How to Upload Files From Dropbox to Lightroom
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If you lot're like me, y'all probably take a lot of photos and video with your mobile phone. The images I get with my iPhone are what I call my "retention" images; they're non always the most pretty, but they document and record the things that are most of import to me. Considering of this, I desire to make sure that I save these photos on my Drobo, where I know they will exist rubber and secure from hard-drive failure. Hither is how I regularly import my iPhone images to Lightroom.
1. Create an account with Dropbox (or file-storing cloud service of your choice)
In order for this to piece of work, y'all will need to have an account with a cloud-based file storing system that allows you to admission the files in a file-browser on your calculator (I adopt to employ Dropbox and will be showing how to utilise this service throughout this article). Oftentimes the gratis versions of these services should work, depending on how many photos you will leave "in the deject" earlier they are transferred over to Lightroom.
2. Install the desktop software from Dropbox
Next, download the Dropbox software to your computer, and log-in to the application once it is installed. Make sure that this app is opened all the time on your calculator to ensure your photos are regularly backed up to Lightroom!
3. Install the Dropbox app to your mobile device
Go to the App store on your mobile device and download the Dropbox app. Open it upwards and log in to your business relationship.
four. Plow on the "Camera Uploads" feature in the Dropbox app on your mobile device
In guild for this to work, you volition need to enable the "Camera Uploads" feature, and so that the photos y'all take on your phone automatically go uploaded to Dropbox. In the Dropbox app, this is under "Settings > Camera uploads". I would also recommend not enable the "Use Cellular Data" option, or it will utilise your information (and not only Wi-Fi) to upload photos and videos.
5. Set up "Auto Import" in Lightroom
Next, open up up Lightroom on your computer and go to "File > Auto Import > Car Import Settings". Here you will set the post-obit:
- Watched Folder: This is the binder in Dropbox where your images are saved on your computer. As you can see in the example image, information technology should be User/username/Dropbox/Camera Uploads.
- Destination: This is the binder on your figurer (or Drobo) where the new images will exist stored.
- File Naming: Give your iPhone images a name (you can customize this to whatever you like).
- Information: This is metadata you tin add to your images, similar to what you lot would observe in the Import window.
Then, identify a cheque in the box at the top that says "Enable Car Import". Once your photos have uploaded to Dropbox they will start to appear in Lightroom! You will need to open the Dropbox app every and so frequently for the photos to upload to the "Camera Uploads" folder; I observe myself doing this every day or and then to keep them updated on a regular basis.
6. Back up the photos to go on them prophylactic!
My entire Lightroom catalog is on my Drobo, where I know that they will stay condom and audio. Because my photos are my life and livelihood, information technology'south important to me to put them somewhere where they will not "disappear" if in that location is a hard-drive failure.
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Nicole Immature is a total-time photographer and author who thrives on inspiring and encouraging photographers to improve their craft and grow equally artists. She teaches photography and post-processing through her blog, articles, videos, interviews, and grooming materials. Nicole also has an online shop, where she creates post-processing tools, such as preset, actions, and textures, forth with several books and eBooks.
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Thank you Nicole. One question: You mention iPhone in the message. Will this likewise work on the Android platform?
7 years ago
I don't see why not! If you can upload to your Camera Uploads binder through the Dropbox app on Android, then information technology should work the aforementioned style.
Thank you Nicole!! I've been a big fan of Dropbox, it makes information technology so easy to copy photos from my phone to my calculator. Had no thought there was an auto import role in Lightroom, this is awesome! Cheers for sharing. :)
Yes, this works for the Android Dropbox app too. I employ it.
"You lot will need to open the Dropbox app every so oft for the photos to upload to the "Camera Uploads" folder" that'southward only for ios devices. dont need that on androids ;)
anyways. Skillful tutorial though. I havent ready an auto import for my dropbox images. I simply synchronize the lightroom folder where I accept my dropbox images. besides lazy to set an automobile import hehe.
btw, is it possible to create auto import for several folders, or does this only piece of work on i folder only? havent tried the auto import feature :)
7 years ago
I believe that Lightroom only allows one "watched" folder.
I got this functioning (thank you!) but have a question. I see that as the photos are transferred into Lightroom via Auto Import folder, they disappear from the Dropbox Camera Upload folder (which is a expert matter). Simply if I don't erase them from my telephone, is Dropbox smart enough not to import them a second fourth dimension?
7 years ago
What's happening is that they are being "moved" as they are imported, not copied, so they aren't being deleted. And Dropbox is smart enough to not copy over duplicates; I've been doing this for a very long time and haven't had it mess up yet. :) Information technology shows in the app what information technology has already uploaded, so it probably uses that for a reference.
Is there any application that volition allow DNG or other raw files to exist saved from an Android phone without the need to root the phone? Having raw files would allow much more robust image optimization to be performed in LR, PS, or onOne.
7 years ago
I'm non really sure well-nigh that. Have yous tried the Dropbox steps to a higher place? I don't use Android and then I don't know if information technology would pull the DNG file (vs. a JPEG copy).
I just went through this process and was setting up the auto import in LR. I pointed to my Camera Uploads folder and LR said the folder had to be initially empty! Do I take to delete all these from Dropbox, set up LR, and so upload them all again?
vii years ago
I got around this by moving all my pictures from the Camera Uploads folder to a Temp folder, ready upwards the auto import in LR, and then moved the photos back.
A good tip.
I create a smart collection with keywords from the import (e.g. iPhone, Dropbox, import, synch etc.) to monitor the ingestion and hands find the images later.
I had the verbal same question as Carol. I'g afraid that when I go DB to do my next auto upload information technology will see the camera uploads folder as empty because it moved them all to my watched LR binder and then reingest all my photos from my phone. I exercise not have it ready to auto delete subsequently uploading because this would make me nervous. I don't even know if you can set that up on DB.
Very articulate tutorial past the way!
I just got a photographic camera with wi-fi built in. There is no Windows app I can find to transfer photos from the photographic camera to the PC. I combined the DB solution with the iPhone app, and add together in the Lightroom machine import. Y'all have to switch the phone from the camera wi-fi to your in-house network, and open DB on the telephone. I don't encounter a style to get raw files yet, only I can go jpg files from my photographic camera to Lightroom in about 15 seconds. What Carol and Kathleen described hasn't happened to me yet. I suspect DB … Read more »
Why not just use Lightroom Mobile? Is it not the same matter?
7 years agone
No, Lightroom Mobile is actually for editing on the go, not ingest.
Late to the party, but cheers! This information was incredibly useful. It all worked just as described.
Is there any application that will allow DNG or other raw files to be saved from an Android telephone without the need to root the phone? Having raw files would allow much more robust prototype optimization to be performed in LR, PS, or onOne.
two years ago
I'm not really sure about that. Have you tried the Dropbox steps higher up? I don't apply Android so I don't know if information technology would pull the DNG file (vs. a JPEG re-create).
I simply got a camera with wi-fi congenital in. There is no Windows app I can observe to transfer photos from the camera to the PC. I combined the DB solution with the iPhone app, and add together in the Lightroom auto import. You accept to switch the phone from the photographic camera wi-fi to your in-business firm network, and open DB on the phone. I don't meet a manner to get raw files yet, but I tin can go jpg files from my camera to Lightroom in about 15 seconds. What Carol and Kathleen described hasn't happened to me yet. I suspect DB … Read more »
Why not just use Lightroom Mobile? Is information technology non the same thing?
7 years ago
No, Lightroom Mobile is really for editing on the become, not ingest.
I had the verbal aforementioned question equally Carol. I'yard afraid that when I get DB to do my next automobile upload it volition run across the camera uploads folder as empty because it moved them all to my watched LR folder and and then reingest all my photos from my phone. I do non have information technology set to machine delete after uploading because this would brand me nervous. I don't even know if you can set that up on DB.
Very clear tutorial by the way!
Belatedly to the party, only thanks! This information was incredibly useful. It all worked just as described.
Thank you Nicole. One question: You mention iPhone in the message. Will this also work on the Android platform?
7 years agone
I don't see why not! If you tin can upload to your Camera Uploads binder through the Dropbox app on Android, and so information technology should work the same way.
"You will need to open the Dropbox app every so often for the photos to upload to the "Camera Uploads" folder" that's but for ios devices. dont need that on androids ;)
anyways. Good tutorial though. I havent set upward an auto import for my dropbox images. I just synchronize the lightroom folder where I have my dropbox images. too lazy to prepare an auto import hehe.
btw, is information technology possible to create auto import for several folders, or does this but work on one folder only? havent tried the auto import feature :)
7 years ago
I believe that Lightroom simply allows one "watched" folder.
I got this operation (thanks!) just have a question. I see that as the photos are transferred into Lightroom via Auto Import binder, they disappear from the Dropbox Camera Upload binder (which is a good affair). Only if I don't erase them from my phone, is Dropbox smart enough not to import them a second fourth dimension?
7 years ago
What's happening is that they are beingness "moved" as they are imported, not copied, so they aren't existence deleted. And Dropbox is smart enough to not copy over duplicates; I've been doing this for a very long time and haven't had it mess up yet. :) It shows in the app what information technology has already uploaded, and then it probably uses that for a reference.
Yeah, this works for the Android Dropbox app too. I use it.
Thank you Nicole!! I've been a big fan of Dropbox, information technology makes it so easy to copy photos from my telephone to my computer. Had no thought there was an automobile import function in Lightroom, this is awesome! Cheers for sharing. :)
A good tip.
I create a smart collection with keywords from the import (e.k. iPhone, Dropbox, import, synch etc.) to monitor the ingestion and easily find the images later.
I merely went through this process and was setting up the auto import in LR. I pointed to my Camera Uploads binder and LR said the binder had to exist initially empty! Do I have to delete all these from Dropbox, set up LR, and so upload them all over again?
seven years ago
I got around this by moving all my pictures from the Camera Uploads folder to a Temp folder, prepare the automobile import in LR, then moved the photos dorsum.