Lightroom: How to export previews as DNG? Export not working.

Question

I have around 200 images where the originals are missing but I have decent smart previews available.

I fully understand that previews are not raw files, I just want to export the previews as files (in the highest possible quality), then reimport them incase anything happens to the previews database/cache.

How do I export the previews?

Whenever I try, the folder is empty and see errors that originals are missing.
Have tried ‘Original’ and dng
Have tried selecting and exporting preview images, and exporting as a catalogue.

Any help much appreciated. Cheers

csscms · Accepted Answer

For anyone else struggling with this, my previews are 1:1 so suspect they’re different from smart previews.

To solve, I had to install and use this script: https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/kb/extract-previews-for-lost-images-lightroom.html

Rob_Cullen · Answer

screen-clips that would be helpful in next post.

You should be able to export from a Smart Preview, and I did successfully.

1-- Select the photo that is the smart preview.

2-- [Export] You will get a dialog that asks- if you want to use the Smart preview. Answer [YES]

3 -- In the Export dialog that opens make the following settings-

Export to ‘Same Folder as original’

Add to this Catalog

Same Filename

File Format: DNG

[Export]

I successfully created a new DNG image of a photo but it is, as expected, smaller pixel dimensions (2560px long edge) than the original, but still fully editable, and can be backed up.

If you don’t have Smart Previews then that requires a totally different method to create JPGs from the regular previews using a plugin.

And why do you not have backups of all your original photo files?

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded