Lightroom destroys photoshop edits

Question

I think this may be more a feature request than a bug report, but it is an annoyance nonetheless.

In Lightroom CC, I can 'edit in photoshop' and it will do just that.

I can add layers, do whatever I need to do in photoshop, and save. The photoshop-edited photo appears in my lightroom library.

If I then edit in photoshop again, even on another computer, the layers are still preserved - good!

HOWEVER: if I then (accidentally) edit in lightroom again, all my photoshop edits are simply wiped out. If I edit again in photoshop, I simply get one flattened layer containing the photo with the edits that were done in lightroom.

I appreciate that for lightroom CC to make edits it has to flatten the photo as it doesn't have a concept of layers, but it would be nice if it didn't simply wipe out the photoshop edits in order to continue editing in lightroom CC!

If I have edited an image in photoshop, could you then 'lock' it for further editing in lightroom, and put a message saying "you previously edited this image in photoshop, so all further editing has to also be done in photoshop. To edit in lightroom, make a copy."

Sameer K · Accepted Answer

Hey, @ben_taylor_85993088. Welcome to the Lightroom Community. I see this, too.

This is by design, the way it is. I'll check in with the team to review the suggestion to add a notification.

To clarify, the layers aren't discarded.

@ben_taylor_85993088 wrote: HOWEVER: if I then (accidentally) edit in lightroom again, all my photoshop edits are simply wiped out. If I edit again in photoshop, I simply get one flattened layer containing the photo with the edits that were done in lightroom.

When you edit the image in Lightroom again and use Edit in Photoshop, a new copy of the file is generated. When you complete the edit and save the file in Photoshop, a new stack is created in Lightroom.

So, original image (A) > Edit in PS > Copy with layers created (A-1) > When accidentally edited (A-1) in LR > Edit in PS > (A-1-1) is sent to PS and (A-1-1-1) returns.

You can go to the original stack (with A and A-1) > Reset edits on the A-1 and use Edit in PS to see the layers. If this workflow is not clear, I can record it and share it with you.

Thanks!
Sameer K
(Type '@' and type my name to mention me when you reply)

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