Inspiring

Answered

Lightroom changes the appearance of my images after import

Forum|Forum|13 years ago
September 13, 2012
30 replies
261615 views

I dont understand this or why it does it. my preferences has everything unchecked.

I import my images

i see the thumbnails which look fine but when i click on image, it displays on my 2nd monitor and looks perfect. but here is the problem, a second later it makes an adjestment to it which ruins my image, it makes it too bright. its like its auto toning yet i dont understand why it must do this.

my goal is to simply view my image on 2nd monitor w/o lightroom making any adjustments to it.

how can i prevent this or why is it happening?

can anyone please help me...any help would be greatly appreaciated.

Message title was edited by: Brett N

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer martin-s9001387

Are you recording images in RAW format?

If so, this post might have the explanation.

Show previous replies

J

jwag68

Participant

This may be too late to provide any useful assistance to the original poster, but I have exactly the same problem and found the solution in another forum. Many replies here are based on the assumption that the OP's issue was happening with RAW files only. In my case, it was happening with both RAW and JPG files upon import to LR. Just as the OP described, the images would import, then one by one I watched the thumbnails change based on what appeared to be an autotune setting, even though I had none set (or so I thought). It was most noticeable with images that were drastically underexposed - I have many iPhone JPGs of friends taken in dark restaurants and bars, and the images would suddenly brighten quite drastically upon import, to the detriment of the image.

I have never before imported images with an autotune setting or preset of any kind. I always do my editing post-import. However, it appears that upon upgrading to a newer version of LR, my catalog preferences were reset to include a default setting I had never used before. Under "edit" and "preferences" then "presets" tab, under "default develop settings", the box was checked for "apply auto tone adjustments".

I unchecked the box and some of the images reverted back to the way they looked upon initial import (LR's interpretation of my camera's RAW data with no autotuning). However, for some images, I had to right-click on the image and select "develop settings" (in Library module) or "settings" (in Develop module) then click "reset." This set the images back to my RAW or JPG data as it was on import.

I hope this helps someone - it was a way simpler fix than what some of the replies made it out to be.

F

fah kohffman

Participant

I know exactly what you are talking about!!! I have the same issue, I have a temporary solution, it wont solve the ugly conversion after import, but will permit you to recover the actual real looking result.

Since I havent found out a way to stop it when importing, you have to import your files, and let them have that ugly look.

Than, go on one of the pictures, and switch to the development page

at the bottom of the menus, you have one called 'camera calibration' (or something like that sorry im french, but i assume its what it would be called)

SO HERE IS THE PROBLEM : You have a option called Profile, and it is surely set to ADOBE STANDARD (which is causing all this messssss), change it to the one you are using when shooting, probably camera standard or camera neutral. Than you should have a pretty decent looking result .

(not sure about this part) Go in the developpment tab of the Top menu , than in define default settings , update current settings (or something that means that) and than it should be applied to the other you will import after.

Now if you know if there is an option NOT to convert to adobe standard when importing, please tell me

Hope it helped (could you e-mail me to give feedback on this solution and if you can help finding a real solution ) jeffrockr@hotmail.com thanks

areohbee

Legend

Defaulting to preferred camera profile upon import (and changing after import, if desired) is the proper solution. That, and developing new custom profiles if none of the existing ones are hitting the sweet spot.

Hint: hold the 'Alt' key down and the 'Reset' button will change to 'Set Default'.

Of course, the "ugly conversion" is due only in part to the camera calibration profile - you may also have to adjust other settings...

R

F

fah kohffman

Participant

nice thanks a lot !!

Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2013 12:55:31 -0800

From: forums_noreply@adobe.com

To: jeffrockr@hotmail.com

Subject: Lightroom changes the appearance of my images after import

Re: Lightroom changes the appearance of my images after import

created by Rob Cole in Photoshop Lightroom - View the full discussion

Defaulting to preferred camera profile upon import (and changing after import, if desired) is the proper solution. That, and developing new custom profiles if none of the existing ones are hitting the sweet spot.

Hint: hold the 'Alt' key down and the 'Reset' button will change to 'Set Default'.

R

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Z

zenkengee

Participant

I just saw your posting after having the same problem and I think I have a solution/work around for you. I had a chance to work with Mike Langford (http://mikelangford.co.nz/htm/geo.htm) last week in NZ and he recommends capturing your images in both RAW and JPG. I am using my Canon EOS 60D and can select the "PictureStyle" option in the menu that allows adjustment of sharpness, contrast, saturation and color tone right in the camera. These only affect the JPG image so I can see exactly what the image will look like while I am on location. Mike says that this gives you the chance to make (mostly) color and contrast changes to get the image you want/see on the spot. When I import them into LR however I make sure that my preferences are set to "Treat JPG files as seperate photos". After downloading the images you have them side by side. If you open the RAW image, LR strips the preview data and gives you that image you dont like, however the JPG will open with all the in-camera adjustments intact! This is fantastic for reference so that you can make the LR adjustements to your RAW image if you want or just use the JPG as is. Here is an screen grab of a shot I took in NZ with the RAW and JPG side by side as LR displays them. You can see the difference in the saturation and brightness/contrast. Hope this helps...

areohbee

Legend

I compared raw to jpeg for the first year or two using Lightroom. Once you can get better results, consistently, using Lightroom, than your camera can do, consider shooting raw-only and ignoring the jpeg. At that point, you may also be ready to change your camera settings to always shoot with a reduced contrast profile (consider boosted saturation), since the goal of the jpeg will be changed to facilitate assessment of inherent color and detail in shadows and/or highlights... - *not* to have a good looking picture, which you know you'll be able to create, later...

PS - if you switch the right-hand shot to 'Camera Landscape', then make adjustments:

exposure: +.3

whites: +15

blacks: -10

highlights: -20

shadows: +20

clarity: +5

then how do they compare ;-)

Disclaimer: just "wingin' it" on the proposed adjustments...

R

D Fosse

Community Expert

Rob Cole wrote:

PS - if you switch the right-hand shot to 'Camera Landscape'

Just a passing comment re Camera Landscape: On my Nikons at least, this is the most awful profile I have ever laid my eyes on. It turns all foliage and grass into a sickly cyan-green, as if it was under water. If that's someone's idea of landscape, well...

U

ultrazyn

Participant

Hey guys I'm new to photography and I recently just started shooting in RAW and I'm getting the same "darkened" pictures when seeing them in LR after I upload it and double click to see each photo in full detail. The only way I can salvage the JPG preview settings is right when I upload it, the thumbnails still look good, so just highlight them all and export them before seeing them in detail for the RAW settings can take effect. Then you can upload those exported jpgs and compare.

A

Anonymous

I have been experiencing the same issue. I understand the posts and what it is doing. I have a custom picture profile setup to my liking and wish this would transfer over as the default and "starting point" when importing in Lightroom. Since we relly on our cameras in the field and are able to preview the image before ever getting back to the computer, it would be nice for lightroom to use the way it came out of the camera as its rendition of the RAW material. I am going to have to just try and make a new camera profile setup in Lightroom that matches my current camera configuration to more closely match the preview image on the camera that I am seeing on location. I am guessing when you use Lightroom, it does no good to setup camera profiles on the camera end if it is not exactly matched when importing into Lightroom.

I recently purchased the D800 body and have noticed the most dramatic differences with this body in the default Lightroom configuration. Much more so then my 700 body.

Nothing is wrong with your Lightroom, it is just the way it is. Adobe wish list - make Lightroom use my camera picture profile as its default starting point or atleast give me the option to do so without having to try and fine tune a user camera profile setting.

R

richardplondon

Community Expert

Nothing is wrong with your Lightroom, it is just the way it is. Adobe wish list - make Lightroom use my camera picture profile as its default starting point or atleast give me the option to do so without having to try and fine tune a user camera profile setting.

In Star Trek they have something called a Universal Translator, so that when they land on an unknown planet, they can immediately talk with the inhabitants just as readily as they talk among themselves. This is science fiction.

Of course we would all love it if Adobe software came ready-loaded with full understanding of, and the ability to simulate the action of, every detail of the proprietary and maybe even patented in-camera processing, that all the different constantly-changing camera models use.

But outside of science fiction magic, Adobe would need to make LR read and translate every possible combination of settings for the camera, and then somehow find a combination of native LR settings which produced a visually identical outcome, doing so in a way that was then easily adjustable.

They'd need to do this for each supported camera, without being able to rely on any advance notice, inside information or cooperation from the manufacturer. Some of these proprietary camera settings are not simple adjustments, but adaptive (smart). So it's not just difficult in practice, it's difficult in principle too.

areohbee

Legend

Richard,

I don't think I could top that one! .

Certainly, matching all settings to the point of being able to continue in Lightroom where you left off in-camera, for all models, is totally un-realistic...

On the other hand, some half-measures might still be appreciated.

For example: evaluating customized versions of proprietary in-camera picture styles would be over the top, but auto-selecting a canned profile based on standard in-camera profile setting doesn't seem quite so outlandish to me.

Me? - I'd rather have my camera show me a raw histogram (and be able to emulate Lightroom), than have Lightroom able to emulate my camera.

Adobe? - Eric Chan has openly stated that it is not anywhere near the top of their list to delve into interpretation of proprietary camera settings (my words, not his).

So what's a poor photographer to do, @now?

1. Use camera manufacturer software to process the raws, or

2. Forget what pictures looked like in camera and learn to get outstanding results using Lightroom.

Did I miss an option?

Oh yeah, one could also:

* Use ExifMeta to create smart collections based on proprietary camera settings.

* Use CollectionPreseter to assign presets to those collections.

(you'll also have to invent the "camera emulation" presets to be assigned)

PS - For the record, I do *NOT* recommend using exifmeta and collection-preseter for this purpose. Why? because I think it's going the wrong direction, and prolongs an "un-healthy" attachment to proprietary camera settings. I think a better long-term plan is to learn to enjoy shooting without worrying about proprietary camera settings, and polish photos during post-processing instead...

Summary: Lightroom's better, right? (otherwise, why are you using it??) - learn to use it to it's fullest...

Cheers,

Rob

H

Herrera Héctor Armando

Participant

It is advisable to create a custom camera profile.

Nonetheless, go to the Develop Module and under Camera Calibration choose "Camera Neutral" instead of the Adobe Standard or any other you might have in there. In most cases, this will return some of the adjustments made to the large previews of your RAW files and help maintain the same appearance of your image when you first saw it. Try it to see if it helps.

ssprengel

Inspiring

What reason is there to do anything but ignore the camera preview once the photo is imported into LR?

H

HAHPHAEK

Participant

Indeed something is happening. LR is changing the appereance of the RAW files, just as described (loads fine and after a second or two, it changes its looks).

In my case, it is applying some color tone and vignetting, it is not helping the look of the image at all.

I have been a user of LR since its first version and had not encounter this problem until recent. I shoot on Canon's 5DM2 and for what I have been able to tell from the posts, it is also happening to Nikons and Sonys. It is not a monitor issue since mine are also calibrated. I do architectural work and my camera settings have not changed, I shoot RAW with everything zeroed out and neutral. I have tried several options, including going back to Adobe's default settings without luck.

So far I have not been able to figure out what is wrong nor find an answer or explanantion for this issue.

dj_paige

Legend

Indeed something is happening. LR is changing the appereance of the RAW files, just as described (loads fine and after a second or two, it changes its looks).
...
So far I have not been able to figure out what is wrong nor find an answer or explanantion for this issue.

As has been explained in this thread numerous times, there is nothing wrong, this is the way Lightroom is supposed to handle RAWs. It shows the JPG preview embedded in the RAW file until it has time (usually a few seconds) to render its own version of your RAW photo, which of course looks different than the JPG preview.

I understand you do not like it. But you cannot turn off this behavior of Lightroom. You can adjust your Lightroom import preset to produce photos more to your liking. Or you can shoot JPG, in which case Lightroom does not change the appearance of the JPG created by your camera. Or you can use the manufacturer's software. You have an abundance of choices.

M

mcrckrck01

Participant

Ninjapimp,

I feel your pain! I am having the exact same issue but it turns my image way way too dark. I understand what everyone is saying about jpegs out of camera for the preview versus raw files in LR. This still does not seem to make sense. In my case, the image on the camera screen and thumbnail preview when initially viewed in LR looks beautiful, sharp, and well exposed. After the "loading," completes, the image turns dark.

At first, I didn't fret and attempted to adjust exposure, fill light, etc. Now my image looks grainsy as SH*T! Complete loss of detail. Not how I exposed the picture and the picture out of LR is unusable.

Someone please help. This is not just a "JPEG" issue. It seems like my camera (Sony Nex 7) can understand data in the file that LR cannot.

ssprengel

Inspiring

Can you post a public download link for one of your images after uploading them to something like www.dropbox.com or www.yousendit.com? The graininess is normal if you are brightening dark areas, because that brightening is a digital increase in ISO of those areas. The camera-JPGs will have had noise-reduction applied to them and in LR you need to turn up the Luminance NR because the Adobe factory-default is zero.

Since there is so much difference in exposure between the LR and NEX7 images, perhaps you have a setting enabled in camera that auto-fixes exposure problems or auto-compresses highlights. Highlight compression is done by the camera unexposing the images by a stop or more, and then digitally adding brightness to only the darker area—like Fill-Light or increasing Shadows does in LR.

If you are going to be using LR then you should turn off the camera fixes because they mask exposure problems when you view the images on your camera’s LCD.

What version of LR are you using, specifically?

M

mcrckrck01

Participant

I am using Lightroom 3.

I just re-imported a set of pictures and took screen grabs showing what is happening as previews are rendered.

Each photo starts off with quality in the thumbnail, then one by one, they turn dark.

The below links are to my dropbox showing the screen grabs. I want to stress that each of the photos in the series shown were taken with the same ISO, shutter speed, and aperture value. In the camera, they look great...in LR they go black as the previews are rendered. I have also included a full size showing with the exposure and fill light added. total grain!

One set of pictures was shot at ISO 200 so I cannot understand why so much noise is visible.

Thanks in advance for any help.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2ntsml4qsd6wwyw/Screen%20Shot%202012-09-15%20at%2010.28.44%20AM.png

https://www.dropbox.com/s/r98rsaos5n01l05/Screen%20Shot%202012-09-15%20at%2010.20.33%20AM.png

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1ypt0cd4jav8c4i/Screen%20Shot%202012-09-15%20at%2010.22.37%20AM.png

https://www.dropbox.com/s/62wpo2bvoldx2ne/Screen%20Shot%202012-09-15%20at%2010.23.03%20AM.png

B

Bryan Conner

Known Participant

I think that your default settings are the fault here. In the develop module, with one of the screwed up images chosen, hold down alt on a pc opt on a mac and click "set default" on the lower right corner in lightroom. Holding down alt changes the "reset" button to "set default". After you click on this, in the new window, select "Restore Adobe Default Settings". This should result in a "better" rendition of your previews. Now, if you want to make changes (including camera profiles that may be available to match your in camera processing) to the "default" settings, you can and make these new settings your default by alt/opt>set default>Update to current settings.

M

martin-s9001387Correct answer

Inspiring

Are you recording images in RAW format?

If so, this post might have the explanation.

N

ninjapimpAuthor

Inspiring

hiyas thanks for that link, read it but its not quite what i'm looking for.

i'll try to explain in mroe detail.

when i import my raw images, the thumbnails looks perfect.

however when i click on the thumbnail, it displays the image in fullsize on my monitor, which looks perfect...but i notice the scroll wheel, like its processing something than bam it ruins the image, it makes it way too bright.

so i try to do right click, develop reset but it does nothing.

i want the image to look the way it did when it first displayed it.

when i click on my image to view in fullsize the first time, its perfect but a split second later, lightroom does something to it, like its auto toning it.

yet i verify the auto tonig is NOT checked.

is there a way maybe to jsut delete the preferences file all together? manually that is.

i'm so frsutrated because my image is perfect than lightroom thinks it has to tone it when there is no need to.

H

hsbn

Participating Frequently

Your photos are perfect out of camera. Then you should take jpeg photo only instead of raw.

In short, whatever you see when you first load your photos in Lightroom are embedded jpg file created by your camera. LR only display it briefly, then LR will give you your "real" RAW file. You can adjust your RAW file to look similar to your jpg. If you're lazy and think your jpg is perfect, then just shoot jpg only.

LR doesn't ruin your photos. It gives you the "real" look of your RAW. There is nothing you can do about it. If you prefer the jpg photo, use your camera-provided-software.

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