Thinking about an iPad Pro and Lightroom CC

benjo09

benjo09

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Ben
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So 36 hours ago I wouldn't have even been thinking about getting rid of my laptop for an iPad Pro but after having a play with one at a 'Today at Apple' talk in London yesterday, I'm more than tempted. I know from reading that CC is lacking lots of features at the moment but I can't see it being too much of a hindrance to me at the moment. I do have some questions however that Google isn't answering so would appreciate some advice from those in the know or that use it.

1. I currently have a LIghtroom catalog with around 10,000 files in it and have read the Adobe page on migration that covers moving the images to the cloud. What it doesn't mention is what happens to all the adjustments that have been made in Lightroom. I assume this transfers to CC during migration but I want to be sure. DOn't want to transfer all those files to find out that all my hard work has disappeared.

2. If the answer to the first question is yes the adjustments do move over (which I hope they do) what happens if I have made adjustments to settings that aren't available in CC yet?

3. Custom metadata doesn't migrate. Does this mean I will lose all my keywords I have added? I spend a lot of time tagging photos so to lose all that could be disastrous! I assume EXIF stays in tact but will I lose my contact details etc that I add on import?

4. Storage I currently pay for OneDrive and iCloud storage. Do I have to use Creative Cloud with CC? It seems more expensive than other storage providers and I get 1TB of OneDrive with my office subscription.

5. Do you have to have access to the internet at any time. Do you need it at import or as long as the files are stored locally it will upload when you have connectivity? What about working on files. Does it work off of smart previews and will only pull image data when you have internet or do you have to download the images each time to start work?

I will still have access to a laptop and desktop but the weight advantage of the iPad over my MacBook will make a huge difference (currently carry both my work and personal laptops most days). Also the way the Apple pencil interacts with the screen has changed my perception of tablets as I always thought I'd miss a mouse but the pencil seems to be a nice compromise.

Any other comments about iPad Pro and CC are also welcome.
 
I looked at CC and found it wanting. The idea is OK, but a lot of the functions in Lightroom Classic aren't there in CC. Also your comment about expensive storage I would agree with. Plus if you don't have internet you don't have access to your files. In my opinion CC is in its first iteration and may get better over the years as Lightroom itself did did.
I thought of changing over from a laptop to a tablet some years ago, mainly as a lightweight storage and preview device. However I found it slow and not really what I wanted. So I went back to my MacBook Pro.
 
Firstly I there are a couple of things to clear up. Lightroom now has a number of options, one being CC, where everything is web based with storage too (although you can download smart previews and work on them offline. There is also LRCC, which keeps images on your hard drive and allows you to sync collections with LRM.

The second is what I use, my workflow goes as follows:
If at home:
  1. Import images to pc/Mac auto sync images to a temp catalogue which is set to sync with LRM
  2. Use iPad Pro to carry out selections and 90% of editing
  3. Finish editing on desktop and move final images to the finished catalogue
If I’m away (holidays etc)
  1. Before I go I create a folder for the images in LR and set this to receive images from mobile
  2. Whilst away, I upload images to the iPad and import into LRM (set to auto upload). This has the benefit of auto uploading them to a free storage space in the cloud and downloads to the pc at home)
  3. Carry out culling ang edits
  4. Once at home the images are already on the computer at home along with edits.
As to migrating your existing catalogues in my experience they automatically move over along with all edits.
 
Thanks for the replies.

@ChrisHeathcote this sounds more like what I'm actually trying to achieve, keeping LR for when I'm at home but adding the option to edit when I'm away from home with the iPad. I'm going to have to read up on transferring between catalogues though as I currently have everything in 1 catalogue.

For when you are away does this mean you keep your home computer on while you're away?

Finally I assume that LRM is the mobile version that has been replaced by CC are you using this with the same method?
 
benjo09 said:
Thanks for the replies.

@ChrisHeathcote this sounds more like what I'm actually trying to achieve, keeping LR for when I'm at home but adding the option to edit when I'm away from home with the iPad. I'm going to have to read up on transferring between catalogues though as I currently have everything in 1 catalogue.

For when you are away does this mean you keep your home computer on while you're away?

Finally I assume that LRM is the mobile version that has been replaced by CC are you using this with the same method?
Click to expand...
Yes When I’m away I do leave my Mac switched on with LR open.

Sorry its my mistake confusing things.
temp catalogue
Click to expand...
should say temp Collection, I too only have 1 catalogue. I have checked and LRM has changed names to LR CC, it works exactly as it did before.
 
Hi Guys, hope you may be able to put me right on this.

I'm considering buying an iPad Pro to use to store my raw photos on and do some light editing on LR mobile when I spend 3.5 weeks in South Africa after Christmas so as to save weight by not taking my Dell XPS 15 running Windows 10.

Would I be able to transfer the files over to my Dell when I get back by USB rather than rely on Creative Cloud?
 
JohnBoyUK said:
Hi Guys, hope you may be able to put me right on this.

I'm considering buying an iPad Pro to use to store my raw photos on and do some light editing on LR mobile when I spend 3.5 weeks in South Africa after Christmas so as to save weight by not taking my Dell XPS 15 running Windows 10.

Would I be able to transfer the files over to my Dell when I get back by USB rather than rely on Creative Cloud?
Click to expand...
I believe there are apps which wouls allow the use of the Lightning port as a file transfer station using SD cards. This may be a possibility.
 
iPad pro is not cheap; you may as well have premium laptop (MBP or MS equivalent). iPad pro is small - far too small for meaningful editing. So are laptops. However laptops will work with large external monitor. That is precisely what you need.
 
LongLensPhotography said:
iPad pro is not cheap; you may as well have premium laptop (MBP or MS equivalent). iPad pro is small - far too small for meaningful editing. So are laptops. However laptops will work with large external monitor. That is precisely what you need.
Click to expand...

I don't know what the OP needs for I am not the OP.
I can share my experiences however and if they prove useful to the OP, so be it.

I have:
  • a 27" 5K iMac (running Lightroom Classic CC)
  • a 15" MacBook Pro (running Lightroom Classic CC)
  • a 10" iPad Pro (running Lightroom mobile)
  • a Lightroom Classic CC catalog with about 20,000 images in it, all synced to the cloud (as smart Previews)

The iMac obviously stays at home.
I'll take the MacBook Pro with me if I'm going away for a few weeks
The iPad Pro tends to come with me everywhere.

Having had everything for a while now, I've settled into the following routine:
  • I'll usually import everything off the SD cards into the iPad, and do my first cull from there. I'll do this over coffee, at the hotel, at home, etc.
  • If I have the MacBook with me when travelling, I'll usually copy the files on there too at the end of a day, but to be honest, I don't touch them on there anymore, it's just as a backup. Last 2 week trip, it was basically just a heavy backup back at the cottage.
  • I'll spend evenings rating, cropping, fiddling with the pics on the iPad, perhaps export a few for social media and post.
  • When I get back home (depending on whether I've had decent Wifi, the pics are either already on my desktop, or I'll pull them in)
  • I'll then do anything more difficult on the iMac - this includes spot removal at the moment as that's not supported on the iPad.
To answer your questions...

benjo09 said:
1. I currently have a LIghtroom catalog with around 10,000 files in it and have read the Adobe page on migration that covers moving the images to the cloud. What it doesn't mention is what happens to all the adjustments that have been made in Lightroom. I assume this transfers to CC during migration but I want to be sure. DOn't want to transfer all those files to find out that all my hard work has disappeared.
Click to expand...

You don't need to move to Lightroom CC to get the mobile workflow by the way, it's available with Lightroom Classic CC too - the difference being with pure CC, the full files are in the cloud, and in Classic CC, it's smart Previews (with a few exceptions while syncing files loaded onto the mobile first).

but yes, adjustments will be synced up.

benjo09 said:
2. If the answer to the first question is yes the adjustments do move over (which I hope they do) what happens if I have made adjustments to settings that aren't available in CC yet?
Click to expand...

Bear in mind I'm using Classic CC / Smart previews but If it's any indication, they changes are reflected in the image on CC mobile, but just can't be edited. If I clone spots out for example, they are cloned out on the smart preview.

benjo09 said:
3. Custom metadata doesn't migrate. Does this mean I will lose all my keywords I have added? I spend a lot of time tagging photos so to lose all that could be disastrous! I assume EXIF stays in tact but will I lose my contact details etc that I add on import?
Click to expand...

Can't help on this one.

benjo09 said:
4. Storage I currently pay for OneDrive and iCloud storage. Do I have to use Creative Cloud with CC? It seems more expensive than other storage providers and I get 1TB of OneDrive with my office subscription.
Click to expand...

Yes you do. It's one of the things stopping me going full CC at the moment, While I think the costs are comparable for 'additional storage' more of less, I already pay for unlimited storage with Google Apps for example, so am reluctant to pay again, but this appears to be the trend of things at the moment.

benjo09 said:
5. Do you have to have access to the internet at any time. Do you need it at import or as long as the files are stored locally it will upload when you have connectivity? What about working on files. Does it work off of smart previews and will only pull image data when you have internet or do you have to download the images each time to start work?
Click to expand...

You can certainly import off line on the new CC and it will sync in the background (Khost had a video on that).
 
This sounds brilliant, I may start using my iPad more too! There’s times when I just want to sit on the sofa and go through family/holiday photographs rather than sit upstairs on the PC, I’m not sure about editing a full wedding on the iPad but there are certainly times it would be handy :)

Slightly off topic so please forgive me/move to another thread if needed, but how are you all getting your photographs onto the iPad? Years ago when I had SD cards I used the SD adapter, which was nice, however I now use CF to which there is no official adapter. There is the USB camera kit that claims to then be able to plug a card reader in, hence giving me CF connection, has anybody used that setup? If so it sounds perfect for what I need! I’ve recently got an iPad Pro too after replacing my aging 3rd generation one :)

I suppose the alternative is the USB camera kit and then just plug straight into the camera, which means only carrying a cable rather than an adapter too (not that they’re big and heavy or anything but an extra thing to remember!)
 
I can safely say that I have switched to a 10.5 IPad Pro and so far I don’t see any disadvantage to it after lugging my old MacBook Pro.
I use the web based LR CC and shoot mainly jpeg with RAW as back up from my Fuji.
It’s amazing really I did a sample print edited on here the iPad and one on the iMac got them printed at Loxley and the iPad print looked closer to true life colour.
Also if I go shooting in London this thing is easier to carry and really less obvious than a MacBook I have the Logitech type cover and it’s very good at disguise too
My phone plan has 25gb data so I use this to upload whilst on the go

All in all very happy
 
Furtim said:
I don't know what the OP needs for I am not the OP.
I can share my experiences however and if they prove useful to the OP, so be it.

I have:
  • a 27" 5K iMac (running Lightroom Classic CC)
  • a 15" MacBook Pro (running Lightroom Classic CC)
  • a 10" iPad Pro (running Lightroom mobile)
  • a Lightroom Classic CC catalog with about 20,000 images in it, all synced to the cloud (as smart Previews)

The iMac obviously stays at home.
I'll take the MacBook Pro with me if I'm going away for a few weeks
The iPad Pro tends to come with me everywhere.

Having had everything for a while now, I've settled into the following routine:
  • I'll usually import everything off the SD cards into the iPad, and do my first cull from there. I'll do this over coffee, at the hotel, at home, etc.
  • If I have the MacBook with me when travelling, I'll usually copy the files on there too at the end of a day, but to be honest, I don't touch them on there anymore, it's just as a backup. Last 2 week trip, it was basically just a heavy backup back at the cottage.
  • I'll spend evenings rating, cropping, fiddling with the pics on the iPad, perhaps export a few for social media and post.
  • When I get back home (depending on whether I've had decent Wifi, the pics are either already on my desktop, or I'll pull them in)
  • I'll then do anything more difficult on the iMac - this includes spot removal at the moment as that's not supported on the iPad.
To answer your questions...



You don't need to move to Lightroom CC to get the mobile workflow by the way, it's available with Lightroom Classic CC too - the difference being with pure CC, the full files are in the cloud, and in Classic CC, it's smart Previews (with a few exceptions while syncing files loaded onto the mobile first).

but yes, adjustments will be synced up.



Bear in mind I'm using Classic CC / Smart previews but If it's any indication, they changes are reflected in the image on CC mobile, but just can't be edited. If I clone spots out for example, they are cloned out on the smart preview.



Can't help on this one.



Yes you do. It's one of the things stopping me going full CC at the moment, While I think the costs are comparable for 'additional storage' more of less, I already pay for unlimited storage with Google Apps for example, so am reluctant to pay again, but this appears to be the trend of things at the moment.



You can certainly import off line on the new CC and it will sync in the background (Khost had a video on that).
Click to expand...
David,what procedure do you use to copy from ipad to imac ?
Can you sync with itunes to copy across or?
Used to import direct from card to mac then after editing use photostream but it only keeps so many for so long.i tried big cloud storage as well but dont want to pay £8 a month if i can do it another way.
 
Last edited:
SsSsSsSsSnake said:
David,what procedure do you use to copy from ipad to imac ?
Can you sync with itunes to copy across or?
Click to expand...

You can either wait for it to sync over wireless (which I do if I edited the pics on the iPad), or, just plug the iPad in and do a normal import (duplicate checking ticked) and it will read it like a SD CARD and follow usual process.
 
andy1868 said:
This sounds brilliant, I may start using my iPad more too! There’s times when I just want to sit on the sofa and go through family/holiday photographs rather than sit upstairs on the PC, I’m not sure about editing a full wedding on the iPad but there are certainly times it would be handy :)

Slightly off topic so please forgive me/move to another thread if needed, but how are you all getting your photographs onto the iPad? Years ago when I had SD cards I used the SD adapter, which was nice, however I now use CF to which there is no official adapter. There is the USB camera kit that claims to then be able to plug a card reader in, hence giving me CF connection, has anybody used that setup? If so it sounds perfect for what I need! I’ve recently got an iPad Pro too after replacing my aging 3rd generation one :)

I suppose the alternative is the USB camera kit and then just plug straight into the camera, which means only carrying a cable rather than an adapter too (not that they’re big and heavy or anything but an extra thing to remember!)
Click to expand...
I have SD cards so mainly use the SD card reader, but the USB Camera kit works too (as you suggest), I just have a short cable I keep with it.
 
Furtim said:
You can either wait for it to sync over wireless (which I do if I edited the pics on the iPad), or, just plug the iPad in and do a normal import (duplicate checking ticked) and it will read it like a SD CARD and follow usual process.
Click to expand...
Just to be clear.you plug your ipad in open photos on the i mac and are you saying it recognises the ipad as an sd card?,if so this is news to me?
Thanks
 
SsSsSsSsSnake said:
Just to be clear.you plug your ipad in open photos on the i mac and are you saying it recognises the ipad as an sd card?,if so this is news to me?
Thanks
Click to expand...
In Apple Photo's it shows up under 'devices' and has access to all the images as if it were and SD CARD.

In Lightroom or even the native Image Capture App it's the same - just plug it in, appears as a device or source, and you can access all the pictures, including the raw files if they were loaded on via the SD card reader etc.
 
Amaz
Furtim said:
In Apple Photo's it shows up under 'devices' and has access to all the images as if it were and SD CARD.

In Lightroom or even the native Image Capture App it's the same - just plug it in, appears as a device or source, and you can access all the pictures, including the raw files if they were loaded on via the SD card reader etc.
Click to expand...
I never realised this.thankyou so much,will give it a go later.
Trying to minimize processes now,so going to try jpegs only to save space on my ipad(512gig) .
I have LR mobile and Afinity photo ,what do you use?
 
SsSsSsSsSnake said:
Amaz

I never realised this.thankyou so much,will give it a go later.
Trying to minimize processes now,so going to try jpegs only to save space on my ipad(512gig) .
I have LR mobile and Afinity photo ,what do you use?
Click to expand...

Pretty much the same. LR mobile and Affinity on the iPad and same on iMac. Even with 13K+ pics synchronised, I'm only using 23mb in Lightroom of the 512mb because of the smart previews. I also have VSCO and Snapseed on the iPad which I do occasionally use for edits for social media.

That said, pretty much just LR mobile for most of the stuff.
 
Hey David ,thankyou just tried it and it works great.:)
Is smart previews turned on by default,i wondered why it wasnt taking up much space compared to the number of images?
Thanks again
 
SsSsSsSsSnake said:
Hey David ,thankyou just tried it and it works great.:)
Is smart previews turned on by default,i wondered why it wasnt taking up much space compared to the number of images?
Thanks again
Click to expand...

If you're using Lightroom Classic CC (or the old Lightroom CC) then yes. In fact it only Syncs smart previews to the cloud, that's one of the differences to the new Lightroom CC which will sync full files.

On classic CC, when you import JPG / RAW on the iPad, they are synced up to the cloud and back down your home PC, and then a smart preview is generated and synced back to the cloud.
 
No i dont use LR cc anymore just LR mobile free yet there doesnt seem to use a lot of space,i will investigate,
One other thing i moved my main bulk of images from mac to external drive which starts up with photos on mac.since then ive lost most of my images that were on the ipad,im thinkin maybe i need to have my library on my mac
rather than on an ext drive?
 
also can you edit in AP from the Photos app like you can on the Mac? or do I have to start from AP then send to photos after editing?
 
Furtim said:
Pretty much the same. LR mobile and Affinity on the iPad and same on iMac. Even with 13K+ pics synchronised, I'm only using 23mb in Lightroom of the 512mb because of the smart previews. I also have VSCO and Snapseed on the iPad which I do occasionally use for edits for social media.

That said, pretty much just LR mobile for most of the stuff.
Click to expand...

I like the sound of all this having bought an iPad Pro ... mainly for something else.... especially sifting through images on the go or sofa etc...am I stuffed with only 64GB...or using the cloud storage could I at least select keepers...and/or rate...?
 
Canon brook said:
I like the sound of all this having bought an iPad Pro ... mainly for something else.... especially sifting through images on the go or sofa etc...am I stuffed with only 64GB...or using the cloud storage could I at least select keepers...and/or rate...?
Click to expand...

Should be okay. Obviously you can’t go fill a 128Gb card and import direct to iPad, but you’ll note no problem with synced smart previews and smaller local imports
 
Furtim said:
Should be okay. Obviously you can’t go fill a 128Gb card and import direct to iPad, but you’ll note no problem with synced smart previews and smaller local imports
Click to expand...

Thanks for that ... are the smart previews reasonably sharp.....assume if it’s cloud based you are not using too much of the device storage capacity? Thanks again for replying....
 
Canon brook said:
Thanks for that ... are the smart previews reasonably sharp.....assume if it’s cloud based you are not using too much of the device storage capacity? Thanks again for replying....
Click to expand...

Yes - not sure if they are generated based on standard preview size specified in the catalog preferences or completely independent; my standard 1:1 are set to 5120px wide, but that may only affect the previews in Lightroom desktop.

You can decide to leave the previews on the cloud and only pull them down when you view the photo (so minimum cloud storage), or you can select a collection to work 'offline', which will download those smart previews to the device. I have 13K smart previews offline in that 23MB of storage on the device.
 
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