Choose Add, Copy, or Move When Importing Photo Scans
By ImgHeal · Updated
Lightroom Classic can catalog existing files or place copies in another location during import. Choose the method from your storage plan, not from the appearance of a thumbnail. A successful import does not itself prove that a separate backup exists.
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Decide where the master should live
Write down the intended permanent folder before opening Import. A scan already on your archive drive may need cataloging in place, while files on a temporary transfer device may need copying into permanent storage. Keep the received transfer unchanged until you have checked the new location. A memory-card name or operating-system recent-file entry is not a reliable description of where Lightroom will later read the pixels.
Read the selected import method
Adobe distinguishes Add, Copy, Copy as DNG, and Move in supported import workflows. Check which method is selected and inspect the destination controls that apply to it. Add refers to existing files without making a second image copy. Copy creates files at the chosen destination. Move changes the location of the selected files. Avoid using Move on the only received scan set while you are still learning the catalog.
Run one traceable trial
Import one noncritical test photograph and use Lightroom's folder information to locate the underlying file afterward. Compare its path with the written plan, then open it outside the catalog to confirm that it is a complete image. Check that the original transfer still exists when you intended to copy it. Correct an unexpected destination before importing the remaining albums; a large catalog makes a small routing mistake harder to unwind.
Separate cataloging from restoration
Once the source folder is stable, export a separate upload copy if you want to try ImgHeal. Preserve Lightroom's working catalog and the actual source images together in your backup plan. Record the imported filename beside the restored derivative so another relative can trace the result. Do not delete the transfer device's contents solely because Lightroom displays previews; verify the stored files and independent backup first.
Check this workflow before using the result
- Write the permanent source location.
- Verify the selected import method.
- Trace one imported file on disk.
Sources and further reading
- Adobe: Official application guidanceExplains import methods and destination choices.
Questions about this restoration task
Does Add create another backup copy?
No. It catalogs the existing file. Keep a separate, verified backup of the images and a backup of the catalog.
Continue with a related guide
Try a restoration on a copy of your photo
Keep the original scan. Upload a separate digital copy, review ImgHeal’s generated result, and decide whether it suits your needs.
Open ImgHeal