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jbinco
Inspiring
March 14, 2018
Answered

Can I use the camera created JPEG from RAW+JPEG as the Lightroom preview

  • March 14, 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 7442 views

Is there a way to utilize the JPEG created in-camera when capturing RAW+JPEG as the Lightroom preview?  It seems like this would be faster and more accurate than Lightroom creating a new JPEG preview during import.  I have researched this question and found no answer so I assume the answer is "no".  But I'd like to know why not.  Could this be a new feature?

Please don't reply with "Why are you using RAW+JPEG?"  I have specific reasons for that workflow.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Todd Shaner

    jbinco  wrote

    I was aware of that "Embedded & Sidecar" import option.  What I am still not sure of is if the full resolution JPG recorded by the camera alongside a RAW is being used as the Lightroom preview when that option is selected.  Or is it using the embedded?  Or is it using the embedded if a neighboring "sidecar" JPG is not found?

    Canon, Nikon or other cameras with a full-size preview in the raw file LR uses the embedded preview. For cameras with an embedded preview that is less than 50% of the raw image file's pixel dimensions here's what Adobe says:

    Sony, Olympus, and Fuji cameras don’t have full sized embedded previews. In this case, Lightroom checks if the embedded preview size is 50% of that of the raw image. If not, the standard preview is created instead of reading the embedded preview. Create a jpg sidecar image along with the raw. If the image has the sidecar file, it’s being read for creating the preview in the Library module.

    2 replies

    Todd Shaner
    Todd Shaner
    Legend
    March 14, 2018

    jbinco  wrote

    Is there a way to utilize the JPEG created in-camera when capturing RAW+JPEG as the Lightroom preview?

    This feature was added in LR 7. In the Import module select 'Embedded & Sidecar' under 'File Handling. You'll see a double-arrow icon in the filmstrip indicating it is using the embedded preview. The first time you edit the file in the Develop module a new preview will be created.

    JP Hess
    JP Hess
    Inspiring
    March 14, 2018

    Keep forgetting about that one. Do you still have to have that option checked in the preferences?

    Todd Shaner
    Todd Shaner
    Legend
    March 14, 2018

    It's a relatively new "feature" that more people should probably start using. You only need to check the option in Preferences to "Treat JPEG images next to raw images as separate images" if you want to import both the raw & camera JPEG files. Fuji, Sony, Olympus, or any other camera don't embed a full-size preview. For those cameras you'll need to select  'raw + JPEG' mode in the camera's settings. LR will then use the imported camera JPEG file as the preview for the raw image file. Once the Import 'Preview Fetching' task has completed you can delete the camera JPEG files.

    Embedded Preview workflow in Lightroom Classic CC

    JP Hess
    JP Hess
    Inspiring
    March 14, 2018

    In the Lightroom preferences, there is an option to treat JPEG images next to raw images as separate images. If that option is checked then Lightroom will import both the JPEG and the raw image. However, the JPEG will not be used as the preview for the raw image. There is no way to provide that functionality.

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