Skip to main content
J
James26286381wsci
Known Participant
February 2, 2023
Question

XMP files showing up

  • February 2, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 5850 views

Trying to understand why an XMP file sometimes shows up after I import from my SD card and onto my SSD. It has only happened 4-5 times but don't understand why it does simply after only doing an import and only 1 image of the 40-100 images in a single import has it under it. 

Also after I imported images tonight, I did a single image export in which file settings were set up as an original RAW and it was sent to a folder I set up on my SSD. I opened that folder and the image was there but there was a XMP right under the image. Is this normal?

 

I am just getting around to practicing exporting images tonight, in fact this is only the second one I have done. I have done zero editing to any image yet. I thought XMP files only showed up anywhere after doing edits? Taking my time learning each day but confused a bit as I go on certain things like this one.

 

LRC 11.5

macOS Monterey 12.5.1 (MacBook Pro M1 Max)

SanDisk 1TB Extreme SSD

 

Thank you for anything to set me straight.

 

 

 

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    3 replies

    DdeGannes
    Community Expert
    DdeGannesCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 8, 2024

    Just some info about the creation of XMP sidecar files introduced in Lightroom Classic version 13 in Oct 2023.

     

     

    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.
    JohanElzenga
    Community Expert
    JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 7, 2024

    I would think that 'Export as original' will always create an XMP file for raw originals, even if you did not make any edits. The reason is that there are always a few base edits that get assigned to the image on import: the camera profile, the white balance, the default sharpening and color noise reduction. The last two you could set to zero with a custom camera default, but camera profile and white balance will always be something.

     

    -- Johan W. Elzenga
    R
    Community Expert
    richardplondonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 7, 2024

    Yes, and then deleting the XMP would cause the identical default settings to be adopted again when the Raw was opened into ACR or else imported to a different Catalog.

     

    Or if this XMP included any non-default settings - anything adjusted by the user after import, or coming from a preset that the user opted to apply during import, or reflecting different starting settings that had been chosen by the user before import - then deleting it will strip those off and reinitialise the new exported copy.

     

    If you just want to send someone a "clean" Raw that behaves as if straight out of the camera, you don't need to Export Original. You could just right-click on any image inside LrC, choose "show in Finder" / Explorer, then transmit to them whichever Raw is navigated to, and highlighted, in the new file-browser window which then opens. 

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    February 2, 2023

    XMP files are created by Lightroom Classic when you either use the menu command Metadata->Save Metadata to File (or Ctrl-S); or if you have the option in Catalog Settings to automatically write XMP turned on. Otherwise, I don't think you will get XMP files from Lightroom Classic.

     

    If you do an export of a RAW photo and use Original as the Image Format, you will get an XMP file generated (if there is user-generated metadata or edits, I don't think you get an XMP file if there is no user-generated metadata or edits, but right now I can't test that).

     

    J
    James26286381wsciAuthor
    Known Participant
    February 2, 2023

    So that answers my question about the original raw export and thank you. I do have the Metadata preset customized for the import process so it's added to my images but it's been set up the same since the beginning. I would assume an XMP showing up would be on every single image and not just one and that's what has me curious.

     

    I've never yet edited one photo, taking my sweet time being as precise as possible with getting everything set up the correct way first instead of rushing into it and causing issues. Not that I am deeply concerned about the XMP files even though I don't want them and I do understand them for the most part, ok 75%. It just makes me wonder how one will pop up immediately after an import when I open my SSD to check things over and when I have never edited anything, not 1 single image. Also I do have the include XMP option turned off since day one.

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    February 2, 2023

    Perhaps you accidentally press Ctrl-S

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices