Skip to main content
D
dragondart
Inspiring
February 9, 2025
Answered

Archive to Local Does not save Versions

  • February 9, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 235 views

I am looking to move from LRC to Lightroom Cloud (LR 8.1) and willng toi accept a number of "deficiencies" over LRC (eg file renaming on import, hieracrchical keywords to name but 2). However the following is a bit of a show stopper. Is this a bug, not well thought out design, or expected behaviour? I have an image sync'd to the Cloud for which I  have created multiple versions. If I then use Archive to local it does not save version info - it archives the image with the edits assciated with the currently selected version.  If I then re-add to the cloud it LR has no recollection of any versions. Therefore Archive is not fit for purpose as it does not create an record of all edits - which is implied by the term "archive". In fact it appears to be exactly the same as "export... -> export original.  If you don't realise this you could archive an album and "loose" edits. A work around if after archiving, go to recently deleted, restore the archived photos with know versions, select and different version and re-archive.  

As it stands it makes the move to the cloud a very one way process - getting your work back out of the cloud is not a strightforward or transparent process. This needs to be addressed.

Correct answer Rikk Flohr_Photography

This is as-designed behavior.  Versions are not storable in XMP files which are the mechanism for holding your edits in Local mode. If you want to retain versions, you must leave the file in the cloud. 

1 reply

Rikk Flohr_Photography
Community Manager
Rikk Flohr_PhotographyCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
February 9, 2025

This is as-designed behavior.  Versions are not storable in XMP files which are the mechanism for holding your edits in Local mode. If you want to retain versions, you must leave the file in the cloud. 

Rikk Flohr: Adobe Photography Org
D
dragondartAuthor
Inspiring
February 9, 2025

Thanks for responding so promptly Rickk. Well I think this is a design flaw or a misnaming of "Archive". It doesn;t even warn youi that any versions will be lost. So bottom line if we wish to cancel our subcription we have no easy way of leaving the cloud - unlike LRC whch at least you can still access your current library and edits.  You solve the issue of Virtual Copies on migrating an LRC catalog by creating a real copy - why can't you do the same on Archive - simply create a image file (+sidecar if needed)  for each version? Yes that could be expensive for space local storage but at least I can make the decision. At least in that case Archive means archive whereas at the moment (IMHO) its a misnomer.  It would be a relatively easy win.

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