Any image that’s checked will be imported, and any image that isn’t checked will not be imported. When importing photos, you’ll need to “check” the images you want imported. The files are simply “referenced” rather than copied. It takes longer to “move” files than it does to “add” them, which we discuss below.Īdd: Adding files from an existing folder is a quick and convenient way to populate your LR catalog with your images. The “move” option copies files to a designated folder and then deletes the files from the source folder. Move: This option works well for importing images from existing folders on your computer, but it should be used with caution. This option is best used if you need to copy files from a memory card otherwise, you may be creating duplicates. This is a more time-consuming import option and can run twice as long as the “copy” option, which is outlined below.Ĭopy: This option imports the original raw file as it was captured in your camera and stores the files in whichever location/folder you designate for import. Here are the four import options as noted above about the “center” section of Adobe’s Import Dialogue box:Ĭopy as DNG: This option copies files from the import source and converts the files into the DNG file format as they’re imported. Once you’ve located your file source for importing images, you’ll need to decide how you want them imported into your Lightroom catalog. The middle section of the Import Dialog box contains 4 distinct import options: Copy as DNG, Copy, Move, and Add The benefit of this last method is that Lightroom automatically defines the source of the images since they were dropped into Lightroom from their original location. Drag images from a folder (on your Desktop, for example) directly into the view area of the Library Module in Lightroom (this doesn’t work in the Develop Module). Press CTRL+Shift+I (Windows) or CMD+Shift+I (Mac)Ĥ. Press the “Import” button in the lower left corner (while Lightroom is in Library mode)ģ. You can import images into Lightroom using one of at least four methods, including the following:ġ. On the Right, you’ll decide where to place the images (which depends in part on your choice for the middle section) Importing Images into Lightroom Classic CC Using the Left Side of the Import Dialog Box We’ll describe each of these options in more detail below. In the center, you can choose one of four options for importing the images (copy as DNG, copy, add, move). On the left, you’ll find the import source (where the images are coming from).

Closeup of Backslash to show import processīasically, the import dialogue includes three sections from left to right:

Lightroom mac 2020