Lightroom Help, Shrinking file sizes: For some reason my Lightroom CC is either shrinking my RAW files upon import or on export. As far as I know I haven't changed any import or export...

teacherdad48 Loc: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

For some reason my Lightroom CC is either shrinking my RAW files upon import or on export. As far as I know I haven't changed any import or export settings lately. For example a previously exported jpeg was around 16MB after import last summer and is now 3mb after import tonight. I do not have RESIZE checked in the export menus and everything seems to be the same as I last used it.

I also noticed that my image size in the develop module is not taking up the full space in screen that it used to. There now seems to be a very thick black border around the image that didn't seem to be there before.

I'm sure it's something I have messed up, anyone no the solution to this problem? thank you!!!

Festina Lente Loc: Florida & Missouri

teacherdad48 wrote:

For some reason my Lightroom CC is either shrinkin... (show quote)

Not enough info to ID the exact problem you are experiencing.
However, fear not, LightRoom WILL NOT modify or alter the original image file, be it a JPEG or RAW file.

You said your original JPEG file was smaller in size (not the RAW file).
I suspect that another program modified the file or another editor was used to open that image.
Some image viewers will modify JPEG file sizes, especially if your rotate them fro better viewing on screen.

Open Windows Explorer and view the date/time on the file compared to other images taken at the same date/time.
If inconsistent, that tells you some other program opened and then saved the file, reducing the file size in the process.
I think you will discover that LightRoom is innocent.

teacherdad48 Loc: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

No, here is what happened. Last summer I used Lightroom just fine and processed some RAw photos and exported them as JPEGS. Each exported file was around 16mb.

Last night I decided to redo some of those photos and did another import of Those original RAW files (saved on a external hd). When I exported them I noticed the JPEGS were now only 3mb instead of the 16mb I had the first time.

I don't think Lightroom modified my original RAWs and shrunk them, so I'm confused on what happened. I didn't have any resize option checked on my export dialogue so it seems odd.

Haydon

Two areas in export I would check is "File Settings". Look for "Quality, if its been reduced from 100% your file size will be affected. The other area in export would be under "Image Sizing." Has the resolution been reduced from the standard 240 PPI?

Lightroom does not alter your RAW files in sizing btw. Size of the files will be altered under the Export.

Festina Lente Loc: Florida & Missouri

teacherdad48 wrote:

No, here is what happened. Last summer I used Ligh... (show quote)

In that case you are using different size (dimensions), quality, pixel density or other settings than you used the first time.
So, how do you tell? Open the version you saved last year and check the summary of settings and attributes.
That should give you a hint as to what you changed last time that was not changed this time.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

teacherdad48 wrote:

For some reason my Lightroom CC is either shrinkin... (show quote)

LR does not change your RAW files on either import or export. RAW files cannot be changed. What I suspect has happened is that at some time you did an export and set the quality level for your exports. LR remembers the quality setting and continues to use it for subsequent exports until you change it again.

Festina Lente Loc: Florida & Missouri

DWU2 wrote:

LR does not change your RAW files on either import or export. RAW files cannot be changed. What I suspect has happened is that at some time you did an export and set the quality level for your exports. LR remembers the quality setting and continues to use it for subsequent exports until you change it again.

I think you nailed it.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't LR save the quality level used for each selected image file versus returning to a global default?
At least, that is how I have it set up, but I cannot recall if I had to do something special to get it to work that way.
It just makes more sense to me to preserve settings last used for individual images as a starting point for that particular image.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

Festina Lente wrote:

I think you nailed it.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't LR save the quality level used for each selected image file versus returning to a global default?
At least, that is how I have it set up, but I cannot recall if I had to do something special to get it to work that way.
It just makes more sense to me to preserve settings last used for individual images as a starting point for that particular image.

Not quite - I just did a test to confirm. I did an export and set the quality to 77%. Then I went to another photo in a different director and did another export - the quality defaulted to 77%. So, I'd say the universal quality setting remains at whatever you last set it to, until you change it again.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

[quote=teacherdad48]For some reason my Lightroom CC is either shrinking my RAW files upon import or on export. [quote]

RAW is RAW. No shrinkage there.

teacherdad48 wrote:

As far as I know I haven't changed any import or ... (show quote)

What are your magnification (zoom) factors set to?

don26812 Loc: South Bay of Los Angeles, CA

teacherdad48 wrote:

No, here is what happened. Last summer I used Lightroom just fine and processed some RAw photos and exported them as JPEGS. Each exported file was around 16mb.

Last night I decided to redo some of those photos and did another import of Those original RAW files (saved on a external hd). When I exported them I noticed the JPEGS were now only 3mb instead of the 16mb I had the first time.

Why did you re-import the RAW files? Weren't they still in your Catalog from last summer? Didn't LR give you a message that they were already in the Catalog during the re-import process?

I realize this is not totally relevant to your question. It just struck me as interesting.

teacherdad48 Loc: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

don26812 wrote:

Why did you re-import the RAW files? Weren't they still in your Catalog from last summer? Didn't LR give you a message that they were already in the Catalog during the re-import process?

I realize this is not totally relevant to your question. It just struck me as interesting.

Had a hard drive failure and was not sure if I had recovered all the former catalogue information and all that. Thought it would just be easier to re-import and start over. To my surprise the file sizes of the JPGS went from around 16mb on the original exported files to around 3mb on the second export. I keep my export settings the same since I have been using Lightroom ( no resize etc.) .

So I just redid those same RAW files on my laptop and had no problems. I suspect it's some type of catalogue thing.