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nadavr23143382
Participating Frequently
September 12, 2022
Question

Bulk transferring Virtual copies edit values to the original image

  • September 12, 2022
  • 4 replies
  • 762 views

Hello dear wonderful community!

A simple question that I am sure there is no solution for:

I need to transfer my edits from my virtual copies to my original Raw files.

Each photo has different edit made to it.

Is there something I can do to copy-paste the edits from the virtual copy to the original image automatically? (I have more than 500 photos and copy-paste automatically is not realistic...)

 

Thank you

This topic has been closed for replies.

4 replies

GoldingD
Legend
September 13, 2022

Just have to ask

Why?

 

Community Expert
September 12, 2022

Another option: if storage space is not a problem and your aim is a separate usage, you can bulk Export any set of images whether those are Virtual Copies or not (into a new location, selecting Original as file type). This export option saves out copies of all the relevant Raws, TIFFs, JPGs or whatever they might be - with LrC metadata attached, that comes from the chosen master or virtual copy in each case.

 

In theory this could then be re-merged into the starting locations from outside of LrC, but I would not recommend this since it will be at best tedious, and at worst prone to all sorts of pilot error.

 

LrC will by policy and design not permit you to Export directly over the top of the present imported source files / their prior accompanying metadata. 

Bob Somrak
Legend
September 12, 2022

Photo>Set Copy as Original only works on one photo at a time so that will not work.

 

An easy way to do this is to use the Syncomatic plugin by John Beardsworth

https://https://www.photographers-toolbox.com/products/jbeardsworth/syncomatic/-toolbox.com/products/jbeardsworth/syncomatic/ 

M4 Pro Mac Mini. 48GB
Community Expert
September 12, 2022

Plugin info doesn't offer transfers between different instances relating to the same file, but I expect John B can advise.

Bob Somrak
Legend
September 12, 2022

The OP said

  

I don't think the OP was talking about multiple VC's on a single Original but 500 VC's to their respective 500 Originals.  

M4 Pro Mac Mini. 48GB
Legend
September 12, 2022

Please create a backup copy of your catalog before you do this.

 

Select all of the virtual copies. Then use the command Photo->Set Copy as Original. (Note: I haven't tried this on 500 virtual copies; it works fine when I select one; if it doesn't work on all 500 at once, then you will have to do this one virtual copy at a time)

Community Expert
September 12, 2022

Another option if you want your varying edits, to all get written out to the original (imported) file: make a Snapshot from each Virtual Copy. Then save metadata to file from the master image.

 

That includes any snapshots created from a virtual copy, since snapshots are held in common by all these versions.

 

On then opening the original file within ACR, or else after import into a different Catalog, it will be the master copy's edits initially seen. But any other snapshots present, are then also available to recall instead. In the case of LrC, new virtual copies can then be generated - which would otherwise only have been possible by "Export as Catalog" + "Import from Another Catalog".