can not see sidecar xmp file next to RAW photos in folder: lightroom classic

[mithlesh2018]

Dear Friends,

I'm using the latest version of lightroom classic. While importing the photos, I always use 'add'. I want to save my edits to sidecar .xmp files so that I can import the edits into third party app (photolab 3) but I don't see any sidecar .xmp created next to the RAW file. I tried using 'auto write changes into xmp' option under 'catalog setting'. I also tried saving metadata into a file for a single RAW photo. I do not use jpeg for my edits so do not know if it works with jpeg or not. 

Any help?

Many thanks

Mithlesh

[JP Hess]

Lightroom will not display the XMP files even if you have that option selected. If you right-click on the  image, however, there is an option to show the image in Finder or File Explorer, and if you choose that option you should be able to see your system browser display the folder with the raw files and the XMP files.

[mithlesh2018]

Dear JimHess,

I understand this part. I'm trying to see .xmp files in the finder (mac). I just noticed that .xmp files are getting created for .NEF file format (Nikon) but not for .DNG format (Ricoh GR III). 

[Jao vdL · Accepted solution]

The xmp sidecars are saved inside the dng file. This happens for all filetypes that support metadata in a standard format such as tiff, jpeg, png, and indeed dng.

[mithlesh2018]

Thank you for the quick response. So even if I do not see .xmp sidecar files in the finder browser, they are saved inside the .DNG files. Also, If I open the lightroom edited .DNG file in other editing application (such as photolab 3), I should see the edits in photolab 3. Is this correct?

[JP Hess]

Yes, that is one of the characteristics of the DNG file. There is no XMP file, but rather the data is all stored within the DNG file itself.

[Jao vdL]

Yes, the edit metadata is saved inside the dng files but these edits, just like the edits saved in a real sidecar file, can only be read by Adobe programs. They will only work in Lightroom (both Classic and Cloudy) and Photoshop/Camera Raw. 

[Jao vdL]

So to be very explicit, the edits will not be visible in Photolab

[mithlesh2018]

thank you. To summarize,

1. The edits in .NEF file are saved in .xmp sidecar file and they can be visible in photolab.

2. The edits in .DNG files are saved in the file itself. The edits will only work in Lightroom/Photoshop/Camera RAW and not in photolab. 

If I make the .DNG edits in photolab, is it possible to bring the edits to Lightroom?

[DdeGannes]

In both cases the ”edits” can only be read and used by Adobe Apps as stated in earlier posts. Only standard metadata will be useful to other applications.

[mithlesh2018]

Thank you for the clarification. Also, if I use the same RAW file (.NEF or .DNG) in lightroom and photolab separately, the edits can be different in both without interfering with each other (or without trying to overwrite into .xmp or .DNG), is that correct?

[Jao vdL]

I would test this. There is a large potential that the edits from the other program in the xmp get overwritten. I would NOT count on them being benevolent to each other.

[mithlesh2018]

Thank you Jao, and everyone who responded.  

[JP Hess]

I believe you are going to find that the edits you do in Photolab even on native raw files are not going to be interchangeable with Lightroom or Camera Raw. You're going to have to decide which raw converter you want to use.

[mithlesh2018]

Thank you Jim. Can I ask one more question? Can I use the same RAW (and same folder location) file to be processed in lightroom and photolab without corrupting the sidecar file or information saved in DNG? 

[JP Hess]

As I understand it (and Jao can correct me on this), Lightroom and Photolab will both try to read the same XMP files or read data directly from the DNG files, but won't be able to interpret what the other program wrote. And when using Lightroom, even though you have chosen the option to auto magically write changes to XMP, I believe it's necessary for you to choose the option to read metadata from file to ensure that the file is up to date.

I don't think it's a good idea to try to use the two raw processors on the same file. It would probably be better to create copies of the files to a different folder and process them separately.

Hopefully someone else will interject on this discussion because I don't use XMP files. I shoot almost exclusively raw, but I simply rely on the Lightroom catalog to retain all my adjustments.

[JP Hess]

What has happened to the ability to edit responses? My Dragon NaturallySpeaking made a couple of mistakes in that last message, and I can't get back in to correct them.