Skip to main content
D
defaultcppv71qvrzcy
Participant
April 29, 2021
Answered

From Photoshop to Lightroom non destructively

  • April 29, 2021
  • 4 replies
  • 923 views

Bonjour,

After quite some time spent on Lightroom I am starting off with Photoshop.

I am searching for a way to come back on adjusting Lightroom/RAW nondestructively AFTER having spent potentially hours on Photoshop.

My current process is :

1) Develop on Lightroom/RAW photos

2) Photo->Edit in Photoshop

3) Save

But what I see is that this save is considered by Lightroom as new « baked » files. (TIF or PSD)

So it is not possible with those for example to correct color temperature from RAW image but still keeping the work done in photoshop… (for example if you see after having spent time in photoshop that your color temperature is not so great)…to do that you are forced to start over from TIF or PSD files imported in Lightroom.

I found out a way to export from lightroom to photoshop as a smart object (thus keeping the possibility to modify the Lightroom adjustments through Photoshop/Camera raw interface) but this blocks most of the photoshop advanced functionalities…

Is there a way to readjust some parameters in Lightroom from RAW image data, but still keep the adjustments done in Photoshop? (and without doing it from a compressed « baked » TIF or PSD file… ? )

Thanks for your help !

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer defaultcppv71qvrzcy

Good day to all and thank you for your replies.

Actually I have improved with PS and LR and its much simpler than expected.

When you are on LR and chose modify in PS as smart object, the image goes to PS.

Do whatever you need to do on PS.

If at any point you need to correct the RAW develoment :

- Double click on the smart object layer

- Camera raw opens with the exact replica of all the work you did in LR

- Modify anything you need to (Camera raw is basically a LR integrated in PS)

- One modifications in camera raw are done, the layer is updated but all the work and layers you did on top are still there

To be noted that  a modification done in camera raw applies directly as a new filter over the RAW file (exactly like LR is applying its modifications)

So nothing destructive, you just go back and forth between PS and camera raw (after a first edit in LR) instead of going back and forth between LR and PS...

See you !

4 replies

D
defaultcppv71qvrzcyAuthorCorrect answer
Participant
May 6, 2021

Good day to all and thank you for your replies.

Actually I have improved with PS and LR and its much simpler than expected.

When you are on LR and chose modify in PS as smart object, the image goes to PS.

Do whatever you need to do on PS.

If at any point you need to correct the RAW develoment :

- Double click on the smart object layer

- Camera raw opens with the exact replica of all the work you did in LR

- Modify anything you need to (Camera raw is basically a LR integrated in PS)

- One modifications in camera raw are done, the layer is updated but all the work and layers you did on top are still there

To be noted that  a modification done in camera raw applies directly as a new filter over the RAW file (exactly like LR is applying its modifications)

So nothing destructive, you just go back and forth between PS and camera raw (after a first edit in LR) instead of going back and forth between LR and PS...

See you !

KR Seals
Community Expert
KR SealsCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 6, 2021

I believe that is what I said in my post above 🙂

Ken Seals - Nikon Z 9, Z 8, 14mm-800mm. Computer Win 11 Pro, I7-14700K, 64GB, RTX3070TI. Travel machine: 2021 MacBook Pro M1 MAX 64GB. All Adobe apps.
TheDigitalDog
TheDigitalDog
Inspiring
April 30, 2021

Adobe treats raw as read only and, much like a print from a color neg, raw is always a data soruce for rendering an actual image. 

This is really what raw looks like (and why it must be rendered):

Once you render and start editing in Photoshop, it's like you've started 'spotting' a print and your original negative is back in a box somewhere. Short answer (as already provied): no. 

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"
KR Seals
Community Expert
KR SealsCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 29, 2021

Here is something I tried:

 

From LrC, Open image as Smart Object in PS

In PS, Duplicate layer (which is also smart object), Apply Filter - Camera Raw - Adjust White Balance

In PS, Save the image (CTL/CMD + S)

Image is returned to LrC as a new image (.tif in my case) showing the White Balance adjustment made in PS

In LrC, Edit in Photoshop 2021 - Edit Original. Image returns to PS exactly as the original that was saved.

In PS, Click on the Smart Filter - Camera Raw Filter, make big White Balance Adjustment. Save Image (CTL/CMD + S)

Image returns to LrC as the same .tif file showing the latest White Balance adjustments.

 

Is that something that will work for you?

Ken Seals - Nikon Z 9, Z 8, 14mm-800mm. Computer Win 11 Pro, I7-14700K, 64GB, RTX3070TI. Travel machine: 2021 MacBook Pro M1 MAX 64GB. All Adobe apps.
DdeGannes
Community Expert
DdeGannesCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 29, 2021

Simple answer is no. When you send a file to PS the raw data is rendered byAdobe Camera Raw and the data is in memory while PS works with it, after completing the work in PS you have to save the data and the edits to disk and the edits are baked into the file.

 

Regards, Denis: iMac 27” mid-2015, macOS 11.7.10 Big Sur; 2TB SSD, 24 GB Ram, GPU 2 GB; LrC 12.5,; Lr 6.5, PS 24.7,; ACR 15.5,; (also Laptop Win 11, ver 24H2, LrC 15.0.1, PS 27.0; ) Camera Oly OM-D E-M1.
    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices