Lightroom raw files: I am a Canon user so when I import raw files using Zoom Browser they are CR2 files. Lightroom uses ACR for raw files. Is it necessary to convert the CR2 files to...

Keepsake Loc: NC

I am a Canon user so when I import raw files using Zoom Browser they are CR2 files. Lightroom uses ACR for raw files. Is it necessary to convert the CR2 files to Dng files? Should I just use LR to import files from the memory card in the first place? I am using a trial version of LR now and trying to get all my ducks in a row before I install the software.

Musket Loc: ArtBallin'

There is no need to convert any raw file to DNG unless you feel you have a need for DNG or PNG or TIFF.

Here is my process after I am done shooting.

Pull card from camera.
Put in reader.
Lightroom 5 auto opens at this point.
Import box opens and i select all or remove duplicate images.
Hit Import Button
Go make sandwich
Come back and start editing.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

Keepsake wrote:

I am a Canon user so when I import raw files using Zoom Browser they are CR2 files. Lightroom uses ACR for raw files. Is it necessary to convert the CR2 files to Dng files? Should I just use LR to import files from the memory card in the first place? I am using a trial version of LR now and trying to get all my ducks in a row before I install the software.

After you have imported the images into LR, any edits you do to the image, or EXIF data that you change/add (such as keywords) will be stored in a sidecar file. I believe it will have an XMP file extension.

If you convert to DNG, all of that stuff gets stored inside the DNG file, along with the image. This was my motivation to use DNG files. If you copy the CR2 file to another machine, without the sidecar file, all you have is the original image file without any edits.

This might be of importance to you.

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

An added bonus ..... DNG files are somewhat smaller than RAW files. However, you preserve all the RAW data, and they are easy to work with.

Gitchigumi Loc: Wake Forest, NC

Import the images into Lightroom as .DNG files (digital negative). That is Adobe's generic filetype and has benefits, as noted above. Good choice on selecting LR, you will learn to appreciate all that it can do for you. :thumbup:

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Gitchigumi wrote:

Import the images into Lightroom as .DNG files (digital negative). That is Adobe's generic filetype and has benefits, as noted above. Good choice on selecting LR, you will learn to appreciate all that it can do for you. :thumbup:

I keep mine in cr2 format which allows me to also occasionally edit in Canon's DPP as well as Lightroom. DPP does not support DNG. The advantage of using DPP is that it sees and uses the in camera settings even with raw files. For exposures that are close to what I want, only a tweak may be necessary and DPP is fast and efficient.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

brucewells wrote:

After you have imported the images into LR, any edits you do to the image, or EXIF data that you change/add (such as keywords) will be stored in a sidecar file. I believe it will have an XMP file extension..

Lightroom has several options, and it depends on how you configure it and your imports. I keep my images in cr2 format and all my updates are stored in the LR catalogs, not sidecar files.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

brucewells wrote:

After you have imported the images into LR, any edits you do to the image, or EXIF data that you change/add (such as keywords) will be stored in a sidecar file. I believe it will have an XMP file extension....

No need to use the sidecar. The default setting is no sidecar. I presume the edits are stored the catalog.

People mention the advantages of dng's but except for size which is not crucial, what are the advantages?

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Keepsake wrote:

...Lightroom uses ACR for raw files....

LR does not use ACR. Photoshop and Elements do. In LR, you remain in the world of RAW until you export the pictures as TIFF's or JPG's so the rest of the world can view your work or edit in another program such as NIK or PSE.

I believe the idea of DNG's was to incorporate the camera-specific profile into the file so you could use it elsewhere without the profile. Does not seem like a compelling advantage to me.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Keepsake wrote:

Should I just use LR to import files from the memory card in the first place?

Yes, import using LR. It puts the images in your LR catalog right away and you can have it render them 1:1 so you can cull out the bad ones and keyword/tag/rate the good ones after it's done importing.

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

How do you get LR to start automatically when you put the card in the slot?

Musket wrote:

There is no need to convert any raw file to DNG unless you feel you have a need for DNG or PNG or TIFF.

Here is my process after I am done shooting.

Pull card from camera.
Put in reader.
Lightroom 5 auto opens at this point.
Import box opens and i select all or remove duplicate images.
Hit Import Button
Go make sandwich
Come back and start editing.

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

abc1234 wrote:

No need to use the sidecar. The default setting is no sidecar. I presume the edits are stored the catalog.

People mention the advantages of dng's but except for size which is not crucial, what are the advantages?

Camera Manufacturers do not always support older versions of their RAW Files. Adobe supports more versions of RAW (current and older) than any other software I am aware of. Converting to DNG allows you to share images between camera platforms without having to use multiple software systems to do it.

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

gemlenz wrote:

How do you get LR to start automatically when you put the card in the slot?

It is in the Preferences you set up when when you first get Lightroom. If you ignore setting Preferences Lightroom doesn't know what to do with your images or how you want them identified, labeled or stored. This is also where you can select multiple external drives to store duplicate copies of your original files, AND whether you want to convert to DNG or leave them in the Camera's RAW format.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

gemlenz wrote:

How do you get LR to start automatically when you put the card in the slot?

Edit>Preferences>General

Check the box "show import dialog when memory card is inserted."