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Question

Can Lightroom Classic do "versions" like the Lightroom mobile app iPhone can?

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
December 24, 2021
5 replies
945 views

I recently started using the lightroom app on my iphone, and one thing i noticed is the "versions" menu at the bottom toolbar. This appears after you have saved an edit, and allows you to then save multiple different edits, all under one file. Fantastic! For years, I have been resorting to using virtual copies in classic because I could not figure out any way to get the same functionality out of classic. Does classic have this ability these days? or will it ever come?

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macOS

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Rob_Cullen

Community Expert

And even from within the same image, I want to be able to toggle between different crops totally separate from any edits. Is any of this functionality available?

Yes, with Virtual Copies.

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .

Rob_Cullen

Community Expert

"automatically update if I choose to edit the "master" uncropped image."

You do know about the [AutoSync] button in the Develop module?

My example-

An Original image & 3 Virtual Copies - Cropped independently-

With AutoSYnc 'on', all 4 selected, and the Original image the 'most selected'-

I can edit the 'most selected' and edits automatically apply to all selected images.

eg. Set original to B&W:

That is the big advantage over other 'editors' that Lightroom-Classic can do 'Batch' edits to many selected files. And that includes Virtual Copies, from which to export 'versions'.

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .

J

Jeena22389650a1hoAuthor

Known Participant

hi, thanks for your help. Could you please break it down for me how to use autosync to achieve this? Im not quite sure I followed. I took a single image, and made two virtual copies with seperate crops. then i selected all three in the develop module, hit the toggle on the sync button so that Autosync appeared, then clicked that button. But then the button turned right back into a "sync", and any edits i made to the main image did not automatically apply to the cropped virtual copies. sorry if im dense, but i would reallly appreciate a step by step walkthrough. Thank you!

Jim Wilde

Community Expert

"Autosync" does not sync existing edits, it only allows new edits made to one of the selected images to be automatically applied to all the other selected images. So, select the images, then in the Develop module enable Autosync then start to edit the current most-selected image. As you apply each edit, they will automatically be applied to the rest of the selected images.

If you want to sync existing edits to multiple other images, Autosync isn't the tool. You could use Copy and Paste, or plain Sync (select the multiple images, make the one you wish to copy edits from as the most selected image, click on the Sync button, the Synchronize Settings dialog appears, select which edits you wish to sync, then click on the Synchronize button).

Rob_Cullen

Community Expert

If @Jeena22389650a1ho wants 'physical' files that are "versions", then one suggestion would be to create an Export Preset that will export a new 'physical' file to the Hard-Drive, with the available options, including [Export to same Folder] and [Add to Catalog].

An OS warning that "File Exists" allows the option to select [Use Unique Names].

This can be done at any time or a later date, either from Snapshots, or Virtual Copies.

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .

F. McLion

Community Expert

Contrary to what nikunj.m suggested, I recommend using virtual copies instead of snapshots. With snapshots, you will save states of your development. However, it stays one photo, and you can not have multiple version of one photo.

Virtual copies are the way to go ...

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Jim Wilde

Community Expert

@F. McLion

If you read the OP, it was clear that they had been using VCs for years, but would rather have the equivalent of Lightroom's "Versions" in LrC....and that is Snapshots.

F. McLion

Community Expert

IMHO, you're almost right. One thing that is not possible with LrC snapshots that is possible with the mobile app - at least not to my knowledge - is to compare the snapshots, see them next to each other.

Otherwise, you're right ... maybe it's just me thinking of them as rather useless and using VCs always.

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nikunj.m

Community Manager

Hi,

Thanks for reaching out! In Lightroom Classic, we have the option for Snapshots in the Develop module. You can edit an image & save the edits as a snapshot then return to that edit later by selecting it.

Hope this helps!

Regards,

Nikunj

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