Right, you have to look in the lobe catalog. Comp publishes a separate lobe catalog as does Crane. Some of the "less mainstream" cam companies do not publish a lobe catalog so you're out of luck. In that case you buy the cam and measure it yourself using the Mr P. method.

My method of measuring the valve drop at TDC works when you have a lobe catalog. It allows you to design a new cam knowing that it will drop in and have plenty of clearance.