Lightroom 4, Tips, Tricks and Techniques #11 Virtual Copies
Jul 2, 2012 00:10:12 #
Lightroom 4: Using Virtual Copies:
Because Lightroom does not have or need the Save or Save As function, a way was created for us to have several versions of a photo if we need them. LR calls them Virtual Copies because they dont exist as anything but metadata. You can have as many Virtual Copies of a photograph as you want, each one edited differently or cropped to different aspect ratios.
To create a Virtual Copy, select a photo from the grid view, loupe view or the filmstrip, right click and choose Create Virtual Copy. A copy, known as Copy 1 will appear right next to the Master Copy (your original) in the grid or filmstrip and will be identified by showing the bottom left corner turned up. If you created it in loupe view, you are now looking at copy 1. Looking in grid view or in the filmstrip, the master copy will have a small box with the number of versions of the photo. If you have made one VC then the master will have the number 2 in the box and represents the total number of versions of the photo that exists (your original plus copy 1.). If you hover the mouse over the master photo, you will see that it now says 1 of 2. If you hover over the VC, it will say 2 of 2. The VC is known as copy 1 so dont get confused by the number of versions and the copy number.
Have you ever wanted to create a Black and White version of a photo and see how it looked compared to the color version? Create a virtual copy and change it to B&W. Go back to the Library Module, select both versions and click the letter C shortcut or select the Compare View icon in the toolbar. Youll see them side by side. Click Done to return to the grid view.
Suppose you had to make a series of photos available in three different aspect ratios. Do all of your adjustments for WB, exposure, saturation etc to the original images then create two Virtual Copies of each and crop each version to the aspect ratio needed. Go to the tool bar and in the Sort drop down menu chose Aspect Ratio. All the 8x10s will be together, all the10x12s together and all the 5x7s. Makes it a lot easier to keep track that way.
Keeping track of several virtual copies can be confusing, especially if the differences between them are slight. One thing that you can do is to change the copy name in the metadata panel which you will find, in the Library Module, at the bottom of the right hand panel. LR automatically assigns the names Copy 1 Copy 2 etc but you can change that to whatever will help you remember what is different about that copy. Note: You dont want to change the File Name as this name is the same for the original and all the copies.
To make things even easier to keep track you can toggle the Information panel overlay on or off in Loupe View by tapping the I key. The information that shows up is customizable by going to View > View Options > Loupe View. Make sure that Show Info Overlay is checked and then customize what you want to see. You have two info panels that you can have and you can toggle through them by repeatedly pressing the I key. If you chose to have File name and copy name show, that will help you keep track of where you are. By the way, that info panel also shows up in the Develop Module.
I hope this gives you some idea of how versatile virtual copies can be.
If you have suggestions for future Tips, Tricks and Techniques in LR get in touch by PM and I will include them and give you credit for submitting them. Previous posts in the series are at:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-45586-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-45714-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-45979-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-47032-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-48027-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-49006-1.html
Because Lightroom does not have or need the Save or Save As function, a way was created for us to have several versions of a photo if we need them. LR calls them Virtual Copies because they dont exist as anything but metadata. You can have as many Virtual Copies of a photograph as you want, each one edited differently or cropped to different aspect ratios.
To create a Virtual Copy, select a photo from the grid view, loupe view or the filmstrip, right click and choose Create Virtual Copy. A copy, known as Copy 1 will appear right next to the Master Copy (your original) in the grid or filmstrip and will be identified by showing the bottom left corner turned up. If you created it in loupe view, you are now looking at copy 1. Looking in grid view or in the filmstrip, the master copy will have a small box with the number of versions of the photo. If you have made one VC then the master will have the number 2 in the box and represents the total number of versions of the photo that exists (your original plus copy 1.). If you hover the mouse over the master photo, you will see that it now says 1 of 2. If you hover over the VC, it will say 2 of 2. The VC is known as copy 1 so dont get confused by the number of versions and the copy number.
Have you ever wanted to create a Black and White version of a photo and see how it looked compared to the color version? Create a virtual copy and change it to B&W. Go back to the Library Module, select both versions and click the letter C shortcut or select the Compare View icon in the toolbar. Youll see them side by side. Click Done to return to the grid view.
Suppose you had to make a series of photos available in three different aspect ratios. Do all of your adjustments for WB, exposure, saturation etc to the original images then create two Virtual Copies of each and crop each version to the aspect ratio needed. Go to the tool bar and in the Sort drop down menu chose Aspect Ratio. All the 8x10s will be together, all the10x12s together and all the 5x7s. Makes it a lot easier to keep track that way.
Keeping track of several virtual copies can be confusing, especially if the differences between them are slight. One thing that you can do is to change the copy name in the metadata panel which you will find, in the Library Module, at the bottom of the right hand panel. LR automatically assigns the names Copy 1 Copy 2 etc but you can change that to whatever will help you remember what is different about that copy. Note: You dont want to change the File Name as this name is the same for the original and all the copies.
To make things even easier to keep track you can toggle the Information panel overlay on or off in Loupe View by tapping the I key. The information that shows up is customizable by going to View > View Options > Loupe View. Make sure that Show Info Overlay is checked and then customize what you want to see. You have two info panels that you can have and you can toggle through them by repeatedly pressing the I key. If you chose to have File name and copy name show, that will help you keep track of where you are. By the way, that info panel also shows up in the Develop Module.
I hope this gives you some idea of how versatile virtual copies can be.
If you have suggestions for future Tips, Tricks and Techniques in LR get in touch by PM and I will include them and give you credit for submitting them. Previous posts in the series are at:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-45586-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-45714-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-45979-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-47032-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-48027-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-49006-1.html
Jul 3, 2012 05:17:28 #
Thank you, birdpix. Went back and downloaded all the info you've given on LightRoom 4. Really appreciate your sharing your knowledge and experience. I've done this with others on this site. It's great :D :thumbup: :thumbup:
Jul 3, 2012 07:28:06 #
Ditto others that really appreciate your information. LR has so much to offer and you seem to be hitting on the most used. Great stuff.
Jul 3, 2012 23:57:08 #
Thanks for all the tutorials. I'm copy pasting into a Word doc to reference at various times.
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