Can New Lightroom Take In Template Files

Ane of the main reasons we use Lightroom Classic is that information technology makes our entire digital workflow then much more efficient than using a combination of other tools. A cardinal to getting the most out of Lightroom Classic is to gain mastery over all of the various types of templates that yous can employ at dissimilar points in your workflow.

A template (or preset) is substantially a glorified text file that allows you to save some fix of information that you can call into use over and over again, which is much faster than re-creating or entering that information each fourth dimension you lot perform a given task. Note, Lightroom Classic uses the words templates and presets somewhat interchangeably, but I attempt to use the term shown in the interface where applicable.

The types of templates I am talking about appear all over, and some in more than one place. Specifically I am referring to filename templates, metadata templates, and import templates, which I like to remember of equally workflow templates, and all tin exist accessed from both the import screen and the Library module. I want to focus on helping yous empathise the ins and outs of creating and managing these workflow type templates.

Starting with the first identify in your workflow: the Import dialog. The Import dialog is a multi-tasker's dream, as it's main purpose is to add together photos to the catalog then front end-load the entire process past facilitating such jobs as renaming the photos (using a file proper name template), adding cadre metadata (from a metadata template), applying keywords, and fifty-fifty applying a develop preset. You lot can then save all those settings in an Import preset to reconfigure the settings in the futurity with a click.

Filename Templates

1 of the most commonly used templates are filename templates. In that location comes a time in every Lightroom user'due south workflow when photos need to be renamed, whether during import, afterward import, or during export. The filename templates y'all create tin be accessed and utilized no matter when y'all are doing the renaming. On the Import dialog you tin find them in the aptly named File Renaming panel. Lightroom comes with a few filename templates pre-installed, and that's fine, but y'all can easily create your own with the Filename Template Editor. Here'southward how:

Check the Rename Files checkbox, and then click the Template drib-down carte du jour and choose Edit. This opens the editor with the tokens used in active template beingness displayed.

Clear the existing tokens from the entry field to start fresh, so create your ain template using whatever combination of tokens that suit your needs. Note, you can as well type text correct into that field, which is handy for separating tokens with hyphens or underscores.

Once you've assembled the tokens in the desired format click the Preset drop-down menu and choose Save current settings as a new preset, enter a meaningful name, and click Create to finish the process.

You might have different file naming requirements for different jobs, so you lot can accept the time to create as many filename templates as you wish. The to the lowest degree intuitive part of the procedure is deleting unwanted presets, but information technology is easy once you know how (and information technology works the same way with all other templates we're going to cover). To delete a filename template, click the Preset driblet-down menu in the Editor and choose the one yous desire to delete. Then click the Preset driblet-down carte a second fourth dimension and choose Delete preset "[preset name]" to remove information technology for proficient. Note, there is too the option to rename the template as well.

Metadata Template

Another template you should be taking advantage of right from the start is the metadata template. At the most basic level the metadata template allows yous to utilise important copyright and contact information into the metadata of every photograph equally office of the import process. On the Import dialog, expand the Apply During Import panel and click the Metadata drop-down menu to choose New and open up the Edit Metadata Presets editor.

At a bare minimum I recommend filling out the IPTC Copyright section and as much of the IPTC Creator field as you lot feel comfortable with to assistance people with contacting you should they observe ane of your images in the wild. I like to fill out the telephone (using a Google Voice number), electronic mail, and website fields. Go along in mind that any field that has a cheque marker volition be included in the preset.

If the checked field is empty it will simply wipe that field on every incoming photo and leave it blank (I have a template I sometimes utilise to wipe any existing keywords from photos during import), so make sure no fields go checked by blow. To save your metadata template but click that Preset drib-down menu and choose Salve current settings as a new preset. Like the filename templates mentioned earlier, you can delete, rename, and update templates the aforementioned exact way with that drib-down menu.

Import Preset

Now virtually of the settings on the Import dialog are glutinous, significant that once you've had a successful import those settings volition remain configured the aforementioned way the next time y'all do an import. Still, if yous are the habit of changing certain settings based on your workflow needs you would benefit from preserving your cadre settings in an Import preset. The Import Preset carte can be hard to spot. It is located on the bottom of the Import dialog in the center of the screen. One time yous have configured the Import dialog the way you want it, click the Import Preset drop-down menu and choose Save current settings as a new preset (are you lot detecting a pattern still?), and give it a meaningful name. Deleting these presets involves the same process of selecting the desired preset from the driblet-down menu, and so clicking the menu a second time to access the delete option.

Proceed in mind that once you are through the import process you can always batch rename photos by selecting the photos while in Grid view of the Library module, and going to Library > Rename photos menu. You'll have access to the aforementioned set of filename templates likewise as the Filename Template editor. Besides, if y'all need to become back and batch apply your new metadata template to previously imported photos you can also do that from Grid view by selecting all photos and choosing your metadata preset from the Preset drib-downwardly menu located at the superlative of the Metadata console.