How to switch from Lightroom to Lumidex Studio
Moving off Adobe doesn't have to be scary. Lumidex Studio imports your Lightroom Classic catalogue directly, keeps your ratings, keywords and collections, and never touches your original files. Here's exactly how to do it — safely, and without losing anything.
First: don't cancel Adobe yet
The golden rule of any migration is to keep your old setup running until the new one is proven. Everything below is non-destructive — it reads your Lightroom Classic catalogue, never rewrites it — so you can switch at your own pace and only cancel your subscription once you've seen your whole library land safely in Lumidex Studio.
The switch, step by step
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In Lightroom Classic: build standard previews
Library ▸ Previews ▸ Build Standard-Sized Previews. Lumidex Studio reuses these, which is what turns a multi-day import into a few minutes — so this one step is the biggest time-saver.
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In Lightroom Classic: save metadata to files
Metadata ▸ Save Metadata to All Files. This writes your ratings, labels and keywords into XMP sidecars, so nothing important is trapped inside the
.lrcat. -
Export masters of any edited images optional
Your edited photos keep the look Lightroom Classic gave them, composed from the previews you bring across. That means an edited photo displays, exports and prints at preview resolution (about 1,440px on the long edge) until you re-develop it from the RAW in Lumidex. So if you want a full-resolution file of an edited shot exactly as it looks today, export a full-resolution JPEG or TIFF from Lightroom Classic first. Un-edited RAW files always open at full resolution and need nothing.
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Run the import wizard in Lumidex Studio
Install Lumidex Studio, then choose File ▸ Import from Another Catalogue… and point it at your
.lrcat. The wizard walks you through remapping folder paths if your photos have moved. -
Check it over
Confirm your photo count, spot-check a few folders, and make sure your keywords and collections look right. Your catalogue and originals are still untouched, so there's no rush.
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Now you can cancel Adobe
Once you're happy everything came across, your library lives entirely on your Mac. Lumidex Studio needs nothing from Adobe from here on.
Full detail with screenshots: Import from Lightroom →
What carries over — and what doesn't
Comes across
- Photos, folders & folder tree
- Ratings, pick / reject flags
- Colour labels
- Keywords & the keyword hierarchy
- Collections
- Existing previews (so browsing is instant)
Not yet
- Develop adjustments (sliders, crops)
- Presets
- Local edits & masks
For images you've developed in Lightroom Classic, export a full-resolution master first (Step 3). Your original RAW files are always preserved — the import is strictly read-only.
Common questions about switching
How do I move my photos from Lightroom to Lumidex Studio?
Build previews and save metadata in Lightroom Classic, then use File ▸ Import from Another Catalogue in Lumidex Studio and point it at your .lrcat. Everything migrates in one pass.
Will I lose my keywords and ratings?
No. Ratings, flags, colour labels, keywords and collections all carry across, and your edited photos keep their Lightroom Classic look; only the individual sliders and presets aren't re-editable yet. That migrated look is preview-resolution (about 1,440px) until you re-develop from the RAW, so export a master from Lightroom Classic if you need a full-size file of an edited shot.
Is it safe — will importing change my original files?
Importing is read-only. Your RAW files and your Lightroom Classic catalogue are never modified, so you can keep both until you're satisfied.
Do I need to keep Lightroom installed afterwards?
No. Once the import is verified, your library lives entirely on your Mac and needs nothing from Adobe.
How long does a large catalogue take?
Usually minutes, not days, because Lumidex Studio reuses your existing Lightroom Classic previews. Building standard previews first (Step 1) is the key.
Ready to make the move?
£99 £49 once — half price introductory offer. No subscription.