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Strobist Dude
Strobist Dude
Known Participant
May 25, 2022
Question

How to copy DNGs to another computer and keep setups?

  • May 25, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 571 views

I tried to copy my DNGs to another computer of mine, but when I do that I lost all setups and ratings I've made earlier. What am I doing wrong?

I did

1. copy & paste files from A to B

2. opened LR and Synchronize Folder

 

This used to work before - sharing DNGs with setups already made.

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

JP Hess
JP Hess
Inspiring
May 25, 2022

Those "set ups" are only written to the DNG  Files if you have selected the option to write changes to XMP files. Since DNG files Don't use XMP files the changes will be written to the DNG file Instead. If you don't choose that option in the preferences file then all the adjustments you make are only written to the catalog.

    Strobist Dude
    Strobist DudeAuthor
    Known Participant
    May 27, 2022

    That tap is probably what was missing after last LR re-install. Since my old files do have meta-data included.

    R
    Community Expert
    richardplondonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 27, 2022

    Metadata includes "snapshots", and those are held in common across all versions deriving from a given file. So provided you remember to write a snapshot out from each of any virtual copies, and write XMP externally, those snapshots will make it into the DNG file and then will import along with that. There they can be recalled and new virtual copies made, within the other Catalog. Tedious. The Catalog export method provides for all of this inherently, as well as preserving step by step editing History sequence, and some other matters such as Collection membership - as has been mentioned.

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    May 25, 2022

    Synchronize folder indicates these are new files that Lightroom Classic has never seen before.

     

    Start over. What you should do: https://www.lightroomqueen.com/how-move-lightroom-to-new-computer/ Do not add in steps. Do not skip steps (except the part about moving from Mac to Windows or vice versa). Do not import photos. Do not synchronize folders.

    Strobist Dude
    Strobist DudeAuthor
    Known Participant
    May 25, 2022

    So copying Catalog is required to move files with setups to another computer. I thought setups are embedded in DNGs.

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    May 25, 2022

    In Lightroom Classic, your edits and user-provided metadata are stored in the catalog. You can optionally store this information in the DNG file itself, but this option is not turned on by default; and in any event using the catalog is a superior method of transferring to a new computer as not everything Lightroom Classic does can be stored in the DNG file, but everything you do in Lightroom Classic is stored in the catalog.

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