grichie5

To test a new Macro lens, I took six images (raw) and imported into lightroom. Then choose to open all of them in photoshop as stacked layers. Went through the align layers and blend layers steps and saved the finished image with a new name. The saved blended image did not appear as part of the original library of the original images. I finally imported it so that further editing could be done.

Were my expectations that the blended image would automatically show up in the lightroom catalogue wrong?

Finished image is attached, but it is not as bright or as red as the original.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Lightroom is powerful software, but not magic. The process to create a new catalog entry occurs either by a) importing images or b) having LR dynamically create a new image file passed to an external editor. If within your external editor, you create still another file that LR doesn't know about, LR will not magically import that new file into the catalog. You need to import that new file yourself.

Regarding your colors, did you look at your export process from LR and confirm the colorspace for JPEG exports uses the sRGB colorspace?

grichie5

Many thanks for your prompt response, but much of it goes over my head. As to the first part, I assume you are saying that unless I created the blended image within lightroom, and not within Photoshop, the image will not show up unless I manually import it. If this is the case, I'll have to study on how to blend images within Lightroom, if this can be done. Might be easier to use the process I've learned and do a manual import.

Next, how do I set or determine the "colorspace for JPEG exports. My exports were the original raw images. Does this change your response.

Thanks for your help. After many years of Photoshop and lightroom, I'm still a complete novice.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I'm not that familiar with the stacking in PS from LR, so don't let me lead you astray. For a similar example, I use another software for HDR, where if I sent 3 images from LR, the software includes a 'save and import to LR' function for the edited result from the external software. I don't think PS does that / has that, but maybe you just need to double-check the process documentation to see if there is a reference for this 're-import' function. When you said you saved the image as a new file, did PS open with all the image files inside a single PSD when you left LR? If you saved the PSD rather than saving to a new file, that edited PSD (created by LR) would reflect your saved work in PS for when you return to LR.

Regarding LR exports, review your LR export parameters. The 'File Settings' within the Export panel specifies the output image format that includes the colorspace definition.

grichie5

I did try exporting the file as a JPEG, as you suggested and the results were better. But, it while it gives a desired image for posting, but does not give me the option to export to Photoshop as layers. Is there a way to combine these two processes?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

They're different things. The LR 'export' is to extract the edited image data from the LR catalog into a format for sharing the resulting image file. A PSD is one of these 'sharing' formats, just adjust the drop-down box for image format. However, I don't think that the LR export exists to merge individual files into a single PSD.

Sharing a file for editing purposes is done via the definition of an External Editor. Most 3rd-party software that provide out-of-the-box integration to LR and / or PS will include a definition of an External Editor. Again, you'd have to check the documentation to see if multiple RAW files can be selected from LR and sent to PS as a single merge PSD with each file as a layer within the PSD.

grichie5

When the several images are exported to Photoshop, "AS LAYERS", the following align layers process and blend layers process results in one new image. It is created from the imported images, now shown as layers but does not include them.

The simple answer for me is to follow the process I now use, and if I want to post to Hedgehog, I will do another export from Lightroom following the steps you outlined.

Many thanks for your input. Always something new to learn.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Agreed, for creating the 'share' version of an edited / merged image, return to LR and use the LR Export function of the edited image from PS. You might find this post useful for creating the 'share' files: Recommended resizing parameters for digital images

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

After saving the new image in PS and it doesn’t show up in LR synch the folder the missing file usually shows up

mark53

I've created similar stacked images as you have described with the exceptions of 1- I create a single layer in PS and 2- use"save" (not "save as" = do not rename file)
The image will be auto-imported back to LR with a different extention-.tiff if memory serves. I've not tried to import as layers and I do not know if that is possible.
Good luck.

lloydl2 Loc: Gilbert, AZ

First, I find a bunch of erroneous information here by people who want to help.. So let's straighten this out.
the first place to start is in Lightroom preferences and the external editing tab. This is where you set up how your files look for file format either psd or tiff are suggested, color space I use prophoto which is lightrooms default but not PS default and then 16 bit bit depth NOW DOWN AT THE BOTTOM CHECK STACK WITH ORIGINAL AND PUT SOME IDENTIFYING TEXT IN THE CUSTOM TEXT FIELD (I use edited in PS.. Your process was fine until you did a save with rename of the file. JUST DO A SAVE AND CLOSE and PS will insert the custom text into the file name and send it back to lightroom right next to the original(s) assuming you are ordered by capture time. In addition, if you first edit in lightroom you will get a pop up screen to ask if you want to send it to PS with the lightroom edits or as the original raw file.. My process I send it with lightroom edits it comes back to lightroom and I can then make additional edits in lightroom on the PS edited image. You can even send it back to PS again (THIS TIME choose as original), edit it in PS a 2nd time and then return it to lightroom updated with the PS 2nd edit and the lightroom wnd edits intact. I hope this helps... Lastly the color shifts are likely due to mismatched color space between lightroom and PS

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

There is some confusion here. I have done exactly what the original poster did - imported the set oif photos to be blended from the camera into LR. Then in LR you select the set you want to blend and right click and select "edit in". In that dropdown list select the last is "open as layers in photoshop. do the align, etc. steps and the resulting photo when exiting, at least in my case is returned to LR. Same for NIK. Just about and plugin that starts from LR has the output go back in LR. Am I missing something?

grichie5

Many thanks, but a question!

You mention that you use Prophoto color space in LR. Do you also use this in PS?

I did try your suggestions, including save and it seems to work.

Grichie

lloydl2 Loc: Gilbert, AZ

I use photophoto color space in lightroom (the default) and have set my PS colorspace to prophoto as well. When I export photos out of lightroom for posting elsewhere I use jpg which cuts it back to 8 bit and srgb. Pro prophoto is probably overkill as most of our monitors can not detect the subtle difference in tone, shades and brightness but it still captures and utilizes the maximum and widest range of colors, shades, tones, etc