LR workflow with an SSD?

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Gary
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Didn't know whether to post this in here or the computer section, so if it is in the wrong place, I apologise, and I'm sure the mods will move it if they deem necessary.
Anyway, my question is this:
If a PC has an SSD installed, and the OS and LR and PS is installed on there, I have read that to really speed things up, the imported images need to be on the SSD also.
Is this correct?
If so, could some-one explain the exact workflow, with regard to import, then when I have finished the processing, then saving.
Normally I import the images to one portable USB HD, with a 2nd copy to another USB HD.
Obviously the way I work at the moment the images stay on the portable HD.
Could some-one advise me please?
Thanks in advance,
Gary.
 
Images should b on a separate drive to the OS and program files
 
Your scratch disk should be on the SSD too. To check, edit->Preferences...->File handling and there's a cache location halfd way down.

The way I'd streamline your flow is create a directory on the SSD - say C:\Imports. Import images into a subdirectory of this. Process images... when you are finished, use the file explorer INSIDE Lightroom (i.e. the folders tab in develop) to move these files to your USB with drag and drop. LR is consistent then.

The SSD will be WAY WAY faster than USB drives.
 
I keep my OS & program files on an SSD. Additonally I keep lightroom catalogs and previews databases on my SSD and images on a normal HD. LR writes to those two files and this way speeds it right up
 
Images should b on a separate drive to the OS and program files

Unless the drive is an SSD and you want your processing to be as fast as possible.

I have Windows, all my apps, LR catalogs and cache all on the SSD. My workflow is very similar to that described by Andy.
 
Your scratch disk should be on the SSD too.

The way I'd streamline your flow is create a directory on the SSD - say C:\Imports. Import images into a subdirectory of this. Process images... when you are finished, use the file explorer INSIDE Lightroom (i.e. the folders tab in develop) to move these files to your USB with drag and drop. LR is consistent then.

Thanks for all the answers.


I hadn't thought about the scratch disk, as the PC has 16gb RAM. I'll set it up anyway though.

I think I will try that workflow, it sounds quite logical, and I'm sure it will be heaps faster than what I am used to.

Thanks again.
Gary
 
I keep my OS & program files on an SSD. Additonally I keep lightroom catalogs and previews databases on my SSD and images on a normal HD. LR writes to those two files and this way speeds it right up

Exactly this.

Putting the raw files on SSD makes little if any difference to speed. Catalogues and previews on SSD - Raws on metal.
 
Exactly this.

Putting the raw files on SSD makes little if any difference to speed. Catalogues and previews on SSD - Raws on metal.

Ahh, I see, thank you.
So how do I tell LR where to put the different files.
Sorry, I know I am being a bit dim here !
 
personally i followed andys thread above and got 2 SSD: one as OS and programs, the second as LR cat, scratch/cache and temporary RAW staging post. does make a difference.

once processing is complete the RAW get moved onto the large network storage.
 
So just to clarify:
OS, LR and PS installed onto SSD, scratch disk on same SSD.
Import all images onto "temp" directory on SSD, with copies at time of import onto HDDs.
When editing complete, use library function in LR to drag raws + xmp's to named directory on HDD which was created using LR library?
Is that correct?
If so, the only real extra to normal workflow is the moving of finished raws to named directory, which doesn't seem too tragic as far as time goes.
Again, sorry for the dumb questions, just want to get it right !!
 
So just to clarify:
OS, LR and PS installed onto SSD, scratch disk on same SSD.
Import all images onto "temp" directory on SSD, with copies at time of import onto HDDs.
When editing complete, use library function in LR to drag raws + xmp's to named directory on HDD which was created using LR library?
Is that correct?

Yup. For small groups of images I'll import them into their final destination on the HDD. It's only large numbers that live on the SSD's 'Working Images' folder.
 
Those results don't replicate on my system. Possibly because I have a lot of RAM. Also maybe because I have a Mac.

I get at most a 5% speed increase by putting the raws on SSD. Since I shoot a lot and big SSD are very expensive, it's not worth the file management hassle of moving them onto SSD whilst they are active.

whats a lot of ram? i run 16gb and i think andy does too, lightroom very rarely runs over 2-3gb memory usage so having "lots" wont really help anyway.

i cant see the programs differing too much between platforms.
 
whats a lot of ram?

32 gb.

Very little of that is actually used but it seems to prevent swapping.

i cant see the programs differing too much between platforms.

Well, Adobe mentioned something about rewriting 6 million lines of code for the Mac once...

But really, none of that matters. It doesn't perform well enough for me on a reasonably well specced machine. I have offered Adobe help in tracking down the problems but they have never taken me up on that. I'm no longer an IT professional. I take pictures. If my editor doesn't work I'll go looking for one that does.
 
Yup. For small groups of images I'll import them into their final destination on the HDD. It's only large numbers that live on the SSD's 'Working Images' folder.

Thank you.
 
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