Locktastic is a simple plug-in for Lightroom that:

  • Marks read-only or “locked” files with the red label
  • Selectively imports read-only files from a folder, bypassing LR’s standard import dialog

When photographers review images in the field, it’s common to “lock” those that they particularly like. This simple procedure makes it that little bit harder to delete a good shot. Some time-pressed event snappers do this much more systematically, “chimping” throughout the event and tagging pictures they particularly want to work on when they get back to their desks.

Unfortunately Lightroom’s Import dialog doesn’t show which images are locked, so you can’t tell which they are. What’s more, the import routine removes the read-only file status if you copy files from the flash cards. But you can preserve the read-only status if you use Explorer/Finder to copy the files from the cards to a hard drive folder, and then use Import’s “Add” option.

This plug-in is designed to solve those problems.

It works in Lightroom version 2 or later.