Difference between a Virtual Copy and a Duplicate
Dec 9, 2016 07:29:41 #
Nate wrote:
I use use LightRoom and routinely make several Vir... (show quote)
Maybe I don't get the question but couldn't you just try it and see?
Dec 9, 2016 08:01:09 #
mwsilvers
Loc: Central New Jersey
Dannj wrote:
Maybe I don't get the question but couldn't you just try it and see?
The real problem is this shouldn't be happening in the first place. There is either some sort of workflow issue here or perhaps a file corruption. Applying a bandaid won't fix that.
Dec 9, 2016 08:05:45 #
That is precisely the problem........in my case, the original cannot be located because, most probably, it is in an external drive somewhere in the past. I always presumed a Virtual Copy was a functional equivalent under all circumstances. THANK YOU!
Dec 9, 2016 08:33:51 #
mwsilvers
Loc: Central New Jersey
Nate wrote:
That is precisely the problem........in my case, the original cannot be located because, most probably, it is in an external drive somewhere in the past. I always presumed a Virtual Copy was a functional equivalent under all circumstances. THANK YOU!
Ah. Ok. That's it then. Lightroom does not actually modify raw files directly. All edits are just overlay instructions applied on the fly to raw files within Lightroom. They only become permanent in the files you export, usually JPEGs. A virtual copy is just an alternative set of overlay instructions applied to the SAME original raw file. Once an original raw file is not available Lightroom has nothing to apply the edits to.
Dec 9, 2016 09:04:49 #
Nate wrote:
I use use LightRoom and routinely make several Vir... (show quote)
I always use virtual copies in Lightroom as the "copies" do not add appreciably to the amount of storage of the edits to the image. If I want to work on those "copies" outside of Lightroom then I export them in .jpg, PNG, or Tiff format for the use of my other editing programs. Lightoom will automatically export as Tiff to Photoshop from Lightroom if you want. You should be able to right click on the photo in Lightroom and go to "Edit IN" and it will give you a list of programs that it will export directly to. Mine has Photoshop, Portrait Pro and some other programs in the list.
Dec 9, 2016 09:30:28 #
Linary
Loc: UK
Nate wrote:
That is precisely the problem........in my case, the original cannot be located because, most probably, it is in an external drive somewhere in the past. I always presumed a Virtual Copy was a functional equivalent under all circumstances. THANK YOU!
If the original is not to be found, the only "recovery" I can think of is you bring the virtual copy up to full screen size, then perform a screen dump (snipping tool on Win 7). Results will not be great but may be adequate for some purposes.
Dec 9, 2016 10:10:19 #
As a test in LR I just made a dozen virtual copies of an original RAW file.
All would open in Develop.
I can delete the virtual copies without deleting the original.
My original RAW files are all on an external drive, my LR catalog is on my startup drive.
I ONLY use LR to to move original files, I never touch an original file. I use PS and other editors in LR as if they were plugins. When I open a photo in PS from LR, LR creates a new TIFF file for PS to edit. When I save it from PS it's saved alongside the original RAW file not over it.
Voila, never a problem.
All would open in Develop.
I can delete the virtual copies without deleting the original.
My original RAW files are all on an external drive, my LR catalog is on my startup drive.
I ONLY use LR to to move original files, I never touch an original file. I use PS and other editors in LR as if they were plugins. When I open a photo in PS from LR, LR creates a new TIFF file for PS to edit. When I save it from PS it's saved alongside the original RAW file not over it.
Voila, never a problem.
Dec 9, 2016 10:16:35 #
DanCulleton wrote:
As a test in LR I just made a dozen virtual copies... (show quote)
I agree other than I use PSD files in PS rather than TIFF except when the file size is > 4 GB then I use TIFF
Dec 9, 2016 12:23:27 #
Linary
Loc: UK
DanCulleton wrote:
As a test in LR I just made a dozen virtual copies... (show quote)
Thats how LR should be used.
Dec 9, 2016 13:19:28 #
Nobody has posted a method for making "real" copies in LR. Lightroom functions around the concept of Virtual Copies.
However, you can make a true copy with the Export procedure. In the Library, select an image > Right Click > pick Export > set up the Location > check Add to Stack > set up the File Naming so you can identify the copy > under File Setting pick Image Format: Original.
If one wanted to do this a lot, it could be added as a user preset. No, with the Virtual Copy technique, there does not seem to be a good reason to do this. But, it can be done without leaving Lightroom.
However, you can make a true copy with the Export procedure. In the Library, select an image > Right Click > pick Export > set up the Location > check Add to Stack > set up the File Naming so you can identify the copy > under File Setting pick Image Format: Original.
If one wanted to do this a lot, it could be added as a user preset. No, with the Virtual Copy technique, there does not seem to be a good reason to do this. But, it can be done without leaving Lightroom.
Dec 9, 2016 18:48:56 #
Don't know if this has any bearing (shouldn't)t but my latest version is LR 2015.8CC
Nate wrote:
I am using 2015.3CC br I seem unable to bring it u... (show quote)
Dec 9, 2016 21:02:14 #
mwsilvers
Loc: Central New Jersey
sodapop wrote:
Don't know if this has any bearing (shouldn't)t but my latest version is LR 2015.8CC
The problem has been resolved. The OP indicated the original file was on an external drive and not accessable. He thought a virtual copy would stand on its own.
Dec 10, 2016 01:53:37 #
amfoto1
Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
Nate wrote:
I am surprised that others have not run into the problem. I think it best that I hold off further discussions until the matter of concern occurs again and then reinter ithe concern...rather than to go through the routine off pp steps. Thanks....nc
If you have a RAW file and make a JPEG from it, depending upon how you've set up Lightroom, it might show both. And when you try to work on the JPEG, it will warn you that it's a photo that's already been processed. Go back to the original, instead. I deliberately set up Lightroom to not automatically add the files of processed images to my catalog (plus I save them in a different folder than my originals, so I won't accidentally Import them).
If you prefer Lightroom show all your images, including those that have been processed, you can tell it to "stack" them, so that the original is "on top". This is separate from making virtual copies, which I do all the time, too. I use virtual copies for different versions of images, like you.... and to double or triple process images that I'll be using to make a final image through some sort of HDR technique.
mwsilvers wrote:
The problem has been resolved. The OP indicated the original file was on an external drive and not accessable. He thought a virtual copy would stand on its own.
Ah... Okay. I suppose that makes sense, too.
Dec 10, 2016 03:13:31 #
Nate wrote:
I use use LightRoom and routinely make several Vir... (show quote)
deleted as the OP's problem is solved.
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