos" filter no longer works. As a result, I have to remember and wade through a lot of images I already imported into a different catalog.
I realise that deleting images from the card is a sensitive issue. It must not happen prior to having verified that the image indeed has been copied (or converted) to a new location. Picasa supports this double checking.
As a safety net, Lightroom could offer a "restore deleted images" feature that would resurrect deleted files from cards. Users will find such a feature tremendously useful for other occasions as well.
I'd be happy with the following compromises as well:
* The option to delete images after import is available only if one activates a second backup location.
* Images are not deleted but the tracking of which images have already been imported is extended to work across catalogs. A record of what images still need to be imported could be associated with a currently inserted card.
Responses
rob_cole_2221866
4.5K Messages
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76.3K Points
10 y ago
It never ceases to amaze me the different needs people have around importing. I created a related thread to support import actions, so people can take advantage of Lightroom's import infrastructure, but have hooks for special needs/desires. Deleting imported images could easily be one of those import actions.
In the mean time, you may want to consider an import plugin which does what you want. Please send me a private message if you want details.
0
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Victoria_Bampton_Lightroom_Queen
Champion
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6.7K Messages
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111.8K Points
10 y ago
4
john_beardsworth
1.3K Messages
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22.5K Points
10 y ago
14
rob_cole_2221866
4.5K Messages
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76.3K Points
10 y ago
I'm willing to let you cross the train track as long as there's no train coming, and your shoes are tied, and you promise to be very careful...
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tk_images
513 Messages
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11.1K Points
10 y ago
What is the normal procedure after images have been imported into Lightroom?
Are you telling me that you are assuming that all users currently run a byte for byte comparison before they manually delete the images from the card?
I argue that currently the chances of losing images is *higher* because you might manually delete some images on the card which haven't been imported yet. An automated deletion process should *reduce* the risk, not increase it.
What is the safe procedure that would be undermined if that option became available?
The only advantage for the current situation is that Adobe / you could say "Lightroom didn't delete your images, you did". But I don't see the increased safety.
If you are saying users are too dumb/tired to be allowed to tick that option, you should really deny users to remove / delete images in Lightroom by any means. Deleting an image from within Lightroom can lead to its permanent loss. Are you for removing this feature as well?
2
jim_wilde_2294945
130 Messages
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2.1K Points
10 y ago
As for the 'normal procedure after images have been imported into Lightroom', I would respectfully suggest there's no such thing. Plenty of different workflows in use: some good, some not so good, and some plain awful. Personally I do NOT reformat my cards until after I have imported (taking a second copy backup on import to an external drive), then got the imports and updated catalog into my normal backup process, which includes getting a copy off-site. Plenty of different approaches, for sure, but deleting the images from the card during import just seems like asking for trouble.
4
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jim_wilde_2294945
130 Messages
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2.1K Points
10 y ago
Do I have concrete links to a lightroomforums.net thread....not easily to hand, but there are threads over there that I have participated in where the card was the only recourse...you are more than welcome to come over and trawl through my posts looking for them. Or you could just take my word.
Thank you for your final 'note', though I did actually state in my earlier post that I use that facility every time I import. Yes it offers some protection, but still not sufficient in my view to justify wiping the card during import.
1
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rob_cole_2221866
4.5K Messages
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76.3K Points
10 y ago
So it really should boil down to personal preference, in my opinion.
Delete manually if it makes you feel safer, or otherwise works out better for you, or have software delete if it is a pre-requisite to optimizing your workflow, and you are willing to take what are really very small chances.
Summary:
=======
It may actually be safer to let the software decide when to delete, rather than the user. But both options should be supported, in my opinion.
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rob_cole_2221866
4.5K Messages
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76.3K Points
10 y ago
Might even be worthy of a separate FR/Idea, although since I already have a 3rd party utility for it, I shan't bring it up. I'll just say they do work extremely well. They can simply recover recently deleted photos, or even recover files from many shoots ago, *after* dozens of reformats - amazing really...
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mark_anderson_2461088
1 Message
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172 Points
10 y ago
For people who do want to delete after import, there is a reasonably straightforward way to do this (at least on LR3.4/MacOS).
There may be other permutations of this principle which will work, but that's what worked for me.
Hopefully Adobe won't flag this as a bug and 'fix' it.
0
photographe
242 Messages
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9.1K Points
10 y ago
That said, most other import programs have the function you're asking for. I think Nikon Transfer has it. I don't think the omission from Lightroom is a safeguard; it is simply that Adobe probably has a different workflow in mind than the one you propose (and this time they agree with me; maybe it's just a bug that will be "fixed" soon).
8
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tk_images
513 Messages
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11.1K Points
10 y ago
It is not always possible to solve this problem by using different cards. Say you have a day out with the family and take photos of family members and also macro shots of flowers for your photography group in an interleaved fashion. It is not practical to change the card every time you see a different photo opportunity.
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photographe
242 Messages
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9.1K Points
10 y ago
0
0
john_cornelison
2 Messages
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114 Points
10 y ago
Personally I prefer the convenience (and trust automated proceedures) in having LightRoom copy images to two separate drives (with verification) and then mark the source images as deleted (i.e., possible to restore with some hassle) over a manual human process. Provide warnings, sure, but don't prejudge my workflow!
Manually deleting images and formatting cards is laborious and error prone for me. (I could easily miss partial success, such as a full hard drive, whereas software wouldn't mistake this.)
Rob Cole, you mentioned a way to create this functionality at the start fo this thread. I'd love to hear more details.
1
rob_cole_2221866
4.5K Messages
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76.3K Points
10 y ago
0
0