BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

Occasionally in LR I make a virtual copy of a photo I'm working on for easy comparison after changes are made or if I want both versions. Or just look at the History to go back to a change I made, which is clunkier but I don't end up with an extra photo.
Comments on either method if you use them?

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

You don't "save" anything in Lightroom when editing a raw file. The changes, including the generating of a virtual copy, is stored in the metadata. I often do this when I am looking at whether an image looks better in black and white or color or with split toning. A virtual copy is not an extra photo, and it really doesn't use any more disk space.

Vince68 Loc: Wappingers Falls, NY

I do the same as Gene, and as he said, the virtual copy isn't being saved. Its not another photo and it is not taking up much space at all.

I will do it to try different processing so I can more easily compare the image different ways, or edit in another software and I want to keep the editing that I did in LR/PS and compare the different processing by using other software.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I sometimes make a folder in the virtual panel and put copies of photos I plan to print or share with other people.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Of course you do. You save a data file. Images are never saved in Lightroom only a data file that points to the original file's location and the change(s) you made to it.

Personally I do not save virtual copies, they just clutter up my previews. I, of course save the raw file and the final copy in tiff format in Lightroom. I stack the files, tiff on top which cuts the clutter in Preview by half.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

Also, note that you can stack your virtual copies with the originals, so you aren't slowed down when browsing through your catalog.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Of course!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Actually you aren't actively saving anything. The changes are written to the catalog, and xmp if you have that enabled. It is done automatically, in that you have no control over the retention of the changes - it is not "saving" in the conventional sense. if you export the image then you can certainly save that.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

Thanks to all for the responses. I just needed to know if virtual copies were a good way to go or was I wasting effort. I'll try stacking, too. Sounds like a good way to contrast and compare while I try new processing without adding to my browsing.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I use virtual copies if I want to extract a slightly different image from the image I first developed. For example if there are two groups in a shot, I might do different crops to put one group in an image and the other group in a virtual image. It doesn't cost anything aside from a few extra bytes in the catalog. If it's just to try something out I might delete the virtual image but generally I keep it.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

If you just want to see what the original looked like compared to what you have just done you can simply use the history panel in Develop Module (just don't change anything once you click on that particular history slot), use (while in the Develop Module) the Y key for a before and after view with both included, or use the key just below the delete key (at least on the mac keyboard) with the two "slashes" on it, so this key \ and then below it the \ other type of slash, this key only shows the before by itself. Then you can decide if you want to create a virtual copy. In the Develop Module you can also use the Snapshot feature to see which version of the image you like better. Virtual copies, as others have said, do not take up any space other than what it takes to store the edits. Ending up with an "extra photo" is really not a problem anyway as a virtual copy is not kept or stored in any way on any drive and can be removed with a quick keystroke using the delete key. If you decide you want to keep the virtual copy as a true image then you can export and import into the same catalog and the virtual copy will then be an image in its own right.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

Thanks for the shortcuts! I think I see the History as being clunky because my computer needs to be updated - it's slow on the uptake sometimes using LR, and I'm sure it's due to less memory available to handle programs. Told DH I'm getting tired of waiting for the computer while processing. It's hard to fully appreciate software when it's throttled.

altheman Loc: Christchurch, New Zealand

Why do you save the tiff in Lr, that would only clutter things up, tiffs etc are for export, if have finished editing export for printing etc there is absolutely no need to keep the export in the Lr roon catalogue

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Curious as to what you are referring to when you say the "virtual panel." Do you mean a collection? I am unaware of anything in LR referred to as a "virtual panel."