Fifer Loc: Ontario, Canada

I have an interesting problem viewing raw files edited in Lightroom Classic.
I am on Windows 10 and LRC, both up to date. The files in question are Fujifilm raf files which have been edited. The files all have accompanying xmp files.
If I try to view these files in their folder with a photo viewer, I get what I think are strange results.
With FastStone Image viewer, the edited raf files display as unedited files, so I assume that FS does not read the accompanying xmp files. IrfanView shows the files as partially edited, missing the crop and red eye reduction. Windows Photos is the same as IrfanView.
As an experiment, I converted the same files to dng files and repeated the procedure.
Both FS and Windows Photos showed the files correctly, but IrfanView was the same as before - the files appeared to be partially edited with the crop and red eye reduction missing.
I know that I don't have to view the files outside of Lightroom, but I find this behaviour odd. IrfanView, which I have used for years as a photo viewer, was the worst performer, showing either an unedited file or was missing the crop and red eye reduction.
Any thoughts?

User ID

I suspect that youre misleading yourself by believing you have edited your raw files. Raw files cannot be edited. They remain forever unchanged originals.

NEW FILES, typically jpeg and tiff viewable image files, are generated by the unchanged nonviewable raw file. IOW, theres nothing so odd about your viewer still showing you the embedded uneditable "reference" jpeg thaz permanently attached to the raw file.

Fifer Loc: Ontario, Canada

I edit my raw files in Lightroom Classic. I understand that the original files are not changed, and I know that the xmp files contain the instructions for the edits I carried out in LRC.
What is interesting is that Windows Photos recognizes some of the edits carried out in LRC, but omits the crop and red eye reduction.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I wouldn't worry about it. If LrC is your editor, edit a file and bake (export) a JPEG or TIFF or PSD to your liking. I wouldn't worry about some other editor trying to interpret Adobe .xmp files that it shouldn't!

Fifer Loc: Ontario, Canada

That is normally what I do, but I was just experimenting with other photo viewers.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

You asked for "thoughts". Mine is that your title is wrong. There is no "problem". The Adobe system of apps can use the .xmp file to make RAW files shareable or safer. You can send RAWs to other Adobe equipped computers or recover your work if you screw up your catalog. The one exception that I know of is Premiere Pro and Premiere Elements. They can't read RAWs.

(A couple versions back Premiere Elements could read RAWs with .xmps. You could build an entire slide show with RAWs.)

Hip Coyote

Exactly. Why muddle the thing by using different viewers? Either use LR properly or skip it. Do the elegant solution…simplicity is not always easy.

MJPerini

Perhaps another way to say this is that if for some reason you want to use other software, don't try to mix it with Lightroom. There ARE Apps that can be use as Lightroom or Photoshop Plug ins.

Hip Coyote

Yep. People on UHH love complexity.

Fifer Loc: Ontario, Canada

As I said, I was just experimenting. I use Lightroom Classic to edit my photos, then export them as JPGs when and as needed.
This was nothing more than me messing around, it is not and was never intended to be anything other than that.
Thanks for the replies. No need for further comments.

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

Using the current version?
I believe it's 4.66

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Do yourself a favor and try https://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDetail.htm
And as everyone has pionted before. RAW images aren't edited. After editting, you will always see a sidekick file next to them in your folder. If not visible, click in the viewer to show "hidden items."

Fifer Loc: Ontario, Canada

Yes the latest version

Fifer Loc: Ontario, Canada

I did say in an earlier post that I am well aware that the raw files are not changed, and that for specific camera manufacturer raw files there is an accompanying sidecar file containing the editing parameters. I know that these parameters are applied when exporting a file to jpeg or other format.
Having said that, everyone talks about editing photos in Lightroom, with the understanding that the original file is unchanged. If it isn't editing I don't know what it would be called.
As I also said, no further comments are necessary. My experiment is done!

User ID

It does have a preferable name. You dont "edit" raw, you "process" it. Its not "insider jargon", just plain talk, but more accurate. Theres a menu line in my cameras "retouch" menu that reads "Process Raw Files". When you engage it you produce edited jpegs.

As for suggesting no further comments, you should expect around ten pages. Not every Hawgster has yet posted enuf to prove their "expertise" and argue over tangental stuff such as grammar :-)