In simple terms, a managed Catalog contains the original files inside the catalog package. The referenced Catalog leaves your images in their current location and the database will simply reference these in the Library tool.
When importing images into a Catalog, in the Import To panel you will be given the following options in the Import To tool:
- Copy to Catalog (managed)
- Add to Catalog (referenced)
- Choose Folder (which is referenced, however, the image files will be copied to that location)
Under Folders in the Library tool, you will be able to see which images are managed and which images are referenced. 'In Catalog' contains the images imported inside the database (managed) and the system folders describe where the images are located on your connected drive/s (referenced).
In case you have imported images into the Catalog as managed images (copied to Catalog) but would like to move them to another location on the drive and make them as referenced images, you can perform one simple action inside Capture One. Drag the images that are in the 'In Catalog' collection to a folder on the drive. The files will be moved out of the catalog package and placed in the system folder you choose.
Performing this move within Capture One (rather than Finder or Explorer) will retain the adjustments and image paths. Moving the files outside of Capture One will result in images marked Offline within Capture One.
Changing images from referenced to managed ones can be done in a similar way.