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Lightroom Import Problem
Dec 16, 2017 22:09:24   #
Clpea Loc: Charlotte, NC
 
I have been using Lightroom 5 for the past few years but have recently encountered a problem when I import photos. They appear properly exposed in the camera and the camera histogram looks good. They look properly exposed in the preview but when I click import they then turn underexposed by several stops. Can anyone tell me what is going on and what I need to do to correct this? What have I changed that causes this? I shoot in raw with a D610.

Thanks for your help!!

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Dec 16, 2017 22:23:02   #
brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky
 
Clpea wrote:
I have been using Lightroom 5 for the past few years but have recently encountered a problem when I import photos. They appear properly exposed in the camera and the camera histogram looks good. They look properly exposed in the preview but when I click import they then turn underexposed by several stops. Can anyone tell me what is going on and what I need to do to correct this? What have I changed that causes this? I shoot in raw with a D610.

Thanks for your help!!


Based upon what you’ve written, I would look to see if I had inadvertently created an import preset that lowers exposure.

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Dec 16, 2017 23:27:59   #
tinplater Loc: Scottsdale, AZ
 
In import mode, go to "apply during import" and make certain "none" is checked.

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Dec 17, 2017 08:18:10   #
Clpea Loc: Charlotte, NC
 
I have checked that and it is definitely set at "none". To my knowledge I have never created an import preset. This situation has created additional work in adjusting my images and is pretty frustrating. Since Lightroom 5.7 that I have been using is obsolete, do you think this problem would follow me if I subscribe to Lightroom CC?
tinplater wrote:
In import mode, go to "apply during import" and make certain "none" is checked.

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Dec 17, 2017 08:55:00   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
Clpea wrote:
I have checked that and it is definitely set at "none". To my knowledge I have never created an import preset. This situation has created additional work in adjusting my images and is pretty frustrating. Since Lightroom 5.7 that I have been using is obsolete, do you think this problem would follow me if I subscribe to Lightroom CC?

Let's try to find the action another way. After importing your images, pull one up in the develop module and adjust your display so you can see the history. What are the actions listed? At a minimum, the image will have an import with a time-date-stamp. Following the ideas of import presets, there will be other actions as well.

If there are no actions beyond import, then we'll have to go back to your original question and have you further explain your RAW workflow and when you starting noticing this problem in LR. You said "They appear properly exposed in the camera and the camera histogram looks good. They look properly exposed in the preview but when I click import they then turn underexposed by several stops." If you display the histogram for a specific image on the camera and in LR in the Develop modules, you're saying the LR version is shifted significantly to the left when compared to the same image in the camera display?

Regarding dropping LR5, you've misused "obsolete". If the software supports your camera in RAW format and your editing needs, the software and your prior investment is in no way obsolete. If you can't determine what is causing your current problems, who can say the problem will be resolved by changing software versions. What will change is a new monthly expense and migration decisions, at a minimum.

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Dec 17, 2017 09:07:45   #
pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY
 
Clpea wrote:
I have checked that and it is definitely set at "none". To my knowledge I have never created an import preset. This situation has created additional work in adjusting my images and is pretty frustrating. Since Lightroom 5.7 that I have been using is obsolete, do you think this problem would follow me if I subscribe to Lightroom CC?


You may not have thought you created a preset but maybe, some freaky etc. You should be able to prove this by looking at the settings(aka sliders) in the develop module sections. if some setting was made the sliders will have moved. LR by default does set I think it's clarity to 25 so that should be the only one. All that said, since LR is non-destructive you should be able to click on reset after importing and see if there is any effect. Also compare the Histogram shape in camera vs.in LR. if they are stops differently, if will show.

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Dec 17, 2017 09:07:54   #
Archiefamous Loc: Manhattan
 
Perhaps your monitor requires calibration

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Dec 17, 2017 10:07:43   #
AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!
 
Are you also shooting jpegs? I was told that the histogram in my camera actually shows the histogram of the jpeg, not the raw image. My raw images are always flat and duller than my jpegs. Just a thought. . . .

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Dec 17, 2017 13:15:19   #
TFH
 
Try this after importing - In the Develop Module, go to the Camera Calibration tab. Under "profile", select the "style" used when taking the photograph. That may help.

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Dec 17, 2017 14:00:28   #
Paul Buckhiester Loc: Columbus, GA USA
 
Clpea wrote:
I have been using Lightroom 5 for the past few years but have recently encountered a problem when I import photos. They appear properly exposed in the camera and the camera histogram looks good. They look properly exposed in the preview but when I click import they then turn underexposed by several stops. Can anyone tell me what is going on and what I need to do to correct this? What have I changed that causes this? I shoot in raw with a D610.

Thanks for your help!!


Is the exposure slider at zero?
If the exposure slider is moved, something moved it.

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Dec 17, 2017 22:35:34   #
Clpea Loc: Charlotte, NC
 
Thanks for your response and suggestions, Paul. I checked the history and the only thing listed is the date and time of import, so it appears that a preset was not involved. The only adjustment slider that moved from zero was exposure that moved to -1.45.

This all started several months ago and I have searched for the cause since then with no luck. I can work around it but it just causes more work and time in adjusting my images.

I will describe my work flow, so see if you can spot something that I am doing that may be relevant.

I use a Macbook Pro. I used Aperture for post processing until Apple stopped supporting it about three years ago. I then purchased Lightroom and have become fairly proficient in its use. I store my photos in an external. I create a folder in my external using year, month, day and then name. I then copy my images from the memory card into the folder I just created in my external. I then open Lightroom and import from the external folder I just created. I back up my external to a second external about once a week. This process has worked well for me since I began with Lightroom about 3 years ago.

I have never created a preset and have never made use of presets in any way. I prefer making my own adjustments. I typically adjust highlights, shadows, light & dark clipping, and lens correction. At that point I go back into Library and sync all of the images in that import. Then I go back into Develop and one by one fine tune each image. My last steps are cropping and fine tuning exposure. I spend a lot of time watching the histogram to prevent overdoing something that causes clipping on the right or the left.

As an amateur I do not use Photoshop. I use several other programs for special things -- Photomatix Pro, Pixelmator, Snap Heal, FX Photo Studio Pro and a couple of others from time to time.

I think this exposure problem is caused by something that I am unwittingly doing or something in preferences that got changed. When I import into Lightroom the images look great but as soon as the import is complete, the exposure changes. It starts with the first image and changes one by one until they have all changed.

Thanks for reading and I greatly appreciate any help.

Carl Phillips

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Dec 17, 2017 23:28:21   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
Thanks for the details, Carl. If the exposure has been moved, I'd expect that to appear in the history. hmmm

Although these are workaround ideas, rather than solutions, consider the following:

1. After the exposures have been adjusted by this unknown process, set the first image back to zero exposure from the -1.45 change. Then, select all the images and sync this change. It's just a few keystrokes and all the images are reverted to "zero".

2. Item 1 was in the Develop module. I think in the Library module you can select all from the recent import and use reset all on the Quick Develop. I'm not sure this will undo the exposure change, but you can test quickly enough and prove / disprove as a workaround option.

I'd look too at the "Apply During Import" settings from the import dialog. The File Handling section controls the preview creation, the import of possible duplicates and whether copies of the file will created. I do a simple Add. You should comment if you're doing other things such as Copy, Move or DNG. None should change the exposure, but anyone attempting to diagnose or recreate should be aware of the exact processing. For Apply During Import, Develop Settings should be None based on your comment earlier.

Given the change occurs after the import, I'd look your Build Previews setting in the Import File Handling section. I use Minimal previews and don't build smart previews.

Testing while writing, I can't recreate a change in the exposure of a Canon RAW image regardless of the preview processing. I did manually change the exposure and did globally reset this value from the Library module view the <Reset All> button on the Quick Develop panel.

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Dec 17, 2017 23:43:01   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
One of the things that happens during RAW import processing is default sharpening and color noise reduction are set. These changes do not show up in the history. So, it seems the RAW processing is what needs to be investigated. I haven't needed to investigate how / where / if these values can be manipulated, but this seems the area to investigate for a solution rather than the workarounds suggested above.

This link shows how to reset the Adobe defaults on RAW processing. I think doing this restore to default is going to help your situation ...

http://blogs.adobe.com/jkost/2016/02/customizing-the-default-setting-for-acr-and-lightroom.html

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Dec 18, 2017 11:46:27   #
Paul Buckhiester Loc: Columbus, GA USA
 
CHG_CANON wrote:
One of the things that happens during RAW import processing is default sharpening and color noise reduction are set. These changes do not show up in the history. So, it seems the RAW processing is what needs to be investigated. I haven't needed to investigate how / where / if these values can be manipulated, but this seems the area to investigate for a solution rather than the workarounds suggested above.

This link shows how to reset the Adobe defaults on RAW processing. I think doing this restore to default is going to help your situation ...

http://blogs.adobe.com/jkost/2016/02/customizing-the-default-setting-for-acr-and-lightroom.html
One of the things that happens during RAW import p... (show quote)


This sounds like the culprit.

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