HomePremier MembershipBlogContactClient Portal
How to Build and Export a Catalog With Smart Previews image
HomeGetting Started

How to Build and Export a Catalog With Smart Previews

A step-by-step Pixeldotedit guide based on practical professional post-production workflows.

Step 1

Open Lightroom Classic

Use your working or master catalog and confirm it opens correctly.

Step 2

Copy camera files to permanent storage

Move images off memory cards and onto the drive you normally work from.

Step 3

Import the job

Use Add when the images are already stored in their final location and confirm the file count.

Step 4

Build Smart Previews

Enable Build Smart Previews in File Handling so supported services can be edited without transferring full RAW files.

Step 5

Filter the files you want to send

If the job is already culled, filter to the selected images.

Step 6

Export as Catalog

Use File → Export as Catalog and name it exactly like the production order.

Step 7

Include Smart Previews

Enable Smart Previews and Export selected photos only when appropriate.

Step 8

Compress the exported folder

Zip the outer folder that contains the Lightroom catalog and Smart Preview data before upload.