Ask Tim Grey

Today’s Question: I have a list of external editors that appear in Lightroom Classic when I right click on an image and select Edit In. How can I remove an external editor from that list that I no longer use, or has been replaced by a newer version?

Tim’s Quick Answer: You can remove an external editor from the Edit In list in Lightroom Classic by deleting the applicable preset on the External Editing tab of the Preferences dialog.

More Detail: When you install a plug-in that supports operating as an external editor in Lightroom Classic, that plug-in will appear on the Edit In menu, which can be found on the Photo menu as well as on the popup menu when you right-click on an image.

If you later want to remove a plug-in from the Edit In menu, in some cases uninstalling the plug-in may cause it to be removed automatically. If not, you can manually remove the plug-in from the Preferences dialog.

To get started, choose Preferences from the Edit menu on Windows or the Lightroom Classic menu on Macintosh. Go to the External Editing tab, where you’ll find the Preset popup in the Additional External Editor section. Click that popup and choose the plug-in you want to remove from the Edit In menu. Then click the popup again and choose “Delete preset” from the popup. Note that this option will include the name of the currently selected preset as well. You can then close the Preferences dialog, and the plug-in you removed will no longer appear on the Edit In menu.

Today’s Question: The Super Resolution feature in Camera Raw [and Lightroom] sounds similar to Topaz Gigapixel, and I was wondering which you consider the best result.

Tim’s Quick Answer: In my experience Topaz Gigapixel (https://topazlabs.com/ref/273/) produces better enlargements than the Super Resolution feature in Camera Raw, Lightroom, and Lightroom Classic.

More Detail: While I’ve heard many photographers say they’ve gotten excellent results enlarging photos with the Super Resolution available in several Adobe applications, I’ve not been particularly happy with the results I’ve gotten in my testing. I find that Topaz Gigapixel (https://topazlabs.com/ref/273/) provides superior results for all images I’ve tested with both applications.

In particular, I find that with Super Resolution the enlarged images end up with a bit more noise and other visual artifacts. Gigapixel from Topaz Labs provides enlargements that I find to be smoother and sharper, with greater detail and quality.

In fact, based on the results of my testing, when I need to enlarge an image, I skip the Super Resolution feature and simply enlarge with Photoshop’s “Image Size” command. While I have consistently gotten better results using Gigapixel, I also wouldn’t say that the results are dramatically better than using Photoshop, so I don’t consider Gigapixel to be a critical tool in the photographer’s workflow.

However, my experience using Super Resolution causes me to specifically avoid using it, because at least in my experience it slightly degrades image quality compared to using other methods of enlargement.

Today’s Question: I’ve heard photographers talk about how they use both versions of Lightroom (cloud and Classic) for different aspects of their workflow. Is there any problem involved with using both of the Lightroom applications?

Tim’s Quick Answer: I do not recommend using both Lightroom (the cloud-focused version) and Lightroom Classic. That’s especially true if you’ll use the Local tab in Lightroom, because doing so can lead to metadata mismatch issues.

More Detail: While it is possible to include both Lightroom and Lightroom Classic desktop applications in your workflow, I don’t recommend doing so. Instead, I recommend choosing one version and using that exclusively.

The primary risk of using the cloud-focused version along with Lightroom Classic is the risk of metadata mismatches. This is due to the relatively new addition of a Local tab in Lightroom. If you make changes to local images that are being managed by Lightroom Classic, you will create a metadata mismatch because the updates won’t be reflected in the Lightroom Classic catalog.

If you limit yourself to only using the Cloud tab so you’re only working with images that are stored in the cloud, there isn’t any problem with using both versions of Lightroom. However, if you’re using Lightroom Classic I recommend not using (or even installing) the cloud-focused version of Lightroom. If you need the equivalent of the Lightroom desktop application you can instead use the Lightroom mobile app or access Lightroom through a web browser (https://lightroom.adobe.com).

You can learn more about the differences between Lightroom and Lightroom Classic in the recording of my webinar on “Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, or Bridge?!” on my Tim Grey TV channel on YouTube here:

[https://youtube.com/live/BwpneG4y0nQ]

I’ll also be presenting a webinar on the subject of “Traps to Avoid in Lightroom Classic” starting at 12pm Eastern Time today, which you can tune into here:

[https://youtube.com/live/6c98YeivvwM]

Today’s Question: Is there a way in Lightroom Classic to search for only photos that contain two selected keywords rather than including images that contain one or the other but not both? When I select two keywords on the Metadata tab of the Library Filter bar I’m seeing images with one or both of the keywords, rather than only the images that have both of the selected keywords.

Tim’s Quick Answer: Yes, you can limit your search to only those images that include all chosen keywords either by using the “Contain All” option on the Text tab or by using more than one column on the Metadata tab when using the Library Filter Bar.

More Detail: By default, when you set a filter in Lightroom Classic for more than one keyword, that search is an “or” search rather than an “and” search. In other words, if you select keywords Miami and Florida for a search, you’ll see photos that contain either Miami or Florida. As a result, the search results might include an image with keywords of “Orlando” and “Florida”, even though it doesn’t include “Miami” as a keyword.

In this example, if you wanted to only see images from Miami, Florida, and not images from Orlando, you would want an “and” search. This can be handled in a couple of ways.

First, you can use the Text tab of the Library Filter bar, selecting “Keywords” from the first popup and “Contain All” from the second popup. The type the applicable keywords in the text field to the right of the popups, separating each keyword with a comma.

The other approach would be to use more than one column for keywords on the Metadata tab. You could set the popup on the header for the first column to “Keyword”, and select “Florida” from that column. Then set the second column to “Keyword” as well, and select “Miami” from that column. You would then only be viewing photos that include both Miami and Florida as keywords.

Note that when you’re using the Library Filter bar you are filtering images in the currently selected location, such as a folder or collection. If you want to search across your entire catalog you can choose the “All Photographs” collection in the Catalog section of the left panel in the Library module.

Today’s Question: Is there a way to browse the photos in only two subfolders, not all subfolders within a parent folder in Lightroom Classic? I know I can browse all photos by enabling the “Show Photos in Subfolders” option. But what if I just want to browse some (but not all) the subfolders at the same time?

Tim’s Quick Answer: Yes, you can browse only the contents of specific folders in Lightroom Classic by selecting those folders and making sure the “Show Photos in Subfolders” option is turned off.

More Detail: I find that many photographers don’t realize you can browse the contents of more than one folder in Lightroom Classic by simply selecting the folders you want to browse from the Folders list on the left panel in the Library module. In most cases you would want to make sure the “Show Photos in Subfolders” setting (found on the Library menu) is turned off, unless you also want to see photos in subfolders of the selected folders.

To get started, click on the first folder you want to browse on the Folders list. If you want to select a range of folders, you can hold the Shift key on the keyboard while clicking on the last folder you want to select. This will cause the first folder you clicked, the folder you Shift-clicked, and all folders in between to be selected.

You can also toggle the selection of any folder in the Folders list on or off by holding the Ctrl key on Windows or the Command key on Macintosh while clicking the folder. This enables you to select among any folders without having to select a range of folders.

When you select multiple folders, you’ll be browsing all the photos contained within all selected folders. That, in turn, means that the indication of the number of photos you’re currently browsing (shown toward the left side of the top of the bottom panel) will update based on which folders are currently selected, and whether you have the “Show Photos in Subfolders” option turned on or off.

Note, by the way, that the same selection options are also available for collections in the Collections section of the left panel. You can even mix and match, selecting any combination of folders and collections from each of the sections on the left panel.

Today’s Question: I’ve run into a problem where if I choose the Camera Raw filter in Photoshop, I’m getting a blank white image instead of the actual image I’m working on. Is this a bug or am I doing something wrong?

Tim’s Quick Answer: You are most likely choosing the Camera Raw filter (from the Filter menu) without selecting the image layer you’re trying to adjust, such as by clicking on the thumbnail for the Background image layer on the Layer panel before choosing the Camera Raw Filter command.

More Detail: When you apply a filter in Photoshop, including using the Camera Raw filter to access Camera Raw adjustments for an image that is already open in Photoshop, the filter applies to the currently active layer. That layer can be a normal image layer or a smart object that contains an image.

If the preview in the dialog for the Camera Raw filter shows an all-white image, the most likely reason is that you had an adjustment layer selected on the Layers panel when you chose the Camera Raw filter from the menu. As a result, you would be applying the filter to the layer mask for the adjustment layer, rather than the underlying image. By default, a layer mask is entirely white, but could also contain black or shades of gray if you had a selection active when you added the adjustment layer or otherwise modified the layer mask.

So, simply click the thumbnail for the image layer you want to apply the filter to before choosing the filter from the menu. In most cases that would mean the Background image layer, but it could be a different layer if you’re working with a composite image, for example.

Today’s Question: Do color film photo prints have as many colors as modern digital photos? In other words, assuming no editing afterwards, is there an advantage to scanning with 16-bit color vs 8-bit? And can the same be said for scanning negatives?

Tim’s Quick Answer: Photo prints from film don’t contain as much color as modern digital images. If you have the original transparency (film or slide) I highly recommend scanning that, and I prefer to do so with 16-bit per channel color. For photo prints you can scan at 8-bit per channel unless you’re going to need to do significant editing work.

More Detail: Generally speaking, there isn’t a tremendous advantage to scanning an analog color image in 16-bit per channel mode unless you’ll need to do significant editing, but for slides or negatives I prefer to scan at 16-bit per channel just to help ensure optimal quality and fidelity. For scanning prints I recommend using 8-bit per channel mode unless significant editing is going to be required.

The original film contains significantly more information than the print, so I highly recommend scanning film if it is available, using prints for scanning only when the original film images aren’t available.

It is important to note, however, that for black and white images I always recommend scanning in 16-bit per channel mode, because there are only 256 shades of gray available for 8-bit monochrome images. As a result, it is very easy to see banding in an 8-bit black and white image because there aren’t enough shades of gray to support smooth gradations. This is a particular risk if you need to apply strong adjustments to a black and white image.

Today’s Question: I was an early adopter using the Palette Gear editing console with Lightroom Classic. Some features really improved my workflow. Support is beginning to fall off as they have discontinued the first system and moved to something different. So, I find myself back in the market for a replacement. Would you care to opine?

Tim’s Quick Answer: While I have mixed feelings about using an editing console to supplement a keyboard and mouse configuration, they can certainly be helpful, and they generally work with various applications including Photoshop and many more. It appears the product lineup that started as Palette Gear has now been totally discontinued, but you might look at Loupedeck Creative Tool (https://bhpho.to/3XDppTF) as a somewhat similar alternative.

More Detail: Some time ago the Palette Gear hardware was released, providing a variety of physical knobs, wheels, and sliders that could be paired to specific software features. For example, you could have a physical slider for adjusting the Exposure adjustment or use two knobs for Temperature and Tint adjustments.

While many photographers found these consoles helpful, I didn’t personally find that they improved my efficiency. I did prefer the ergonomics of physical sliders and knobs, but I also found it slower to switch between controlling different sets of adjustments, and it didn’t feel practical (or cost-effective) to have a particularly large number of console components.

More importantly, the Palette Gear products (which had more recently been rebranded to the Monogram brand) appear to have been completely discontinued, with many customers indicating that they never received their orders from as much as a few years ago.

The only other product that I know of that provides similar capabilities is the Loupedeck Creative Tool (https://bhpho.to/3XDppTF). The Loupedeck console is different from the previous Palette Gear console, in that the Loupedeck console revolves around selecting an option (such as an adjustment) and then using a single dial to change the setting for that adjustment. This might not make it a good solution for someone who is accustomed to having multiple physical controls that can each be assigned to an individual adjustment at a given time.

And, of course, if any readers are aware of a product that is similar to the Palette Gear and Monogram products that is still available and supported, please let me know!

Today’s Question: I had always thought the power of Lightroom Classic was allowing me to search for things, but when searching for a specific photo, I find that if the specific folder it is in is not selected Lightroom Classic doesn’t find the image. I had always thought that if I chose the parent folder of all images, that I could search for it that way, but was disappointed in realizing that I couldn’t.

Tim’s Quick Answer: You can indeed search across all subfolders in Lightroom Classic by enabling the “Show Photos in Subfolders” option, or search across your entire catalog by choosing the “All Photographs” collection.

More Detail: If you have the “Show Photos in Subfolders” option (found on the Library menu) turned off, then searching for images with the various filters on the Library Filter bar will only reveal matching images from within the currently selected folder. It is worth noting, by the way, that you can select and therefore search across more than one folder by selecting multiple folders. You can do so by clicking on the first folder and holding the Shift key while clicking on the last folder to select the full range. You can also hold the Ctrl key on Windows or the Command key on Macintosh while clicking on a folder to toggle the selection of that folder on or off.

When you turn on the Show Photos in Subfolders option on the Library menu, you’ll see a checkmark icon to the left of the command on the menu so you know it is turned on. This will cause the image count for a parent folder to display the total number of photos within that folder and all subfolders within the folder. That also means that if you select a parent folder, you’ll also be viewing all images from all subfolders. Therefore, you would be searching across all those images if you used the Library Filter bar, for example.

If you want to search across the entire catalog, you can do so very easily by selecting the All Photographs collection found in the Catalog section of the left panel in the Library module. When you find a photo within All Photographs, you can right-click on the image and choose “Go to Folder in Library” to be taken automatically to the folder that contains the image.

I will add that I recommend being careful when using the “Show Photos in Subfolders” option. Because enabling this setting causes a parent folder to appear as though photos from subfolders are contained within that parent folder, it is possible to be fooled into thinking that there are duplicate images. After all, when you browse the parent folder or the subfolder you will see the same images. However, it is not duplication in this case, so if you deleted images you would be deleting the only copies of those photos. I therefore generally recommend leaving the “Show Photos in Subfolders” option turned off except in situations where you are actively making use of it.

Today’s Question: I just called Adobe tech support with a question about renaming my Lightroom Classic catalog files. The agent told me to NOT rename the Previews file. In your online tutorial [“Cleaning Up Your Mess in Lightroom Classic”], Chapter 3, Lesson 5, you describe in precise detail how to rename the catalog, and to then rename the file for “Previews” with the exact same text, including a single space before Previews. Was the Adobe agent wrong about this?

Tim’s Quick Answer: The Adobe agent was wrong. If you are renaming the files directly, the Previews file needs to be renamed to match the catalog file while retaining the “Previews” suffix including the space. Note, however, that Lightroom Classic now includes a Rename Catalog command that makes the process of renaming the catalog and all related files simple.

More Detail: The Lightroom Classic catalog actually consists of more than one file. There is the underlying catalog file (with the .lrcat filename extension) along with a series of helper files for various purposes. Which files exist depends on the features you’ve made use of. You’ll always have a Previews file, for example, but you might also have a Smart Previews file, a Sync file, among others.

If you’re using Lightroom Classic 14, you can simply use the new Rename Catalog command to rename the catalog and all related files in a single step. Simply choose File > Rename Catalog from the menu and enter a new or updated catalog name in the New Name field. If you don’t have any photos in the same folder as the catalog, you can also turn on the “Rename parent folder” checkbox if you want to have the folder containing the catalog renamed to match the catalog name. Click the Rename button to apply the change.

If you’re using a version of Lightroom Classic older than version 14 and you want to rename the catalog, you’ll need to rename all files associated with the catalog in the same way. Be sure to quit Lightroom Classic first and then navigate to the folder location where the catalog is stored.

Look at the file with the .lrcat filename extension, which is the primary catalog file. Note the exact text of this file. Let’s assume it is “My Catalog.lrcat”, and that the intent is to rename it to ” LrC Catalog.lrcat”. For all files that have the exact same base filename but a different filename extension, such as the “My Catalog.lrcat-data” file, you would simply change the base filename to the same new name. So in this example the “My Catalog.lrcat” and “My Catalog.lrcat-data” would be renamed to “LrC Catalog.lrcat” and “LrC Catalog.lrcat-data”, respectively.

For the helper files you need to be sure to only change the same text as for the primary catalog file, while retaining the extra text such as “Previews” or “Smart Previews”. So, for example, the files “My Catalog Previews.lrdata” and “My Catalog Smart Previews.lrdata” would be renamed to “LrC Catalog Previews.lrdata” and “LrC Catalog Smart Previews.lrcata”.

After renaming the catalog manually, you can double-click on the “.lrcat” file to open that catalog in Lightroom Classic. I then recommend setting the Default Catalog option to this new catalog name on the General tab of the Preferences dialog. But frankly, if you want to rename your catalog, I recommend upgrading to Lightroom Classic 14 so you can take advantage of the helpful new Rename Catalog command.