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displaced7
Inspiring
February 24, 2024
Question

Is there any way to copy/duplicate a photo? NOT a virtual copy.

  • February 24, 2024
  • 3 replies
  • 2928 views

Is there any way to copy/duplicate a photo? NOT a virtual copy.

 

I have a new folder which I am adding photographs from years of shoots (on multiple drives) and I want copies of the photos there (not virtual copies).  I need to be able to access that folder in InDesign, Illustrator, etc., and want a single place that has this group of photos.

 

Is there any way to do this?  You'd think it would be super simple, but I can't find this anywhere.

    3 replies

    JohanElzenga
    Community Expert
    JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 24, 2024
    quote

    Is there any way to copy/duplicate a photo? NOT a virtual copy.

     

    I have a new folder which I am adding photographs from years of shoots (on multiple drives) and I want copies of the photos there (not virtual copies).  I need to be able to access that folder in InDesign, Illustrator, etc., and want a single place that has this group of photos.


    By @displaced7

     

    If you want to use photos in InDesign, then I assume that you will want to use edited photos, not unedited originals. Because Lightroom Classic is a non-destructive editor, copies of your originals will be unedited. The best way to do this is to create a publishing service to your hard disk, because then Lightroom Classic can keep the exported photos in sync with any new edits. https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/export-hard-drive-using-publish.html

     

    -- Johan W. Elzenga
    D
    displaced7Author
    Inspiring
    February 24, 2024

    I want to copy edited images to another drive and folder.  I don't want to be linking across drives (it'll just be a headache in a year when the links break).

     

    I was just hoping there was a simple way, like Windows Explorer, that I was missing.  Doesn't seem to be, but not a big deal.

     

    JohanElzenga
    Community Expert
    JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 25, 2024
    quote

    I want to copy edited images to another drive and folder.  I don't want to be linking across drives (it'll just be a headache in a year when the links break).

     

    By @displaced7


    'Edited images' do not exist in Lightroom. There are only original, unedited images, and their edits are stored in the catalog. So you will have to export (or publish, which is also exporting) the image in order to get a copy with edits applied to it, no matter where you want to store that copy.

     

    -- Johan W. Elzenga
    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 24, 2024

    You can make a copy of the raw file - or any other format - in the operating system. Just copy/paste in the folder.

     

    But no such function in LrC.

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      dj_paige
      Legend
      February 24, 2024

      There is no COPY in Lightroom Classic, other than virtual copies.

       

      You could export the photo to the folder you desire.

      B
      Community Expert
      Bill SpragueCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 24, 2024

      Hoping to add to dj_paige's post, is that the Export routine has an "Image Format" choice of "Original".    Along with controls for folder choice, renaming and batch processing it should make what you want to do very easy.  

      D
      dj_paige
      Legend
      February 24, 2024

      It isn't clear to me if @displaced7 wants to export a JPG with whatever edits he has made, or if the desire is to have the unedited photos in which case Image Format should be set to Original.

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