P: Import Copy As DNG loses metadata set by metadata import preset

[johnrellis]

When a raw file is imported with the option Copy As DNG and a metadata preset is applied during import, the values set by the preset disappear from the metadata panel after a couple of seconds. A workaround is to set the option Catalog Settings > Automatically Write Changes Into XMP.  

Originally reported by another person:

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/community/threads/copyrights-disappear-during-dng-conversion.53023/ 

To reproduce on LR 14.4 / Mac OS 15.5 (see the attached screen recording):

1. Download and open this catalog:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/97ztsg16ekxc2h297lv4w/copy-dng-metadata.2025-06-23.zip?rlkey=9iqixpst...

2. Define a Metadata preset "Copy As DNG" with the fields:

Caption: Hello world

Copyright Status: Copyrighted.

Copyright: 2025 Joe Cool

The preset's .lrtemplate is in the catalog folder.

3. Verify Catalog Settings > Automatically Write Changes Into XMP is unchecked.

4. Do File > Import and import the file DSC00002.ARW from the catalog folder, with the options Copy As DNG and Apply During Import > Metadata: Copy As DNG.

5. Select the imported photo and observe that initially the Metadata panel shows Caption, Copyright Status, and Copyright as set by the metadata preset. But after a second or two they clear (incorrect).

6. Select the imported DNG and delete it from disk.

7. Set the option Catalog Settings > Automatically Write Changes Into XMP.

8. Repeat step 4 to import the raw again. Observe that this time, Caption, Copyright Status, and Copyright retain the values set by the metadata preset (correct).

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

Thanks for the report, @johnrellis  I will log it. 

[MichalTokarczuk]

Greetings.
I have a question about the Copy as DNG as I'm not sure if it's a bug or a feature.

Prior to 14.4 Copy as DNG when importing the RAW+XMP pairs worked fine and if there were any edits in XMPs it was later reflected in Lightroom on grid and loupe.

Now in 14.4 Copy as DNG import of same files would revert the edits to "zero" state like there's no XMPs present, though the edits from XMP will still be present in History State but not visible on screen anymore.

It's easy to replicate, just edit some RAW files, save metadata to xmps then import with Copy As DNG into new catalog with minimal or standard previews in settings. Autowrite changes to XMP should be off. As a result You should see the images in edited state for a moment, then after DNG conversion is complete it should start showing "no-edits" images.

[Aleke]

Hi @MichalTokarczuk! Welcome to the community, and thank you for the detailed explanation of the issue.

I followed your steps and was able to reproduce the same problem on my end. I checked in with the team, and it turns out this is a known issue that’s already on the radar to be fixed in the next release.

Really appreciate you flagging this, thanks again!

Alek

[MichalTokarczuk]

@Aleke Thanks for the move/merge. For some weird reason I didn't find this one by John when searching for possible similar post.

Glad to read that. Looking forward.

[SmithereensOES]

I've been expereincing this too since the upgrade to 14.4 in June. I look forward to seeing it get resolved.

[kathrynbraveheart]

I am experiencing an issue where my star ratings disappear after importing photos to Lightroom Classic 14.4 and converting to DNG.

My typical workflow is to cull and assign star ratings in Photo Mechanic.  I then import the photos to Lightroom and convert to DNG.  This has always worked fine, retaining the star ratings, until the last day or two.  Now, when the photos are initially uploaded, the star ratings are there, however after the DNG conversion takes place they dissapear.  It seems to be an issue with the DNG conversion, as I tried a copy as raw file instead and the star ratings were retained as expected.

Several troubleshooting steps I tried that did not work:

• Tried re-importing the photos
• Tried synchronize folder
• Tried read metadata from file
• Tried restarting my computer
• Tried a re-install of Lightroom 14.4

The only thing that has worked for me is to import raw files instead of converting to DNG.  I'd rather not do this for continuity's sake as I have a decade worth of photos that are all DNG files. 

I'd be very interested to hear if this is a bug, or if there is any way to fix this issue.  Thanks!

[kathrynbraveheart]

Forgot to add that I typically have no develop or metadata settings applied on import.  I did try creating a new metadata preset that doesn't change the star rating, but that did not work either.

[johnrellis]

@kathrynbraveheart, try setting the option Catalog Settings > Automatically Write Changes Into XMP, which avoids the bug when using a metadata preset on import.  You're setting the metadata with Photo Mechanic before import, but the workaround might work for you as well.

HOWEVER, if you're applying Denoise to large numbers of photos, I don't recommend setting Automatically Write Changes Into XMP, due to a severe performance bug introduced in LR 14.4 that's not yet fixed.

[DdeGannes]

Edited by poster.

When I read this thread all I can say is "wow".

[kathrynbraveheart]

Thank you, that does seem to work.

[Mick Gardner]

I have the same problem.

[yosoyrayrocha]

If I try to add keywords to a file before importing, I've noticed that they dissapear when they're being converted from NEF to DNG.

When the NEF file is in the library it does have the keywords; then, right after it's been converted, an icon appears on the preview saying something like "the metadata has changed". And that's when the keywords dissapear. For they to stick to the dng I have to do it after the import/convert process is done.

If I just copy the NEF file to the library (without converting) it does add the keywords. But after the importation is done,  for some reason, the keyword box "freezes" not letting you add/modify the keywords right away. I have to close and reopen lightroom to be able to "unlock" the keywords box.

This is been happening since 14.4 was installed.

 

[johnrellis]

You're tripping over this bug in LR 14.4, acknowledged by Adobe:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-bugs/p-import-copy-as-dng-loses-metadata-set-by-met...

A workaround is to set the option Catalog Settings > Automatically Write Changes Into XMP.

HOWEVER, if you're applying Denoise to large numbers of photos, I don't recommend setting Automatically Write Changes Into XMP, due to a severe performance bug introduced in LR 14.4 that's not yet fixed:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-bugs/p-automatically-write-changes-to-xmp-can-t-be-...

[johnrellis]

Moderators, @Rikk Flohr: Photography, please merge with this bug:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-bugs/p-import-copy-as-dng-loses-metadata-set-by-met...

[Astonished_Eclipse5E98]

In Lightroom Classic 14.4, when I try to save metadata by right-clicking a folder and choosing “Save Metadata,” nothing gets written to the files. As a result, if I import the same folder on another computer (or even re-import it on the same one), my keywords, labels, and other metadata don’t show up.

I tested this with Lightroom Classic 14.3.1, and it works as expected.

I’ve attached screen recordings showing the difference between 14.4 and 14.3.1.

Could you please look into this?

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

I've forwarded this to the team for review. 

Thank you for your report. 

[dj_paige]

Are you sure in 14.4 that you have not paused Saving XMP?

[Astonished_Eclipse5E98]

I'm not using the "Automatically write changes into XMP" setting, so the option you highlighted isn’t even visible for me. I was talking about manual metadata saving, and I tried it on multiple Macs - it doesn’t work on any of them in Lightroom Classic 14.4 😞
It still works if I use Command + S on selected photos, but not when I try to save metadata for all photos in a folder via the folder’s context menu.

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

Greetings all, 

A new update for the Adobe Photography products has been released.  The August update contains an update regarding this issue. 

If you do not see the update in your Creative Cloud Application, you can refresh it by pressing  [Ctrl/Cmd]+[Alt/Opt]+[ R ].

Note: It may take up to 24 hours for your update to be available in your Creative Cloud app.

Thank you for being so patient. 

[Astonished_Eclipse5E98]

I just checked the last update and I'm happy to confirm that Saving Metadata on folder works as expected now. Thank you for the fix!

[MichalTokarczuk]

Great news, thanks for a fix.