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Barry29892756i203
Participant
July 25, 2023
Question

Store original files in Dropbox online but still have access to edits?

  • July 25, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 140 views

Hi guys,

 

Is there a way to store all my photos on Dropbox as online-only files and still be able to edit the file or copy my edits without needing to download the image again? I'm sure my workflow isn't the best but I don't have access to a server so I chose to have most of my archived files stored as online only.

 

The main issue is if I want to edit an old photo set or copy any of the edits from lightroom then I need to then download those photos or else I get the 'file appears to be unsupported or damaged'' which if I need to download and sync a couple of hundred files becomes an issue and is what I currently have to do. 

 

This is only a temporary fix but can I use smart previews or something to speed up my workflow?

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2 replies

Ian Lyons
Community Expert
Ian LyonsCommunity Expert
Community Expert
July 25, 2023

If you create what Adobe calls 'Smart Previews' and enable the preference for offline editing (see attached screenshot), then LrC will use the smart previews. However, if you need to zoom into the file, then LrC should download the original. 

 

    DdeGannes
    Community Expert
    DdeGannesCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 25, 2023

    Lightroom Classic needs original image fifes to be physically attached to your computer to work with them, as you have experienced.

    You should be able use Smart Previews to make edits but Lightroom would need to first have contact with the originals to create the smart previews.

     

    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.
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      Barry29892756i203Author
      Participant
      July 25, 2023

      Thanks Denis. I understand it a little better now. Smart previews sounds like the way to go and then sort out a server or storage for the main raw files.

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