Downloading the Lightroom 3: VQS examples

 Thursday, July 8: I've now added links below for two versions of the book's example files. The first is a relatively slim 5MB version, which includes only the Lightroom catalog without the source images. The big-tuna version, which weighs in at 308MB, also includes all the source images.

Respect the copyright

Just a reminder: These are copyrighted images so don't use them for anything other than following along with the tasks in The Lightroom 3 Visual QuickStart Guide. Once you grow comfortable using Lightroom 3, delete the catalog by quitting Lightroom and moving it to your Recycle Bin/Trash Can.

Using the catalog

If you haven't already read Chapter 3, pages 35-48, about working with Lightroom catalogs, you might want to do so before moving ahead. That's because these example images are organized within a Lightroom catalog, rather than as individual images. The download file, btw, is formatted as a Lightroom 3 catalog, which means you can't open it using Lightroom 2 or either beta 3 version of Lightroom.

Using either the slim or big-tuna version, you'll be able to see all the keywords, flags, labels, and ratings used for nearly every image in the book. That way, you will be able to sort, find, and tag the images as you read about how to use Lightroom 3. Both versions allow you to use the History panel to move forward and backward through every change applied to the book's key 21 images. The big-tuna version also includes the full-size source files, enabling you to open them up and apply adjustments in the Develop module.

Getting started on the download

3/18/2011 note: Readers using Firefox to download the 308MB example file have been getting time-out errors. I hit the same problem myself. Solution for now: use another browser for the download (Safari on the Mac, IE on a PC.) I'll be traveling next couple of weeks, but will try to puzzle through the Firefox issue when I get back to home base.

Start by choosing which version to download:

• The slim, catalog-only 5MB version. It downloads pretty quickly no matter what kind of connection you have.
• The big-tuna 308MB version also includes the full-size source images. Unless you have a broadband connection, this one will take hours to download.

Whichever version you chooose, if your computer doesn't automatically expand the file once it downloads, go ahead and decompress it manually. Launch Lightroom 3 and use the instructions on page 45 to switch to this catalog, which is named LR3vqsExampleCatalogOnly.lrcat.

Once it opens, the main window will look pretty similar to the photo at the top of the page. If you take a look at the left-hand Collections panel, you'll see that all the images exist in a collection set named Lightroom3 VisualQuickStart. Within that set, I've created a collection set for each chapter of the book. Each chapter collection set includes collections named after the pages where that particular task is explained. That way you don't have to rummage around trying to find the images used in a task. (Chapter 8, starting on 121, fully explains how use collections for purposes such as this.)

I've also created chapter and page number keywords for every image, which gives you another way to jump to a particular image used in the book. It's bit overkill, but I've done it just to make things easier for you.

So dig in, have fun, and send me a comment on anything that strikes you as you use the book and the examples.

Thanks,
Nolan

Comments

[Ron Duckworth]

For people with broadband connections, the 330 mb file would be fine and allow us to begin following along in the book with the example files.

[Nolan]

Ron,

Thanks for your let's-have-it vote. I'll post the 330MB file this evening.

[Nolan]

OK, the 308MB version of the example files is now available.

[Ron Duckworth]

When I try to download the Big Tuna version I get taken to a webpage that says the "Oops, the link appears to be broken."

[Nolan]

Sorry about that. Had a link inside a link. Fixed now for both, and this time tested the downloads. Both links now working.

[Ron]

I cannot download the "Big Tuna" version as the website gets about one-third "downloaded" and then times out. Not sure what the problem is, but it would be nice to be able to download the whole thing, but I can't do that if I can't even get to the website. Any suggestions?

[waywest]

Ron,

SORRY! I just checked it again and hit the same problem youre having.

Have now re-edited link and it's working (as in, it has downloaded just now to my local machine).

Thanks for letting me know.
Nolan

[Alice]

I hope that this is way to reach the author. I can't find a link to either version mentioned here. I'm following the book and can't find step by step instructions - Is this correct: (1) I create a catalog, (2) I create folders in the catalog, (3) I import pictures from my camera into the folder in the catalog? Or do I create the folders somewhere other than the catalog? Where? I couldn't find this anywhere in the book and have made a muck of my LR.

[Nolan]

Alice,

The links to both versions of the examples (5mb and 30mb) are about midway down the download page:
http://lightroom.waywest.net/download-lr3vqs-examples.html
Look right below the heading that says "Getting started on the download."

Btw, when you import photos from your camera are not creating folders _within_ the catalog. The catalog is just a database that points to where your original source photos are stored. If you're importing them fresh from the camera, the step for deciding where/how to organize those photos on your computer (in folders or whatever) is Step 4 and screenshots J—L on page 22.

It can be confusing to remember, but the catalog does not contain the photos. It merely points to where they're stored on the computer. This creates a huge advantage for you, in that you don't need to have all those original source photos with you to preview them within Lightroom. This is particularly handy if you're carrying a laptop in the field and most of your photos are back on an external hard drive back home.

Finally, while you may have "made a muck of my LR," all your originals are likely still preserved. Read the first three chapters all the way through before doing anything else with your catalog.

best,
Nolan

[jeffrey]

cannot get the large (308mb) version to download. times' out

[waywest]

Jeffrey,

I tested it just now (3/18) and it's downloading fine for me.

Timeouts can happen for all sorts of reasons, often because of a kink in the line between you and your ISP. So give it a couple of tries.

Nolan

[waywest]

Jeffrey,

No problem downloading via Safari.

But Firefox 3.65 does time out. Poking around, I _think_ it's because of Firefox's relatively new secure http setup, which expects certain identity verification info from my site.

It's news to me that I needed to add/create whatever certificate it's asking for. So I'll have to find out how to fix that.

In the meantime, use Safari if you're on a Mac and something other than Firefox if you're on a PC.

Sorry for the snag and HTH,
Nolan