Lightroom database

[usathyan]

Here is my dilemma - With over 10,000 images on my main hard disk, and it growing every day is causing HD space crunch. I need a plan/strategy to move off all my old images from my main hard disk off to the external storage. I have lots of space on the external disks (1TB over 4 NAS devices).

My first preference would be to move all images rated below 3 stars into this external HD. I would however, still like to access them if required.

Alternatively,

I wouldn't mind moving all my current images regardless of their rating into the external storage and start a new database on my local HD if thats possible.

Any help appreciated - I don't think this is the LLVJ LR tutorials....i haven't seen them all yet...although i do have it.

[johnbeardy]

Umesh

I wouldn't move them based on rating - if you're into DAM, then you treat the physical location and the analysis completely separately. Don't confuse the two functions. Backup your library, then move the lot in Explorer/Finder, keeping an identical folder structure. Then right click the root folder in LR and point to the new location.

John

[michael]

If you wait a little while you may find this easier than you think.  

Michael

[johnbeardy]

But, in this case, just as undesirable.

Just imagine a 2 star image is later revealed as a minor masterpiece that merits another couple of stars, at least. Are you going to move it from one drive to another? Clearly not - you don't move files around just because one bit of metadata changes.

John

[usathyan]

Michael,

Ah ha! looks like something new to expect in v1.1....Thanks for the tip.

John,
Thanks for the tip - Good one.

i will wait for v1.1 anyways before making the change...

[theophilus]

I second John's advice, only move or delete images that have technical flaws that can't be overcome.  I have many shots that have been "upgraded" after reviewing a shoot a few times.